Category Archives: GENERAL

GENERAL

WHAT PROPHECY IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT!

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The word ‘Prophecy’ Biblically speaking refers to an inspired message given to God’s people. It is a word of exhortation, admonition or promise of a future occurrence from God to His people.

2 Peter 1:21: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

 ‘Prophesied’ in the Greek word of the aforementioned scripture {propheteuo} confirms this as it means the foretelling of future events as well as speaking under divine inspiration. Propheteuo is gotten from two words; Pro and Phemi.

Phemi means to reveal one’s thoughts. It also means to bring one’s secret thoughts to light – while Pro to speak ahead of time or beforehand. When these two words are brought together; Pro-Phemi they give us the meaning of revealing God’s secret thoughts before they manifest.

Prophecy is a gift and an activity that is not limited to believers; even unbelievers prophesy. Diviners and spiritualists equally prophecy; they give predictions of the future and also give inspired messages – however, these messages are not from God, but from the devil.

  • Balaam prophesied using sorcery (Numbers 24:1).
  • The prophets in Jeremiah’s days prophesied by Baal {Jer. 2:8}

Our concern as believers should not be with the prophecies that come from these folks, but with the one that comes from God’s own prophets. However, even genuine prophets, especially those who only have the gift of prophecy without productive training and mentorship from a genuine senior prophet, can give inaccurate prophecies or prophecies from the wrong source.

This is the reason a believer must properly understand what a prophecy is and what it is not, so that he/she can be able to discern which prophecy to accept and the one to reject.

Biblical Prophecy is for Edification, Comfort and Exhortation

1 Corinthians 14:3: “But [on the other hand], the one who prophesies [who interprets the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching] speaks to men for their upbuilding and constructive spiritual progress and encouragement and consolation.” (AMP)

Whatever prophecy that God is gives to His Church or the members of the Church is not to make them moody or dampen their faith. It is only evil prophecies inspired by Satan or concocted by man that aim at weakening the faith of believers.

True prophecy stirs up faith and enflames the dimming light in the heart of a believer. When a believer is downcast or is in a tight corner, God can speak to that believer through His word {the Bible} or through the pastor of that believer – that is prophecy.

When God brings a scripture to your heart during your darkest moments, that Bible verse is a word of prophecy to uphold and strengthen your faith. However, when during your dark moments, all you get are predictions of your downfall, scary tales and scary dreams, you must know how to rebuke and reject them. They are not from God! God-inspired prophecies are meant to comfort us and to also edify us.

Furthermore, prophecy is also meant to EXHORT. The word ‘exhortation’ signifies a call for an action. It could be a call to repentance, prayer etc. A lot of times, God’s prophecy does not only come to comfort or edify us, it also comes to correct us. It comes to admonish us and show us the right path.

God used the likes of Isaiah, Jeremiah and a host of other prophets to fulfil this in the Old Testament. However, a concise study in the Books will reveal that though they contained some negative prophecies about Israel, they always ended with a word of comfort and solace. And in some instances, God did this to bring them to repentance. Thus, God also uses prophecy to warn us of the consequences of wrongdoing.

The purpose of prophecy revolves around this.

WHAT HOLY SPIRIT-INSPIRED PROPHECY IS NOT.

  • Revealing of one’s past mistakes.
  • Revealing irrelevant facts about a person.
  • An evil foretelling meant to create fear or swindle a person

Nwodo Divine sums it up here;

“God reveals his definition of prophecy in the book of 1st Peter. 2 Peter 1:19 says ‘We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts’. 2 Peter 1:20 says ‘Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.’ 2 Peter 1:21 says ‘For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.’ Note the following,

  • Word of Prophecy
  • Prophecy of Scripture
  • Moved by the Holy Spirit

Prophecy is speaking forth the word of God by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is declaring the counsel of God towards a particular situation – and it is founded upon the already existing sure prophecy – God’s word.

Now, based on this definition, will you define prophecy as telling a person facts about his past and would you define a prophet as one who can tell you the colour of your father’s house and the sins of your granny.

Where is the counsel of God in that?
Where and how is the will of God in that?

God bless you – it is a prophecy.
So and so has been happening, but the Lord is turning it around – such is a prophecy
There’s doom in the air, but if we repent, we will be saved – such is prophecy.

Bible is the Book full of prophecies of what God has/will do for His church and the world in general.

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the WORDS of THIS PROPHECY, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Thus we see that Biblical perspective of Prophecy is giving God’s counsel.

What to do with Prophecy? Click on this…

GENERAL

Should a believer be racist?

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One of the greatest challenges plaguing the world today is the problem of systematic racism between blacks and whites.

Unfortunately, this evil trend has succeeded in creeping even into the Church as pastors and congregations are now classified based on their color.


The recent systematic racial abuse against black players in England simply reveals how this problem of racism has eaten deep into the society.

However, as the body of Christ, we must do all we can to speak against it and discourage ourselves from participating in racial abuse.



Why?


Because the Bible condemns racism!



Romans 10:12
“For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.”


When God wants to work with a man, the least thing He considers is the color of that man’s skin. He said to Samuel that He doesn’t look at man’s appearance but the content of the heart.


God does not select who to bless between black and white. James tells us that He practices no favoritism, blesses everyone equally and gives everyone equal opportunities to excel irrespective of their descent.


If God loves everyone, then our attitude to the different races should also be one of love and not of hate or discrimination.


GOD SAVED A CANAANITE {JOSHUA 6}


Rahab was never an Israelite. Yet, because of how she supported God’s people, God saved her and her family and made her a part of the Israelites.

However, God didn’t stop there. Rahab went on to marry an Israeli Prince and become one of the mothers through which Jesus was brought into this world.



God also demonstrated his love for all races in the New Testament by pouring His Spirit upon both Gentiles and Jews.



Therefore, it is our obligations as believers to do the same. We are to show love to people of all social class and racial background. Whether they are black or white, rich or poor, we must love them with all our hearts.


Also, it is very wrong for one to attribute a certain negative behavioral pattern to a race alone.

I’ve heard people who say Africans are terrible thinkers who are plagued with poverty. This really amazes me because the person writing this article is not an African and he isn’t an average thinker.


Oprahz Winfrey is a black lady. Steve Masiyiwa is a black man. There are several black folks holding top positions in Microsoft and Google. A black folk recently graduated with a CGPA of 5.0 in a Russian University.



The fact that there are certain black folks with wrong lifestyles doesn’t mean it should be generalised. There are also white folks who are plagued with poverty. They exist everywhere. Instead of debasing and ridiculing one another, let’s endeavor to help and uplift one another.


This is sole responsibility of believers. It is our job to show the world what true, unconditional love entails. We are to teach the world to love each other.

We are to heal the deep wounds and bridge the divide that has been caused by racial and ethnic discrimination.



Let the Church awake from its slumber and put away the cliffs of racism from her eyes. Let’s advocate and provide for equal treatment of all races. Let’s pray for them both and favor them all.


Leviticus 19:34: “The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.”



GENERAL

Developing godly values

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We frequently make the mistake of attempting to improve our society without first improving ourselves.

Most of the time, we put forth our best effort to please others while overlooking the importance of improving ourselves. Many people live and act solely to meet the demands of others. However, this is risky because it can cause a loss of self-awareness and vision.

IMPROVE YOUR SENSE OF WORTH

“But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows” – Luke 12:7.

Isn’t it lovely that in the preceding passage, Jesus revealed to us how much God values us more than even the animals he created? God loves you so much that he came and died for us in order for us to be saved, live, and bask in his glory. Have you ever considered how highly God regards you? He knows that without you, establishing his Kingdom on Earth will be impossible, and he even knows the number of hairs on your head. Isn’t that fantastic? Never think of yourself as a disappointment or a failure. Things may not go as planned, but remember everything works together for those who love the Lord.

So, how do you develop values that will transform your life?

  1. Self Evaluation

‘An unexamined life is not worth living,’ said Aristotle. To live at the pinnacle of our faith, we must cultivate a culture of evaluating and accessing our paths. It holds you accountable to yourself. It is only through self-evaluation that one can identify the Christian values that are lacking in his life and resolve to cultivate them.

2. Renew your mind with the Word of God

God desires that you meditate on the scriptures day and night because when you meditate on them, you will begin to exhibit Godly values that will result in a Christ-like lifestyle. The revelation from God’s word that you have pondered is what gives you godly value.

“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.” Psalm 119:9.

Until believers make the word of God their priority, godly values and character will be absent amongst us. The book of James describes God’s word as a mirror which we behold in order to know who God has made us to be. When a lying Christian reads God’s word diligently, He sees that as a Saint, he isn’t supposed to lie and he adopts the value of honesty and truthfulness. When a homosexual reads God’s word and sees that homosexuality is immoral, he renounces it and adopts God’s principles of holiness.

God’s word renews our mind and our thinking. When our thinking is renewed, our actions will be renewed. And when we continue living with these renewed actions, they become habits and eventually morph into a part of our being – our character.

GENERAL, Student's Corner

The Mind

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According to Genesis, after God created man, he blessed him and commanded him to subdue and dominate the Earth and all that is within it.

I find it perplexing that man, who appears to be a frail and fragile creature, should be given dominion over animals with fierce strength like the Lion, Tiger, and so on, as well as planetary bodies with paranormal intensity like the sun and stars.

What did God give man that makes Him superior to God’s other creations?

  • A creative mind


Your mind is a key to an infinite number of possibilities, depending on how well you have challenged and exercised it. The mind is more than a machine; it is greater than any computer program. Thousands of bots and robots have been developed in an attempt to mimic humans, but none have been able to match the intelligence of the human mind.


YOUR MIND IS YOUR GREATEST RESOURCE

Everything God created man with was for his benefit, including the mind. When God created man and gave him the dominion charge, He did not give him a gun or a missile, the only thing He left man with was the Mind.

The Mind is the greatest resource that God has given to man. It is probably one of the greatest blessings that God has bestowed upon us.

Take a look at this;


“And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and knowledge, and all manner of workmanship; And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and silver, and brass, And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.” – Exodus 35: 30-34.


Bezaleel was given special abilities to do very special work in God’s sanctuary, and God provided him with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding for these tasks. Whatever Bezaleel and Aholiab did was simply a result of the divine wisdom God had bestowed upon them.


God has blessed many of us with gifted minds, such as Bezaleel. The same Spirit that quickened Bezaleel’s mind is the Spirit we received the moment we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Moreover, the Bible equally says we have the mind of Christ.


THE MIND IS A SOIL

The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. Psalms 37:31.
 

The mind is like a soil, whatever you sow and nurture in it eventually becomes your reality. Thus, we must be careful the things we sow in our minds because they have the ability to grow to influence our lives.



Sow God’s word into your mind. Your mind was created by God so that you can be able to meditate and ponder on the word of God. When this duty is done diligently, God’s word becomes a strong influence and deciding factor in our minds.

It speaks when we’ve done wrong. It cautions us when we ere. It guides us when we’re trapped in a crossroad.

When God’s word is planted in our minds, living righteously becomes an easy thing.
 

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: Hebrews 8:10.

THE MIND IS A WEAPON

The mind is a weapon given to man to overcome every circumstance of life. It is like a quiver full of weapons. But what will fill your quiver and make it strong is the content you have in it. The absence of quality content in the minds of young folks is what makes them despair in the face of opposition.

Thus, it is imperative that one feeds his mind with information relevant to the age and system we are in presently.

GENERAL

Using your words to change your Life

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Words are creative tools. They have the ability to shape the life we want for ourselves. They make man’s realities. Depending on how they are used, they can destroy or repair, crush or build.

Success and failure are determined by the power of words. A wise man once said, ‘Whether you say you can or you say you can’t, you’re right.’ These words aren’t limited to the usual things we say to one another.

What we say to ourselves and within ourselves is also important. The little voice within us that either encourages or discourages us from doing things is a powerful force that we must learn to control for our own good.

Sometimes we can say something positive on the outside, but our inner voice contradicts what we say on the outside.

As a result, it is critical that we, as believers, learn to control this voice and speak only positive things in order to generate the energy and faith required to succeed.


Revelation 12:11: “And they triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives unto death.”

According to the above scripture, the secret of believers’ triumph is in the word of their testimony.

The word of testimony proclaims Christ’s victory over Satan’s works and that we are the recipients of His finished works.

This word of testimony is our weapon for triumphing over Satan’s works, such as poverty, sickness, and death.



OUR WORLDS ARE FRAME-WORKED BY WORDS.

Hebrews 11:3: “… the worlds were framed by the word of God”


Just unseen and visible realms were framed by God’s words, we too can frame our world with our words. We might not be able to change the world at large, but we can create positivity and yield productivity in our environment.

APPLICATION

Here are two things to do in order to experience this;

  1. Make a list of what God’s word says about you.
  2. Meditate daily on that list.
  3. Declare it over your life daily.

This will necessitate regular Bible study in order for you to understand what God’s word says about you.

Conclusively, let this a daily habit for you. Speak from God’s word, not from negative experiences.

Joel 3:10: “let the weak say, I am strong.”

GENERAL

HEART MATTERS 1: Engaging God with the Heart

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We have a physical heart as well as a spiritual heart. This is evident in the case of the tangible ears and the ears that exist within these ears, as well as our brain and mind. This intangible heart is the essence of man’s being. It is the center of our existence.

The heart is the link between the spiritual realm and the physical realm. Through the heart, we connect to/with people around us, as well as to God.

“…. discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12. The heart is the epicenter of our thoughts and our motives for whatever we do.

This spiritual force is the most powerful of all the structures that comprise man’s metaphysical realm. All inventions, innovations, and ideas originate in the heart. It is the inner proving ground for human innovation.

Throughout this series, we will learn how to train our hearts and increase their capacity to generate creative, superhuman ideas and innovations. But this post is about the most important thing we need to learn as Christians: how to engage God with our hearts.

James 4:8: “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”

When the Bible tells us to draw near to God, it does not mean that we should do so literally. This is due to the fact that none of us can be physically close to God.

God cannot be seen in our physical world unless He opens the spiritual eyes of men to see Him on rare occasions. God, on the other hand, is very close to us, even closer than we expect. James’ admonition to the Church to draw near to God is motivated by God’s proximity to us.

However, many of us are unaware of this, which explains why humans, including believers, frequently experience feelings of fear, abandonment, and despair.

The Heart is God’s House within us

We can reach out to God through our hearts. Nothing can frighten you when you develop this close heart-to-heart connection with God. You gain the courage of a lion. This intimacy with God is what gives hope for a better future even in difficult times.

This intimacy has an impact on our emotions as well; it causes us to rejoice and live in joy because we can feel God no matter where we go. Jesus had a heart-to-heart connection with God. It was so strong that it inspired and influenced everything He did.

He wept in grief when He lost this connection on the cross because it was His main source of strength and fortitude. There are three steps towards enjoying this strong, unbreakable connection with God;

1. Awareness:

The Church needs to go beyond looking for the Presence of God to being aware of the presence of God. The Presence of God is not locked up somewhere in Heaven as many think. His Presence is within us – our heart is the tabernacle of God’s glory and presence. But due to either ignorance or being busy, very few believers enjoy this presence.

Moreover, it is almost impossible to be aware of God’s presence almost twenty-four hours with the kind of turmoil we’re experiencing, but awareness of God is like an art that can be developed and mastered.

  • – See God both inside and outside of yourself.

Psalm 23:4: “….For You are with me…”

We pray because we are aware of God’s indwelling presence. It inspires us to worship. Furthermore, God is said to ‘fill the universe’ in the Bible (Ephesians 1:23). God, as the creator of the universe, has left His imprint on all of His creations.

In fact, everything God created is intended to bear witness to Him and reflect His attributes.

Therefore, let us see God’s glory in the brightness of the sun; let us see God’s grace in the raindrops, His beauty in the lilies, and His creativity in the mountains.

It is very simple and practical to accomplish this feat. Prepare your daily schedule and set aside an hour, thirty minutes, or even fifteen minutes to focus all of your heart energies on being conscious of God’s presence.

When you’re in trouble or confused, instead of trying to mask your feelings by drinking or having a good time, be still and know that God is with you. Although this state will not solve the problem, it will bring peace and joy to your soul.

You’ll have a strong sense that God is working out something good for you. You’ll even get the strength and faith you need to bring the issue to God in prayer.

This is something I do a lot when I’m too tired to continue my studies due to financial constraints. It works!

  • Worship creates awareness

I don’t think there’s anything that awakens the awareness of God’s presence like music. Playing cool worship songs and meditating on the song lyrics can help you feel God’s presence both inside and outside your home.

Allow the lyrics to reach the depths of your soul. Don’t just listen with your ears; listen with your heart as well. Connect to the music’s words; they are the wings that carry the soul to God and the antenna that connects the heart to God.

Being aware of God is one level of engagement; being able to relate to Him as God is an entirely different level, and it is one that every Saint must achieve. Why not talk to God while He is with you?

Being aware of God without attempting to engage Him in conversation is akin to knowing your mother is sitting next to you but ignoring her as if she were a stranger. You will never benefit from God’s wisdom if you do not communicate with Him.

Unfortunately, many believers wait to hear God’s voice before responding to God; however, this is not how it works.

Remember how James stated that when we draw near to God (through our hearts), God draws near to us. Thus, we will begin to recognize God’s voice when we choose to converse with Him as our Father and Friend.

How do I start?

This is the question that many Christians ask when they are told to pray to God. There is no definite way to communicate with God. But it is best to begin by praising Him, thanking Him, and admiring His glorious works.

Here’s an exercise for you:

Visualize God sitting beside you. This requires a lot of inner effort, but it strengthens the heart’s spiritual muscles. After that, begin to thank Him in the same way you would thank a sponsor or a helper who has done something good for you.

Remember to keep your mind on the fact that God is present with you. After thanking Him, go ahead and pour out your heart to Him. Talk to Him about everything you can think of.

This is one of the most effective ways to pray; however, communicating with God can also be done informally, particularly by those who have mastered the art. Here’s one more:

– Begin practicing whatever you see here as you read this post on your device. Simply tell God how much you appreciate Him.

This is one of the most effective ways to pray; however, communicating with God can also be done informally, particularly for those who have mastered the art.

Here’s another exercise: while reading this post on your device, start practicing whatever you see here. Simply tell God how much you love Him, how much you want to be close to Him, and so on. Keep doing this; it will strengthen your flow with God.

3. DO WHAT HE SAYS

Our relationship with God is harmed by disobedience. It is the highest type of dishonor, though ignorant defiance is far more dangerous. The majority of us are unconsciously disobedient. When you ignore a leading to preach to others, enter a trade, make friends with someone, or do something else, you are simply disobeying the Holy Spirit’s leading.

Probably you’ve been feeling an inner pull leading you towards a certain decision, and you are fully convinced that this is not your mere emotions playing a trick on you.

You can seek counsel from spiritual leaders in your Church, and if you remain convinced that it is God’s leading, go ahead and do it!

The more we do what God says, the more we know what God says. Likewise, the more we do what God wants, the more we know what God wants.

Every morning, we’ve been taught to tell God how we want our day to go, but we’ve never been taught to ask God how HE wants our day to go.

The latter is the way of absolute surrender. It is the highest form of worship, and it is what makes God to take abode in everything we do.

It takes more than a trial to develop heart-heart relationship with God. These activities must be done intentionally and must become an integral part of our daily lives. If you practice them daily, you will be in awe at how real your fellowship with God will become.

Written by Nwodo Divine

GENERAL

10 Lessons from the Life of Esther

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The Esther Generation is a community of women who have offered themselves on the altar of sacrifice to God to bring God’s reason and advice to a generation and those save those who are under the slavery of the devil into complete freedom by subscribing to the path of the kingdom Esther lived a life of selflessness, loyalty, submission, divine intervention, and favor.

Despite her unfavorable circumstances, she remained a virtuous lady. Because Esther followed Hegi the Keeper’s instructions, she was given the best place to stay and everything she needed to be crowned queen.

Esther is a role model for Christian women to follow. Here are ten major life lessons we can take from her life:

1. A woman’s beauty lies not in her possessions, but in the virtues and values, she has cultivated. There were more beautiful women in the pageantry to choose the king’s wife, but Esther’s obedience to Hegi, coupled with God’s favor, made her the chosen one.

2. Every successful person has a destiny-helper. A destiny-helper is someone sent by God to guide and assist you in reaching your destiny and fulfilling your purpose. Mordecai was Esther’s destiny-helper. He remained her counselor even when she became queen. Have you identified your destiny-helper? Are you giving honouring him/her?

3. The level of honor you give determines the extent of God’s favor in your life.

4. Even in times of crisis, it is critical to seek God’s face rather than rely on our political/financial positions.

5. To lead God’s people, a sacrifice-minded heart is required. Esther was a very selfless woman. She fasted for three days in order to secure God’s favor for her people. She put her life in danger to ensure the safety of her people. Let us be like Esther and be willing to give up our possessions for the sake of our fellow believers.

6. Esther was a woman of great faith; only women of faith can make a difference in a generation.

7. Esther was a woman of wisdom; she was not in a hurry to kill her enemies, and she waited until the right time before speaking against Haman. Proverbs 13:3 says, “The one who guards his mouth preserves his life“; Esther preserved both her life and the lives of the Jews by her temperance.

8. Esther was highly favoured by God and man because she was submissive to her mentor Mordecai.

9. Esther was a problem solver and solution provider for the Jews, and she was adept at guiding them in the right direction. Only people who solve problems are celebrated. The world is in need of people who will solve their problems and not create new ones for them.

10. Esthers are God’s help system in ridding the church of the evil that was proposed in men’s hearts.

These are some of the things we should learn from the life of Esther.

GENERAL, Prayer

Prayer; The Heart Matters

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What is Prayer?

We have numerous definitions for prayer. Whatever the case may be, God requires us to be more devoted than at any other time in recent memory. We pray to know the Will of God. We pray to know how to carry out the will of God.

We also pray to surrender ourselves to the desires of the kingdom for us. There are several definitions of prayer. Some see it as petitioning, while others see it as communing with God, and so on.. Prayer is what the Church really needs at this point.

When God’s move begins, it begins with His children’s prayers. This intercession ensures that God’s work is carried out precisely and without interference from the forces of darkness. Why do we have to pray? This is because we can only gain insight and understanding into what God is going to do through prayer.

According to Colossians 2:3, “all treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ,” and it is through prayer that these treasures are revealed to us.

THE HEART MATTERS

This is a photograph of possessive

James 4:3 (New International Version)

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

Any prayer prayed for the wrong reasons will be rendered ineffective. Prayer is a sacred duty that must be carried out with the purest of intentions. In the Church, selfishness is the slayer of prayer. It causes God to stifle the much-needed answer.

Prayer for the sake of one’s own selfish interests is a waste of time. According to Proverbs 21, God weighs a man’s heart. He weighs His saints’ hearts; He measures the quality of prayer by the quality of the heart rather than the quantity of words.

If a saint’s motives are not pure, he may say thousands of words before God and leave empty-handed; however, another saint may speak only a few words and leave with the Grace he seeks as a result of pure motives.

Proverbs 15:11: “Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord, How much more the hearts of men!”

We deceive ourselves when we believe God is unaware of the true reason for some of our petitions. God sees our hearts; He hears our thoughts as well as our words. Therefore, before we pray, we must examine our hearts and ensure that our motives are pure. In our prayer, there must be no trace of self or carnality.

FOR HIS GLORY

When we pray, whether in public or privately, the only thing that matters is that God receives the glory. In the place of prayer, His glory and will must be at the center of our desires. In the Kingdom, we are only rewarded for actions that bring glory to God.

HIS BATTLE-AXE

The pure saint must see himself as a battle-axe in the master’s hands, or as a pencil in the creator’s hands. When he prays or fasts, he must remember that it is God who is doing the work through him.

Conclusively, ministers, intercessors, and all members of the Body must keep this in mind. We must not allow the spirit of competition to infiltrate our organization. We must be wary of praying for the sake of showing off.

GENERAL

What can Christians do to stay safe in these perilous times?

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Insecurity has become the order of the day in Nigeria, this is undeniable. Years ago, it was mainly a North-eastern problem, but it has recently become a nationwide problem. Students have been abducted during school hours, police stations have been demolished, and so on. The situation has highlighted the fact that no one in Nigeria is currently secure.

Can’t we pray for it to end?

According to Jeremiah 29:7, the fervency of our prayers determines our nation’s peace and prosperity. However, prayer is not a game-changer in national affairs. Prayer flows in accordance with the will of the people. Nigerians, including many believers, elected the current leader as president about seven years ago.

THERE’S AN APPOINTED TIME

This is not to say that we should stop praying. We must continue to pray for Nigeria’s peace and prosperity at all hours of the day and night. Though the answers to our prayers may appear to be delayed, the light for which we are praying will surely come.

In Matthew 14, Jesus’ disciples were sailing in their boat by themselves. Jesus did not reveal Himself until a massive storm threatened the safety of His disciples. That story teaches us that God usually waits until the storm is raging before intervening. The fact that Nigeria is on the verge of collapse indicates that God is about to do something amazing in that country.

WE ARE THE GOSHEN CITY

In Exodus 7-11, God struck Egypt with a series of plagues. Amazingly, it did not affect His people, the Israelites. The same way God preserved the Israelites in Exodus 11, God has promised to secure His Saints even in the midst of the nation’s insecurity. God has promised in His word that not a single strand of your hair will be consumed by fire. Here are some scriptural things to do to stay safe in times like these;

1. Listen to the voice of your spirit:

I have a friend who was saved from a bandit attack by listening to the voice of his spirit. I recently interviewed him, and this is what he told me:

“I couldn’t make sense of it, but I knew God was showing my spirit something that my physical eyes couldn’t see. Although rebooking a bus seat would have cost me money, I did not board the bus. I went to the airport and rescheduled my trip. We found out two hours later that the bus I refused to board had been hijacked by bandits, and several passengers had been killed. The news traumatized me – the thought that if I had boarded that bus, I would have been among those killed. That experience has taught me to always listen to the voice of my spirit”.

Depending on what God shows or speaks to our spirit, it can be grieved, excited, or both. As Christians, we must learn to be led by the Holy Spirit. Do not go to a place where your spirit will not be accepted.

Psalm 143:10: “… May Your gracious Spirit lead me on level ground.” (HCSB)

If we submit to the leading of the precious Spirit of God, we will be preserved. 

2. Prayer

Prayer is entrusting our souls to God’s care. It expresses our faith in God and acknowledges Him in everything we do. Before you begin your daily activities in the morning, place your entire day in God’s hands. Before making a critical decision, make sure you consult with God. Furthermore, as Christians, we must not only pray for ourselves, but also others. Pray for your children, friends, and family.

3. Live in assurance of God’s security

Doubt and fear are two ways Satan can expose us to harm. The only way to avoid living in doubt is to remain convinced of God’s ever-present presence in your life. 

Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God.”

Be assured that God will be with you as you go out and come in. Let it be your declaration, like David’s in Psalm 23 that “the Lord is with me.” “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God,” says Psalm 20:7. In a society where even the police cannot secure themselves, let alone others, the people’s only hope is God. 

Every day, police stations are destroyed, and soldiers are killed. You cannot afford to put your safety in the hands of the government or security agencies as a believer. Do not be like those who put their trust in chariots and horses; instead, put your trust in God’s promise to protect you from the wicked’s plot.

4. Avoid carelessness!

The fact that God will save us does not imply that we should live recklessly, as God’s promises are not intended to promote irrational living and rash decision-making. Follow security protocols as much as possible. Don’t go out at night by yourself. Avoid going to areas where bandits are a common occurrence.

Finally, we believe that God will intervene in the Nigerian crisis before it escalates; however, while we wait for God to act, let us trust in God and follow security protocols to ensure our safety and the safety of our loved ones.

GENERAL

Living in Victory

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Man was created to win over every condition of life! He was created with the mandate of dominion. This is seen in the account of man’s creation recorded in Genesis 1.

If man was created with the innate ability to explore and have dominion over the circumstances of life, how come we see believers living in misery?

The main reason for this is that we haven’t come into full understanding of the incredible tools God has given us to live this life of victory.

Today, we will be exploring these tools. I call them ‘The Provisions for Victorious Living’.

1. The Mind: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” Proverbs 23:7.

Have you ever wondered what makes man superior to other animals?

We do not have the speed of the Cheetah, so it certainly has nothing to do with athleticism. We do not have the strength of an Elephant or the ferocity of a lion; yet, we are described as superior to these animals. The superior factor is the mind. We have a mind full of unlimited creativity.

Furthermore, If you think on God you will get more of God. As far your mind can think you can get there, as far as your eyes can see you can possess it.

In Romans 12:2, Paul admonishes us to renew our mind as in it lies our transformation. If a Saint will be shifted from a life of mediocrity and misery to a life of victory, such a saint must be continually improve on the quality of his mind daily. This can be achieved by studying your Bible, listening to inspirational tapes etc.

In order for us to live victoriously, let us be resolute in getting rid of mediocre thinking. Excellent prospects and perspectives must be embraced. Positivity must become the order of our minds.

2. The Scriptures:

Every inventor has a manual for instructing the users of his product on how to make best use of his product. The Bible is God’s manual to us on how to apply the finished works of Christ into our lives. Also, through the Bible, we get what is known in the military as ‘Intelligence briefings’.- the warfare strategies of the Kingdom are revealed to us.

Any believer who wants to live in victory must be a diligent student of God’s word as it is the word that teaches us how to win.

Besides if consistent study of academic work will make a child brilliant, how about constant learning from God’s word. The word of God is the source of spiritual intelligence.

Through its ageless instructions, it moulds, remoulds and enhances our character. It reshapes our perspectives and imparts us with the wisdom needed for victorious living.

3. Prayer:

Prayer is a path that cannot be ignored if one desires to live in victory. This is because prayer strengthens our spirit and puts us in a disposition to boldly face the challenges of life.

Any believer who doesn’t know how to pray will always be destabilized when he faces turmoil. But a believer who has mastered the art of prayer will always experience the peace of God no matter how bad things may seem to be.

Do you want to live in victory?

The secret is in having a habitual prayer life. Folks, this is where our victory is – in prayer. A wise man once said, ‘The more you spend time on your knees in prayer, the more God takes you higher’.

DON’T JUST HEAR, DO!

James 1:22 admonishes not to be mere hearers of God’s word, but to also practice it. Thus, use these provisions for victory daily. Constantly improve on the quality of your thinking; be a student of God’s word and be consistent in the place of prayer. God bless you!

GENERAL

The Power of Gratitude

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A long time ago, two children ran to meet me to ask for candies. I happily gave each a dollar to purchase chocolates from the grocery store.

They both went to purchase it, but only one of them returned to thank me for it. I was so moved by the gratitude of the grateful little child that I gave her an extra dollar.


This incidence taught me that if humans could be moved by gratitude from whoever they help, what about God.



I found my answer in Luke 17:14-15;


“And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God” Luke 17:14-15.


In the aforementioned text, Jesus was speaking to ten lepers who were in need of healing. He sent them to the priests, miraculously, the ten lepers got healed of leprosy even before they got to the priest.



But of the ten, only one returned to give thanks to Jesus.


From this passage, we learn that,



– Gratitude is recognition and acknowledgement of what God has done.

Only one leper realized he was healed and he recognized the Christ was the source of the healing. A grateful Saint will always attribute his blessings to the hand of God and not the work of luck.

Only ungrateful believers see the mercies of God upon their lives as sheer luck or fortune; the grateful ones always attribute it to God and they give Him the thanks deserving of it.


Thus, we learn that as believers we must be mindful to attribute both the little and big blessings we see in our lives to the Grace of God.

The Saint who has developed the habit of thanking God for even the common miracles such as breathing, seeing, comprehending etc, is a grateful Saint.



An ungrateful heart does not recognize and acknowledge what God has done. Jesus loves those who are always grateful.


Furthermore, in the account of the ten lepers, I observed that they were all healed, yet none had total wholeness other than the one who came to give thanks to Jesus. Don’t be like those who are waiting until God something gigantic before they acknowledge His grace and mercy.


Besides, gratitude perfects the working of God in our lives. It is a proof of faith. The proof of your faith in God is ability to give him thanks even though you feel he is not working.



GRATITUDE GIVES US INCOMPREHENSIBLE PEACE


Philippians 4:6 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”


Philippians 4:7 “If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”


The Bible tells us that praise and giving of thanks must go hand-in-hand. Prayer is asking for something to be done, while gratitude is appreciating God for that which He has done.


Paul tells us in Philippians that when we do this, the peace of God that passes all understanding shall be released into our hearts.

This peace is the assurance of God’s help even in times of difficulty. A Saint who knows how to show gratitude never lack this peace. Therefore, in a world of turmoil and confusion, let us endeavor to constantly glorify the name of our God; this will solidify in our souls the inner assurance that we shall be saved from all evil.

GRATITUDE STRENGTHENS FAITH




Giving thanks in the midst of turmoil is one of the most difficult duties of a Saint – yet, it is the highest expression of faith. In Psalm 34:3, we see that praise magnifies God. This doesn’t mean it makes God bigger or stronger; rather, praise and giving of thanks makes God more real in our troubles.

Every time we give thanks to God, we make more visible in our lives. When God is seen, faith is strengthened; therefore, let us endeavor to live a life of gratitude and thanksgiving so that our faith will stand strong in the midst of turmoils.

GRATITUDE IMPROVES OUR MENTAL WELL-BEING

One who pays more attention to the negative occurrences than to the miracles of God in his life will certainly wallow in sadness and depression; whereas a saint who knows how to appreciate God for the daily miracles will always be happy. The habit of giving thanks to God in all situations inspires one’s soul.

Thus, give thanks when you wake up in the morning; give thanks for the food you eat; give thanks for your breath; give thanks for your family. Dear saint, live a life of gratitude and surely, you will experience an overflow of divine peace.

Even in turmoil?

Yes. We are to live a life of gratitude to God even in turmoil because we believe that someday it will be over. When we are persecuted, we give thanks for the privilege to be identified and scorned at as children of God. When we are in lack, we express gratitude that though there may be no food to eat, yet our soul is nourished with the graces of God daily.

This is the life of the children of God, folks, and we are to live it to its fullness!

This article was written by GreenHills Emmanuel