“Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you” (Dan 6:16)

Daniel was a Jewish captive in Babylon. He was a man ‘of excellent spirit’ and got a high position in the Government of that country. Then Darius, the King of the Medes took over. He was also impressed with Daniel’s character and planned to promote him to be over all his governors and officials. These people got jealous and made a counter plan to destroy Daniel. They knew that he is a faithful servant who cannot be bribed or corrupted. The only way to destroy him and his reputation will be thru Daniel’s religion. They manipulated the King with flattery into signing a foolish law that said: any man, who prays to any other god than him, shall be thrown into the lion’s den.

When Daniel heard about how his master was deceived to ignorantly sign his death warrant, he got ready to meet God. In life or death, he knew that God was near. He went to his house, opened the windows towards Jerusalem, knelt down and, as usual, he prayed to God. The wicked men caught him breaking the law of his master. It is true that the law was foolish but the signature of the king was there on it. Daniel was reported and found guilty. The king tried to save his most faithful servant, but could not. The law has no mercy. If the king releases Daniel after breaking the law, he will lose his respect and his throne.

So Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den to die. The king felt guilty for betraying his best friend and could not sleep the whole night. Early in the morning he found that Daniel was not only alive, but not hurt at all for the Angel of Jehovah shut the mouths of the lions the whole night. The king was very happy and brought Daniel out. The king then judges the wicked false accusers of Daniel.  Together with their wives and children, they are sent to the same lion’s den. But there is no Angel to save them and they all perish. And yes, Daniel still got his promotion at last.

This is a story even the children can tell. A whole chapter in the Bible is dedicated to it. What are the lessons here? What is God telling you? The first thing we learn is that it pays to serve the Living God, continually and faithfully. Most people do not believe in purity of character. It is true that this world is corrupted and religion is even worse. It is said that if a man was not a thief before entering an office, he will become one after he leaves. But God is telling us that like Daniel, as a Christian, you do not have to be corrupted to be successful in this world. Faithfulness to God’s Word brings success!

Do you believe that?

Another lesson is that payer is a most powerful weapon. Your faithfulness as a prayer warrior shall be tried in fire. Daniel was ready to break the law of his earthly master, and even to die, for the privilege of prayer. Is prayer a matter of life and death to you? Are you ready to die than to stop praying?

The name Daniel means God’s judgment. God is a God of justice and He surely punishes the wicked. It is a terrible thing to falsely accuse a true servant of God, to oppose his ministry and anointing or to desire his death. The persecutors of true believers shall suffer, together with their families. It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the Living God!

Lastly, when God wants to promote you, men and devils shall become jealous and persecute you even unto death. Do you know that? When face to face with the lions of death, are you ready to stand trusting God alone? For at that time even your parents, spouse, boss or best friend shall betray you. The Angel who shut the mouth of the lions was our Lord Jesus Christ. He died on the Cross to shut the mouth of the devil. Your enemies shall be speechless and disgraced. It is faith in God alone that will save you. Can you stand alone, having only God as defense?  Do you trust God for your total vindication? Is God enough for you? Is your faith in God working for you? Are you saved? For in the times of trials all men shall abandon you to your fate and even kings cannot save you. You shall either die or live to declare God’s mercy and His wonders. But once you successfully pass thru this fire, no devil and no man can ever destroy your testimony or stop your promotion for you shall be called the friend of God!

In Christ I declare:

The God of Daniel is my God!

I serve God continually!

God shall save and deliver me from all trials!

My unrepentant enemies shall fall for my sake!

Even in the grave Jesus is Lord!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“Attend… Serve, the Lord without distraction… Live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord” (1Cor 7:35)

We are commanded to examine ourselves if we are still in the center of God’s will. One of the most common hindrances to true worship is a divided, cluttered, distracted heart. The word ‘distraction’ in Greek means to drag heavy things around the house; to be full of domestic cares that have the ability to draw you out from God’s presence. To be distracted it means to have your attention diverted from the right object to another, to lose your focus, to mix your priorities, to become complicated emotionally, to get confused with conflicting motives. This warning against dangerous spiritual distraction applies only to the true believers for the unsaved cannot worship God. It is a sign of internal backsliding. If uncorrected, it becomes a sin leading to bondage that may require deliverance.

The main cause for spiritual distraction is the devil. He is able to attack the mind bringing confusion, division and distraction. The devil deceives you by offering confusion in place of the pure simplicity of Christ, which he calls ‘boredom’. He tempts you to ignore the true Gospel of Christ Crucified and to grieve the Holy Spirit and trade it for ‘other gospels, saviors or spirits’ (2Cor 11:3, 4). You may think that no true believer will fall for its tricks, but many mighty men joined the world thru this old deception.

Other sources of spiritual distraction are business and worldliness. The mind is too preoccupied with things about jobs, promotion, money, marriage, children, worries about life and death in general. All these thoughts cause doubt or anxiety. These are able to hinder the flow of worship.

The best example of a distracted worshiper is Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus. She was busy with cooking for Jesus until she became too frustrated to worship Him. She became jealous on her sister who just sat at His feet, listening to His Word. She was lovingly rebuked by the Lord who said that Mary has chosen the best place in the universe: an undivided attention to God’s Word and worship (Lk 10:38-42)

The solution is to come back to Jesus, back to your First Love! Come back to the Cross and remind yourself of the price of true Love! You have to identify these hindrances as sins. Repent! Purify your heart and motives for ministry! Your love for the Savior should be the only reason for your sacrifice of worship! You should need nothing else! Nobody should beg you to worship God, to pay your tithe or to come to church! Desire to worship God from your heart! Be jealous and protect your quiet times with the Lord! Be faithful in the study of the Word and prayer! It is better to read less scriptures but with an undivided attention and honoring God, than to read much and retain nothing. Make sure that you read the Bible more than the newspaper, Christian books more than novels, listen to worship music more than the secular radio, watch spiritual movies more than the news on the TV…

Even lady Delilah, as wicked as she was, complained about Samson being distracted and in the same time confessing love to her…

“How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me?” (Jdg 16:15)

MY TESTIMONY

Spiritual distraction is a sin I had to fight often. I am much better now, but not completely healed. From time to time my mind wanders and I just forget God’s presence. Slowly, my worship becomes mechanical and my devotion reduces to a mere routine. It becomes hard to think of Jesus in a loving way. I start to worry about many little things. My mind ‘scatters’ in different directions. My heart becomes cold. I read the Bible but I lose the excitement of searching for a fresh revelation. I feel sleepy when I should not sleep. I remember some gossip I should not have listened to in the first place. I cannot compose a song; poetry looks crazy and prophetic utterance a burdensome weight. The flow of inspiration gets dry… The river of life becomes a poodle…Things do not make sense…

This down spiral mind can last for minutes, hours or days…

Then I wake up as from sleep. I rebuke myself, I feel bad, I cry, I repent and run back to the mercy seat…I painfully long for God’s sweet voice and for His embrace once more…I look at the Cross and I see the price Love had to pay to save my soul…I weep and kiss His feet…God is so merciful…His Spirit draws me back to Him…

O, how I hate the devil and any distraction that will drag me away from the Lover of my soul…

O, how I love Jesus…

“With my whole heart have I sought You, inquiring for and of You and yearning for You; Oh, let me not wander or step aside [either in ignorance or willfully] from Your commandments” (Ps 119;10, AMP)

In Christ I declare:

I reject any distraction, doubt or confusion of mind!

I look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith!

I worship God in Spirit and in Truth!

In Jesus name

Amen!

Dear Malia,

I ask that you pray for me. My relationship with my father is not good. The way he treats me and my siblings and even my nieces is not the way it should be. I pray for him but my heart is turning cold towards him. I ask God to remove bitterness and un-forgiveness out of my heart but I still feel the same. He’s always treated me the worst although I was always the best child from their ‘standards’.

I understand it’s a spiritual warfare, but I am human and it’s difficult not having a biological parent that I’m close to…

MY ANSWER:

Dear…

I pray that your eyes be opened to see the root of this problem. Not just a superficial solution but a deep work of the Holy Spirit, when Christ is glorified. It is possible that you want him to be somebody he can never be…for example, he can never be your best friend, your encourager or your mentor…etc. God can choose other people to fulfill these positions of blessings for you. For a born again, the natural relationships are the least fulfilling of all.

It is also possible that you have to look for another church, for a spiritual mentor, a pastor who truly loves you personally, inspires you with a living vision of success and covers you spiritually so that you can grow without fear. Then you will be free from this pain of having an uncaring natural dad. Lastly, draw closer to God, thru His Word and prayer. He is the best Father you can ever have!

“A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows,

Is God in His holy habitation…

God sets the solitary in families;

He brings out those who are bound into prosperity…” (Ps 68:5, 6)

Love in Christ alone

Malia

“If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you!”  (Ex 15:26)

If the medical treatment is not working and the pain is increasing, then you need a miracle of healing from God. You have to also ask God for mercy and forgiveness for doubting His power, willingness to heal and love towards you. Most people just say that they believe God but in reality they do not believe as they should. For healing, you need more faith than ‘the regular’ faith of just surviving. Even as you pray for healing, there are different levels of faith. For example you need more faith to trust God for healing from AIDS than from a headache. Doubt is an enemy to faith. Fear of failure is also an enemy to faith. Bitterness is an enemy to faith! Religious pride is ‘a cancer’ to faith. Identify the hindrances and deal with them ruthlessly. Uproot any ‘convenient lie’ of the devil! Examine your heart for any compromise with the thinking of the world! Do not be sorry for the devil! Most people deceive themselves about the reality of their level of faith. The eternal truth remains: God has commanded us to pray and He has promised to hear our prayers, to be concerned about our weaknesses and our infirmities. God cares for us. Stop and think of this ‘simple’ revelation. Say to yourself again and again until every cell in your body and soul believes it: ‘God cares for me! God loves me!’ God can use the doctors and the medical treatment. But God is not bound by them. God is limitless in His creative methods of healing.

Jesus died on the Cross of Calvary to save your soul and to heal your body. Some people say that healing is not part of the gain at the Cross. Why do you believe the doubters? What do you lose if you believe the whole truth? Why not join the ranks of them who have greater overcoming faith?

‘By His (Christ’s) stripes you are healed’ (Is 53:5)

O…that you may completely trust God today! O…that you may desire to have a fresh testimony of God’s healing power towards you! You do not need money, but you need faith! May God grant it to you! This is God’s word for you today!

In Christ I declare:

I am saved!

By His stripes I am healed!

I believe 100%!

Doubt is 0%!

All glory to God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“Though the sheep pens are sheepless

 and the cattle barns empty,

I’m singing joyful praise to God.

Counting on God’s Rule to prevail,

I take heart and gain strength.

I run like a deer.

I feel like I’m king of the mountain!” (Habakkuk 3:17-19; TM)

This is the wonderful faith declaration of Prophet Habakkuk. His name in Hebrew means ‘Embrace’. Habakkuk is longing for an Embrace from God but God seems distant and uninterested with the state of His people… He complains to God that things are hard and nothing makes sense anymore. Sin prevails in the land and the prophets are ignored or disgraced. The enemy gains ground and none can oppose his advances. The wicked men look happy and successful. Then God speaks…Please take note…God will always speak at last!!! He assures His lonely and frustrated servant that He is still in control of His universe. In the midst of much negative complains God embraces him with clear words of hope.

First, God commands the prophet to write down the revelation of this hope of glory. This is a decree to continue to preach the Gospel of Christ. Even if things seems slow, sooner or later, the visible results shall follow. Holy seeds shall produce a holy harvest! Eternal Life shall win the battle against sin and death in the land. This is God’s decree and the revelation that shall surely ‘speak at the appointed time’. There is no fear of failure or fear of the future in the ministry of preaching Christ. Let all men be liars, if that is what they want, but God shall prove Himself to be true at last. Men may receive or reject the Word of God. But one thing is sure: God loves them and He has proved His love by sending His only Begotten Son to die for their sins. The sinful and proud man may boast of his strength and success. But the humble righteous man shall live by faith in His Savior. That shall be his strength, his righteousness and boast! This is the Gospel we preach: Christ Crucified; Raised from the dead and Lord of lords forever!

This is the eternal truth: Sin can never prevail for it has been defeated on the Cross of Calvary. It is the glory of God that wins at last. The earth shall be filled with the knowledge and the revelation of the power, beauty and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, ‘as the waters cover the sea’. Nothing can stop that! Nothing can change that!

Another thing is sure: the Almighty God exists! He dwells in Heaven, in His Holy Temple. Let all men stop complaining and keep quiet!  Let all creation bow down and worship God! In the middle of trials, sickness, poverty, persecution, opposition and much peril of life, let all men rejoice in the hope of the glory of Jesus Christ! For as long as you breathe there is still hope that things will change! Dear Child, God has not forgotten you! God is faithful to all His promises! Has He said something to you in the past? Then He shall surely bring it to pass! For God owes no man!

May God strengthen and revive your heart today!

This should be your prayer:

 “Lord, I have heard of your fame;

    I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.

Repeat them in our day,

    in our time make them known;

    in wrath remember mercy” (Hab 3:2, NIV)

In Christ I declare:

Jesus is Lord!

God shall fulfill His good will towards me!

All God’s promises in the Bible are yes and amen!

I trust God!

In all circumstances I shall worship God forever!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,  saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him…the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy” (Matt 2:1-10).  

The story of Christmas is two thousand years old. Generations of young and old rejoiced in its mystery and beauty. Among the best loved ‘characters’ of the drama are the wise men. They could have been three or more. They saw a bright star in the East and they followed its path. They rejoiced when the star lead them to see Baby Jesus. We don’t know much about them. But surely, these are educated men who could read the sign of times. They are wealthy men too, for they sponsored themselves on such a long journey, bringing expensive gifts. They were spiritual men, for their desire was to find the King of glory and to worship Him. They were just not looking for a baby. They were looking for the King of glory in charge of their destinies and One who is worthy of their devotion. In the natural, it’s not easy to bow down to ‘a foreign’ king. Except that King is so special that all the money and time spent in seeking Him is worth it. That is why they are called wise, for they found Him, the best Treasure man can ever have.

These were not ignorant travelers or adventure seekers. They surely prayed before they decided to bring their special prophetic gifts to the King. They brought gold, fit for a king’s crown; frankincense, an offering for a priest and myrrh, to embalm the body of the dead. They believed that the King of glory is a Royal Priest and that He will mysteriously die one day. This is so strange… God revealed so much to strangers who paid the price to come and worship the King of the Jews. Their sacrifice of worship is even greater knowing that the Jews refused to welcome or worship Christ. Herod wanted Jesus dead. But these wise men from the East are an example to us; spiritual, bold, faithful and wise men indeed. I believe that heaven will be full with great surprises, for the last shall be first and the first shall be left behind.

Jesus said: “whoever seeks shall find” (Mt 7:8). This is God’s law. Worship is very expensive. It is not for the fainthearted, casual and superficially curious entertainers. You may have to leave your comfort zone and follow a star…you may have to trust the wind… or the fragrance of incense blowing in the air…men may laugh or they may plan to kill… but keep asking… keep moving with the leading of the Spirit…the star may stop over a humble lonely abode, but if God is there, you shall become an established worshipper in the courts of heaven. God rewards diligent, patient and humble seekers. He rewards them with His very presence and personal blessings. The story of Christmas is going on even today. Wise men still seek Jesus. God Himself is seeking worshippers too (Jn 4:23). There is a place in the Spirit realm where the holy seekers shall gather, from east and west, they shall come and meet and rejoice together.

Do you seek Jesus? Do you desire to worship Him? Are you ready to lose all things you purchased with money, for the joy of finding the Excellency of knowing Jesus Christ? Then God will reward you and you shall rejoice! I know it for sure! This is your wisdom indeed!

Merry Christmas to you all!

In Christ I declare:

I continue to seek Jesus until I shall find Him!

Jesus is my very own eternal treasure!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“O Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are but a small Judean village, yet you will be the birthplace of my King who is alive from everlasting ages past!” God will abandon his people to their enemies until she who is to give birth has her son… And He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God, and His people shall remain there undisturbed, for He will be greatly honored all around the world. He will be our Peace. ..
He will deliver us from the Assyrians when they invade our land. Then the nation of Israel will refresh the world like gentle dew or the welcome showers of rain, and Israel will be as strong as a lion. The nations will be like helpless sheep before her! She will stand up to her foes; all her enemies will be wiped out” (Micah 5:2-9, LB)

Prophet Micah lived in the 8th Century BC. He saw the coming of the Messiah who was to be born in the small village of Bethlehem Judea. In Hebrew, Bethlehem means the ‘House of Bread’. The word Ephrathah means ‘Fruitfulness’. It describes the spiritual blessings coming to such a humble location, chosen by God to have His Son to be born there. What a mystery…The Living Bread came to its House.
Even today Bethlehem is still a small town. The population is only about 25 000 people. More than half are Muslims and the rest are Christian Palestinians. The main industry is tourism. Most of the inhabitants manufacture and sell little crosses made of olive wood. The church that houses the manger where Jesus was born is one of the oldest in the world.
God could have chosen any other city for the birthplace of His Son. But according to Micah’s prophecy, the little town of Bethlehem became that unique and blessed spot on earth. God loves to use things of insignificance to create great things of wonder. We have a tendency to despise little things or little beginnings. We assume that for great things to happen, we need to start with big ‘capital’ and much fanfare. But God is different. He uses things that men reject to create wonders men admire. This is the pleasure of God, to use the weak to confound the strong and foolish people to shame the worldly wise.

Micah prophesied that the King born in Bethlehem shall destroy the Assyrian army. This prophecy can only be applied to what happened when Sennacherib wanted to destroy Jerusalem. It means that the Angel who killed 185000 Assyrians that night was in fact Christ (2Kg 19). That was the end of the enemy’s attack upon Jerusalem. He who was born in a manger is able to destroy all His enemies with only His breath! Like in Egypt, during the Passover Night, the ‘silent night, holy night’ became a time of horror and judgment to all His enemies. He who brought peace on earth to the men who have His favor, He is able to destroy all opposition to His Kingdom. Is this how you imagine Baby Jesus?

From such a humble beginning, in the little town of Bethlehem, the King of Glory was born. The Baby in the Manger is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was born as a little baby. He lived and died as a Man, became a substitute for sinners that they may be forgiven. He was buried in Jerusalem and rose again after three days. He then sent the Holy Spirit on His Church. He is our strong Shepherd to protect and feed us with His Word. He is our Prince of Peace and our eternal prosperity. Like long awaited showers during the dry season and like the mysterious dew covering the desert in the morning, He is the only hope of revival for the nations. Christ is the Sovereign Ruler of all the earth. All creation shall bow down to Him. All His enemies shall be defeated.

This beautiful picture is what Micah saw eight centuries before the birth of Jesus. Do you see the King of Glory, undefeated and eternal? There was no room for Him to be born in a palace. A stable and an animal’s manger was the best humanity could offer to His Creator. But this is the strange true Story of Redemption, the Romance of God who chose to dwell among men.
I wish you Merry Christmas!

This is our prayer…
“O Holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel”
(by Philips Brooks)

In Christ I declare:
Jesus Christ is my Savior and my Lord!
In Jesus name
Amen!

““I am a Jew; I worship Jehovah, the God of heaven, who made the earth and sea.” Then he told them he was running away from the Lord…Then they picked up Jonah and threw him overboard into the raging sea—and the storm stopped! The men stood there in awe before Jehovah, and they sacrificed to Him and vowed to serve Him” (Jon 1:9-16; LB)

The boat looked like any ordinary boat. The seamen on duty did not know that soon they shall have an encounter with God, that their lives will be changed forever. The trip looked like any other. The route was the old Jewish port of Joppa, across the Great Sea and unto far away Tarshish in Spain. The passenger called Jonah stood in line with others bought his ticket. He then quietly went bellow, to the darkest part of the cabins. That third class cabin ticket was all his money could purchase. Anyway, this was not a pleasure trip he thought to himself. He was not ready to spend more money running away from the Lord. He went to his bunker and straight to sleep, trying to ignore this anxiety that Jehovah may locate him, in the belly of this old ship. But of one thing he was sure: he was not ready to go to that wicked city Nineveh and waste all his compassion on some stupid, idolatrous people for whom nobody cares. So he exchanged the anointing for ministry for a cheap cruise on the Mediterranean Sea.

Maybe God will forget… Maybe God will have mercy on him…Maybe God will forget saving the pagans…After all, Jehovah is his God, not theirs…Comforting himself, the prophet fell asleep…

For some time all things were quiet. Jonah slept on and off. He even indulged in a half smile, thinking that he outran God…Then suddenly, the ship started shaking…the wind started blowing like mad…the waves went up and down with a vengeance…No stars, no moon, no light at all…

The seamen tried to steady the ship. They did all they can to balance it on the angry waves. But nothing worked…Suddenly they knew that this storm was different than all others they’ve witnessed in the past. This was a strange storm…this was so unexpected…this was not even the season for storms- they said…something is wrong… the gods are angry, the gods are after them…

These were strong and hardened men, but the wind brought them to their knees. When all hope was gone, to their surprise, they found themselves praying… pleading with any god to have mercy on them all…They never prayed like this in all of their lives…Then one had an idea to cast lots, to find the guilty one, the one who offended the gods…and the lot fell on passenger number…Jonah Amittai….Who is this Jonah?… Anxiously, the Captain and all the rest went down below and found Jonah sleeping…This was a careless sleep of death…They asked him why sleep at such a time as this…he said that he was running from the God of Heaven, who created the land and the sea…the sea?…this was the man who had the boldness to enter a ship and ignore the call of God who made the sea…This is the call of the sea…Jonah has to go and meet the God of the sea…To save the rest of men, Jonah must die… then Jonah was thrown overboard…and suddenly the sea became quiet, satisfied with its offering…

The seamen fell down in awe, and worshiped Jehovah, the God of Jonah, the Creator God, the God who calls men to His service, the Jealous God, the God who purses His backsliding servants, the God who seeks and finds His own worshippers, the God who none can defeat, the God who accepts the death of one man, so that others may live…the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and our God forever! Among crew and passengers, brought together by an invisible hand and a strange call, revival has started on that old ship…

As you know, Jonah did not really die. The same God who provided the storm, also provided a big fish who swallowed and carried him free of charge to his primary place of ministry. This is not just the prophet’s testimony of repentance and restoration. It is also the story of how revival can come suddenly on a people who never dreamt of God before. It is the story of God’s compassion on pagans, on sinners, who need a Savior too.

This is a great lesson for us all, even as we pray for revival to come… When all things seem ‘normal’, in the midst of business as usual…suddenly, the power of God may hit your comfort zone and shake your boat. It may be losing a job, a sickness, pain, divorce…or it may look like death. But the storm is intended to humble you, to bring you to your knees before your Creator. Trapped between darkness and rough seas, in the midst of loneliness, loss and the anxiety of a million unanswered questions… you will meet with God. You will discover the power of prayer and the fragrance of worship to be the only Balm for your thirsty soul. The grace of God shall be your portion and revival your reward! Amen!

In Christ I declare:

I shall not die, but live and declare the wonderful things of God!

I am saved by the Blood of the Lamb!

I have answered the call to worship and serve God, forever!

The grace of God is upon me!

God has revived my heart!

I am healed and restored!

Revival shall come to this land!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“And bring us not into temptation but rescue us from evil” (Luke 11:4; AMP)

Our prayer should be:

“Heavenly Father, We come before Your Throne of Mercy and Grace! We worship You, we bow at Your feet, Lord Jesus! We need You more than ever! We pray for wisdom! We pray for strength! We need a fresh impartation of Your Spirit!

Please do not allow us to choose the type of test we think we can withstand in life. Please do not let us be independent from Your leading. Please restrain and discipline us in preparation for the future and necessary temptations. You alone know our capacity to withstand different trials. You alone know our weaknesses and strengths. Our hearts are deceitful and we may overestimate our strengths and foolishly ignore our weaknesses. You alone chose our path in life. You alone chose our life partner! You alone chose who should be our children. Please shut any door that will bring failure during times of temptation. Please shut any door of pride and disgrace. May the door of faith be opened!

We desire to glorify Your name at all times, even during temptations, Trusting You to the end, we resist the devil; we reject his lies; we destroy his hold over our minds and emotions!  We trust in You, even today, even right now! There is nothing impossible for You to do! You know the end from the beginning! You never panic and Your never withdraw in crisis! Help us to be like Jesus!

Dear Heavenly Father, I desire to bring a smile on Your face…I desire that You boast of me, Your child!

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen!”

Prayer requests please… Tomorrow we have our annual Drama called The Nativity. Each year we mount a stage in the middle of the town and present the story of the Birth of Jesus, in open air, for all to come and see the glory of God! All the participants are members of our church. There is no ‘professional’ actor.

The girl who plays the leading role for the angels’ ballet just manifested signs of ‘chicken pox’. She is 12 years old. The 3 months old baby boy who ‘plays the role’ of baby Jesus just developed pneumonia (?) and the doctors said that he has to undergo a surgical procedure tomorrow (?). I do not practice medicine anymore so I cannot confirm or not these diagnosis. But both looked sick today at the final rehearsal. The parents had faith and came with them like this. We prayed for both of them for divine miraculous healing. We reject any false report. The devil is a liar and we chose to reject all his attacks of fear, discouragement, confusion and doubt. Jesus is Lord over these two children, over Father’s House Bible Church and over Warri, Nigeria! May heavens be opened tomorrow as we present the story of God’s love for sinners like me and you. We promise to give God all the glory for the healings, for the salvation of souls, for the joy in our hearts and for the mighty testimonies that will surely follow! In Jesus name, Amen!

“Believe in the Lord your God and you shall have success!

Believe His prophets and everything will be all right!” (2Chr 20:20; LB)

This is a testimony from our church. Last month, during or women’s fellowship, a prophetic word was given: ‘No mother shall bury her child’. We all sensed that it was the Holy Spirit encouraging us, especially the mothers. We all believed. We all shouted a loud ‘Amen!’ Then we prayed that the seed of faith concerning this prophetic word shall not be quenched in the future trials, but it shall stand and be fruitful! To the glory of God!

Few days later a sister came to share with me her testimony of faith during trial. She is heavily pregnant waiting to deliver soon. She told me that she was not able to attend the last women fellowship. But she phoned another sister to ask how it was. She was told about the theme of the meeting and about this prophetic word. She too quickly answered: ‘Amen!’ She said that she knew the word was from God. Few days later her faith was to be tried by ‘fire’. This is her testimony:

Her son of three drank half a bottle of ‘Raid’ (an insecticide used against mosquitoes here in Nigeria). She found the boy on the floor, unconscious, with the bottle by him. She held him and ran to the hospital. Many people, friends and relatives gathered to help and sympathize. Most of them could not even pray for the situation seem hopeless. Even the doctor looked worried. But to everybody’s surprise, the mother looked calm, quietly praying in tongues. She told all people that her son will not die because it has been prophesied in the church that ‘no mother shall bury her child’. She insisted that she believes the word of the prophet! She said that she will not be disappointed by God because she believes! She looked foolish with her faith. The doctors tried their best but the condition remained unchanged. The little boy remained deeply unconscious, his body shaken with seizures and foaming at the mouth.

Then something happened!!! After one and a half hour suddenly, to everybody surprise, the boy sneezed and woke up as from sleep. He called ‘Mummy…’ And that was it! He started playing and he asked for food. He was sent home that same day.

The doctor called the mother in his office and asked her: ‘what church do you attend?’ She answered: ‘Father’s House Bible Church Warri, Sir…’ The doctor kept quiet for few seconds then he said: ‘that is a good church…Continue to serve God there…Today you have inspired me with your faith! Dear woman, you are blessed!’

It is so wonderful to be a child of God! It is a miracle to trust the Living God!  It is a great privilege to attend a living church! It is great gain to trust in prophetic words given under the anointing of the Holy Spirit! For the boy’s healing, for the victory of faith, for the testimony of this dear sister…All glory goes to God alone!

In Christ I declare:

I trust God!

I trust in His prophets!

I reject false prophets and false prophecies!

My faith in God shall be rewarded with great testimonies!

I believe 100%!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently” (1Cor 10:13, AMP)

All believers have to pass thru trials and temptations. These are permitted by God to purify our faith and to increase our strength of character. Pray that God will be totally in control in choosing the type of trial you shall encounter. Do not boast of personal wisdom or strength. God alone knows our strength and weakness. He knows what we can withstand and what we cannot. A proud person ignores the provision of strength and wisdom God provides during the trial of faith. Pride will not allow him ‘to beg’. The season of temptation is difficult because we see no way out of it. The devil is not original. The same way he has tempted Eve and Samson that is the same was he will attack you. It is the same ‘old story’ of money, sex and lust for power. The devil will also attack with fear and confusion. You feel trapped in the midst of circumstances that you cannot change. Your flesh loves to be in control. But during difficult times of trial, you painfully discover that your flesh, pretending to be ‘God’, is indeed useless, Trials reveal the truth and truth is always painful to a deceived man. And the truth is that without Christ, we can do nothing. Without Christ, we are doomed. The truth is: we need a Savior! We need God! We need Jesus Christ!

But trials can be a source of spiritual holy adventure. You do not have to fall in the midst of the temptation. You do not have to fail during your trial of faith. This pain may be sent to you as an opportunity to shine for Jesus! There shall be a medal and a crown for the overcomers. God has promised to be with us in the midst of troubles, He has also promised to provide an open door of relief and escape. When all things look that they conspire to ‘quench’ the life in you, please actively look for that door of freedom. It has to be there for God who promised is faithful! God cannot lie! This door may be small or may be not what you expect. But by faith pass thru it and you shall see that it leads outside the grip of darkness and smoke of confusion. Jump outside and you shall land not in death, but in freedom.

For example, this is the simplest advice you should remember: during sexual temptation, the bedroom’s door is your door of escape. It is that simple! May the desire for freedom of sin overpower that wicked deceitful demon of lust! May the desire to please God prevail against the weakness of your spirit! Do what Joseph did! Say NO to sin! Run away, even if half naked. It is better to be disgraced in public than to lose your reward! It is better to be classified by the devil as a coward than to silently fall with him, pretending to be helpless, betraying the God you say you love so much. Go to that door! The landing of freedom is sure! I have tried it many times! It never fails!  You can do it!

In Christ I declare:

I am not alone in my pain!

God is with me in my pain!

I shall overcome!

I shall find the door of escape and the landing of victory!

My testimony as a believer is sure!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“He brings me to the banquet hall, and everyone can see how much He loves me… He took me home with Him for a festive meal, but His eyes feasted on me” (SS 2:4, LB, TM)

Lust desires lust. .Male lust’ will chase after ‘female lust’. The opposite is also true.  Inwardly, the secret lust desires its satisfaction by longing and looking for outward visible lust. Without discipline, a seed of lust multiplies into a poisonous harvest of sin that kills any other good plantation. Do not be deceived that a little ‘innocent’ lust will ‘add spice to your love life’. It is not spice but poison. The sin of lust will exhaust you, mentally, emotionally and physically. What you call ‘a little lust’ is ‘a little viper’ that will betray and bite its owner before she is charmed to cooperate for a show to others (Ecc 10:11).

Even after a thousand years, lust will never develop into true love, for no lie can spring out from truth. For an unbeliever, lust is the only option to experience ‘love’. But for you dear brethren, the fountain of eternal true love is ever available, the well of living water always fresh, the bread of life ready on your table. Why spend money on what does not satisfy? Why go under the table and compete with the dogs for crumbs mixed with dust? Why don’t you give Jesus a chance to teach you how to love?

Now wait…I have to go…Listen…My Lover is calling me to the banqueting table…Are you seeing it… His banner over me is open, unashamed, destiny changing, free and wonderful love! I am singing as I go…Bye…

“He loves me I cannot tell why…

He loves me I cannot tell why…

On Calvary tree, He suffered for me…

Jesus loves me I cannot tell why…”

In Christ I declare:

I belong to Jesus!

I love Jesus!

Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so…

In Jesus name

Amen!

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (Jam 1:2-4)

We should rejoice during temptations, not because they are pleasant, for they are not, but because these difficult times give us an opportunity to mature spiritually. God needs mature sons and daughters. God cannot trust ‘a baby Christian’ but He can trust and use a mature believer.  He is a warrior in the army of God, a servant who pleases Him and a holy vessel in His hand.

During the painful trials, we shall be tempted by the devil to grumble against God. Resist the desire to blame God for your pains! Do not be deceived by the devil that God does not love you or that God does not care for you. These are all lies! The truth is that God loves you! God cares for you! That is why He sent His Son to die for you! There is no other reason! If you believe the lies, you are already falling in the midst of the temptation. Trusting in lies is a sign of backsliding.

Make up your mind that for as long as you live, you will never blame God, you will never doubt Your heavenly Father’s love, goodness, grace and mercy towards you! This is a decision you have to make during your quiet time, long before the fire of testing starts to burn.

For example, Eve failed the test of faithfulness because she doubted God’s goodness towards her and Adam. She believed the lie of the devil that there are other means by which she can become ‘like God’. She believed that God did not offer her the best. That was the point when she failed the test.  But observe Joseph, who was tempted by Potiphar’s wife. He completely refused to yield to her lustful desires. He passed the test of temptation and even though he went to prison for some time, God rewarded him with ‘the crown of life’, according to His promise. That is why each time we read his story we are encouraged afresh to press on in life. That is why when we think of Joseph, we are reminded of our Lord.

A patient man is a strong man. A patient man who quietly endures and continues to trust God’s Word in the fires of temptation being conscious of the presence of God, that man shall become ‘complete’. He will become a source of blessings for many and a true leader. He shall be spiritually ‘self-contained’ like God. He will stop running after men’s approval. He has the resources to live a successful Christian life.

I remember the day I decided that I shall constantly pray to be like the heroes of the Bible: Patient like Sarah, Faithful like Joseph, Strong like Deborah, Bold like Esther, wise like Daniel, humble like Mary, anointed like Paul… God has answered me and I see myself getting more mature spiritually and more confident in ministry. Follow me as I follow Christ! We shall suffer together but we shall rejoice together too! I know it! I can feel it in my heart and even in my bones! Amen!

In Christ I declare:

I rejoice in all things!

I give thanks in the midst of all things!

I trust God to perfect the good work He has started in me!

I refuse to doubt God’s Word!

My testimony shall increase! To the glory of God, to the shame of satan and for the encouragement of many!

To God be all the glory!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor’s] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him… Do not be misled (deceived), my beloved brethren” (Jam 1:12, 16 AMP)

The greatest danger for a believer is to ‘fall into temptation’, to fail the test of true love, to become infatuated with lust for the world and to betray God and His purpose for your life. Do not ignore the danger to compromise your faith during difficult times! The devil wants you to replace love with lust. That is a spiritual demotion of destiny. Love is a champion. Like a lion, love is a leader and fears nothing. True love never fails any test to remain faithful to its lover. But lust is a loser and a coward. Lust deceives many that he is love. Lust is ‘fake love’ and can only succeed in the heart of them that betray the best. Lust fails all tests to prove its worth. Lust is destroyed in the trial. All who indulged in lust end up regretting it! Lust is a criminal that comes to you with a rose in the hand and a gun in the pocket. Do not be deceived dear brethren!
The word ‘deceive’ means to be misled, to wander, to go astray, far from truth, virtue and safety. Lust is an impostor, a wicked unmerciful leader of the blind, taking them into the pit of shame. Indulging in lust is already backsliding. Repent and come back to the Cross, to the God of the Bible! Even if you have failed the test, you are still alive, so there is hope for restoration! Do not be deceived and chose to dwell in sin! Remember Jesus Christ Crucified!
The word ‘temptation’ in Greek is a neutral word. It is not negative, the way it sounds in English and it is not positive. The word means to test, to try, to prove, to examine or to experience by a piercing pain. It is like enrolling to pass a very difficult examination. Your attitude during the exam shall determine the result. If you pass the exam, like Joseph, you shall be rewarded as a champion and leader, and you shall be given ‘the crown of life’. But if you fail the exam, like Eve, you shall suffer as a loser in life. The consequence for failure during temptation is shame, sickness and death and it affects your descendants too.
We cannot totally avoid temptation. The Lord Jesus was also tempted as a man on earth. Temptation itself is not sin, but betraying God during the process of temptation, that is sin. We are to be prepared to encounter temptations. We are even to rejoice when they come. This is because we can now practically apply all the lessons of wisdom gathered from the Word of God. Temptation comes to prove and to separate the wise from the foolish, the faithful from the rebellious or the winners from the losers.
Temptation does not come from God but from the devil. God permits temptation to visit us so that we become stronger spiritually. Our character has to be tried in the fire, our faith needs to become mature and our testimony needs to be sealed. If temptation is totally absent in your life, you are not a child of God. As parents, we pray for our children that they may not encounter ‘negative things’ or temptations. But in the absence of all temptations, they shall remain weak spiritually, without the confidence needed to be successful servants of God. As parents we need wisdom how we should pray for our children.
Temptation separates love from lust. Even the unbelievers value true love. All the wonderful poems of classical literature, the music of the masters and the art of great artists, all these are inspired from an hour of true love. Even if the love did not last, they counted themselves ‘lucky’ for tasting that that only the ‘gods’ can provide. All these for just an hour of true love…
But as believers we are offered true love that is everlasting!!! True believers are artists, and composers and musicians, creating masterpieces of encouragement and hope and grace that the world will never know!
“Lord Jesus, I bow my knees to You… You loved me first, with an everlasting love that nothing can destroy…I worship You forever…”

In Christ I declare:
I love God!
I love my husband and children!
In Jesus name
Amen!

“Now the Lord had said to Ahijah, “Here is the wife of Jeroboam, coming to ask you something about her son, for he is sick. Thus and thus you shall say to her; for it will be, when she comes in, that she will pretend to be another woman” (1Kg 14:5)

This is a sad story. But it is the Word of God, so we must learn some wisdom even from this. Jeroboam was an ordinary man when he became a king in Israel.  In fact he was one of King Solomon’s officials. Because of national disobedience, God split the kingdom into two. The southern one called Judah will continue in the original royal lineage for David’s sake. The rest of the tribes shall become the northern kingdom of Israel and Jeroboam shall be their king. This was the word given by Ahijah, the prophet of God.

That is how Jeroboam became king. He was told by Ahijah that if he is obedient to God’s commandments his house shall be established. His children will live and become a dynasty. But Jeroboam ignored the warning. Immediately he built golden calf idols in the land calling them ‘God- Jehovah’. Because of this fake alternative religion he provoked God to anger. He made the people forsake the God of their fathers, becoming one of the worst kings in Israel. This went on for some time.

Suddenly the king’s son got sick. Jeroobam told his wife to ‘disguise herself as another woman’, take a gift and go to ask the same Prophet Ahijah what will happen to their son. The prophet was an old man by now and almost blind. But he did not need physical eyes to see the truth. God has already told him about the royal deception. He tells the queen that the boy will die, as a sign that all the male descendants of Jerboam will perish in God’s judgment. This is because of the king’s rebellion and wickedness against the God who made him king. There shall be no mercy to evil ungrateful traitors.

What type of man was Jeroboam? He was ‘a Nobody’ who God made a king. Maybe he considered himself as ‘lucky’. He ignored God’s conditions for blessings, taking God’s grace for granted. He was a spiritual and religious man but not truly saved. He invented a fake religion to mislead many, but when in need, he knew that only a true prophet of God can tell him the truth. He did not really care to know the prophet Ahijah. He only remembered that he prophesied ‘something good’ to him in the past. Maybe he thought that he can have ‘luck’ again. He even thought that he can deceive or bribe him with a gift. Any man who thinks that he can deceive God is truly an idolater at heart. His wife played along, sharing in this deception.

This was a clash of interests. The king’s problem was that his son is sick. All he wanted was healing for his son. But God’s problem was that the king was rebellious to Him. Jeroboam has forsaken God for so long that he had no idea God is offended. He did not know God or His prophets. Some people think that if they can make friends with the pastor or the prophet, then all is well. How foolish! How tragic to discover that when you are really in need God is not there for you. There shall be no healing, no encouragement and no hope from Him. There are many fake churches. When a deceitful religious man stands in the pulpit, when the choir is made of fashionable unbelievers and the congregation becomes ‘a gate of hell’, then that ‘church’ has lost the right to be called ‘church’. There is no more light or connection with God. It is dangerous to attend such a gathering for there shall be no miracles for you and no acceptable worship to God. Why go to a place where you are not spiritually fulfilled? Why pretend when you can be real? God knows all things anyway…Why desire to be somebody else when God has created you uniquely, to be you? Why fake salvation when you can be truly saved by the Blood of the Lamb? Why deceive people about your need when they can truly pray for you?

Blessed are you if the Holy Spirit has directed you to be a member of the true Body of Christ, a genuine Living Church! This is highest royal privilege! You are fed with the bread of Life, healed when sick, delivered when oppressed, prayed for when in need, encouraged and loved by all as Christ loves the Church! Don’t you know that you are blessed? Be grateful and give God all the glory!

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

I attend a wonderful living Church!

I bless my pastors and all my brethren in my Church!

Jesus is Lord in my life, in my family and in my church!

The Holy Spirit is acknowledged and freely moves in my church!

Miracles happen in my church!

! worship God in Spirit and in Truth!

I am saved! I am healed! I am free!

To the glory of God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

‘Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion; is a fair woman stubborn of behavior…is a beautiful face on an empty head’ (PV 11:22)

This proverb describes how ugly it is to combine physical beauty, which is a gift from God, with bad character, which is our own choice. A beautiful but foolish woman is like a decorated pig lying in the mud. This woman may be religious but she lacks wisdom or even common sense. She does not have understanding of what is right or wrong. She confuses God with the devil. The word ‘discretion’ means to have good judgment on how to behave and what to say. Speech betrays a fool more than any other activity. Discretion also means to be modest, not forward, bold or rude. It means to show respect to others, not to unnecessarily offend their feelings thru speech or mode of dressing. Discretion is related to prudence, the wisdom to understand the consequences of your actions and to avoid danger in the future. A woman who shows discretion is not afraid to stay ‘silent in the background’ and speak only when there is an ‘open door’ from the Holy Spirit. There is something called ‘prudent silence’ when words are not necessary or even dangerous.  A woman, who often does mistakes in behavior or speech and constantly has to apologize for them, is not prudent. She may fall into unnecessary trouble. Selah! But the person who is able to control the tongue has the whole body under control (Jam 3:2). Lack of self-control is very ugly. Even your ‘body language’ has to give glory to God.

There are two opposite women in the Bible; both were queens and married the same man. One was foolish and another wise. I am speaking about Vashti and Esther. The first was not prudent. She started the day with a party; she ended it outside the palace. She did not see the danger of divorce and of losing her crown as a result of just ‘a little disobedience’ to her husband. If she knew that her life will end in disgrace, she could have happily obeyed the king’s command. But Queen Esther, who replaced her, is the very opposite. She saw the danger of her people perishing. She fasted and prayed. She did not take the favor of God for granted. She did what she could to save the people of God. She is known as a godly queen and a prudent woman of God, an example and an inspiration too many, to the end of the ages.

“Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a wise [insightful] wife is a gift from the Lord” (PV 19:14). An excellent, prudent wife cannot be bought with money. She is a gift of grace to a man who will appreciate her. In the area of marriage, the rich are not better than the poor. What is most important is that Jesus Christ is the Lord of the home. Even the wealthy parents cannot provide their sons with gracious, wonderful, wise and faithful wives. But they can pray that such a gift may find their address.

I speak from experience here… Spiritual wisdom is not an easy or cheap virtue. It took me many years to learn how to control my tongue in a way that will always glorify God. I wept often and I prayed hard for wisdom, prudence, discernment of spirits and self-control. I asked God to help me not to be ashamed or have reasons to regret my speech, my choices or my actions. I prayed that I will never be a liability to my husband and that he will never be tempted to regret marrying me. I refused to take our marriage for granted. I prayed to learn how to gain his trust by making wise choices as a wife and mother. I prayed that our children will not be ashamed of their mum. Please note that no unbeliever can ever do that. Their tongue is energized by demons and is ‘on fire from hell’. Even for a believer it is a long process, very difficult and painful. You have to passionately desire to change the way you talk, the way you communicate. You have to be ready to pay the price for that change, however big it is. But the reward is very great. God will bless you with an ever increasing anointing and He will use you in ministry to teach, challenge and encourage many. May Christ be glorified in you!

In Christ I declare:

I am a woman of God!

I desire a godly marriage!

My children shall all marry well!

I desire the beauty of holiness!

Christ is my wisdom!

Jesus Christ is the Lord of my home!

In Jesus name

Amen!

You “have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works…” (Rev 2: 3-5)

To have a good worship team in the church is a great blessing. The choir has to pay the price for a greater anointing so that the overflow will touch the congregation. If not, the doubts and the fears of the people will infiltrate the hearts of the ministers and an evil religious spirit takes over. Many churches are backsliding and are in great danger of losing their ‘light’. Not any gathering is a living church. It’s a tragedy to lose the anointing coming from Jesus; His special Presence that makes a church a living organism and a part of His Body. Without the light of Jesus, without the Holy Spirit, the assembly becomes a spiritual corpse, a dangerous gathering for the benefit of the kingdom of darkness.

The church in Ephesus was busy and zealous working for the Lord. The brethren had endured much suffering and persecution. No one was backsliding, at least not outwardly. All these things are good, the Lord says. But we are confronted here with a love-rebuke: ‘nevertheless’ … The Lord always looks at the heart of worship, at the motives of doing ministry. Their labor looked fruitful to men but it did not ‘impress’ God. They labored out of religious duty and have lost contact with the fire of their ‘first love’.

The love for the Savior Jesus Christ will always be your ‘first love’. It is called ‘first’ because when you got saved, that was the first time you had an encounter with God, who is Love. You love God for He first loved you (1Jn 4:19).  Out of the overflow of such a love, you are able to love others. But the source of this passion can never change. ‘Remember the height from which you have fallen…’ The true passion of Jesus in your soul is able to lift you up, to go to the top of the mountain of Holiness, to worship and dwell in Zion. The power of that first love is stronger than any other attraction in the world. It is a fire that burns and cleanses and changes you, like nothing else can do.

How do you ‘forsake your first love’? It is when you take God’s grace for granted, when you grieve the Holy Spirit, when you neglect the quiet times of prayer and the study of the Word, when you lust after the things of this world; when you indulge in sin and you ignore your wounded conscience…The word ‘forsake’ means to abandon your responsibility to worship the Lover of your soul; to betray your Best Friend; to fail your God’s given destiny. These are all strong words, but the sin against love is a crime that has no cure, except to come back in true godly sorrow and repentance.   Is it possible that the love for Jesus becomes lukewarm, that His name does not ‘move’ you as in the past? Backsliding in the heart is a religious plague, a shameful secret sin that corrupts long before its signs are seen by others.

What is the solution? Two words: REMEMBER AND REPENT!

The devil is happy when you forget the Cross, the price paid to save your soul. Our memory is weak and needs refreshing daily. Gaze on the Crucified until, like a lens in the sunshine, the light start to burn your heart. Remember the nails, remember the Blood!

The devil will also tempt you to refuse to repent; to remain a proud stubborn religious hypocrite; to do ‘church work’ to be seen by others. To repent it means to change the way you think, to turn around and start making new type of choices, always led by the Holy Spirit.

Pray for personal revival and for revival in your church. Do not accept a boring religious routine in your relationship with God. Come back to the Cross! Be filled with the Holy Spirit once again!

May the Lover of my soul ‘strengthen me with raisins and comfort me with apples, for I am faint with love’ for You, my Lord! (SS 2:5)

In Christ I declare:

I love God!

I love Jesus Christ, my Savior, my Lord and the Lover of my soul!

I love the Holy Spirit!

I will never forget Christ Crucified and His Blood that saved my soul!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“How often they provoked Him in the wilderness,

And grieved Him in the desert!

Yes, again and again they tempted God,

And limited the Holy One of Israel” (Ps 78:40, 41; NKJ)

Can the Almighty God be limited by man? Can a worm stop the Niagara fall?

One of God’s titles is the Limitless One. God is omnipresent! How can a man even imagine that God can be ‘caged in’? The word ‘limit’ in Hebrew means to set boundaries, to break to pieces or to grieve. The Holy One means that God is pure, sacred and unique, different than the ordinary and independent from His creation. Can any man limit the power of God who makes Israel stand as a nation in the midst of so many enemies? Is that possible?  Surprisingly, the answer is ‘yes’. The mystery of the Word of God is here, to reveal to us that which is beyond human understanding.

In the above Psalm we are told that God can be limited in the following ways:

*when we forget or refuse to believe in the power of God to perform miracles (when our faith is small)

*when we refuse to do spiritual warfare, becoming cowards and traitors in God’s army (when we do not attend prayer meetings in the church)

*when we pray making provision to satisfy the lust of the flesh (indulging in greed and covetousness)

*when we neglect the spiritual duty to teach our children the Word of God (fail as spiritual mentors)

*when we practice hypocrisy, idolatry or become rebellious to God’s commandments

*when we grieve the Holy Spirit

The main reason for grieving the Holy Spirit is bitterness, anger and an unforgiving attitude (Eph 4:30-32). Repent of those! By grieving His Spirit you limit what God can do thru you. The result is the loss of anointing to freely worship God in Spirit and in truth. Limiting God is one of the major reasons for failure especially in the worship ministry. Another effect of limiting God is the general loss of ‘holy romance’. Practically, the number of weddings in the church will decrease and marriages become unhappy. This is what the Word of God says. There is no way we can argue with it. You cannot rationalize these things. You either believe them as the revelation of God’s Word or your eject them. It is a dangerous thing to attend a church where the leaders limit God! Selah!

May the Word find a place in your heart, as a life giving Holy Seed! We repent of limiting God, of breaking His heart and grieving the Spirit of grace! Let the Holy Spirit move freely in the church once again! May the singles marry! May ‘the water become wine’ in the marriages of the believers! May we worship God with passion and freedom in the beauty of His Holiness! May the power of the supernatural, the long prayed for miracles of God manifest in our midst! May revival come!

In Christ I declare:

I worship God, the Holy One of Israel!

I believe in miracles because I believe in God!

I hate sin and the devil! I do spiritual warfare!

I hate rebellion, idolatry, hypocrisy and pride!

I teach the next generation the Word and the Ways of God!

I submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit!

All glory to God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“O Lord, truly I am Your servant…

You have loosed my bonds.

I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving,

And will call upon the name of the Lord” (Ps 116:16, 17)

“My name is John. I am a servant of His Majesty, The Greatest King Jesus.

I live in His palace and I work for Him. I rejoice every day for my dream has finally come true. But it has not always been like this. My past was a tragedy or hopelessness, sorrow and despair. I come from the slump of darkness, from the ghetto of the devil. All my life I was a prisoner of sin, a criminal at heart and a professional hypocrite. I hated all that was good. I stole my food and cheated for my drink. I sold my body to any who wanted it. I was a beggar, a homeless and a tramp. I had no peace, no joy, no hope and no future. That was my life…

Then one day I was arrested for a petty crime. They did not get me when I did my worst. But this time, just for a piece of bread, they bound me and sent me to prison. The judge gave me the death sentence. I got very angry. I tried to argue my case but none listened. Face to face with the electric chair, having nothing to lose anymore, I don’t know why I started screaming and calling the name of Jesus. I did not know Him personally, but I was told that He is a merciful King and a kind Man. I also heard that He has the power over life and death… “JESUUUUUUSSSS…..”

At the mention of His name, the prison officer who pounced on me suddenly became quiet. He let go of my neck…I was really surprised. I also became afraid for all was so strange…The room filled with a cloud of light… I could not stop called His name again and again…I wept… I fell on the floor… I begged for His mercy. I never knew that I needed forgiveness of sins and peace with God until I saw death beckoning to me with its pale long fingers, saying…‘Come!’

‘What do I have to lose’- I asked myself. ‘Nothing…Lord Jesus come into my heart…Have mercy on me, a sinner…I want to be Your friend, Your servant…’

Then my world became still… peace came into my tormented soul. When I lost all that I ever had, all that I imagined I had and all that I ever dreamt to have…naked and afraid… at last, I found my Savior, my Lord! What a day! It started with the fever of death but ended with life eternal before the sunset.

This is indeed my testimony. My words are too weak to describe the change in my life. But I testify before men and angels, against all odds, this is the truth: I am saved! It is well with my soul…The Greatest King lifted me up and came to carry me as His treasured possession. He gave me a new heart, a new song, a new dream, a new family, a new garment and a new name. He called me to live with Him in His presence. Every day is different. I don’t make my own plans. In the morning He tells me what He wants us to do. Most of the time, He just wants me to sit down and listen to His Word. He loves it when I forget all other things and just listen to what He says. I do not understand everything, but we talk…I ask Him questions…He explains things to me…Sometimes I write on the paper, chapters from the song of Songs that never ends…There are other days when I work for Him… sometimes in the kitchen, sometimes sent on errands. Nothing is too difficult; nothing is too small; nothing is ‘ordinary’.  I start the day with a smile and I end it with laughter. If ever I stumble, His pierced hands steady me. If I forget what words to say, He fills my mouth with laughter and that becomes the utterance of power…His joy is my strength…He opens my eyes to see like Him, the end from the beginning…what an adventure…

People pray for good jobs, for promotions. My own is the best. His angels surround me. His Spirit propels me. His grace will ever be sufficient for me.

This page in my diary is to encourage my children and grandchildren, to the end of time…

Yours faithfully,

Royal servant John”

In Christ I declare:

I am a servant of Christ!

I love Him so…

In Jesus name

Amen!

“The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding…” (Mt 22:1-4)

“My name is John. I am a servant of His Majesty, The Greatest King Jesus.

I am so happy for my Master. His only beloved Son is getting married. We are many servants in the palace. To each some duty is assigned. Together with some of my mates I shall work in the kitchen, preparing the wedding feast. The King said that He shall spare no expenses. The special oxen and the fatten cattle have been killed since morning. All of us are busy with the preparations. Some of my colleagues were sent out with the invitation cards to the nobles and other great men in the county. They were told “Come and rejoice with Me!”

I was a little surprised that Master went ahead to kill the oxen, even before the guests confirmed their coming. The servants told us that the great men refused them entrance and mocked the invitation. All of us were surprised…Is it that they do not know our Master, the Greatest King of all? Some of the servants did not even return alive, killed by them who were to come here to rejoice at the feast. We did not understand the reason for their anger. Why was it that they hated our Master so much? He is the kindest and most generous Man in the universe…Why?

In the kitchen we were not sure what to do? Shall we continue with the cooking, preparing all the things as we were told? The chief servant went to confirm with the Master. The answer came ‘Yes… Nothing shall change…All preparations shall continue as planned…’ Again we were surprised. Between roasting the meat and peeling the mountain of potatoes we discussed the matter among ourselves. We saw the Master going out angrily with the royal palace guard. We could not even imagine what the end of these rebellious foolish men shall be, for our Master can never lose.  Also, we could not imagine who will eat all the food we have prepared. The housekeeper wisely said to us: ‘Wait and see’…So the work continued as planned.

In the evening we saw thru the kitchen windows all sorts of people coming in. Some were blind, some were limping; all in rags or half naked. They looked afraid but curious to see the majesty of the palace grounds. It was clear that they were strangers. At the entrance, each was given a white garment as a free gift from the Master. No money charged, just thanks given. And the hall was filled with men, good and bad, all dressed in white as the King desired. The food we prepared for days ended in the bellies of the hungry nobodies, the poor, the outcasts and the homeless. They did not have any ‘table manners’ as the nobles. Kneeling on the marble floors, their mouths full with the delicacies of angels, looking up, tears on their faces, hands lifted up in gratitude… they blessed the King. Later, we the kitchen servants joined in the festivities. There was so much joy and gratitude, my heart almost burst with love for my Master, for only Him alone could have thought of such a special celebration.

May my King, His Son and His Bride live forever!

Yours faithfully,

Royal servant John”

In Christ I declare:

I am a servant of God!

I died to the world!

I am the Bride of Christ!

I love Him so…

In Jesus name

Amen!