King David discovered the power and the protection of the God’s secret place (Ps 27). What is this secret place? It is the manifested presence of God, the Holy Spirit. In that secret, closed garden I enjoy the privilege of intimate fellowship with the Lord. I am free to admire the beauty of His Holiness and to become like Him. I spend my time seeking God in His Temple, in His Word. He heals my broken heart from the past pain of rejection. In His presence I am free to worship God, to sing for joy for His favor on me. Under the shadow of His wings I am His student. God teaches me His ways and leads me in a straight path, far from the hidden traps of my enemies. He protects me from false witnesses, from liars who testify with wickedness in their hearts. These are lazy oppressors, greedy men, who are all hungry for unjust gain. They want to expose me, to put me to shame, to wound and to destroy my testimony. Outside His presence I am weak, vulnerable, foolish, impatient and lost. But in His presence my faith increases and I receive daily strength to wait for the justice for my cause.

IN CHRIST I DECLARE:
‘I dwell in the center of God’s presence!
I am dead to the world and the world is dead to me!
I am invisible to my enemies!
My courage to confront my enemies has increased!
My enemies shall be put to shame!
My victory and prosperity is sure!
My testimony is sealed!
‘I am confident of this: I shall see the goodness (and the pleasure) of the Lord in the land of the living’ (Ps 27:13)
All glory to God!
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen!’

William Wilberforce (1759-1833)
He was an English politician and a Christian hero, a statesman-saint held up as a role model for putting his faith into action.
He was born in a rich family and spent his youth in wasteful pursuits. He loved parties, drinking alcohol and having many worldly friends. He was going to Anglican Church but he was not saved. He was a member of the Parliament.
He was never strong physically. His eye sight was very poor. He was 39 years old when he married and he had six children.
At the age of 25 he had a deep crisis conversion. He openly repented of all his sins in an age when people mocked true believers. He promised God that he will do all he can to improve the lives of men. That is when God touched his heart about the sin of slavery.
The British initially became involved in the slave trade during the 16th century. By 1783, the triangular route that took British-made goods to Africa to buy slaves, transported the enslaved to the West Indies, and then brought slave-grown products such as sugar, tobacco, and cotton back to Britain. This represented about 80 percent of Great Britain’s foreign income. British ships carried forty thousand enslaved men, women and children across the Atlantic in horrific conditions. Of the estimated 11 million Africans transported into slavery, about 1.4 million died during the voyage.
William Wilberforce took the lead to pass a law in the Parliament that abolishes the slave trade. He called slavery a sin against God and a national disgrace. The fight against the slave trade took many years of mighty opposition. Pro-slavery advocates claimed that enslaved Africans were lesser human beings and they benefited from their bondage. They said that the black people cannot organize themselves and they will always need a master to tell them what to do. Wilberforce never wavered from his commitment that all men should be free and he insisted that the black man is a brother. His passion for justice was rewarded at last. After 21 years of violent debates in the Parliament, when he lost many friends and supporters, he finally witnessed the passing of the law that made slave trade illegal. The date was 25th of March, 1807. As his colleagues congratulated him for his victory, he collapsed and openly wept tears of joy… Then he said:
“Africa, your sufferings have been the theme that has arrested and engaged my heart. Your sufferings, no tongue can express, no language impart…May God Himself bless and heal Africa!”
Amen!

‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight’ (PV 3:5, 6)
The principle of submission and respect to God, for our daily choices, is revealed in the Bible. Intimacy and communion with God is the foundation for true and lasting success. Bring to God all your proposals for action and wait for His Word before you proceed. Do not be in a hurry! Do not bring preconditions to God when you pray! Let God be God! He directs you ‘with His eyes’. If He says ‘yes’ it is yes! If He says ‘no’ it is no! This is the Word of God leading you to a blessed life, free from unexpected hindrances, unnecessary delays and useless pains. It is a life of peace, joy, wisdom and fulfillment. It is a fruitful life free from ‘menopause’.
Only God can offer such a blessed gift! Only God!
In Hebrew, the word ‘straight’ in the scripture above means the most convenient option. The condition for success is to tell God about everything. Do not ‘move’ without God! Then the journey of your life shall be right, safe, pleasant and prosperous.
Please observe that the command to trust God is to be done with ALL your heart and in ALL circumstances of life. Submission to God’s will, as revealed in the Bible, affects the totality of our emotions. This is a diligent, detailed and patient walk with God. It is step by step; moment by moment. There is no ‘jumping’ when walking with God (except when He ‘jumps’, then you jump with Him, of course…).
Draw closer to God that He may draw closer to you and show you wonderful things from His law! The Word of God should be your delight, sweeter than your daily food, stronger than your personal dreams and safer than your home.
The more I study the Bible, the more I love it! The Bible is a stranger to you except you read it; you study it and daily apply its words. Do you try to imagine how your life can be if you truly obey the Word of God? The best you can imagine is still below the vision of who you can be, according to God’s plan and purpose in Christ…
“Father, help me…I wasted enough time…please increase my hunger and appreciation for Your Word…help me to obey Your commandments…help me to fulfill my destiny in Christ…I depend on You, in Jesus name I pray, amen!”

O, LORD, REVIVE US AGAIN!
DONALD, THE BOY WHO PRAYED…
‘Among those converted the following night was a fifteen-year-old boy who became an outstanding helper in the revival. This lad became a “frontline” prayer-warrior. Duncan Cambe…ll called at his home one day and found him on his knees in the barn with the Bible open before him. When interrupted he quietly said: “Excuse me a little, Mr. Campbell, I’m having an audience with the King.” Donald prayed until the power of God laid hold on all in his village, on those who were dead in sins transforming them into living stones in the Church of Jesus Christ.
But there was much opposition against reveival. Rev. Duncan was assisting at a Communion service; the atmosphere was heavy and preaching difficult, so he sent to Barvas for some of the men to come and assist in prayer. They prayed, but the spiritual bondage persisted, so much so that half way through his address Rev. Duncan stopped preaching. Just then he noticed the same boy, visibly moved, under deep burden for souls. He thought: “That boy is in touch with God and living nearer to the Saviour than I am.” So leaning over the pulpit he said: “Donald, will you lead us in prayer?” The lad rose to his feet and in his prayer made reference to the fourth chapter of Revelation, which he had been reading that morning: “Oh God, I seem to be gazing through the open door. I see the Lamb in the midst of the Throne, with the keys of death and of hell at His girdle.”
He began to sob; then lifting his eyes toward heaven, cried: “O God, there is power there, let it loose!” With the force of a hurricane the Spirit of God swept into the building and the floodgates of heaven opened. The church resembled a battlefield. On one side many were prostrated over the seats weeping and sighing; on the other side some were affected by throwing their arms in the air in a rigid posture. God had come into His house!
Halleluyah!’
Question: WHEN LAST DID YOU TAKE HOLD OF GOD?

(These are testimonies from the revival on the Island of Lewis, Scotland led my Rev. Duncan Cambell, 1949-1952. The revival started in the Church of Scotland in Barvas, Lewis. The revival has stopped but the church still stands as seen in the picture)

This is the Word of God: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zech. 9:9).
Jesus entered Jerusalem at last. In the past, He was keeping Hid presence ‘a secret’. This is the only time that He chose visibility because He entered as the King. But even then, it was a surprise entry, a special blessing only for them who had eyes to see…
There was no ‘red carpet’ coming from the religious community. So the ‘ordinary’ crowd along the road, gathered by the Spirit of God, placed their patched coats on the dirty ground for Him…
There were not imported flowers or royal flags to beautify the dusty road. So the people cut off palm branches and offered a wave offering to their King…
There was no ‘mass choir’ singing melodiously, songs rehearsed for the occasion. So the children and the people passing by, they clapped their hands, they danced and cried spontaneously: ‘Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
The place was rowdy, noisy and dusty as the King of Glory stepped into town riding on a donkey…
Donkeys are ‘low class’ animals. They maximum height is 1, 6 meters. They are always looking tired for they are generally over- worked and underfed. Even today, all over the world, it is only the poor people who use them. They patiently carry great loads on their backs, from morning till evening.
Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, slowly making progress, His feet almost touching the ground…that is not the picture you have about a great King. He could have chosen to enter riding on a camel, an elephant or a horse. These are big animals that intimidate the spectators. These are the choice of earthly kings. But He came to the Holy city riding on a female donkey with her coal by her side. What a picture…To the religious leaders, Jesus looked more like a clown than a King…
If it was today, if Jesus came to Warri today…He could have not entered in a black Jeep with tinted windows… with many mopols whipping people with kobokos… with sirens making noise and police lights blinding the eyes… with a select entourage of CAN representatives praying in tongues…NO! No! No!
If Jesus came to Warri today, He could have entered in a Keke (very small car on three tires) and the only people who could have known are they who intercede, who pray for mercy and revival on behalf of this land, forgotten by politicians and wounded by violent men.
May God bless all intercessors that have the burden to pray, that the Desire of all Nations shall manifest, that revival shall come and the Glory of God is revealed to this generation! Worship the King!
Against all odds…the doors of Warri have opened wide, all padlocks broken…The King of glory is now in our midst!
Blessed are you if you can sing Hosanna!

‘Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away’ (Mt 21:18, 19)

Let’s look afresh at this incident in the Bible and study the words of Jesus…. We are praying for revival. Surely there is something here to help us in our time of need.
The first thing we see is that Jesus was hungry. God is hungry for fruit, sweet and pleasant. A fig tree is a symbol of prosperity. A barren fruit tree is a type of false hope. The tree had green beautiful leaves, but no figs. That is a symbol of religious hypocrisy. The prevous day Jesus cleansed the House of God. It was immediately after the cleaning of the Temple that the miracles of healing began to happen. The next step was an open door to the praises of the King!
These are very important spiritual principles. If you desire to receive miracles of healing and deliverance, then you have to repent of sin. This repentance has to be from your heart, with fruit to prove its reality. A pure heart shall receive her miracle!
This tree along the road gave false hopes of prosperity but no performance. Then Jesus cursed it and it withered. A tree without fruit planted in the house of God will soon lose its leaves also and become naked and disgraced. The purpose of a tree is to produce fruits. If a tree does not fulfill its God- given purpose, it shall be destroyed. The religious hypocrites in the church are in grave danger and they will be exposed and disgraced when the Master comes to visit His Bride.
‘The sinners in Zion are terrified! Fearfulness has gripped the hypocrites…’ (Is 33:14)
The warning to repent of hypocrisy cannot be overemphasized! Please take note: a sinner is not a hypocrite according to the Bible. When the world talks about hypocrisy, they mean something else than what the Bible says. A sinner is a sinner. A hypocrite is someone who goes to church, says is a believer but in reality he is not. A hypocrite is someone who takes God’s name in vain. This is a very grave charge! Jesus was not angry with the sinners. He was angry and cursed the religious hypocrites! If you look for hypocrites, for these barren fig trees, these are not outside the church. They are seated in the pews and they stand in the pulpits of churches, preaching and teaching. These shall be judged more seriously than the ‘ordinary’ sinners.
The question remains…are you an hypocrite? Are you like a tree along the road, with green, beautiful leaves and no fruit for Jesus? Are you in church advertising yourself and totally lacking the love, the patience and mercy of Jesus? Jesus physically removed the traders of doves from His Temple; so He will physically remove you from the church if you do not repent of hypocrisy! Selah!
Jesus says that we should pray with faith and without doubt. That is the road to experience miracles. That is when mountains shall be relocated into the sea. When Jesus commanded the tree to wither and it did, the disciples were amazed. They did not ask ‘why do you do this” but the wonder was ‘how did You do this’? Then Jesus said to them that faith without the damage of doubt is the key. It is faith in this same Jesus, that He can do miracles, that is the key to open the door! It is then that we can speak to circumstances and things shall change, to the glory of God! Father, grant them a new begining, in Jesus name, amen!

‘Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life’ (PV 4:23)
The heart is a vital organ. The heart is the center of life, both physically and spiritually. You can live without an eye, a leg or without a kidney. But if the heart dies, you die. We are commanded to be actively interested in the state of our hearts. Ignorance, laziness, carelessness in this matter is suicidal. The natural food comes in and goes out of the body. Sometimes it damages it, being polluted or poisonous. But it is still eliminated at the end of the day. But in the Spirit realm whatever we feed our heart with, good or bad, will be retain inside. There is no system of evacuation except thru the mouth. Sin comes in thru the eyes or thru the ears. Every pornographic material, every gossip that you listen to, will eventually be deposited as scum in the heart. With time, the unholy process fills the heart to overflowing and the mouth will expose the secret sins inside. Un-confessed and un-repented sins lead to heart failure. Sooner or later, your mouth will betray your secrets, your cherished sins stored in the heart for years. You shall prove to be an enemy of God and a traitor to His Kingdom…God forbid!
The only hope for the heart to change, to be purged and cleansed – is God! The heart of each man is in His hand! You need to repent and confess all your sins. You need to ‘vomit’ them and you shall be empty and clean. Then you ask the Holy Spirit to feel your heart. God will do it because it is His promise to all His children (Lk 11:11-13)
Once you are filled with the Spirit of God, you can never be the same again! You speech will change radically! Out of the forever new, fresh and powerful deposit of the Spirit in your heart, you shall bring forth life. You shall preach the truth that sets all sinners free! You shall prophesy revival in your home and it shall be so! You shall pray for the sick and they shall be healed! You shall command death to leave and it shall be so! You shall lift up the oppressed and the weary by the hope of glory in your heart and mouth! Your ministry will be done in the power resurrection of the Spirit of God!
Hell will know your name and tremble! Heaven will know your name and rejoice! God shall reward you for your labor of love, which is stronger than death! Glorious fruit that abide will be your everlasting memorial! Your children shall arise and call you BLESSED!
O my heart, my heart…listen to the Word of God! Be strong, and clean, and holy! Worship the King of kings today and forever!

Mrs. Potiphar was possibly a beautiful women and very skillful in manipulation and the art of sexual seduction. Joseph could not have been her first victim. ‘Many are the victims she has brought down, her slain are a mighty throng’ (PV 7:26). We see here that she was confident of success and her words were arrows directed towards the flesh, to simulate it…. But as experienced as she thought she was, she made a grave mistake. She assumed that Joseph is just a religious man. She did not know Joseph’s God. She underestimated the power of the Holy Spirit in him. She took it for granted that just because she is lusting after Joseph, that Joseph will lust after her.
The evil spirit of Jezebel is foolishly over confident. She assumes that all men are weak and all fall to her seductive power. The devil has a great record of making men fall into sin. But in Christ, we are given His Spirit to successfully resist these attacks.
Apparently Joseph was dead to the flesh. He has been to the Cross of Christ. In fact he stands for Christ, a man who suffered unjustly but overcame at last.
Lesson: Go to the Cross and totally crucify your flesh! The Spirit and the flesh war unto death. There is no settlement for them. At the Cross of Christ the answer is given: Die to sin! Die to the flesh! Die to the world! Die to the devil! Once you are ‘dead’ the devil loses his power to seduce you. For example, a corpse is not afraid to be tempted by a naked woman or by any bribe. This is the secret the devil fears! Die to him and you are free! There is rest in this death and power also.
Madam Potiphar did not know that Joseph was dead to her. She wanted sex with Joseph or he should die. She lost it all. All her fake cries, her manipulations and false accusations achieved nothing. Joseph could have died but God was in control. He was promoted to be a prisoner, a step closer to his destiny. With God, going lower is going higher!

REMEMBER GOD!
Under the temptation to commit adultery, Joseph confronted the evil spirit of Jezebel with the Word of God. This is the same strategy Jesus applied when He was tempted (Mt 4). Read, mediate and pray the Word of God!
Lesson no. six: Preach to the devil!
What Potiphar’s wife called ‘bed’ Joseph called ‘sin against God’. Tell the tempter you are a child of God! Call lust, lesbianism or sex outside marriage by its correct name: SIN! It is because of our sins that Jesus died on the Cross. To sin carelessly it means to crucify Jesus the second time and disgrace His grace… God forbid! I say it again: God forbid!
To remember God it means to study and deposit His Word in our hearts. The greater the deposit of scriptures in your heart, the greater the chance of victory against sin!
‘How can a man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word…I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You….Praise be to You, O Lord!’ (Ps 119:9-12)