Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly;

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night…

And whatever he does shall prosper” (Ps 1:1-3)

The climbers have found rest and peace in the house provided by the Lord of the Mountain. The same house has a room called ‘Prosperity’. We have been given the key and now it is time to enter.

In Psalm 1 the believers are given one of the greatest promises of the Bible.  Basically there are two types of men in the world: the righteous and the ungodly. The first group is made of all the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. These were former sinners but Jesus gave them His own robe of righteousness and now they are justified before God! They are the ones who receive this wonderful promise that ‘whatever they do shall prosper’. Yes, you read it correctly: WHATEVER THEY DO SHALL PROSPER!

The ungodly are the unbelievers. They do not believe in Jesus Christ. They may look like nice people, they may be religious and be moral men, but they are called ungodly or wicked because of their stand against the Lord. The easiest way to understand the word ‘ungodly’ is to see it like this: any man who lives his life, who does his things in a way different than God’s prescribed way in His Word that is an ungodly man. For example, looking for a job, starting a business, the act of dating and marriage, making friends and the rest, these all can be done God’s righteous way or the ungodly way.

To claim the promise of godly prosperity, the believer has to trust and obey the word of God. In particular, the believer has to walk, stand and sit God’s way. Then the promise of total prosperity shall be fulfilled.

The first command is to refuse ‘to walk in the counsel of the ungodly’. The word ‘walk’ means your attitude in your daily life. It also means to travel out of your comfort zone, to experience new things far away from home. God says that we should be careful with the type of counsel or advice we take in; who is our teacher, our mentor. If we say that we are believers, then we should talk, dress and behave according to God’s Word. The ungodly mentorship shall be revealed especially when we travel far away from home and all moral restrains are lost.

Practically, if you study the Word of God and wisely you apply it daily to your life, at home or in a strange land, then you shall prosper. If you carefully reject any spirit, ungodly idea or teaching that directs you to ignore your Bible, then you shall surely prosper. This is the promise of God!

The second command is to refuse to stand in the path of sinners. The word ‘stand’ means to abide in the same spot, to be established in a particular way of thinking, to refuse training and change. It is an attitude of suborn unyielding to the truth. The word ‘sinners’ means the unbelievers, the worldly, the reprobates or the ungodly. This command speaks against the attitude of insisting to keep wrong friends or business associates. God warns us against staying in an unequal yoke relationship with the ungodly. You are a believer but you enjoy ungodly friends; people who succeed in life but in a way different than God’s way.

Lastly, we are warned not to sit with the scornful. The word ‘sit’ in Hebrew means to dwell in the same house or to marry. The scornful are the mockers. These are rebellious proud people who always judge or criticize others, are openly rude and disrespectful to men better than them. Be careful, mocking is very entertaining to the flesh and very addictive.

The ungodly are most unstable. They cannot stay long in a place of peace. They cannot have a happy home and marriage. Their hopes will prove to be false, their confidence a dream cut short. They cannot be a blessing in any fellowship. They shall be restless moving from one church to another. Lastly, if they continue without repentance to the end, they shall end in hell to meet the deceptive spirits who inspired them unto error and foolishness all lifelong. May God forbid this!

In conclusion: as believers who are to live our lives God’s way, according the His Word. This is not an easy exercise, for God’s ways are very different than our ways. They are ‘high mountain’ ways of thinking (Is 55:8-9).  We are to actively search the scriptures to find not just answers to our questions, but God’s style of doing things. Our decisions should not be done by common sense or by the teaching of religious men. We are to change our habits of thinking and doing things. We are to become mature Christians, doing all things God’s way, at home or abroad.  We are to actively seek to have the mind of Christ. We are to separate from any person who likes to succeed in a way different than God’s prescribed way.

We are to acknowledge God in all our ways and He shall direct our paths and make the straight and simple (PV 3:5, 6)

Then the mighty promise of prosperity shall be fulfilled in our humble lives! In Jesus name, Amen!

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

I search the scriptures daily to find God’s ways of doing things!

Whatever I do shall prosper!

In Jesus name

Amen!

Pressing over me like a big blue sky
I know someone has me on their heart tonight
That’s why I know it’s gonna be alright
‘Cause somebody’s praying me through
Somebody’s praying me through

It may be my Mother, it might be my Dad
Or an old friend I’ve forgot I had
But whoever it is I’m so glad that
Somebody’s praying me through
Somebody’s praying me through

Through the tears, through the rain
Through the sorrow, through the pain
It keeps bringing me through
Over and over again

So when you’re drowning in a sea of hurt
And it feels like life couldn’t get any worse
There’s a blessing waiting to push back the curse
‘Cause, somebody’s praying you through Oh…
Somebody’s praying you through Oh…

Somebody… somebody is, Praying
Oh… Somebody is, Someone Somewhere

Someone got down on their knees and prayed for me
Somebody’s, praying
Somebody’s praying… you through

(anonymous)

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.
And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Mt 7:24-29)

We have just read the authoritative words of our Lord. These are printed in red in my Bible. These are to be sealed with the fire of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.
Let’s revisit the parable of the builders. There are two of them: one wise and one foolish. You could not have known who is who except at the end of the story. The wise builder has a permanent home that no attack could destroy. He has eternal peace and security inside. The foolish one also labored hard, but at the time when he was supposed to enjoy the fruit of his labor, suddenly, the whole structure was destroyed. The parable is a warning and a call to choose one of two options: wisdom of foolishness. Wisdom is a choice. If you ignore it or reject it, you shall be a foolish man and you shall suffer loss. The houses speak of personal lives, marriages, families and ministries.
The main lesson here is that the foundation is the most important thing in any building. For example, how you begin your marriage will determine its success later. The size, the quality, the design of the foundation determines the size and the destiny of the house. A little crack in the foundation becomes later a major fault of the building. Time does not heal foundations. Only God does! To repair a faulty foundation is very difficult. Often, the building has to be pulled down and the damaged foundation destroyed. Then a completely new foundation is laid. This applies to all things spiritual.

The secret for eternal success is Christ alone! For the assurance of salvation, for success in marriage, for the blessing of having godly children and fruitful ministry, Christ is the only foundation and the most excellent building.
“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1Cor 3:9-11)

The question still remains: what type of foundation was laid for the salvation of your soul? How did you start you marriage, your business or your ministry? Please pray about the answers to these questions. Do not deny the truth! Confront the old lies! In Christ God offers us eternal life! It is without regret, full of beauty, fulfillment and glory!
May this be your portion, in Jesus name, amen!

In Christ I declare:
“My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name!
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand”

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues. They will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover”
(Mark 16: 17, 18)

If you have been sick for quite some time, taking medicines and there is no healing yet…
If you have been feeling tired, depressed and anxious, for no good reason…
If you have been faithful in prayer, church attendance, giving tithes and offerings, but your finances are still not balanced…
If you have been praying for a life partner and no one has come…
If you have been praying to have children and no one has come…
If you feel like going in circles and have not experienced any breakthrough recently…
Then it may be a spell of the devil and his agents upon you!

Let’s pray:
“Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for them that read these words and believe in You. I pray that You show them mercy and touch them! I pray that they are healed, delivered, and set free from the bondage of the devil to come to You, to serve You with joy! I pray that you give them a new testimony and a new beginning!
As for you devil, I command you to leave these people now, in the name of Jesus! I command you to pack your load and go away from them in the name of Jesus! I destroy any covenant or claim you have upon their lives in the name of Jesus!
I plead the BLOOD OF JESUS upon their lives, body soul and spirit; over their marriages, children, families and the work of their hands! Reveal to them Father the way to serve You better! Use all their testimonies for Your glory alone! Father I thank You for the healings, miracles, signs and wonders performed in Your name!
IN JESUS’ NAME I PRAY,
AMEN!

In Christ I declare:
I say “yes and amen” to this prayer over my life.
I will see these miraculous signs in my life because I believe!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen!

“When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away,

but the godly have a lasting foundation” (PV 10:25, NLT)

‘On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them but now the tables where turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them’ (Est. 9:2).

There is a time when God ‘comes down’ and executes judgment.  Justice means that God makes the wrong things right. After a long season of suffering, suddenly God ‘overturns the tables’. The false happiness of the sinner has come to an end. For a long time he lived in denial. He thought that God doesn’t exist or that He is too busy to observe him. Thinking he stands undetected, he strengthened himself in the way of wicked doubt and became worse with time. He took God’s mercy and patience for granted. Now the Day of Judgment has come.

‘When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of the people are filled with schemes to do wrong. Although a wicked man commits a hundred crimes and still lives a long time, I know that it will go better with God- fearing men, who are reverend before God; yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them and their days will not lengthen like a shadow’ (Ecc 8:11-13).

This is the truth: There is a time of reckoning. There is ‘a day of the Lord’, when His judgment is revealed. At last, the thief is caught and he has to restore many times over. His victim becomes free and is promoted above the oppressor. The silent one can finally speak and sing. Sin, sickness, the bondage of fear and the vision of untimely death, all is destroyed and replaced with life and joy.

God ‘delights in judgment’ (Jer 9:24). This is a spiritual law. It should be great encouragement for the victims especially during times of oppression and persecution. The devil wants us to deny the truth. We have the impression that God has abandoned His creation or that He is does not care about our situation. We see the wicked prosper and we feel bad. This period of pain may be longer than we expected. But God allows us to pass thru the fire to mature our faith. Every tear that falls is counted by God, be sure of that. The training unto godliness seems so painful and lonely. But God is the One who supervises it. Please remember, there is a moment when a woman’s labor is over and her child is born. That is the moment when we are released from the sorrow and anxiety that defined our past. The body has no memory. It immediately forgets the pain and comes into rest, victory, strength and joy.

‘The righteous man is rescued from trouble and it comes on the wicked instead’ (PV 11:8)

God alone knows this holy moment of transition. The glory of the power of resurrection replaces the shame of sin, defeat and death. There is no fairy tale as beautiful and as exciting as the story of redemption in Christ Jesus. The perfect picture of overcoming joy is found in Christ alone! We are now invited to partake from the same glory! ‘What a wonder You are , my Lord…’

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

God saved me from trouble!

I shall judge the wicked!

For God’s glory!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

‘You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone’ (Eph 2:19, 20)

The kingdom of God is not static, it is not passive; it is not dead. The power and the peace of its Government have no limits. Within there is life, order, activity, beauty and glory like in no other. Among its citizens there is a continual growth to maturity and unity of the Spirit!  They are seeking and searching to find treasures hidden in the dark. Its soldiers take new territories from the enemy, all this for the glory of the King. But it is not just the men who are seeking the Kingdom of God. The wonder of it all is that the Trinity is searching to find people on earth worthy to populate heaven.

For example, it is said that America is the richest country on earth. Millions from all continents want to go and live there, especially because of the freedom of worship. But the miracle is that America itself is looking for people to come and live there. Initially, men come as immigrants. After some time, passing the test of loyalty to the country, they become citizens, with all the privileges afforded to the native born. Many apply to come but there is a particular type of people the government is looking for. They want good, obedient, faithful and hardworking people. They want the best of men, the champions of other nations. Who can blame them?

In the same way, the kingdom of God has extended this gracious invitation for people to come in and become citizens. The call is made to all men. The entrance is given only to them who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. They all come as poor sinners.  But somehow they have faith and hope in the King of Glory. This entrance into the Kingdom of God is always a miracle and a royal privilege.  It cannot be purchased with money or with any other valuable thing available on earth. It is a gift of grace given by the King of Kings. Rich or poor, educated or not, black, white or yellow, the call is made to all men. Come to Jesus! The visa is given at the foot of the Cross where the ground is level, so that no man can boast.

This is the eternal and glorious truth: Salvation is of God alone! The price for the admission in the Kingdom is too great for any man to pay. None is qualified to enter on his personal merit. All men without exception are born sinners and they are enemies of God. We are born outside the Garden of Eden. Sin produces death. Our only claim is that Jesus died in our place for the remission of our sins.  It is only the blood of Jesus shed on the Cross that can save sinners like me and you.

No religion is good enough. To become a child of God you must be born again, by the power of the Holy Spirit! God is love and He is looking for lovers like Him. The Father desires to bring more lovers of Jesus into heaven. He likes them to be around His Son. God calls them sons. The atmosphere in heaven is one of holiness and worship, one of beauty, purity and power. There is glory in heaven like in no other place in the universe. So I say to all who read these words:

‘Surrender unconditionally your life to Jesus Christ! This is the best decision you will ever make on earth! Go to the Cross! Gaze long on Christ Crucified! Let the Holy Spirit convict you of the sin of unbelief! Let religion lose its grip upon your soul! Open your heart to the Holy Spirit so that He can fill you with peace and joy, the seal and the proof of eternal life!’

This is the Gospel of Grace! This is what I believe! This is how I became saved! This is my testimony!

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

I have eternal life!

I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God!

My permanent and eternal address is in Heaven!

These statements are final and true!

In Jesus name, Amen!

Some of the pilgrims have already entered the rest promised and provided by the Lord. Many are still on the slopes, slowly coming towards the gate of God’s house. This is a word of encouragement for them who are still on the way. Come inside!

What are the conditions to enter God’s house? To whom does the gate open? Who are the ones who will not make it?

FAITH IN GOD’S WORD

The first condition to enter is to have faith in God and in His Word! For as long as you doubt God’s existence or His promise of rest, you can never enter that blessed house. This entrance granted to you is the proof of your faith in Christ and your tested obedience to His commands. The Word of God divides the people who claim to know God. There are two groups: some enter God’s house and others are rejected. The ones who enter God’s rest are the faithful, obedient believers. The reason why the gate did not open for the second group is sin; doubt and rebellion in particular.

Be warned! The battle is the fiercest just before the gate! The devil will try all his strategies to make you doubt the Promise of God! The devil will try to discourage and to confuse you. He will like you to lose focus and forget the reason for this prayer. He will deceive you to reject the prophetic anointing, the word spoken to you directly by the Holy Spirit. Reject this wicked doubt!

But God is faithful! God knows His job! God never fails! Trust God to perfect all that concerns you!

‘Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:

“Today, if you will hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

In the day of trial in the wilderness,

Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me…

So I swore in My wrath,

‘They shall not enter My rest!’

‘There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience’ (Heb 3:7-11; 4:9-11)

What a wonderful promise? God says that if I believe in Him I shall be like Him. I will enter a life of peace and fruitfulness whose source of success is not of this world. I will not work like a slave but like a son. My life will not be defined by how much I make per hour. My destiny is not limited by the level of my education or lack of it.

My identity is hid in Christ alone, the eternal fountain of all blessings and treasures manifest. I will not live to work. I will not work for my daily bread. My promotion is not based on how many hours I clock in. I work for God! I testify about Jehovah Jireh!

My life shall be defined by Grace; by the manifestation of this unsearchable treasure, the unmerited favor of God. I will work little and make a lot of money, so that I can promote the interests of the Kingdom and help many people. My holy generosity shall be financed by the Banks of heaven.

I will supervise and others will work for me. My God’s given wisdom and gift of administration shall be in demand. I will say: ‘Good morning’ and miraculously, $1,000,000 shall appear as credit in my account. My greeting is a blessing that people will covet.

Are you laughing at my faith? I will not stop you, but you shall see the miracle of this peculiar prosperity working in me. One day you shall be tired of mocking and you shall come to join the choir.

If there is any work I should do now, it is to strive to enter the front Gate of God’s house! Jesus is the Gate! I shall not stop short of the Gate! I shall not climb over the fence! I shall not jump through the window. I shall not just admire the golden paint of the handle. I shall not just day dream and imagine streets of gold, then at last go back to my idiotic doubt culture. I shall stand and knock until the Owner comes and opens the door. And I shall enter in….

This is the holy pledge I make to my soul!

In Christ I declare:

I am saved!

I am free indeed!

Heaven is my eternal home!

Christ has given me rest!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

‘Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven…’ (Mt 7:21)
This is the true story of two light houses built long ago. During a great storm, one fell. You can see the remains. Later they build another and that one is still standing.
This is a parable in pictures! The religious fake believers shall fall, but the true believers in Christ shall stand and give light to many!
‘You remember the lighthouse that was built off the coast of England by Winstanley. The architect was confident that the structure was strong, and laughed at the criticisms upon it. To show his confidence, he took up his abode in the building. In the midst of that fearful November storm, how little that confidence availed him as the structure was caught in the grasp of the winds and shaken to pieces!
Now another lighthouse stands there well founded, well builded, and lights the mariner to the safe harbour. So that character that is rightly founded and builded in Christ will not only be secure itself, but light others to security’
(C. H. Spurgeon 1934-1892)

‘O God, why have You cast us off forever?

Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old…

The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary.

Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place…

They set up their banners for signs…

They have set fire to Your sanctuary;

They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground.

They said in their hearts,

“Let us destroy them altogether.”

They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land…

We do not see our signs;

There is no longer any prophet…

Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast!

Do not forget the life of Your poor forever…

Arise, O God, plead Your own cause!!!’ (Ps 74)

“Dear Heavenly Father,

We need You. Please incline Your ear and listen to the cry of Your Beloved. We are in great danger. I call You in this day of trouble, answer me and I shall glorify You!

Birds of prey have entered Your house. Their voices are loud and their laughter so cruel. They have destroyed all that was good, all the gifts You have given to us. They use the golden vessels of Your worship to drink wine and to make merry. They have their own banners, their own music and their own prophets. They steal Your words and scatter them. They spoil the faith of many. They are bold and harsh, violent and rude. They manufacture miracles but the healings do not last. They break the hearts of the poor and oppress them with yokes too hard to carry. Your people are discouraged and hide away in caves. There is no true prophet to speak Your Word. There is a famine of the hearing of Your Words. Their prophets dream fake stories and deceive the simple. Their leaders make merchandise of your Gospel. They promise people peace, when there is no peace. Prayer has become a burden and worship is a wasted interlude.

Father God, remember the glory of Your name! There is no name like the name of Jesus!

Father in Heaven, please remember Your congregation! We are gathered in Your name! We are the sheep of Your pasture! We are the people of Your inheritance! We are the people of Your covenant!

Our hope is in You alone! If a man could have helped us, we could not have bothered You, O Lord. But no man and no angel can help. Salvation is of God alone. Your Sanctuary, Your Word, Your Name, Your Kingdom and Your Glory…all these are Yours alone. All power belongs to You! None can resist You, O Lord! We believe Your promises! Your Word is yes and amen to us! Your testimony is at stake in our lives! We plead for mercy, O Lord! Glorify Your name in our midst!

Father God, come and fight against the enemy of Your Bride! Cause confusion in their midst! Remove Your protection from them! May they be disappointed in their wicked plans!  May they fall in the pit they dug for us! Arise O Lord! Come down from heaven and plead Your own cause! Let people see that we are called by Your name!  Grant us revival, with true miraculous signs following!

May light shine in the darkness! May the blind see and the poor rejoice! May the sick be healed! May the depressed be comforted! May people be saved and delivered! May the glory of God cover our land like the waters cover the sea! May freedom blow its trumpet!

I declare that Jesus Christ is Lord over all!

Thank You Father for reading this letter….We wait for You to come…

I love You Lord!

Your Turtledove…’

‘I never saw a useful Christian who was not a student of the Bible.

The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.

I know the Bible is inspired because it inspires me’

(D. L. Moody 1837-1899)

‘Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth’ (Jn 17:17, AMP)

In the natural, it takes about a year for a baby to walk unaided. It takes even longer for a child to come to maturity and to learn how to love His parents and others. In the same way, in the Spirit realm, it takes a long time for a believer to mature and to learn how to love God and others. It is a long and difficult journey and few are ready to pay the price. Salvation is the open gate for your soul and through it you go into another ‘country’. The difference is radical; from total spiritual darkness you enter into God’s Kingdom of marvelous light.  The passage at the gate of salvation is free because Jesus paid it all. Please take notice: it is not cheap, but free. Jesus died and shed His blood so that we can be saved.

After passing thru that gate, there starts the road toward maturity, which the Bible calls ‘sanctification’ or becoming holy. Not all people are willing to pay the price for sanctification. Spiritual growth is not equal to all men. Few are willing to be trained by the Holy Spirit. Some study the word of God, they learn the art of prayer, they value the fellowship of the brethren and so they make fast progress. Others are satisfied to be barely saved. They trail behind becoming a source of discouragement to many.

Because we are all born into sin and have chronic bad habits, we easily grieve the Holy Spirit through willful disobedience.  We all need radical training. God the Holy Spirit is willing to be your teacher. He prepares you to meet and worship the King of Glory. It is true that the way to the throne has been opened forever by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. But you still need much preparation of the heart to draw near God without the condemnation of your conscience. This work is done only by the Holy Spirit! No religion, no church, nobody else can change the heart of man.

The Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord, is the greatest Worshipper ever. Thru this process of sanctification, you will become more and more like Him. None in all creation can make you a true worshipper except the God who saved your soul. You need to learn to apply daily the revelation of the Cross of Christ.  As your flesh dies and your spirit rises within you, you will start to reflect the beauty and the glory of Jesus in this dark and dangerous world.  The Holy Spirit shall comfort you to be able to endure to the end. The presence or the absence of this peculiar internal comfort and strength will separate the religious people. Sooner or later, the fake worshippers become tired and go back to their life of sin.  But God raises His army of worshippers, a standard against all the wickedness in high places. Your life style of worship is a great and living testimony for God’s power, His glory and His love to you.

Child of God, this is your eternal destiny! Worship God!

In Christ I declare:

I worship God!

I was born to give glory to my Savior, Jesus Christ, my Lord!

I shall pay the price for sanctification, for this is God’s will for me!

I shall fulfill my destiny!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him,

And show him My salvation.” (Ps 91:14-16)

In these last days the Bible says that there will be ‘perilous times’ (2Tim 3:1). The word in Greek means something that is extremely difficult, terrible and dangerous. It means you will often encounter negative situations. You will meet religious hypocrites, people who will let you down and betray you when you least expect it. The devil is behind them, trying to weaken your will and your commitment to Christ so that you will backslide. This is the truth because it is God’s opinion as recorded in His word.

There are only two ways to react to it. You either take the warning seriously and prepare your heart for the battle, or you ignore it at your own loss. The flesh is a coward, hates to be warned and to prepare to please God. But if you walk in the Spirit, the warning is a sign of love from God the Father and you will surely appreciate it.

The main strategy of God in these last days is to manifest His ‘love that never fails’ (1Cor 13:8) to His children. Another word for love is worship. God ‘the Father is seeking worshippers who will worship Him in Spirit and in truth’ (Jn 4:23, 24). Worship means extreme, total and sacrificial love. Because true love never fails, true worship also never fails.  The more you worship God, the fewer mistakes you make in life. God wants His children to live a life of worship, manifested as spiritual freedom and total victory.

To be a worshiper is not just to be a singer. It is not enough to just go to church and ‘do spiritual things’. A worshipper is a true, intimate spiritual lover of God. A true worshipper knows the heart of God! He is practicing the royal art of taking the cross daily and following Jesus. If you pay the price to be a true worshipper, God will protect you. You will live a long and fruitful life. This is the promise of God.

Like any good work, it is hard at the beginning to sustain a life- style of worship. The flesh wars against your spirit and will prove resistant to any change in you. But God has the final say in any matter. God is faithful! If you are willing and truly desire to live for God’s glory, you will become stronger in the pursuit of God. Daily, the Holy Spirit will encourage you by the oil of joy everlasting.

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

I am a Lover of Jesus!

I am the Bride of Christ!

I worship God in Spirit and in Truth!

I obey God!

I am saved forever!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

‘Make haste to me, O God!

You are my help and my deliverer;

O Lord, do not delay!” (Ps 70:5)

King David had many enemies.  After he was anointed as the king of Israel, Saul persecuted him unto death. His enemies actively desired to hurt him, to make him fall and even to kill him. He prays for help and deliverance from enemies who are stronger, richer and more famous than him.

The first request he makes is for God to come down and fight against his enemies. He is asking God to confuse, weaken and embarrass his enemies for their unrepentant wickedness against God’s servant. He prays that his enemies shall fall and retreat from the selfish battle against God’s anointed.

The second thing he prays about is for joy and strength for the people of God, including himself. As God will answer his prayers, the two groups of people shall be separated eternally: some will become weaker and the others, stronger and stronger.

Lastly, he prays that God will answer these two requests ‘hastily’, that God should not delay His intervention in his circumstances. It is an emergency call from an anxious but faithful heart.

There are some things in this life that require an urgent solution. There is no more time to waste. Each minute is a step towards disaster. The pain is getting worse; the call from the bank more insistent, the marriage is on the edge of collapse…This is an emergency call to God for whom nothing is impossible!

But even then, David remembers that the greatest need of the hour, the greatest call for debt payment, is to be grateful to God and to give Him glory. This is the true emergency my heart must acknowledge! As I live my life in total dependence on God the Holy Spirit, as I remember to give Him thanks daily, the anxiety of urgent mundane needs loses its terror. I do not allow anxieties to become ‘old’ in my heart!

Without any delay, each painful fear is replaced by a prayer of faith and thanksgiving. Each exchange becomes a pearl on the string of my testimony as a child of God.

‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus’ (Phil 4:6, 7)

It has worked for me, it shall work for you!

“He who testifies to all these things says it again: “I’m on my way! I’ll be there soon!”

Yes! Come, Master Jesus! (Rev 22: 20, TM)

In Christ I declare:

When I fear, I shall pray to God!

When I fear, I shall praise God!

In all things I shall give thanks to God!

My troublesome and unrepentant enemies shall become weaker, confused and ashamed!

The joy of the Lord is my strength!

God changes my anxiety into peace that guards my heart and mind against further fears!

God has not given me the spirit of fear but of power, love and sound mind!

I am not a coward! Fear will never paralyze my mind!

I am an overcomer with a great testimony that seals my confession of faith in Jesus Christ!

God is never in a hurry, for in all things He knows the end from the beginning!

I shall never panic to the extent that I forget to pray!

Prayer is my oxygen to breathe and thanksgiving my beauty made from ashes!

There is no more delay! The enemy has failed! God has given me my heart’s desires!

To the glory of God!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

‘We cannot rely on God’s promises without obeying His commandments’

John Calvin (1509-1564)

“Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
Show no mercy to wicked traitors…
They return at evening,
Snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.
They wander about for food
and howl if not satisfied…

But I will sing of Your strength,
in the morning I will sing of Your love;
for You are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble!” (Ps 59)

David is surrounded by wicked men. These were his friends in the past. But they proved to be selfish opportunists; visitors coming to steal some left over grace. They are wicked traitors who now slander, curse and lie. They have forgotten the good way of love, mercy and self-control. They are now wayward and take pleasure in evil. They invent ways of doing bad things. Their consciences are seared as with a hot iron. They take pleasure in making others fall. These are like stray dogs, prowling around the city. Stray dogs have no master. They fight with other and are ready to kill for food. They are not completely wild, they are not wild dogs. They are afraid to go to the forest for wolves hate and kill them. They like to live in the cities, close to human habitation but in the same time, they are not domesticated dogs.

This is the story of a stray dog with no name…Let’s call him S. D.
He once had a home but hated discipline. He became jealous on the freedom of some stray dogs he saw through the fence, wandering on the streets. He ran away and got lost in the dark. His owner was heartbroken and wept for him for a long time. He hung yellow ribbons and posted pictures with his lost pet on the trees in the neighborhood. S. D. saw the pictures and urinated on the tree.
He passed the gate once he protected from inside. He still remembers the time when his master’s son comes back from school or when the garden lights go on… From behind some rusty trash cans, S. D. remembers, that once upon a time, he knew a life of love and care…his very name called for dinner or for play…but now…
‘Who needs a name? Not me…’
‘Who needs a home when the whole street is mine?’
‘No, I care not for love anymore…loves makes me weak, like a puppy…I am not a pet…I am now free to wonder about, to do what I want, to sleep where I want, to steal, to kill and to destroy…I am now a true dog…’ –S.D. said to himself…
What a pity…what foolishness…what danger…what a loss!

I just read this counsel given by the specialists about stray dogs:
Stray dogs are not pets!
Do not extend a hand of friendship to a stray dog for he will misunderstand your love and bite it!
Do not bring a stray dog inside your home for he may attack you and kill your pets!
Do not feed a stray dog outside your gate for he is erratic in behavior and violent without restrain. He is sick in the body and mind. He can bite you and give you rabies, a sickness incurable in humans!
If you see a stray dog, call the veterinary police so that they can take it away to an animal shelter!

In Christ I declare:
I am a child of God!
I live inside a mansion in the Kingdom of God!
I belong to Jesus who is the Owner of my soul!
I love my Master, Jesus Christ, for He gave His life for me!
I am safe and protected inside His home!
I belong to the household of God!
I am not rebellious!
I am not unequally yoked with unbelievers, strangers or hypocrites!
I am not sorry for the devil and his agents!
I do not envy the wicked!
Every morning, I will sing praises for the pleasure of my Master!
I am completely satisfied!
In Jesus name,
Amen!

“I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
Our feet are standing
in your gates, O, Jerusalem” (Ps 122:1, 2)

After a long and difficult climb, we have now arrived at our mountain shelter. The very sight of it brings tears of gratitude and joy to our hearts. God provides His house for the pilgrims so that they can come and rest from their daily labor, refresh in His presence, show their gratitude for all He has done and meet with other believers who walk the same path of life.
Coming to fellowship with the brethren in the presence of the Holy Spirit should be the holy duty of every believer. It is good to come to church during the week, but it is even more important to attend the Sabbath (Sunday) morning service. God commands us to keep the Sabbath day holy, to make it a special time of fellowship with Him. Ignoring this command meant death in the past.
Question: how do you feel when you wake up on Sunday morning and you remember that today is ‘church time’? Are you happy and excited or not? Are you going because of religious duty, a sense of guilt or for fear of punishment? Just in case you have forgotten, God looks at the heart and the motives of our actions are more important to Him than the action itself.

The Jews were commanded by God to come to Jerusalem, to the Temple, at least three times a year for the holy festivals. Jerusalem is high on Mount Zion so going there meant going up. Climbing My Zion was not easy but the pilgrims were happy to make the long trek up the hill. The temple, the house of God meant rest, refreshing, the joy of obedience and the hope of greater things. This is the general plan of the House of God.
The House of God in Psalm 122 is a wonderful place with seven rooms. It can also be described as the home base of Mrs. Wisdom, which she built high on a hill, overlooking the city in the valley. Her house has seven pillars connected with the foundation built on the Rock, which is Christ (PV 9:1-6). The following are the names of the seven rooms or the seven pillars: Standing and Security; Judgment (of sin) and Joy; Prosperity, Peace and Praise. (For easy remembrance of the rooms, especially for the new -comers, there are 2-S, 2-J and 3-P)

STANDING ROOM
This is the first room in the House of God. All over the walls it is written: Welcome! We have been climbing the mountain for a quite some time. We now arrive at the House of God and for the first time since the beginning of the journey, our feet are now horizontal, standing secure in the gate of the Temple.
The word ‘standing’ in Hebrew means to come to the place of appointment and confirmation. It is a place to be established, to abide securely and safely. No more shaking or fear of falling. This is a place from where backsliding is impossible. When I was down in the valley of the world, I saw this house and this room from afar. I was jealous of them who could enter. I did not imagine that one day my feet will be planted on this Rock. This is the spot I was searching for, where I can put down roots, where I can lay the foundation of my mansion. From here I can grow wings and start rising up in the fullness of Christ!

My dream is just beginning…All glory to God!

“The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully,
though they cannot compare
with the wings and feathers of the stork.
She lays her eggs on the ground
and lets them warm in the sand,
unmindful that a foot may crush them,
that some wild animal may trample them.
She treats her young harshly, as if they were not hers;
she cares not that her labor was in vain,
for God did not endow her with wisdom
or give her a share of good sense.
Yet when she spreads her feathers to run,
she laughs at horse and rider”

“Even the jackals present their breasts
To nurse their young;
But the daughter of my people is cruel,
Like ostriches in the wilderness” (Job 39:13-18; Lam 4:3)

THE BIBLE REVELATIONS ABOUT THE OSTRICH
The ostrich in the Bible is described by God Himself as a strong, beautiful but foolish bird. It is one of the wild animals that God uses as a visual aid when rebuking Job for talking without understanding. God created all the animals and each has a function. Man has domesticated some animals but the wild ones still remain a mystery to him. You can catch a lion and keep him in a cage. You can take pictures of his teeth, you can make him jump at the circus or the zoo, but you can never completely tame him. God alone knows everything about the wild animals. He alone is sovereign over all His creation. The tongue is in the same class with the wild animals. None can tame it except God (Jam 3:7, . This mystery concerning the freedom of the wild helps us to fear God – Elohim, the Creator.

What are the revelations concerning the ostrich?
We do not want to be foolish! So, what are the lessons we can learn and apply to be wise women of God?
*DO NOT DECEIVE OTHERS! SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE ALWAYS!
The ostrich ‘flaps her wings joyfully…’ but she cannot use them to fly. Her wings are useless but she boasts about them. The ostrich deceives people with her actions, she gives others false hopes. These lies are foolishness!
*BE A RESPONSIBLE, LOVING AND CARING MOTHER! PRAY FOR YOUR CHILDREN UNTIL YOU GO TO HEAVEN!
The female ostrich is not a good mother; she is careless, harsh and impatient with her chicks. She ‘lays her eggs on the ground…unmindful that a foot may crush them…she treats her young harshly’. Her nest is shallow and vulnerable. The female is restless in the nest. The predominant hen (like ‘the senior wife’) is careless with her eggs; she piles more than she can incubate. She rejects many of the eggs that just get rotten by her side. The other hens (like ‘the junior wives’) in the harem are even worst; they just lay eggs in the common nest and then, they totally abandon any responsibility for the future.
When in heat, the ostrich forgets her responsibilities as a mother and abandons her chicks. She just follows any male that chase her. Her young chicks become lonely, rejected and vulnerable to predators. The male ostrich is a better father. He incubates the eggs most of the time. Later he is the one who mostly takes care of the young.
*BE HARD WORKING AND PRAY THAT GOD BLESSES THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS!
She ‘does not care that her labor is in vain’. If anyone tampers with her nest, she destroys all the remaining eggs and goes away to build another nest. When nesting, there is always great loss; many eggs are abandoned around her. She is not patient to repair the damage and always starts afresh, wasting time and resources. With all her hard work over the years, she has no reward, no harvest and no gain to glorify God!

The ostrich is proud of her beauty, independence and strength. The ostrich has beautiful feathers that are sold all over the world. It is proud of its achievements as a champion in running. The ostrich is lonely most of the time for she looks down on other birds and animals that cannot run like her. She ‘laughs at the horse and the rider’. In particular, she mocks at the horse, once wild and free, but now domesticated and submissive to his human rider. She sees no gain in humility, submission and discipline. She enjoys being wild, wayward, foolish and proud.
The ostrich represents a woman who is proud to be single and looks down on them that are married. She is a career woman and a family home is not one of her dreams. She prefers to buy a car than to have a home. She may have children but she prefers to be a single mother. Even if married, she does not enjoy her home. She delegated all her work to her housemaids and nannies. Her husband is always tired. He is burdened with his business and also does her work. He comes home in the evenings to clean the house and take care of their children. She knows and she exploits the weakness of men. She knows that her husband loves a clean house and good children. She controls and manipulates her staff, both in the house and in the office. They fear her. They work for her, they flatter her; they provide and help her without any reward or gratitude.
She is good at entertaining. She can sing and dance. She is tough, rude, loud and proud of her style. She does not submit to anyone in authority. She can kick anyone who stands in her way. She intimidates and she controls. She trusts in her strength, beauty and achievements. She is wasteful with her gifts and money. She lives like a rich woman even when she loses all. She dresses with expensive clothes even when she has no money in her pocket.

So what is the conclusion?
God- Elohim created the foolish ostrich. God created these women also. Pray for wisdom! Know that not all women who go to church are virtuous women as the Bible describes them. We are commanded: ‘Do not yoke yourself unequally with unbelievers’ (2Cor 6:14). Do not make friends with them! Do not listen to their counsel! Do not trust your children to such women! These are dangerous teachers or fearful maids! Pray before you chose your children’s school! Pray before you employ any house help! Their carelessness is deadly. They are busybodies. Their unending mistakes cause terrible tragedies…May God forbid this!