Dear friend,
! see that there is still much secret desire and dream in your heart, to do something great for God, in this life time…I pray for the power to change regrets into actions and to accomplish your dreams!
In Jesus name
Amen!

“Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think (infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams)
To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it)”
(Eph 3:20, 21)

In Christ I declare:
I am a child of God!
I shall fulfill the purpose of God for my life!
In Jesus name
Amen!

“You my brothers were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’. If you keep on biting and devouring each other watch out or you will be destroyed by each other…live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Gal 5:13-16)

Freedom is one of the greatest gifts God has given to His children. Freedom means to be independent from the oppression of another; it means to be a citizen and not a slave, to enjoy all the privileges given by the Government without paying for them; It means to be able to choose, to walk unrestricted; to be outspoken; to be pure (not united or mixed with something else); to be a king, sovereign in your own domain. The opposite of freedom is sin, bondage, slavery, inability to make a decision; it also means to be caged, dumb, blind, weak, corrupted and adulterated.

Jesus died to set us free from the bondage of sin and the penalty of the law. In the passage above the believers are warned not to take the Christian freedom for granted and not to misuse it. That is sin and it will defeat the purpose of liberty. In Christ we are free but there are conditions for freedom to be maintained. Salvation is an eternal gift, but freedom can be lost, at least partially, by falling into sin.
Christian freedom means not ‘indulging in the sinful nature’. Once you are born again, sin is dethroned and the Spirit takes over. But in the body, there is some remnant sin that has to be killed daily by the same Spirit of God. This sin does not reign anymore, but it can cause damage to your testimony of a free soul. This sin has its own voice, and wants to manifest. The freedom we have in Christ is to make the right decisions so that sin dies and the Spirit lives. Freedom is not a gift given to the flesh. We are not free to the extent that we shall continue to enjoy sin. Many believers take the gift of freedom for granted and refuse to mature spiritually. We are free from sin and not to sin! Selah!

Another way to manifest true Christian freedom is to obey God’s law and love others. Agape love is sacrificial. We are to ‘serve one another’ selflessly. Your freedom should not be the reason why you hurt others, why you are careless with their feelings. Flesh has to die! There is no power on earth that is able to kill the flesh except the Holy Spirit. That is why we read the Bible, pray and walk lead by the Spirit. This holy combination is poison to the flesh and food for the spirit. Freedom then is revealed as worship to God and service to the brethren. Within its holy boundaries true freedom is spiritual passion, mature love and purity of heart in the power of the Holy Ghost.

In Christ I declare:
I am free from the burden and punishment of sin!
I love God with all my heart!
I love, encourage and serve the brethren!
I put no stumbling block in another’s path!
I do not trespass the holy boundaries of freedom in Christ!
I am grateful for the gift of freedom!
I die to self and to the world!
I live and walk lead by the Holy Spirit!
In Jesus name,
Amen!

Today was a busy day for our church. We had a wedding in the morning. Before 10am we had the compulsory ‘sanitation day’. By law, everybody has to stay at home and clean the neighborhood. Then the news came that most of the roads are closed because a ‘big’ Government official came to town. Because of the traffic, not even the bride and the bridegroom could come to church before noon. After the ceremony most people went to the reception venue. Our prophetic prayer meeting starts by five. Few came and most of them were tired. How do we go on? What do I do with a tired congregation who feels too guilty to miss the service but has too little expectation of any blessing to come?
The answer is simple: invite the Holy Spirit to come and take over the tired joints and dry faces.
I made up my mind that if nobody wants to follow me into the Holy of Holies I shall go alone. I still had some ‘jetlag’ from the travel but that was not enough to stop me ‘redeeming the time’ tonight. I relaxed into the embrace of the Beloved. I reminded myself that the service is not unto my reputation (for I lost mine at the Cross). The gathering of the people is unto the Lamb who seats upon the Throne.
We prayed then we started singing an old much beloved song:
‘You don’t have to worry…and don’t you be afraid…joy comes in the morning…troubles they don’t last always…for there is a Friend called Jesus who will wash your tears away…and if your heart is broken…just lift your hands and say…I know that I can make it…I know that I can stand…No matter what may come my way…MY LIFE IS IN YOUR HANDS!’
Suddenly the Holy Spirit came to take over the evening offering. The feeling of tiredness and boredom disappeared. One after another the souls looked up over the hills…the Helper came galloping on the clouds of glory… Then I knew instantly that all is well, for in His presence there is fullness of joy…even the crumbs can heal…the crickets played the guitar…the children danced…and none could stop the injection of hope and power coming from afar…Revival has a peculiar fragrance and it was all over the building…
Yes, this is the secret of true ministry, the majestic Person of God the Holy Spirit taking over a hopeless situation than none wants to redeem.
He directed our spirits to Jesus Christ, the Lord. Such of good reminder we needed; that there is none like Him…each encounter with the Lord reveals His loveliness and precious face…you can never be the same once you gaze at the Strength of Israel! Beyond words to express the grace of our Lord, the One who calls us up unto the Mountain laden with spices, rivers of wine flowing to the thirsty…life abundant and free…this is my Beloved, this is my Lord, you daughters of Jerusalem!
‘Thank You Lord, for Your presence this evening. My soul has found rest. My life and all is in Your hands. You said that none can pluck me away from Your resources and power, from your sense of direction and love. Lord, I believe!’
Good lesson tonight: no matter how tired you are, come to church! It is better than anywhere else!

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand” (Jn 10:27, 28, KJ)

In Christ I declare:
I am a child of God!
I follow Jesus!
I have eternal life!
I can never perish!
I am un-pluck-able!
My life is in God’s hands!
I am forever safe!
In Jesus name
Amen!

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (Jn 12:24, 25)

The Cross is not just a historical event. It is also a practical revelation for the Believer. Jesus died and He rose again. That is my destiny too. I do not have to wait eighty years for ‘my death’ to come. By faith, in Christ, I can ‘die’ now…to sin, to my fleshly desires and to the world. This death is not just a doctrine. It is also a sacred experience. Many claim they obeyed this command. But the proof of obedience is only seen in the future. It is the supernatural, unexplained, abundant, spiritual and always surprising fruitfulness of a soul who lives in the power of resurrection and to the glory of God.

Disobedience to this command means deep, incurable loneliness. Any area of your life that is still ‘in your power’ shall have no mate, no child, no friend and no disciple. In spite of many prayers and much labor, there are many lonely lives, barren marriages and isolated ministries all over the world.

The solution is simple in theory but not easy in practice. It is the application of the Cross, with its shame, weakness and glory. You have to let go of your life and surrender it to God. This is not just an event in the past. The Holy Spirit shall reveal areas of your life that are yet to be planted in the vineyard of God. Even with your marriage, this surrendering rarely happens on your weeding day. You may pray about it but in practice it takes some years before you are ready to let go, so that ‘the falling and dying’ of it produce abiding results of maturity and fruitfulness.

Practically, how do you know that you have not yet surrendered a particular area of your life and ministry to God?

The answer is this: self is still active there! You still love it; you still defend it; you are still very jealous and possessive of it. When men criticize that area of your life, you feel grieved and angry and you quarrel to defend it. Once you give it to God (where it belongs) immediately you have peace and miraculously you start enjoying your new free life. Much pain can be avoided in marriage once the surrender is complete. This is the secret of true godly success in the Kingdom of God. This is the only prescription for healing and happiness in this world and in the one to come. Nothing else works quite the same. Your pain should not be in vain! Your tears should not wet your pillow for too long! These should direct you to the feet of Jesus who died and rose again. He is the only way to truth and life everlasting! May your heart receive ‘the injection’ of truth today! And finally, be free indeed!

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

I die to self and to the world!

I am hid in Christ!

When He appears, I shall appear with Him in Glory!

I am a fruitful vine!

To the glory of God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“He who is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live” (PV 15:27; AMP)

Marriage is God’s idea. Because of that, it should be a blessing. God should be at the center of all decisions made in the family. The unity of the Spirit, peace and joy should rule the home.

‘The love of money is the root of all evil’ (1Tim 6:10). Much sorrow can be avoided if God is in charge of your bank account. Greed destroys marriages and relationships. Mammon is the author of ‘home trouble’. For the sake of money men betray best friends and divorce increases in the land.

In the scripture above the word ‘greedy’ describes a man who is ready to bribe, steal and kill for the sake of wealth.  This man hates to have a legitimate job. He does not want to obey God’s Word so that the work of his hands will be blessed. He may be religious but he does not pay his tithe and is not faithful with his offerings in the house of God. What excites him is ‘unjust gain’. He oppresses the weak and attacks the vulnerable. He gains money from fraud and extortion. His profit is stained with the tears of many. The whole family revolves around his financial plans. Their joy is connected to his wealth.

Like a horse trained for battle, he ‘smells’ blood and is ready to attack. Each contract is a battle field. He does not just want money; he needs to feel like a champion. He needs the conquest and the victory. He is merciless with the losers. He plunders them and rejoices in their defeat. He needs to feel the power of control. He hears the cry of his victims, powerless at his feet. His favorite song is ‘The winner takes it all’. He rejoices in emptying the pockets and the hearts, money and joy is finally in his pocket…

People fear him and abandon their property running away…Like Ahab in the field of Naboth he rejoices at the blood purchase and is finally happy! This man is a troubler to his own family and a spiritual liability to the community. His wife and children suffer under the anger of such a tyrant, never able to enjoy the wealth that drained the life of many souls.

May God forbid that I should be close to any man like that! May I never envy the riches of greedy men! May I be satisfied with God’s portion for my life! Father God, have mercy on the families of greedy men!

In Christ I declare:

I am God’s property!

My property belongs to God!

All my gifts and wealth are from God!

I pay my tithes and I am faithful with my offerings to God!

I hate bribes and I will never use my money to manipulate men!

I plead the Blood of Jesus over my home!

My home is blessed, filled with peace and joy!

I reject greed and the love of money!

I reject the worship of Mammon!

I love God! I worship God!

I am a child of God and I shall live forever!

In Jesus name

Amen!

‘In the beginning was the Word…’ (Jn 1:1)

The Bible is the Word of God. We often take it for granted. Even the devil believes in God but he does not believe in what God says. The devil hates the Bible and I used to hate it too. Thank God for salvation!

For a moment, I want to imagine that I do not have a Bible. What will that mean to me?

Without the Bible, I will never know God as He really is. I will not know that He created all things, that He loves the world, that He has a Son who was willing to sacrifice Himself for me. I will not know that there is a Holy Spirit of life eternal.

I will not understand that I am not a good person, but a sinner, reckless, ungrateful, wicked and selfish to the core. I will not know that I need a Savior and a Master. I will be a self-sufficient fool.

I will not know that there is another realm, that there is a heaven and a hell. I will be so consumed with my life here on earth that I will be ready to kill just to be famous or rich. I will have no one to talk to when all men forsake me. Alcohol, drugs or sex, these could have been my only ‘friends’.

I will not know that my future is designed to be glorious. I will not be interested to sing for my voice is not perfect. I will not be interested to write books for my English is not perfect. I will be too self-conscious to shine before men, too shy to encourage them, too much a coward to rebuke them.

I will be afraid and have no comfort, just pretend that all is well. I will deceive others just for fun and never feel bad about it. My imagination will be wild, thinking of a possible romance and poems of other worlds. But I will not have the faith to believe that these can be true or possible to attain. I will not know that above beauty and riches, I can be holy and blessed. These words will be missing from my vocabulary. I will be dry, proud, confused and afraid. I will talk to myself daily, trying to encourage myself with empty words, knowing deep down that my ‘religion’ is useless, but having no other.

Ignorant and lonely, I will live and die without a purpose and without a name. I will be just another speck of dust, grey sand on the shore, no dream and no song. I will never know that I am loved unconditionally and passionately by a great King. I will not know that I am a princess and a darling, chosen as a bride before the mountains were formed from the sea. I will not know that marriage is a gift from heaven and that children are a reward.  I will never know that a Man called Jesus Christ loved me and died for me to make me new. I will never know the power of life that never ends. I will never know that death is defeated and the grave is now a garden. I will never know what true love is…

What can be worse than this?

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

The Bible is the Word of God!

I shall study the Word of God daily and pray always!

Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so!

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen!

“For the Lord is good and His love endures forever…” (Ps 100:5)
This is the story of a group of people called by the Lord to go up the mountain of His presence. Some pilgrims are already at home resting and enjoying the bounty of the Lord’s house. There are many rooms in the house of God, each has a different type of furniture, a different type of carpet…there are many wonderful gifts inside…look for your own..do not try to open another, it will not work…look for your own and you shall be so happy…are you not surprised that God has spelled your name correctly? Joy…Joy…Joy…God is good! All the time!
But there are still many travelers down the slopes, slowly moving up the hill. They struggle with obedience to simple commands. They have difficulty in believing the truth. What is truth? –asked Pilate?
The truth is this: GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME!
The rich young ruler called Jesus ‘Good Teacher…’ He was rebuked for speaking words without understanding. Jesus said to him: ‘No one is good-except God alone!’ (Lk 18:18-19)
Such a simple revelation…But it is still so hard to believe it… Each step up the mountain requires total trust that God is indeed a good Person. We have to believe that He who called us to a higher place is faithful.
But when things get hard, doubt resident in the flesh starts grumbling. In the wilderness the people of God complained again and again doubting the goodness of God. .Even Jeremiah thought that God has ‘deceived’ him into ministry.
Why do we struggle so much in believing that God is indeed good?
The first reason is that we are not yet mature spiritually. The Bible raises our expectations concerning our blessings from God. As sinners we had no hope of any inheritance from heaven. But now, we are told that we are kings and priests. We start to imagine golden palaces and exotic temples. This is the result of fleshly, wild, un-sanctified imagination. For a long time we do not know how to control that. So we dream and claim all the gold from the streets of heaven and the pearls at the gates. Then I look around and see myself in the cheap apartment I call my home on earth, I feel disappointed and blame God…
The lesson is to have the mind of Christ, to understand all things thru His Word. Flesh and Spirit war against each other. Each has a different explanation of the things of life. I should always keep my eyes on heavenly things and then ‘I will see the goodness of God in the land of the living’.
‘Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord, FOREVER!’

This is my eternal testimony and free confession:
“God is good to me and my family!
In Jesus name,
Amen!”