‘You saved the best until now’ Lord Jesus… (John 2: 10)

All marriages, no matter how strong, will eventually ‘finish’ their wine of joy and passion and end up ‘dry’: no hatred, no love, just ‘water- surviving’ arrangement. There is a moment when you discover that all the love has been exhausted on daily errands and routine of life. There is a moment when fear will grip the heart that your secret failure will become public display; ‘They have no more wine…’

That place of loneliness and shame is the moment for the true friend to step in and help. The best marriage counselors are not found seated at the table waiting to be served. They are found in the background among the servants who know the secret of brewing the miracle of supernatural love that never dies. Once you taste from the latter wine, once you allow God to love your spouse through your heart, your marriage will receive the stamp of heaven and will survive even death. Never forget the power of the latter rain! That is where the glory dwells!

In Christ I declare:
My marriage belongs to God!
Jesus is the Lord of my marriage, the Red Cord that can never be broken!
I will never lose hope in my marriage for my spouse is a gift from God and God never makes mistakes!
My marriage shall last until death will ‘part’ us! Nothing else will be able to destroy it before death!
I hate divorce!
Like the wine, my marriage shall be better as it we get older!
Holy romance shall always ‘bubble’ in my marriage!
The best is yet to come!
In Jesus name, Amen!

“In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had…
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”
And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked” (Jn 5:3-9)

Let’s take a walk by the Bethesda pool…So much sickness… so much sorrow…so little hope…
There is one waiting for 38 years to be forgiven and healed. But no man could help. Even when the Spirit moved, no man was strong enough, or fast enough, or stored enough compassion to help a dying neighbor. Sin and sickness hid the beauty of hope; a downhill fall…

Then Jesus came and with just a word, all things became new. A miracle…The weak feet could now carry the weight of God’s glory in His chosen vessel. Like an ugly worm in his cocoon, the last painful push for breakthrough and behold, the butterfly opens his wings to touch the light he has never seen before!
The Healer commands: ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk!’
From now on this is your duty and and your ministry! Walk about for all to see! Walk and dance for the pleasure of your Savior!
Lest I forget, clean your place behind! Carry away your cocoon- mat! There is no need for it anymore! The comfort of sickness and the skill of begging men is replaced by healing testimony and a new step never tried before. Sell the mat and go buy your dancing shoes, my friend!

The enemy hides behind the colonnades; defeated and jealous he wants you to go back into the cocoon again; back to darkness; back to the place before the Encounter. The enemy sees you only as ‘the man with the mat’; with useless legs bound with cords of dried hope. The enemy is blind to the work of your Creator who, one brush in His mouth and another lifted up, designs rainbow wings in His secret place.
Your Friend, the King sees you as His worshiper, His lover, who dances with a banner lifted high.

So, Walk, Dance and in between Fly High! The Cage Door is open and the air on the mountains is clean. Wonderful music from above will teach you the way to be grateful!
“I am grateful, my Lord!”

In Christ I declare:
I am free indeed!
In Jesus name
Amen!

“So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.
Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them” (Ez 33:31, 32)

Many people (I call them ‘spiritual artists’) like prophetic meetings and prophetic utterances. They like to feel the rush of emotions when the secrets of hearts are revealed, when darkness gives way to the light of God. They like the sound of prophetic words spoken aloud in a congregation. They quote the prophet’s words to others, they admire them, they say ‘wow’, they imagine the background music compatible with the utterance for the season, they design T-Shirts and banners or dance to the tune of heavenly bells.
But…Now this is the sad part of the story…
They just like the sound of the words but they do not take them seriously, they do not obey them!
Is this possible? It is very common in fact.
God warned Ezekiel to be careful with people who pay the price for a visit, have the right greeting prepared at the door, have the attached smile and handshake, have all the flattery ready…but, they are not true friends at all! They are gossips and greedy for selfish gain. They came to visit the prophet to glean some ‘garage sale’ prophetic words, cheaply bought but with some little polishing and repackaging, they can make millions in their latest best selling books.

God’s Word is not a luxury, it is not icing sugar on our emotions, it is not chewing gum to keep us awake in the church. The Word of God is not for sale! The Word of God is life, it is salt, it is light in the darkness and the greatest weapon given to men!

In Christ I declare:
I trust in God and I trust in His Prophets!
Because of this, I am established spiritually!
I shall experience victory and prosperity!
In Jesus name
Amen!

“Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ…

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith” (Rom 1:1-17)

These words introduce us to the wonderful letter Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome. The Book of Romans is the most important book in the Bible, by which we can understand ‘the technicality’ of our salvation and sanctification. All major revivals in the history of the church came out from understanding the revelations from this book. The doctrine of justification by faith is the foundation in understanding salvation. It is my counsel that you read it prayerfully. I promise that you shall never be the same.

In these days of so much religious counterfeit preaching, going back to basics is wisdom indeed.

Apostle Paul was saved by the sovereign will of God. There is absolutely no sign that he desired to surrender his life to Christ. In fact it was the opposite. He hated the name of Jesus and persecuted the church. The resurrected Christ met with him on the road to Damascus and thru a crisis conversion he became saved. Here he tells us that the reason why God ‘arrested’ him was to make him a servant of the Gospel of Christ.

In other words, there are available jobs in the kingdom of God. I am talking about being servants to the Gospel of God. This is one of the highest paid jobs in universe! Just be sure you preach the right Gospel and you shall never regret it! To be a servant to someone, that person must be great and rich. The Gospel is greater than all men! To be a good servant you must understand your master very well!

God is looking for men to defend and serve the Gospel of His Son!

Let them who have ears, let them hear!

The word Gospel in Greek is ‘euaggelion’ from which the word ‘evangelism’ comes. It means the public announcement of wonderful news. During the Roman Empire, messengers were sent all over the land to tell people about the victories and trophies Caesar has won. The listeners were not there on the battle field, but thru the royal messengers, everybody was informed, believed and rejoiced.

In the same way, God is sending His messengers to inform everybody that His Beloved Son has completely defeated satan on the field of Calvary. We are to proclaim this total victory to all human beings, telling them to surrender, trust and obey the King of Kings from now on. At the hearing of the Gospel, God’s people rejoice and God’s enemies tremble! All human beings on earth, rich or poor, old or young, they all need the Gospel!

Preaching the Gospel means to proclaim Christ Crucified and the Victory of the Cross!!!

The Gospel is all about the Person and the work of Jesus Christ!!!

The name of Jesus was given to the second person of the Trinity for His work as the Savior. In fact the name Jesus, or Joshua, means ‘Jehovah saves’. The name Christ is the mighty name of power and anointing coming from the Holy Spirit.

God the Father invented the Gospel. No man could have imagined this way to heaven. God the Son cooperated with the desire of the Father and came down to earth in flesh. He lived and died to obey God, to glorify His name and to save the sinners. God the Holy Spirit applies this truth to our spirits so that we can believe and be saved.

Let me be even more practical…

The preaching of the Gospel is this:

Tell people that they are sinners going to hell and that they need a Savior!

Tell them that Jesus Christ is the only Savior!

Tell them that Jesus died on the Cross to save their souls!

Tell them that they have to come and completely and unconditionally surrender their all to Christ!

Tell them that anyone found outside Christ is hell bound!

Tell them that grace is found only in Jesus Christ!

Tell them that the Universe does not have even a drop of grace for anyone outside Christ!

Tell them that once they surrendered their lives they have to learn to be ‘obedient to the faith in Christ’! Tell them that true saving faith destroys the spirit of rebellion against Christ and His commands!

Tell them that if they are still persistently disobedient to God’s commands they are not saved!

Tell them that God ignored their disobedience in the past, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent and surrender to King Jesus!

Tell them that ignoring this word, this warning and command means eternal death!

Tell them that it is appointed to men to die once, after that there is God’s judgment!

Tell them that none of their good works and no man can save them! Only Jesus Christ can do that!

Do not stop hammering the nails in the flesh of your listeners until they bow to Jesus! The Holy Spirit will use your words to trouble their consciences and they shall lose their sleep until they surrender!

If you stop hammering the whole truth about Christ and His Cross as the only way to save men, it means that you are ashamed of the Gospel. If you are tired of evangelism, it means that you are ashamed of His Gospel! For there is no other reason for that!

Be sure Christ Crucified is the center! Whatever sermon you preach that does not have Christ in the center is a fake, useless ‘gospel’ that can never save anyone! The so called gospel of prosperity or approval by religious works, these are of the devil! God holds us responsible to preach the true Gospel and to preach it to the end! There is no favoritism with God! There shall be none with us, His servants! May your arm be strong once more! Hold the hammer and bang the nails! You can do it!

Jesus is Lord!

As for me, I vowed to God who called me to ministry to remain faithful to Him to the end! By God’s grace I shall never be ashamed to preach the true Gospel of God, which is Christ and Him Crucified!

I shall lift Jesus Christ my Savior higher and higher! May He draw your hearts after Himself!

May the power promised by God, to them who are faithful in ministry, manifest even right now!

May signs and wonders follow the proclamation of His Gospel even in this humble letter to all!

In Jesus name,

Amen!”

This is our testimony: I was sick with malaria since Monday. I trusted God for the healing for the pilgrims were waiting for me. I was shivering when I entered the sanctuary at 4:50. Then Pastor Trish started the prayers. Favor, our worship leader sent her daughter with the message that she too has malaria. I told her to still go on and praise God like this. She started slow, then suddenly the Holy Spirit took over and she started singing with power a much loved chorus: “The Church is marching on…the church is marching on…The gates of hell cannot prevail… the Church is marching on!” I felt the fever leaving me and she too was strong.
I confronted them with past unresolved fears and failures. For example, after years of trekking, they pray to own and drive a Jeep. Then let’s say God gives it to them. Happily they enter the car and suddenly they experience a strange fear about armed robbers taking the car away from them. For all the years in poverty, using public transport, they never experienced this fear. We prayed to let go of these fears if not the doubt of progress will hinder them and all of us, as a group of pilgrims going higher on the mountain of God.
Spiritually speaking, climbing mountains is a skill to be acquired. The vision and the heart of a champion shall be provided by God to them who are willing to mature spiritually. Many are called to dwell in the comfort zones of an ordinary Christian life. Few are chosen by God for leadership and inspiration.

CONFRONT INCAPACITATING FEARS
One of the great hindrances we shall experience is the fear of the unknown. Closely associated with this, are the fear of heights and the fear of falling. These are common fear to all men. They start in childhood when the parents instill fear in their children for their own protection. They tell them not to go far away from home, not to climb trees or ladders. For their safety, the parents want to control the children minds and environment. They are told that they should not welcome strangers or new experiences; they should not take risks or to go to dangerous places. If the children try new things, that is equaled with rebellion. This mind set to please their parents becomes a stronghold of fear that kills any desire of adventure later in life. The children, now adults, conform themselves to the world and hate anything different, like travel or understanding other cultures. Their choices are connected with the same environment that they have mastered for years. They make friends from among their colleagues; they marry their neighbors…
Spiritually speaking, they depend on their denomination’s doctrines and values and fear any other perspective. Their growth is stunted and they resist any challenges to mature as Believers. Practically speaking, they may be born again but they hate the doctrine of the Baptism and the Filling with the Holy Spirit. This type of fear accompanied with a number of familiar symptoms like, rapid pulse, dry mouth, constant perspiration, lack of clear thought and speech, trembling in fear, fear of dying, anxiety attacks or breathing troubles.
Once the child becomes saved, he has a new perspective of things. He will be led by the Holy Spirit, feeling safe to go to new strange places. His friends change, his attitude to life change. He knows that safety and peace is not the absence of challenges, but it is where the Holy Spirit is.
As a believer, you have to confront your past fears so that you can keep moving, keep climbing the mountain of Transfiguration. You have to pray and set yourself free from their incapacitating shackles. Your natural parents were full of anxieties and refused to move ahead; that was in the past. But now, as a Believer in Christ you now belong to the family of God and your vision is different. Listen to this:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom 12;1,2)
Lastly, this is foundational: all fears except the holy fear of God are from the devil. If you are a child of God you should reject them instantly. Do not bargain with your fears…Reject them in the name of Jesus!
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2Tim 1:7)
I still remember the impact the above verse made on me when I became saved. I sat down and dwelt upon it. I settled with God in my heart that I will always reject fears, that I will not allow any such evil foothold in my heart. This is Rock on which you can stand. It will never disappoint you and you will never be put to shame if trusting God’s word you reject all fears. I tried it for many years and it has worked for me 100%. You go on and try it too…

“Blessed is he who considers the poor;

The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.

The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive,

And he will be blessed on the earth;

You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.

The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness;

You will sustain him on his sickbed” (Ps 41:1-3)

This week I was sick with malaria. For the people who do not live in the Tropical areas, I add this information: Malaria is a mosquito borne infectious disease. The symptoms are similar with the flu: fever, rigors, body pains, fatigue and loss of appetite. The total duration may be about a week and then there is recovery. Some cases can be very serious and the patients die.

I live in Nigeria since 1980. I do not take preventive medication against malaria. My body’s immunity is higher than that of visitors to this area. I keep my house mosquito free as much as I can. Then I pray for God’s protection. But occasionally I get sick, like what happened this week.

I took malaria medications and I prayed for healing. Then I waited to see what lessons I can learn from these days of discomfort. For nothing happens by mistake to a child of God. This is the fifth day since the beginning of the sickness. I already feel better and I feel the strength pouring in, little by little.

This letter is not to ask for well wishes from anybody (thank you anyway…). It is so to remind ourselves that we are human and that in whatever trials we pass in this life, we should learn from one another.

I want to say that during these days of sickness, my mind was restless not about my condition, but about preparing the message for the prophetic ‘Saturday Class’. The word for this season was this: ‘it is time to climb the mountain of spices’! We said that as a church, we should let go of the ‘lower, valley’ vision of Christ and that we should press on towards spiritual maturity. The last word was: ‘Keep moving!’

By the grace of God I am the class teacher and the leader of the prophetic pilgrims. I did not expect to get sick half a way the resting place. But this is the reality and I have to wrestle with the Word to find a revelation for this unexpected need. I prayed and pleaded with God for strength and healing. Today is Friday. I need total healing in less than 24 hours. For my students will wait for me and especially for God’s Word. This was the only reason I could plead for God to grant me healing.  I do not have the luxury of a bed rest in a five star hotel by the beach. God’s sheep and lambs are waiting tomorrow for their food and provision.

As I pondered about the situation, my eyes fell on Psalm 41. I read the first three verses…I discovered that there is a provision of supernatural healing from any sickness at all (!!!) for them who ‘consider the weak’. What does it mean? Do I qualify?

The word ‘consider’ in Hebrew describes an intelligent and successful man, one who is prudent in all his ways; because he is so successful he has become  a teacher, an expert in the field of successful living. He is able to find the solution to any problem, no matter how complicated it is. This man represents God in His function as the Wonderful Counselor. This considering man will give you hope in any situation.

The word ‘weak’ is the opposite. It means someone who has failed in life and now he is in great need; someone who is empty, dry, hungry and is dying. His friends have betrayed him and now they are happy that is sick and dying. Without God’s Word and His Blessings, his situation is completely hopeless.

As I pondered about these words, I discovered that there is healing for me. I truly qualify to open God’s pharmacy door and take whatever I need. I felt God’s presence and I saw the open door of His healing!

This is what was in my mind all these days: God’s people are waiting for me…I need to help the weak! I need to teach the ignorant! I need to be in the church tomorrow! How can sickness stop God’s work? It is impossible!

Gently, the Holy Spirit came closer and He touched me. He healed me!

When I started writing this letter, I was slow…Right now my fingers are fast and my heart rejoices…I smile…God heals them who unselfishly ‘consider the weak’! God heals them who are concerned for the progress of His people!  This is the end of the matter!

Lastly, I say to you: ‘By the grace of God…I will see you tomorrow on the slopes… Keep moving!’

“Then he (Elisha) said to him, “Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.” And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow” (2Kg 5:26, 27)

In the Book of 2 Kings, Chapter 5 we find the well-known story of Naaman, the Syrian commander. He was a famous man; a great general in the Assyrian army.  Assyria was the archenemy of Israel. We are told that Jehovah gave Naaman victory in war for He wanted the humble His people. The general kidnapped a Jewish girl who became a house slave to his wife. Life could not have been better for Naaman. But we are told: ‘he was a leper’. With all his successes, social status and wealth, he was dying.

Leprosy in the Bible is described as a hated, infectious and unclean disease. It starts with a little lesion on the skin. Then it spreads and covers the whole body. It is not just the lesion that kills the person. The sickness destroys the nerves and the man loses the capacity to feel pain or pressure.

Spiritually speaking, leprosy wounds the conscience and the believer loses the capacity to feel guilty in the presence of sin. He loses the desire to repent of sin. Compromise becomes easier as time goes by.

In Naaman, this sickness describes the spiritual condition of a sinful unbeliever. We are not surprised that the enemy of the Jews is sick with an incurable disease. The surprise comes when the same leprosy is given to a believer in God, in the case of Gehazi.

The lesson here is that just like in the natural, with infectious diseases, transference of spirits is possible. Leprosy begets leprosy and the church or the pastor cannot protect the backslider. If there is un-confessed sin in the heart of the believer that creates a foot -hold for the devil and the way is open for evil spirits to attack. It is more common during prayers of deliverance. This is a fearful thought…

It is only in Christ that we are free. He that has faith in Christ, pagan or religious, and goes to Him for forgiveness of sins and cleanings, that one is saved.

The slave girl informs Naaman that there is a prophet in Samaria who can heal him of leprosy. Having no other option, without medical treatment for his sickness, he decides to follow the advice. He loads his horses with gifts, money, expensive clothes and with a great entourage he goes to meet the King of Israel. His Master gave him a letter of recommendation. The King of Israel gets angry at the Assyrian king for asking that he should provide his commander with a miracle. Then Elisha sends a message to call Naaman to his house and to see that ‘there is a prophet in Israel’.

O, I like the confidence of Elisha. May I do the same! May I take advantage of any situation that glorifies God! For when kings and kingdoms pass away…there is always hope in the name of Jesus!

Naaman arrives at the door of Elisha’s house. He stands there expecting some level of religious protocol, some hospitality from the prophet. He is used to go to the magicians and servants of the Assyrian god, Rimmon. His priests always provided him with charms and lengthy prayers of success. So, he expected something similar from Elisha. But the prophet does not even come outside. He sends a messenger to him at the door, with a simple command: ‘Dip yourself seven times in the River Jordan and you shall be clean!’ Naaman’s anger flares up. For the sake of his healing, he has humbled himself all this way, but the pride, hidden in his heart for too long exploded, ready to kill. He leaves angry, humiliated and defeated. Along the way, his servants counsel him to humble himself just once more. Grudgingly, he obeys the prophet’s command. He dips in the River Jordan seven times and comes out healed!

Immediately there is a change in his attitude and body language. Faith and miracles are ‘foreign currency’ used in heaven and on earth. No one can dispute that!

He comes back to Elisha and gratefully acknowledges that there is ‘no other God than Jehovah’. He pledges that from now on, he will only worship the God of Israel. He promises that even when he goes back home and he will be forced to attend idolatrous feasts; his heart will silently worship only Jehovah. He offers Elisha money and gifts. Surprisingly, Elisha refuses his offering. Soon, Naaman goes home rejoicing and praising God.

Then something strange happens… Elisha’s servant Gehazi decides to follow the general and ask for the gifts refused by his master. He lies that Elisha sent him. Grateful that the prophet has changed his mind, Naaman gives to him more than he expected. He comes back and hides the gifts in the prophet’s house. That is when Elisha confronts his servant about his lies, deceptions and greed. Then he pronounces a curse on him: Naaman’s leprosy shall cling on Gehazi and his descendants forever. This was the end of Gehazi ministry under Elisha. His greed destroyed his life and his destiny.

What are the lessons?

The first thing we learn is that nobody can deceive God. Sooner or later, sin is always punished by God. Jesus said that ‘the love of money is the root of all evil’ (1Tim 6:10). Greed is a disgraceful sin, more so when is manifested in God’s house. It is said that the way a man behaves with money tells volumes about his character. Greed destroys faith in Christ and the only platform to stand before God, ‘for without faith it is impossible to please God’ (Heb 11:6). God watches the way we handle money. He knows the people who tithe, who continually and sacrificially offer from their substance. God knows who is a giver and who is a thief in His house. He knows the wise and faithful servant who builds His house. He also knows the religious hypocrite who is reckless and foolish enough to destroy it.

Greed is connected with rebellion which is like witchcraft (1Sam 15:23). Gehazi supposed to study the words and the actions of his master. If Elisha refused the gifts, that should be enough sign to him to do the same. But the rebellion and the secret covetousness he nursed for many years manifested one day and destroyed him.

Balaam was ready to curse the people of God for the promise of reward. His greed killed him at last. The wicked king offered Daniel gold and promotion, if he can just interpret the warning on the wall. Daniel refused the offer and interpreted the writing ‘free of charge’. Even the Pharisees refused to take back the money from Judas, calling it ‘blood money’.

These are some questions: Do you experience joy when you give God something? Are you afraid you will end up poor if you work for God? Do you trust your human boss more than Jesus to reward you for your labor and sacrifice? Do you think that without stealing and cheating in business you can never be a rich man? Do you think that your pastor is a fool when he ignores money scattered on the floor? Can you control the muscle of your hands and not grab money each time you see them? Are all your dreams of success in life always connected with a lot of cash? Have you ever imagined a peaceful and successful life without having money? Do you show favoritism? Do you discriminate the poor people in your church? Do you ‘evangelize and pray’ for the rich ones more than the others?

Please pray for deliverance from the sin of greed! Trust that God will supply all your needs with riches free from sorrow and regret. You do not need to make others poor so that you accumulate wealth. God’s blessings are not recycled and are not borrowed. They are freely given from above, as a sign of His goodness and provision. Your blessings are independent on the blessings of others.

The center of this story is River Jordan. The destiny moment is the seventh dip and the healing that followed. Jordan stands for Christ. For an unbeliever, faith in Christ looks like foolishness. Their idolatry is so much more sophisticated. The natural man will never believe that salvation, healing and prosperity are hidden in ‘the muddy waters’ of the Bible. Only faith in God, in His word and in His prophets can open the gate to the supernatural acts of grace money cannot buy.

If you are in need for God’s touch, pray like this: “Lord Jesus, reveal to me where You are. My heart deceives me and the men betray me. The doctors have killed any hope I had in the past. The bank has taken all my money. I lost all things for Your sake…I need You! I need Your healing, Your blessings, Your prosperity. Direct my steps and my vision towards Your throne of mercy and grace. I vow to give You alone all the glory for the change in my heart and in my circumstances!

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen!”

“Prayer without the Holy Spirit is as a bird without wings, or an arrow without a bow” (Charles Spurgeon, 1834-1892)

“In many separate revelations (each of which set forth a portion of the Truth) and in different ways God spoke of old to [our] forefathers in and by the prophets,

[But] in the last of these days He has spoken to us in (the person of His) Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order].

He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power…” (Heb 1:1-3, AMP)

For centuries, God Jehovah has spoken to men of old thru His messengers, His prophets, whom He has sent. Jeremiah, Isaiah, Amos…each one was given a piece of the puzzle. Each one had a page from the Book of God, a note of His song or a picture of His face. No one knew everything. No one had the final word. They spoke about Christ, the Messiah, whom they saw faintly, like thru shadows. They had a glimpse of His suffering and glory. They opened their hearts to the people of God, calling them closer to their Creator. But the prophets were rejected and their messages ignored.

At last, in these last days, God the Father sent God the Son to become a man. In case you do not know, His name is Jesus Christ. He came to earth and took our humanity upon His shoulders. He lived among people, worked and taught. He did miracles and many good deeds to reveal to them the love of the Father. At last, He took their sins upon Himself and died on the Cross on their behalf. He gave them in exchange His own Righteousness so that they may live and dwell in the presence of His Father.  On the third day Jesus rose from the dead and then He went back to heaven. From there, according to His promise, He sent the Holy Spirit to them who believed in Him.

This is His story, His testimony and His Gospel. This is the truth:

If you believe it, you are saved.

If you reject it, you are lost!

Jesus Christ is the Word of God made flesh. We believe that Jehovah Elohim created the universe. But now, we come face to face with Jesus Christ who is also the Creator. The eternal Trinity, each One does His Work and together they rule this universe, the visible and the invisible realm. Jesus Christ is the Creator and the Messiah of His people. He came to die so that they can be saved. His Word of power created the world and now the same Word upholds it, sustains it. Each cloud in the sky, each butterfly on the flower, each sparrow and each cricket, they all have their being in Jesus Christ!

In a more special way, the Word of God was sent to save sinful men. The Word of God has the power to produce faith, to give life and salvation to them who believe. After salvation, the same Word has the power to uphold, to fulfill to the end the purpose of His creation.

In Greek, the word ‘made’ means to perform,  to provide all that is necessary for life, to purge the foreign elements, to raise up, to secure and to fulfill destiny.

The word ‘power’ in this scripture means God’s violence, a miracle of force and abundance that creates a wonderful, unique work of God. It is like a waterfall down the mountain that floods the valley. Nothing can stop it. It gives water to the thirsty land bellow. Any hindrance is destroyed from its path.

The word ‘uphold’ means to endure to the end, to bear and carry the responsibility of His creation until the purpose is fulfilled. To uphold also means to give strength and support to someone weak who is under attack; it means to promote the interests of the victim against the oppressor; to actively favor the one who is falling or failing and to bring him to an expected, purposeful end.

Let me make it more personal…

The Word of God and the Holy Spirit convicted me of sin. I could fight and oppose the words of men. I could find fault with the words of teachers and journalists. But once the Rhema Word of Christ met with me, I could not defeat its power, beauty and grace. I tried to ignore it, I tried to fight it…but the more I did it, the more I lost any self-confidence I had in myself, any ideas of comfort as an educated and intelligent unbeliever. From the first time I heard the Word of God telling me I am a sinner in need of mercy, until I finally surrendered to Christ, I lost my sleep, my appetite, my happiness and my courage to live. My defeat was total and His victory was more than total. I did not give my life to Christ because I was smart or that ‘I knew better’. I gave my life to Christ because His Word of Power arrested my soul and defeated all my worldly arguments that I stored for a life time in my corrupt memory. My imaginary castle of success, protected by ignorant greed and foolish pride fell with a great crash. The Word of God showed me no mercy until I totally surrendered to the Crucified. The Holy Spirit did not accept any emotional bribe and refused to bargain with me. I tried to offer some money to the church I once mocked. But nothing worked for me…God wanted my soul or nothing. God hunted me, chased me, blocked my path and isolated me.

I hated God and His Word for so many years. I did not believe that He is interested in my life. I mocked and joked at His people. Their faith looked like foolishness and their prayer looked like incurable mental disease to me. I was too intelligent for them. I defeated their ‘stupid religious’ arguments. They could only pray for my soul. I laughed and mocked…until one day my laughter got frozen like the lips of a painted corpse. I still remember the feeling, the way my body trembled when the fear of God descended upon me. The Word of God condemned me and nailed me to the Cross. I tried to escape but the nails where too sharp, the hammer too strong. Finally, with my dying breath I surrendered to Him who was crucified by my side…The men bellow still rejoicing at my death…my soul hanging between hell and earth…I finally surrendered…and for the first time in my life, I prayed: ”Lord Jesus, You are right! I am a sinner! I need Your mercy and grace! Please come into my heart and stay…Forgive me all my sins…Be my Lord and my Savior…now and forever…”

Then, from the Cross next to mine, I heard Him say: “It is finished!”

Peace came into my heart as I’ve never known before. I forgot about my death…I forgot about my shame…The only word I could say was: ‘JESUS…JESUS …’

Joy and life came like a river into my soul. I was waiting for death when life invaded my soul. Death lost its sting to me. Death had a stroke and died…

What a story…None could have invented it except my wonderful Prince of Peace who is now settled comfortably and forever in every cell of my body, soul and spirit!

The Word of His power saved me and delivered me. He now upholds me daily by the power of the same Word. The more I study the Bible, the more I feel strong in my weakness and confident in the middle of my fears. This peace, this strength that comes from His Word will carry me to the end, for this is His Promise. Jesus amazes me daily with the sustaining power of His Word.

“I worship You Lord Jesus Christ, for who You are to me: Wonderful Creator, my Savior, my Redeemer, my Burden Carrier to the end and my Lord.

All glory to the Lamb who was slain!

Halleluiah!”

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Mt 13:44)

A treasure means great wealth. It can be money, jewels or gold. Simply said, he that has the treasure is rich and he who fails to find it or loses it, is poor.

In the past, people hid their wealth in the ground because they did not have safes and banks like today. Some of these people forgot the place where they buried their treasure. Others died and did not leave a note for their children to find the buried riches. So buried treasures got lost for generations…

The law is this: he that buys the land will have all things on that land, buried or built on the surface.

Jesus tells us that His Kingdom is like a treasure buried in a field. This parable tells us that the promises of God in Christ are very great and their value is beyond words. These are first of all spiritual blessings. But Jesus tells us that first of all we have to pay the price to find these blessings. Secondly, we need to secure these promises found in Christ before we can claim their possession.

Let’s open now the trunk of this treasure:

In Christ we find a completely new life. It is eternal and fruitful. It is the gift of God, the work of His grace. It is God’s crown for man. The jewels are too many to count them all. We find the forgiveness of sins and peace with God. We find imputed righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. We find the beauty of holiness, salvation, healing and deliverance. We find the reality of a new spiritual home and family: brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers. We find the hope of glory and the promise that our future is better than our past. We find strength in weakness, comfort in sorrow and friends in loneliness. We find the gold of faith and pearls of anointing for ministry. We find identity for the confused, vision for the blind and maturity for the young. The trunk is bottomless filled with the fulfillment of dreams and prayers beyond all description.

This treasure is real but it is not left hanging on a tree or abandoned on a dead end alley. It is buried in the ground.  God does not reveal Himself to the casual seekers. The desire to seek God and His promises must be given first by the same God. It starts as a hunger for greater things, for a destiny that earth cannot provide. It starts like a ‘crazy’ longing that life needs fulfillment, if not, it is an empty burden.

Slowly, I feel the need to start seeking God, to pay the price for greater things.  At the beginning it is not easy, for I may lose the sense of direction and the passion to push forward. But after sometime, I sense that I am not alone in this mysterious journey…That there is a pull coming from a field of hope, a new desire that if I just persist in this holy seeking, I shall find the treasure at last. The enemy may attack telling me that the effort of seeking and the hope of finding shall be disappointed for the lack of treasure.  I may stumble here, for no man wants greater pain than he already has…But then I ask myself, what I lose if I just continue the seeking…so I get up and keep moving, keep praying…Then the enemy says that even if I find the treasure its value is less than all my efforts and all my goods…that I will be disappointed by my find, that the treasure is a child’s play, not for adults like me…That is the point when I picked courage, for if God indeed  has a treasure for me, it has to be greater than my boredom, my guilt and my the burden of my sins. So I keep moving…now it is too late to draw back…

When I fail, I fear a little, but then I see the wisdom of it all: I learn to lose what I see – to gain the things I cannot see…. so I make up my mind: By faith, I sell my things to buy that piece of land…I want to come to the place where I have nothing to lose anymore…

Now at last…my greed dead… my fears gone…my last tear dried from my face…suddenly I touch the thing I have been looking for…under the ground, beneath the rubbish dumped by the careless, restless world, which was once my home…I touch the jewels…the golden altar…I see the smile of Jesus, no longer a dream…now it is mine…at last…it is mine forever! Hallelujah!

For me, the journey to find the treasure of God, up on the mountain of frankincense, started with a simple prayer…

“God, if You exists…if You really know me…them help me to find You…direct my heart and my vision towards things eternal, towards You…separate me from the bondage to live an ordinary life…deliver me from the duty to please men…pull me towards You with cords that cannot be broken, stronger than any sin of mine…lift me up into Your everlasting arms that I may see Your face, Your smile, Your approval…

I hear Your voice faintly….Even in the midst of many loud voices calling me down to this earth, Help me to respond to Your whisper… For I sense that I am more than I see, more than I can imagine…Help me to find You and myself in You…

Help me Lord to make You happy…I want to work for You, to serve You…I don’t know how but I am willing to submit and follow You, Lord Jesus…

Help me not to waste this precious moment, too good to be true, but true nevertheless…

If You answer this prayer, Lord, I promise to be Your friend all the days of my life on earth, and then enjoy You in heaven forever…

I wait Lord, please come, Here I am…

In Jesus name,

Amen!”

Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Thank You!

For all You have done, for who You are to me…I say thank You!

The Volucella is an insect that has a strong resemblance to the humble bee. They too eat the nectar of flowers. They abuse this resemblance to introduce themselves fraudulently into the bee nests, and they deposit their eggs there. The bees do not seem to identify the foreign insect. It looks like they trust them, for they meet on top of flowers, eating the same nectar and making friends there. When these eggs have hatched, their larvae, which have two mandibles, devour the larvae of their hosts, the bees.
This is the return they make for the hospitality they have received!
Be careful with false brethren, false prophets and deceivers! They take advantage of your hospitality and come to parasite your home, changing its atmosphere and bringing strange, poisonous ideas.
“Test all spirits for not are from God!” (1Jn 4:1)

“If people are loud in the praise of a physician who has cured them of some deadly malady — recommending others to trust and seek his skill, why should not Christ’s people crown Him with equal honors, commend Him to a dying world and proclaim what He has done for them?”
(Dr. Thomas Guthrie 1808-1873)

 “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—

From whence comes my help?

My help comes from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth?

He will not allow your foot to be moved;

He who keeps you will not slumber…

The Lord is your Keeper…

No harm…both now and forevermore” (Ps 121)

THE DANGERS ON THE MOUNTAIN

Mountaineering is considered to be one of the most dangerous activities in the world. Loss of life is not uncommon. Dangers are divided in two groups:

*Outside dangers come from bad weather, falling of stones, avalanches in the winter, wild animals….

*Dangers that depend on the climber are equipment failure and falls, due to inattention, fatigue or faulty technique.

The most difficult climbs are when the mountain is vertical or covered with ice.

The climbers use a system of ropes and skillfully they tie themselves to the mountain. They use ice axes in both hands to grip the ice. Their shoes are special with spikes on the soles.

Along the paths there are special Shelters. The tired pilgrims can stop for a time to rest. There are people who supply food, blankets and medicines in these isolated cabins. The leader of the group knows where these shelters are located and take advantage of their blessings.

These are some injuries common among mountain climbers: falls (end in bone fractures or death): heart failure (from lack of oxygen and too much effort); frostbites (from ice); blindness (from snow and sunshine); hunger and thirst; depression and mental disturbance from altitude sickness, and others.

The Rock and the climber are intimately close one to the other. The mountain must be his friend. He has to trust the Rock he climbs, if not, he shall fall to his death.

A rock climber needs strength and wisdom. His maturity and experience is shown by his choice of handhold and foothold. He has to be sure that the rock he holds on is secure and strong enough to carry his weight. Many rocks look strong but are loose and not connected with the mountain itself. They can betray the climber and can fall with him to his death.

Mountaineering is basically team work. The colleagues have to trust and help one another. They tie themselves with ropes so that if one makes a mistake, the others can prevent his fall. The great principle is that of co-operation. When one moves, the others must know. Each is to know what the one ahead and the one below is doing. The unity of the Spirit is life.  All arguments and quarrels are fatal. All climbers must submit and trust their leader and one another, if not they all perish.

These are true facts and information I collected from books of mountain climbing as a sport. All these have a spiritual application. Pray that the Holy Spirit may open your eyes to see the truth as we continue to climb the mountain of spices!

THE ETERNAL CLIMB

Psalm 121 in the next step we shall take to climbing higher on the mountain of God. This is the second Psalm in the series called The Songs of ascent. Each year, the Jews were commanded to go to the Temple in Jerusalem to meet with God. The city is on a hill called Zion. Going to the Temple was never easy for it meant going up the mountain.

Please read this Psalm some few times and pray about it. Let the Holy Spirit give you a picture to inspire you in your Christian pilgrimage. God is revealed as my Strength, my Support, my Shade and as my Savior. It is called ‘the traveler’s psalm’. There is a sense of expectation of greater things and the desire to go to a higher place, trusting God to help in the ascent.

Let’s identify with this pilgrim of hope and glory…

The first thing we see is that the traveller recognizes his need of God, to help him in his journey. He starts from the lower ground. Looking up, He openly acknowledges that he needs help. He knows that God alone is the Helper to the helpless. His perceived needs during the climb, the many dangers along the way, they remind him that God alone is his Keeper to the end.

This is the first important lesson: Help comes from outside (God) not from inside (my wisdom or experience)! The devil attacks trying to convince us that ‘God helps them who help themselves: That is a lie! This deception reveals the loss of true vision!

I read somewhere that the female mountain deer comes down to the lower slopes to have her babies. The weather is more gentle and the grass more fresh. But as soon as her children are strong enough to climb, she hurries them to go higher up the mountain. This is because the danger below is greater; the wild animals are many roaming around in the valley.

The call to go higher spiritually is there because of the need for protection from the enemy’s attacks. The higher we go, the safer we shall be, the greater the peace and hope we shall experience. Monitor your spiritual ‘pulse’ and see…the proof that you are maturing…less anxiety, less confusion coming from the world ‘below’ and more assurance and peace with each step. .

The pilgrim has a vision of God and of his destiny. He lifts his eyes to the top of hills. But he does not stop there. He continues to gaze in faith to the sky above the hills, searching for the face of God. He is Jehovah Elohim, the Maker of heaven and earth. This is a journey on the ladder that Jacob saw. Each step will put a distance between the earth, our temporary home and heaven, our eternal and glorious abode. This is a journey of faith and hope, confident that our future shall be better than our past.

If you lose the vision of the One calling you heavenward, your foot may slip and you shall be in danger of falling ‘back to earth’.

God is the Creator of the Universe but He is also my personal guide and strength in this vertical journey. For some time, you shall still hear the voice of the world calling you back to the valley. The religious unbelievers who were your friends down yonder do not want you to move on. These are jealous on your progress but unwilling to pay the price and follow you.

The answer to this temptation is this: Be not like Lot’s wife! Do not look back! Look up! Keep climbing! Helper is coming soon!

Six times God is described as my keeper in this Psalm. The word in Hebrew means a Person who is personally interested in my protection and success. He is a watchman who never sleeps nor slumbers. God never yawns!!! This is a picture that has helped me many times. God knows my weaknesses and the dangers from outside. He teaches me and surrounds me with care. He totally protects me from anything that will make me fall or fail. He strengthens me and encourages me within. He also defends me from ‘smites’ coming from outside. It is His hand that blocks the hand of the enemy who wants to slap me or to pull me down. The word ‘hand’ means power, sense of direction, resources, fellowship and ministry. Practically, the closer I get to God, the more I get involved in serving Him in any ministry, the more I am covered and protected from the attacks from evil people.

The sun and the moon cannot ‘smite’ me as I climb. What does it mean?

During the forty years of wandering in the desert, the ‘shekinah’ pillar of glory directed the people of God towards the Promised Land. It also protected them from the deadly heat during the day. In the night, the cloud of fire provided enough light so that the journey towards the Promised Land can continue. They did not directly depend on the sun and the moon.  But the same cloud of glory that protected and guided the people of God, the same was deadly against their enemies. In this Psalm, God assures me of His total protection and blessings coming from His Glorious presence. I have no excuse wasting time. I should pay the price for sanctification unto spiritual maturity! But just like with the Egyptians who pursued the people of God, my enemies shall be smitten, fall and die if they try to pull me down the slopes, to backslide to the world.

The mountain of God is safe only for the true climbers, for the children of God in pilgrimage to a higher ground of maturity! The same is a deadly trap for the religious unbelievers, for false brethren and magicians.

Read this:

“On the third day God will come down on Mount Sinai and make His presence known to all the people. Post boundaries for the people all around, telling them: ‘Warning! Don’t climb the mountain. Don’t even touch its edge. Whoever touches the mountain dies—a certain death. And no one is to touch that person, he’s to be stoned. That’s right—stoned. Or shot with arrows, shot to death… Animal or man, whichever—put to death!’

A long blast from the horn will signal that it’s safe to climb the mountain” (Ex 19:11-13, TM)

The sun and the moon were created by God and given as a gift to the earth for two basic reasons: for light (heat) and to mark the seasons (Gen 1:14). In the valley, I depended on the natural created things, for guidance, encouragement and strength during the transitions in life. But as I climb the mountain, I shall depend less on visible or natural things. My strength and vision shall change and become more spiritual. From now on, I shall depend on God who is my Shepherd and my Eternal Keeper.

‘Going out’ of my home, far from my comfort zone, to work or to war, when taking risk with strange encounters, all these shall be under the loving faithful, watching eye of my God. I shall not fear ‘going out’, travelling to see new things, far from my home.

The ‘coming in’ to my home, back to my routine, quietly abiding in His presence, this shall also be with joy, for God is here.

This is my testimony: In the different seasons of life, in all my transitions, in all my travels and in the long season of home dwelling… God is my peace, strength and joy! Inside and outside, God is my Keeper! I am safe and confident, sure of His salvation and hope!

God is my strength, my support, my shade and my salvation!

Who shall I fear? None!

Looking above the hills, I keep climbing!

This evening we had our women’s fellowship. Most of the women were absent because of heavy traffic, sicknesses and other things. The ones who could come look weak, strangely distracted and anxious. It is a very long time that we have experienced such mysterious weakness in our fellowship. The remnant of them who could find God’s strength perfected even in weakness tried to revive their sisters, but to no avail. Like the foolish Galatians, the women look ‘bewitched’ for lack of spiritual vision. It was a clear attack coming from the evil spirit of religion who blinds the eyes of the believers to the power of the Gospel, which is Christ crucified for our sins! Jesus Christ died that we may live!

This went on for more than an hour…Then we remembered the CROSS…we reminded ourselves of the price Jesus paid and the powerful promises proceeding from there. We directed our gaze to the Crucified!

Suddenly, the Spirit of Grace and Supplication fell on us. In a second, the tired feet started dancing, the weak bodies stood up to pray. The prayer was with faith, in unity of the Spirit, passionate and in earnest. The atmosphere changed! One by one, we called the names of the lies and the sicknesses that have influenced our bodies and minds in the past: malaria, sickle cell, depression, un-forgiveness…Each time a name was called, we shouted even louder: ‘Go out, in the name of Jesus!’

This went on and on for a time…then the place got quiet…there was no more sin to call, no more sickness that clamored for recognition…all the women jumped and sang for joy, like prisoners set free…the only option left was to praise God for His mercy and grace, healing and deliverance granted in time of need. I saw such a difference on these women’s faces and body language…so much change between their coming in to service and their going out to their homes…

The devil lost another battle! God is strong on our behalf! What can I say…

It was so wonderful!

How can I be a pastor without the Holy Spirit?

How can I mother all these women without the Holy Spirit?

It is truly impossible, for Jesus said: ‘Without Me you can do nothing!’

Yes, Lord, thank You for the loving reminder!

Only God knows the hearts of all people!

Only The Holy Spirit can truly empower for ministry!

To God be all the glory!

In Jesus name, amen!

(Gal 3:1-5; Zech 12:10; 2Cor 12:9; Jn 15:5)

“I call on You, my God, for You will answer me;

turn Your ear to me and hear my prayer.

Show me the wonders of Your great love…

Keep me as the apple of Your eye;

hide me in the shadow of Your wings…

from my mortal enemies who surround me” (Ps 17:6-9)

If you desire to learn how to pray, go to the Psalms and pray along the scriptures. The Psalms are the best teacher when it comes to prayer! Make friends with King David in particular!

David was often in trouble, like many of us. Some troubles come because we sin. Other troubles come because of the persecution of the wicked against the children of God.

David prays with faith, boldness and confidence that God will hear him. He wants, once more, that God reveals to him that special, wonderful, supernatural love given only to a child of God. The wicked, the unbelievers know God only from afar. They experience the general grace of God manifested in natural blessings. But they can never experience ‘the wonders of God’s great love’, as David calls it.

All the wealth and fame of unbelievers cannot bring them to their knees to worship God! Their success makes them proud and ‘God is none of their thoughts’. It is the peculiar work of God the Holy Spirit that convicts a man of sin against God! He alone can humble a man to the point of conversion!

David prays for protection from his deadly, persistent enemies. He wants God to ‘keep him like the apple of God’s eye’, to be as the pupil of His eyes. What does he mean?

The pupil is a black hole located in the center of the iris in the eye. It allows the light to enter the retina. The iris reacts to light. The pupil gets wider in the dark and narrower in the light.

The cornea is the transparent membrane that covers the eye. It can be affected by different medical conditions, allergies, infections or injuries. These cause serious pain or itching and they can harm the vision. A deep injury to the eye leads to incurable blindness.

The eye is the most sensitive organ of the body. The pupil is the most sensitive part of the eye. Any wound is extremely painful.

These are the medical facts.

Spiritually speaking, the pupil of the eye is the gate of ‘the light to the body’. The condition of the eye affects the whole body! All blind men are sick men…

This ‘gate’ can be open, and then the body is filled with the blessings of light. There is no sickness that can hide in a body full of light. The doctors detect it and easily treat it. The same gate can be closed, thru injury to the eye. Then the whole body suffers with strange ailments hidden in the darkness of ignorance and fear. You are sick and you do not know it…you imagine the worst about the condition of your body…you fear your sickness and the doctors are unable to detect it thru medical means…

The enemy of the eye is not the big stone but the little splints, the motes and the dust (Mt 6:22, 23; 7:3)

It is not the big sins that harm my vision, but the little ones, the careless attitude, the foolish mistakes, the speaking too much, the keeping silent when I should have spoken, the missing of the mark, the religious hypocrisy borrowed from the world…

Surely God values His eyes!  Jesus Christ is God’s Beloved! Jesus is the Apple of God’s eye!

In Christ, we the believers have the same value! God loves us! What a revelation!!!

IN CHRIST I DECLARE:

“I am the apple of God’s eye; therefore I forsake all my fears and my inferiority complex!

From today, I will see myself only thru God’s eyes and not mine!

Dear God, please help me!

Wash me and I shall be clean!

I repent from any ‘little’ sins that harms my vision!

May God purify my vision and my prayer!

God protects His eyes, therefore He will protect me too!

To be God’s toe is good, but to be His eye is better… I am the apple of God’s eye!

As God cannot endure pain when His eye is touched, He will also help me quickly!

My pain will touch God’s heart always! My tears will wet His face!

I fear no sickness, no bullet and no harm from any man, for my wound shall be God’s wound!

I believe that God cares for me!

I believe that He is mindful of me!

As God protects His eyes, detecting danger from afar, He will cover and protect me from wicked words, jealous stares and fowler’s snares set by enemies!

Keep me, O Lord, as the apple of Your eye!

This is my prayer tonight!

No more, no less…

In Jesus name,

Amen!”

This is one of my best stories I remember from Romania. It is called ‘Sarea in bucate’ by Petre Ispirescu. The impact it had upon my soul beyond words. I did not know God, but thru children’ stories like these I became hungry for truth and love, for a life greater than my communist teachers described it to me.  God used stories to draw me closer to Him, long before I knew that He even exists. This is how I discovered that pursuing just material wealth or social status is not good enough. Nothing can compare with a life of purpose, destiny and sacrificial love…Much later I met the Lord Jesus and all my dreams and stories are now fulfilled in Him!

This is the story:

There was once a king. His wife died so he lavished all his love on his three daughters. He gave them gifts and all what they desired. Soon, the girls became young women. One day their father wanted to test his daughters’ love for him. He called the oldest and asked her:

‘How much do you love me, my daughter?’

She quickly answered him: ‘I love you like honey in the honeycomb…’

‘Well done my daughter! I am pleased with you…’ – he said.

Then the king asked the middle daughter:

‘How much do you love me, my daughter?’

Immediately she answered him:

‘Daddy, I love you as sugar in the cake!’

‘Well done, my daughter! I am happy with you…’ – he said.

Both girls wanted to flatter their father, for they knew that he wanted to hear sweet words.

Lastly, the king called the youngest. She loved him very much but she was quieter, gentler than her sisters. He asked her the same question:

‘Daughter, how much do you love me?’

The young princess paused for a moment…she said a quick prayer and then she answered:

‘I love you daddy, like the salt in the soup…’

Immediately the king got angry. ‘Salt… What salt? Is this answer the best you can give me? With all my gifts and love for you?’ –he shouted?

He did not expect this type of answer. He was not prepared to hear such a word.

Afraid that she made a mistake, the daughter fell on her knees and asked for forgiveness and mercy. But the king was too upset to listen. He disowned her and sent her away from his palace.

She left her childhood home. She prayed that God will lead her. She has never gone outside the gate of her father’s house. So she wondered alone, cold and afraid for many days. She arrived at the gate of a great city that also had a king. She decided to conceal her identity as a princess.  She got employment with the house keeper of the palace. She was so good, humble and faithful at her job that the queen heard about it. She called this mysterious girl to be her personal assistant. Her son, the prince saw the girl and fell in love with her. They decided to marry and all were very happy.

The king sent many invitations to the wedding. Her father was invited as a royal guest. At the wedding reception she made sure that her father will receive a different food than the rest of the guests. In all his dishes, the salt was replaced by sugar and honey. Her father tested the food and got angry. He thought that they mocked him in public. Suddenly he got up and in the presence of all he complained about his food. The host did not know what to answer. Then, to everybody’s surprise, the bride spoke. She told everybody about her story of love, pain, misunderstanding and rejection. Her father was sorry and asked for forgiveness having learnt the great lesson of life that salt is more needful for life than sugar and truth is always greater than lies.

What is the lesson for us?

Truth may be painful, especially in its first appearance. But truth is like salt, it preserves life and love from becoming just a soft copy of an empty romantic dream.

‘Speak the truth in love…’ we are commanded (Eph 4:15)

Jesus said: ‘You are the salt of the earth!’ (Mt 5:13)

Dear brethren, for Christ sake, I love you like the salt in the soup!

May you say: Amen!

“Therefore this is what the Lord says concerning the king of Assyria:

“He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here!

He will not come before it with shield or build a siege ramp against it!

By the way that he came he will return!

He will not enter this city!” – declares the Lord.

“I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant!”

Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp…” (Is 37:33-38)

This is the historical background: Assyria was the strongest kingdom at that time. They had total success against all opposition. They has even defeated the northern Kingdom of Israel and carried them into exile. They have advanced into the Kingdom of Judah, demanding that Jerusalem will totally surrender.

Sennacherib, the Assyrian commander openly boasts about his past successes, trying to intimidate King Hezekiah and the people of God. The enemy is confident of success. He even insults the name of Jehovah, the God who is ‘in charge’ of Zion.

Hezekiah knows that humanly speaking his case is lost. He needs a miracle, nothing less will do! He knows that this trouble is too much for him to solve it. He cannot trust in himself or in his people for they were not much better than their northern defeated ‘brethren’.

What is the secret of this victory?

Hezekiah prayed to God and called Him down from heaven to earth! He had faith that God hears and answers the prayers of His servants, especially the desperate ones.

He prays and then He waits for God to say something… to do something…

Suddenly God answers! God gives him a word of assurance, the promise that the enemy will be defeated and destroyed. In less than 24 hours, it happened exactly the way God said it! The angel of God killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night. They all had heart attack at the same time. This is what I call victory!

Why did God intervene? These are the reasons: God defends His name, His glory and His people!

We observe ‘the chemistry’ of true miracles:  the attack, the insult, the slander of the enemy against His name and the repentant, humble prayer of faith of His people. Once these two factors collide, the dynamite of God’s presence will manifest! Let your faith increase! This is the truth!

Now, let’s apply the lesson…How do you react when great pressure is on?

Some people fight it, some people run away, some deny it, some compromise or surrender to the enemy, some ask for help from men, some ‘bury’ themselves in work, some ‘drown’ their sorrow in alcohol and drugs…

Some of these things may have some value, sometimes, but when your back is to the wall, when all things fall and break to pieces, when all hope is gone, when my testimony hangs in the balance…when I find myself between  life and death…I come to God Almighty, the only Living God, for whom NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE! I re-remember the privilege of prayer! For as far I still have breath in me, I don’t just waste it on useless weeping and cheap mourning…I use my breath to PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!

Dear Child of God,

Call the name of Jesus Christ, your Savior, Brother and King! God is in charge of the angels who are sent to protect you! God is not dead! God is not deaf! Pray! Pray! Pray! God will answer you and the answer can only be good!

All the glory goes to God!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

This evening, in ‘Saturday class’ I shared a testimony as an example of how hard it is to leave the valley of the comfort zone for the promotion and blessing found on top of the mountain.

This is the testimony: A young brother came to me for counsel. He was very angry. He lives in the boys-quarter of his uncle, a rich man. He has been there for more than 5 years. Then last week, the uncle sent somebody to knock of his window telling him that he has just 48 hours to vacate the BQ and come and live in the main house, at the first floor rooms with his sons. This brother was angry that the uncle was calling him to live in the main house. He said that he got used to the BQ and that there is more space there. I reminded him about our prayer to live the valley and to go up the mountain. It took him some time to get the revelation that God answered his prayer for promotion.

Trade ‘the comfort zone’ for the ‘inconvenience’ of the promotion!

I just received a testimony from another brother:

To the Glory of God, I remembered when you gave the testimony this evening of the boy who was invited to the main house from the boys -quarter. Here is how mine happened, after last week Saturday class when we started the series of this is ‘the time to climb up the mountain’, i got home…

Then on Tuesday Morning I was called for an interview for a very good job, I went for the written interview unprepared because the invitation came that same morning…while i was writing the interview, thoughts ran through my mind that, now i want to start working in a bigger company than my very small company i was running; which means i won’t have the free times i used to have again, the leisure time i use to run around the town and so on.. i was with the attitude that i will lose the free time…But when you made mention of the boy’s encounter of moving upstairs into the main house, it clicked in my mind that I was being invited to a very new opportunity, i did not even know this was one of the steps upward God has invited me into… I love this God! HE walks in way I cannot see…

My answer to him:

That is why His blessings always surprise us to the point of worship! Let go of ‘the valley’ mentality. You may lose some things but you shall gain greater things. At last, when you sit and count your blessings, you shall be surprised at what the Lord has done! I will reprint your testimony on my wall without mentioning your name. The first step is the most difficult in any journey! From now on, it should be easier for you to follow…Let’s go, up the mountain!

“I call on the Lord in my distress, and He answers me….

‘For too long I lived among them that hate peace. I am a man of peace! But when I speak, they are for war” (Ps 120)

Psalm 120 is the first out of fifteen Psalms called as ‘Songs of ascents’.  The word ‘ascent’ in Hebrew means a set of stairs, the beginning of a journey. This is the story of climbing the mountain of blessings. We shall take the first step to a higher ground at the sound of heavenly music. It will be a good climb. On the mount of Transfiguration Peter said: ‘Lord, it is good for us here…’ May it be good for you there! We shall go to a higher level of worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth. We declare that, by the grace of God, we shall defeat all the enemies and we shall demolish all the hindrances in our way. Jehovah God leads the way and we shall follow!

In any journey, the first step is the most difficult. The valley bellow has been our home for so long that we have forgotten the glory revealed on top of the mountain. The attack here is against prayer and peace! In Jesus name we shall defeat and prevail! Our prayer- life and our peace – life shall be established!

The first thing that we shall do is to pray. Prayer is the oxygen of the spirit. The higher we go, the easier will be to pray. Take this as a sign that you are making progress. The word distress means to be in a tight and crowded place, pushed to the wall by a female enemy. Spiritually speaking, this trouble is the effect of the oppression of demons, in particular the seducing spirit of jezebel. Like Elijah, we shall run towards the mountain of God where we shall surely find a fresh word of wisdom in time of need and new anointing for the coming days (1Kg 19).

The enemy attacks the faith in prayer. We remind ourselves that no matter how old we are as believers, prayer is still the way to communicate with God. We need faith that God answers our prayers. The enemy in the valley shall attack with arrows of doubts and fears. These are all lies and fake deceptions. Please remember this: with the exception of the holy fear of God, all other fears are lies; they are the seeds of deceptions and failure. You should resist and reject all so called prophetic utterances that aim to intimidate and confuse you to draw back. Often, these lies come as slander and accusing words. They are designed to bring inferiority complex in you. They tell you that you are not good enough for God to answer your prayers. They force you to accept doubt as a way of escape from trouble.

Nobody likes trouble but I will not doubt His Word and promises just to stop the attack of slander on my testimony. I will not fear death climbing on the mountain of peace! I will not go back! Even if the stones of lies are falling on my head, like Steven’s own, I will still not draw back! I will not fear death!  I will continue my climbing!  Like Steven, at last, I will rejoice seeing Jesus!

This is my testimony: ‘I prayed and God answered!’ let the whole world go to pieces, with anger and jealousy; I will not lie and deny my God!  I will not sell my birthright and my testimony as a child of God who prays!

As I prepare to take my first step up the mountain, I just realize that I stayed far too long in the valley of depression and deception. Like Lot in Sodom and like Noah, I preach righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. But the world in the valley does not accept my Gospel of Hope.

See the damage the valley has done to me…For so long I was rejected and mocked that I stared doubting my identity and my calling as a servant of the Most High God. Little by little, doubt crept in my spirit and I became tired of doing good deeds. I prayed less, I preached less…I started making business with the enemy, yoking myself with unbelievers, thinking that things will never change…

The devil attacks me again with his lies. He tells me that I will always be sick, weak, poor, depressed, barren, lonely and afraid. The enemy calls my sickness ‘incurable’. For a moment I believe the lie…but the taste of lies is like gravel in my mouth…I spit it out…and stretch my hand for the cup filled with the fresh water of life…

I dwelled too long in the valley of Meshech and Kedar. I started to believe the deception of those wicked fellows below.

The word Meshech means sowing seeds. The word Kedar is another word for Kidron Valley, in between the Mount of Olives and the Golden gate of Jerusalem. It is in this valley that they dumped the trash and corpses of men and animals. The fire and the smoke bellow always rises to remind people of hell. The word in Hebrew means mourning, ashes and hopelessness.

The enemy mocks me that all my seeds, all my ministry have been rejected, that I have no salvation and no reward at the end of my journey on earth. The accuser of the brethren tells me that Kidron valley and hell is my destination. I can see now that this is an arrow of lies.

This evening, I just reminded myself that I am a man of prayer and peace! Shalom is my God! Peace is stronger than war!

The word ‘peace’ in Hebrew is one of the most powerful names of God: Jehovah Shalom. It means the best God has for you: His peace and joy, His happiness, wealth and health; His safety and favor with men.

I declare that the blessings found in the name Shalom are mine forever! The overflow will be deposited in my children!

This evening, by faith in the living God who can never lie, trusting Him unto my last breath, I forsake the valley of death and I take my first step on the Shalom Mountain…my ears, tired from all the lies, are revived also…they hungrily receive the new sound of grateful singing…this is the hour of my deliverance and my victory.

My enemy who hates peace is now below, under my feet. I stop his arrows with the shield of faith. The same arrows shall go back and pierce his heart. My enemy will taste from the grief has caused me for all these years.

This is my hour! This is my moment! It is time for me to climb up the mountain! May the angels rejoice! May the people of God rejoice with me!

This time I shall not disappoint You, Lord! My right foot has touched the higher ground! This is my first step! But not the last! I shall follow You until I can see Your glory revealed on the mountain! This is my promise! This is my song! This is my pledge!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

“Beloved, my whole concern was to write to you in regard to our common salvation. [But] I found it necessary and was impelled to write you and urgently appeal to and exhort [you] to contend for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints…

For certain men (and women) have crept in stealthily, gaining entrance secretly by a side door. Their doom was predicted long ago, ungodly (impious, profane) persons who pervert the grace of God…

Nevertheless in like manner, these (filthy) dreamers also corrupt the body, scorn and reject authority and government, and revile and libel and scoff at [heavenly] glories (the glorious ones)…

These are hidden reefs (elements of danger) in your love feasts…

Woe to them!” (Jude, AMP)

Recently, it was brought to my attention that there are some CDs circulating in Warri that have become ‘viral’. In them there are three women who claim to have dreamed and that they have gone to heaven and back. They each have their own stories about meeting a person called ‘jesus christ’, angels and past saints. These women came back saying that ‘jesus’ said we should change our dress code, if not we shall go to hell. In particular they said that the most dangerous items on their ‘holy list’ are these: make up, lipstick, wigs and attachments (weave-ons) and trousers. They said other things but basically they imply that salvation depends on ‘works’, on the wardrobe or other outward things. That alone is an error, a sin and a blasphemy from hell.

My concern is with the believers, especially with the young ones who may fall from their secure position of faith in Christ alone.

This is the Gospel! This is the Truth!

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, came to earth, became man, lived and died on the Cross to give glory to God the Father and to atone for our sins. He was buried in a tomb in Jerusalem. He rose from the dead on the third day. He revealed Himself to His disciples in His glorified body. After some days, He bodily rose to heaven. Forty days after He died, according to His promise, He sent the Holy Spirit from Heaven. The Holy Spirit was sent to form and seal the Body of Christ on earth.

If you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and if you freely confess it with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, then you are born again, you are saved.

Salvation is of God’s work alone. Christ alone takes the glory for your going to heaven! No man, no angel, not any material item of fashion has a say in this glorious and great salvation!

Read the Book of Jude! The danger of false brethren has always been there. If you are truly born again, you have no excuse to be deceived by silly and gullible men and women who masquerade as servants of God! The Holy Spirit leads into all truth and His influence in you is greater than the foolishness and the deception outside.

These false teachers are called ‘filthy dreamers’. Because they do not have another Bible to preach from, they deceive people with other fake sources of revelation: their dreams of heaven and hell. Dreams are chaff (nonsense, useless stories) compared with the preaching of the Word of God (Jer 23:25-29). Their dreams are called filthy because these are the product of their filthy, unsanctified, unholy, unclean, unspiritual minds, imaginations and emotions.

Wrong doctrines always end in immorality! Only truth leads to purity in behavior, motives and speech.

These false teachers are spiritual terrorists. They are deceitful, dangerous and deadly! They hide and come deceitfully that you should not know their true purpose. But this is the danger: they are deadly. Like suicide bombers, they do not mind to blow themselves off and take along as many souls to hell. That is why we are warned to be watchful and actively resist and expose them.

We are told that they are ‘spots’ in our love feasts (KJ). The word ‘spot’ in Greek means that they are hidden reefs, planted dangers below the sea, set to cause shipwreck to your faith. These are pirates and robbers. In the ancient warfare, the enemy was creating artificial blockage under the sea so that the propeller of the ship will be entangled and the ship taken.

That is the danger, my brethren! I blow my trumpet! Let him that ears, let him hear!

Do not pilot your ship in the murky waters, close to the coast of men, without the compass of the Holy Ghost! Be sober! Be vigilant!

These are agents of the devil, of the accuser of the brethren! They are agents of the wicked spirit of jezebel, the fake ‘queen of heaven’ (Jer 44:25). They are sent to destroy you, or at least to slow you down, to hinder your progress as a believer and to make you backslide from the holy faith entrusted once and for all to the saints!

The Word of God condemns them: ‘Woe to them!’

I condemn them too! Their so called ministries will fall and end in disgrace! They shall be exposed as charlatans and thieves of souls! Their so called ‘charisma’ that attracts many to listen to their lies shall fail completely! The money they make from donations and from selling their CDs will not be beneficial to them. Their magic will fail! Their end shall be sorrow, pain, troubles and torment, except they openly and publicly repent of their wickedness!

These people who want to wound your conscience and to shipwreck your faith, I hand them over to Satan, their master, to be thought a lesson not to blaspheme again (1Tim 1:18-20)

Do not be sorry for the devil! He is a loser without pardon!

May the Holy Spirit open your eyes to see the truth that sets you free from bondage to sin, to religion and to legalism!

May the Blood of Jesus cover you and your family!

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen!