“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Is 41:10)

A young wife, pregnant for the first time, had serious anxiety about going to the labor room. She is a born again sister in Christ. I encouraged her that God did not give us the demon of fear, but of power, love and sound mind (2Tim 1:7). I also prayed for her. She said that she is now encouraged. She just Email me her declaration of faith.

“I say NO to fear!!! I declare that my pregnancy and baby, including the delivery are a gift from God. The whole process will be a blessing. The delivery will be quick with minimal to no pain. I will come through stronger with no pain meds, no epidural, no tearing or episiotomy, no excess bleeding, no anxiety, just worship. I believe that I will be worshipping as I push our baby out to the glory of God! I will be laughing and thinking of Jesus safely bringing our baby out. I declare these to be truth! I declare that even the hospital staff will be blessed by the delivery. I declare peace in that room. I declare victory in childbirth!!! In Jesus’ name, AMEN!!!”

If you are in a similar situation, or if fear of the future attacks you, tap from this anointing of courage and faith! The devil has lost another battle! The army of the Lord is increasing!
Jesus is Lord!
More testimonies shall follow!

“Also, to punish or fine the righteous is not good, nor to smite the noble for their uprightness… How shortsighted to fine the godly for being good! And to punish nobles for being honest! It’s wrong to penalize good behavior, or make good citizens pay for the crimes of others” (PV 17:26 AM; TLB; TM)

Once you are born again and filled with the Holy Spirit strange things will happen to you. I call them strange because these things are peculiar attacks against the true believer. The devil will attack you, not because you are good or bad, but because you belong to Jesus. The devil is a coward. He hates your Master and he will try to attack Him thru you. That is why you shall experience things that ‘have no connection with you’. These attacks come as unexpected sicknesses that do not resemble anything you have experienced in the past. The attacks may come as persecution from family, colleagues and friends. You shall be punished for doing good and for standing for Christ. But God shall judge them who judge you and they shall repent for their foolishness!

Before these strange attacks come, you are not able to understand the power of evil and the victory of the Cross.

These are practical teachings from the Holy Spirit. Thru it all, you shall know the power and the victory of the Blood of Jesus shed on the Cross. You shall also see with your own eyes the defeat of the devil, like never before! You shall see how his arrows fall at your feet, how the poison loses its effect and the sickness stops without medical help. This is a prophetic season when God judges His children in the church. The believer who is able to rejoice at the privilege of partaking from the cup of Christ’s shame, pain and suffering, shall be highly rewarded! But he, who is still selfish and refuses to enter the furnace of God, shall lose his reward! So, dear brother and sister trust God who is your faithful Creator! He is faithful in creating you, in keeping you alive and in saving your soul. He will not leave you and He will not forsake you. Even in the midst of strange trials, let your praise never cease but continue to rise to heaven!

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now, “if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (1Pet 4:12-19)

In Christ I declare:

It is well with your soul!

The tunnel is dark and fearful but I can see the light!

The storm is over!

Rejoice for God will not put you to shame!

The power of Ebola Virus in Africa is destroyed!

The Holy Spirit has encouraged me!

I am healed and delivered!

All glory to God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“God has not given us the evil spirit of fear (over concern) but POWER, LOVE AND SOUND MIND!” (2 Tim 1:7).

Each time you sense fear coming to you, for whatever reason at all, you should reject it straight and without pity!!! it is a deceptive demon! Fear attacks in many forms: fear of sickness, fear of the future, fear of poverty, fear of divorce, fear of failure, fear of men’s opinions, fear to be single, fear of flying, fear to be cheated, fear of going to hell and many others. The greatest enemy of all is the fear of (untimely) death. It is a spiritual poison that weakness you from inside and feeds on any drop of joy you have in your heart, leaving you dry and feeling lost.

In Greek, the word ‘power’ means supernatural strength that trusts God for miracles; the violent faith of the believer who produces great testimonies and an abundance of blessings. The word ‘agape –love’ means the supernatural power to love like Jesus. This overflow of this love is the source of all true worship, happy marriages and true ministry.  To have a ‘sound mind’ means to have the disciplined mind of a student of the Word of God; it means to be moderate in opinions and passions. In today slang, it means to be supernaturally ‘cool’.

Fear is the opposite of all these. Fear is an evil spirit. It makes a man to be coward and a traitor to God who sustains his life. It means to indulge in wild negative imaginations of failure and defeat. It brings depression and bitterness. The demon of fear is the opposite of faith. A coward is unable to trust God for miracles. His life is anxious and boring. A coward cannot worship God and is unhappy in his marriage. He cannot study the Bible.

Fear is deceptive for it comes as a real option to manage your difficult circumstances.

Because fear is an evil spirit it can never help you! The devil is a thief and a liar. Fear will always disappoint you, for it is a dangerous and fake way of thinking. Lastly, this is a spiritual battle. There is no medicine against fear. It is only a believer in Christ that can win the war against fear! To identify and reject the demon of fear is great gain! Your reward will come as the sweet enjoying of your life!

The only fear that is ‘good and healthy’ is the fear of God which is the beginning of wisdom! Fear God alone! Fear the One who created you and keeps your heart beating! Fear the One who has all power!

Be a champion! Be wise! Be strong! Be happy!

Today, I agree with you in prayer! Have faith! God will deliver you! He has done it for me, He will do it for you!

“We command the evil spirit of fear to depart from you, right now! We destroy any connection with the evil spirit of fear! We destroy any spell placed on you by the evil spirit of fear! In Christ, we declare war against fear and the victory is ours! In Jesus name we pray, amen!”

In Christ I declare:

I am forever free from fear!

I am filled with faith in God Almighty!

To the glory of God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“King Hezekiah broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses has made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. And he called it Nehushtan” (2Kg 18:4) King Hezekiah was only twenty five years old when he became the king of Israel. He was a good man. He destroyed all the idols in the land. He broke to pieces the bronze snake Moses had made long ago. That copper snake was manufactured at the command of God, at the time when Israel suffered because God’s wrath. They murmured against God and Moses. God hates all sin but he hates rebellion in particular. He sent poisonous snakes among the people. Many died untimely painful deaths because of these snakes. Humbled by force, they repented openly and cried to Moses for forgiveness and healing. That is when God instructed Moses to make a bronze snake and to lift it high on a pole. That shining object was easy to see by all people. God said that if anyone looks at the snake and has faith that God is greater than their sickness, that one shall live. The bronze snake was the point of contact with the healing of heaven. The method worked! All who looked at the copper snake lived! (Nu 21:4-9)

Many years have passed since then. The Israelites kept the bronze snake as a reminder of an old act of mercy, healing and deliverance. But they made the mistake to elevate that object to the status of an idol. They began to worship it, forgetting the God who is the true Healer. Idolatry always provokes God. That is why Hezekiah broke the snake to pieces. Mockingly, he called it Nehushtan. The word in Hebrew means a thing made of copper (an inferior metal when compared with silver and gold). It symbolizes a useless nonsense thing. It also means something like a snake, hissing its way, a magic spell or the work of a witch.

What are the lessons for us? Jesus said that He is the true eternal copper snake lifted in the desert of our terrible circumstances (Jn 3:14, 15). The material things compete with the true source of healing which is spiritual. God is Jehovah Rapha, our Healer!  Material things that propped our faith in the past become ‘Nehushtan’. Do not worship visible things, doctors, nurses, procedures or methods. These are temporary. Only Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever. You can safely worship Him! He alone is the Savior of your soul and the Healer of your body!   Another lesson is this: Looking in the right direction, having the proper spiritual vision and mixed with faith in the Healer is the cure for any disease. Without vision people perish (PV 29:18). If my eyes are good, my whole body is full of light and healing (Mt 6:22). Spiritual blindness is criminal! I cannot afford to be blind to my only hope of a cure… My vision determines my destiny, my peace and my health! “Open my eyes Lord to see Jesus…”

Lastly, looking for healing, I may be in danger of falling into the sin of idolatry. This is a warning and I should take it seriously! Something that was good in the past, something that God used to help or heal me years ago, can become an idol in my heart. God is the Creator. He can use any method He pleases to speak to us, to bless us or to heal our diseases. We should never get stuck with the means or with the gifts of God. These change with the seasons, with the circumstances and with the level of our faith. The only ‘factor’ that never changes is God Himself. But revelation is progressive. We should mature spiritually, move on and allow God to be fresh in His revelation day by day. Do not look back like Lot’s wife! Leave at the feet of Jesus the memories of all good things God used in the past. Do not make idols from the memories of past successes, healings or blessings.

This is a word for you: God wants to do a new thing in your life! Do not try to imagine it for that will hinder its manifestation! Let god be God! This blessing shall come in a most unexpected way! This healing shall come from a different direction than what you’ve known in the past! This breakthrough shall come with a different sound! This is a new day, a new season…A new song shall rise from the ashes of disappointment and pain… Let God, the Holy Spirit be free to move in your circumstances… It is time to move on… “Holy Spirit, You are welcome in this place…”

In Christ I declare: I destroy all idols in my heart that drag me behind! I reject the demon of backsliding! I look unto Jesus Christ! I am saved! I am healed! My marriage is revived and blessed! My breakthrough has come! Like rivers in the desert, my testimony is a miracle that glorifies God! In Jesus name Amen!

This is what the Lord says:

“I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells” (Micah 5:12)

DEFINITIONS:

WITCHCRAFT is the skill to use demonic power to control other people or events; to achieve selfish results, completely outside the leading of the Holy Spirit and in opposition to the plan and purpose of God for mankind.

Witchcraft is the same as sorcery. It manifests in different ways but the following are the most common of all:

MANIPULATION means to control and cheat another by using skillful, deceptive, hidden means to achieve his selfish purpose. It produces frustration, guilt and a feeling of being cheated.

For example, King Balak is a political manipulator. He tries to hire a famous false prophet called Balaam to curse the children of Israel who came out of Egypt. His intent was to use demonic power to weaken them in such a way that it will be easy to defeat them in war and drive them away. He is promised money and honor if he can curse them successfully (Nu 22-24).

An example of religious manipulation is when a man goes to see a prophet for counsel and prayer. But he has a hidden idol in his heart. He wants prayer and blessings but he refuses to openly confess his sins. The demon of witchcraft may blind the prophet to bless such a man. God overrules the prayer and the blessings and judges the sin of manipulation. The prophet and the man who came for prayer shall be punished together (Ezekiel 14).

Personally, I take this warning very seriously. I always pray that the Holy Spirit takes control of any discussion, counsel or prayer session I am involved in. I often pray for the manifestation of the gift of discerning the spirits, to be able to see in the Spirit and not to be deceived by the visible. Carelessness in life is dangerous, but in ministry is even more so. The devil will send his agents with the primary purpose to make the pastor or the believer backslide.

INTIMIDATION means to make another afraid and to force him into submission. It means to push back another, to stop his progress in life.  The victim becomes timid and full of inferiority complex. It is done by constant demands or threats. The victim’s spirit is broken and all courage lost. It means to bully thru aggression and insults. The fear of God is replaced by the fear of man or the fear of death in the victim.

This is an example of intimidation: Jezebel was an agent of the devil sent to pollute the religious atmosphere in Israel. She sponsors all the false prophets and kills all the true servants of God. God sends Elijah to confront the Prophets of Baal. In a dramatic display of power, they are defeated publicly and killed on the slopes of Mount Carmel. When Ahab tell his wife about the defeat she becomes mad with anger. She invokes the power of her gods and threatened Elijah with death. This is a clear curse of witchcraft using intimidation. Elijah runs away (1Kg 19:1-3). The great prophet needs a fresh encounter with Jehovah to be delivered from the effect of fear before he can return to ministry.

This is another example of intimidation: Goliath cursed David by his gods that he will die. But God’s promise to Abraham has to be fulfilled. God promised that He ‘will curse them that curse’ the descendants of Abraham. By cursing David, the fate of Goliath was sealed. With all his strength, stature and experience as a soldier, he died (1Sam 17:43)

There was a wizard called ‘Elymas the Sorcerer’ who opposed the ministry of Paul. AS with Goliath, he had to be punished for that. Paul declared that he will be blind for a season and it was so (Acts 13:1-12)

OPPRESSION means to crush the spirit of another by adding false burdens. It is done by misusing the power or the authority of a leader. The victim becomes silent, weak, foolish, hopeless and unable to mature spiritually (witchcraft stops the spiritual and mental growth of its victims). Under continual oppression the general attitude will be that of a slave.

For example, the children of Israel became slaves under the Egyptians who oppressed them with heavy burdens and much work (Ex 1). A boss in the office, a husband, a father or a pastor may oppress others and force them to submit to them. The evil spirit of witchcraft is doing much damage to families, churches. It is very active in the work force, in the offices and government officials all over the world. God is on the side of the victim whose responsibility is to pray always for help to come from above. A silent victim is ignorantly co-operating with the oppressor. Spiritual passivity is always a mark of witchcraft.

In Christ I declare:

I destroy any spell of witchcraft over my life, my marriage, my family, my ministry and my church!

I am free from an influence of the demons of manipulation, intimidation or oppression! I reject any form of sickness, weakness, confusion, fear, deception or evil attacks! I am healed! I am free! I am happy! I belong to God! Jesus Christ has died of the Cross for my sins! I am free from any condemnation! My accuser is defeated! I shall live and not die and declare the works of the Lord! God’s plan and purpose for me and my family shall be fulfilled! Any human agent, who is actively engaged in witchcraft, to curse me and my family, shall be exposed and disgraced as a fool! No weapon fashioned against me and my family shall prosper! This is our heritage as servants of God! The victory is ours! To the glory of God! In Jesus name, Amen!

“Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”

So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” (Ex 4:10-12)

Today I simply want to give all the glory to God for my ministry as a preacher of the Word of God and a pastor. This is my story: In 1980, I came to Nigeria as a young wife with two little children. I did not know where Nigeria was on the map. All I heard about Africa was tragedy and terror. I did not know a soul. But I loved my husband and I was ready to follow him ‘to the ends of the earth’. I could not speak English and nobody here understood Romanian. I was an unbeliever. God had mercy on me and changed my heart. I became saved here in 1986. Nigeria became my second home. Like Ruth, my husband’s people became my people….My husband DR. Richmond Leigh and I, we worked as medical doctors until 2000 when God said that we should sell our clinic (Lily Clinic, Warri) and change the building into a church. This is how Father’s House Bible Church was ‘born’. We started with less than 20 people, mostly family friends and former patients. Now we are thousands…

The transition was not easy for me. As a doctor, I did not need my tongue so much. Actions were more important than words. But in the ministry, I cannot hide behind a stethoscope. I cried to God like Moses. I did not mind to just work ‘behind the scenes’ helping my husband and others. But God decided something else. He called me to be a preacher, a teacher of the Word of God, a pastor and a worshipper. That was not my plan for my life. That was God’s plan!

Humanly speaking I was at a serious disadvantage…I prayed and I cried to God, asking for the miracle of anointing, spiritual utterance, open prophetic eyes to see Jesus, open ears to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, creativity in writing, spiritual fruitfulness and favor with people in a foreign land… And especially I asked for the confidence of a preacher of the Gospel God answered me even more that I could have imagined…I needed a tongue of fire. God gave that to me…. I needed the boldness of a lion…God gave that to me…I needed the gentleness of a Lamb…God gave that to me…I needed the anointing of the Holy Spirit that breaks all yokes…God gave that to me!!! God even gave me peace concerning our children and grandchildren who live far away from us!

So what can I say? God is good! All the time! God answers prayers! To God be all the glory for the things He has done! Thank You Father, for it has been Your good pleasure to send me to Nigeria, as Your ambassador! You sent me here to take care of Your sheep and lambs. Thank You for everything… for the peace, the joy, the success, the fruitfulness, the prosperity, the wisdom, the energy and the miracles! All my crowns are laid at Your feet! You are worthy of all the praise, now and forever!

‘My people please join me to praise God…’

(This is how we say in Nigeria…)

In Christ I declare:

I am blessed!

My marriage is blessed!

My children and grandchildren are blessed!

My spiritual children are blessed!

God made my mouth!

God teaches me what to say!

God is with me wherever I go!

To God be all the glory!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“The person who gets money dishonestly

is like a bird that hatches eggs it didn’t lay.

In the prime of life he will lose his riches,

and in the end he is nothing but a fool” (Jer 17:11)

This is the story of a fool!

Charles Deville Wells (1841–1922), was a famous gambler and confidence trickster, a con artist. Such a man sets out to defraud or deceive people by persuading them to believe a lie and making them give money away.

In July 1891 Wells went to Monte Carlo with £4,000 that he had defrauded from investors in a bogus invention, called a musical jump rope. He used this money to stay in an expensive hotel and gamble daily.  He won millions of francs at the roulette. Despite hiring private detectives the Casino never discovered Wells’s system of wining.

He soon became a celebrity. He bought cars and houses. Women followed him. He lied that his success was because he was a brilliant engineer, who had also invented a fuel-saving device for steam-ships. He persuaded many wealthy people to invest in his invention. He made another trip to Monte Carlo in a large yacht in the winter of 1892 with his mistress. Wells explained that the yacht was to test his device. Wells invested his money and that of others in gambling again. This time he lost millions.

Wells was arrested and extradited to England. He was found guilty of fraud and given eight years. Later, he immigrated to France, where a financial scam earned him another five-year sentence in prison.

In 1922, Wells died as a poor beggar in Paris.

The Word of God is true!

Someone needs this encouragement today. Don’t give up!

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds…” (Ps 147:3)
A young sister came to my office looking very sad. A young man proposed marriage to her. She has known him for more than ten years, but there was no romance all this time. They were close family friends. But in her heart, she had a secret crush for him. When he proposed marriage to her, it seems that her dream came true. Not long after that, she came to my office and she looked so happy. She was telling me about their plans for the future as a married couple. I rejoiced with her too. That was some moths ago…

Recently she came to see me again. This time she was broken hearted. The young man of her dreams simply informed her that he has changed his mind…that he fell in love with another…that he will marry another lady….soon… He then told her that he hopes she understands…she said that she understands…’what else can I say’ she told me…she said that she did not want to break down before him… she even prayed for him, that his marriage will be happy… She told me that since this pain broke her heart, her daily prayer is this: “Lord Jesus, make me better and not bitter…” She also told me that a lady from the church passed by and mocked her saying: “Some people get married and some people are losers…” Again she prayed to be better and not bitter…
But in my office, far from the stares of the selfish and wicked, free to be herself, she broke down, weeping like a child. She said that her mistake was to trust him too much…I told her that she is not the first and not the last… many have passed this road of painful betrayal and unexpected disappointment…Yes, the tears must flow, but not forever, I told her…

How can I help such a soul? I knew that there is no need to even try to use my power…”I need Thee, Lord, I need Thee…” was my prayer…”Holy Spirit please come and heal a broken heart child of God…” The rest prayer was only in tongues…Suddenly, the mighty rushing wind came from heaven…the sister stopped weeping and started praying with a grateful heart, worshipping God like never before…then she started laughing and laughing…supernatural joy, a gift from God…she could not stop rejoicing…the tears of pain became tears of joy…I was witnessing a miracle of healing and deliverance, God’s style…She said it on and on: “Jesus loves me…Jesus loves me…that is enough for me…that is enough for me…” What treasure of grace opened to her…what wonderful healing manifested to a lonely broken soul, rejected by men, but accepted by her God…I am still in awe from what my eyes have seen and what my hands have touched…
I was once a doctor, maybe I could have prescribed anti-depressants, at least for a while…but it took God just a touch and all the pain was gone…Oh, may genuine miracles be my portion as I do ministry among the hopeless, the sick and the poor… May my eyes remain fixed on Jesus Christ, who alone can heal a broken heart and make it new…
I worship You Lord this evening…There is no one like You…I will never fear what the devil will do, to me and to my children…for the Hope of Glory has spoken and His Word is AMEN!

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord…Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You. Let such as love Your salvation say continually: “The Lord be magnified!” (Ps 40)

PATIENCE PRODUCES AN OPEN PRAYER LINE; DELIVERANCE; SECURITY; WORSHIP; SUCCESSFUL MINISTRY AND TESTIMONIES!!!

King David describes how he suffered when he was at his lowest. He also shares how God helped him and restored his testimony as a man of God. In Psalm 40 are great lessons, how to patiently wait for God to act on your behalf.

For many years, King Saul was his personal enemy. He was jealous on David. He chased him in the desert, trying to kill him ‘like a dog’. David’s method of choice to deal with his many trials was to ‘wait patiently for the Lord’.

This is a great lesson: patient waiting on God is a choice!!! Patience is not our natural response. No unbeliever can wait on God. They are too restless and too proud to do that. To an unbeliever, the process of waiting seems useless, for all is quiet outwardly. Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit growing only in the heart of the believer in Christ. David had faith in God! He trusted that God will come to his rescue and vindicate him at last. True waiting on God is an active living fruitful spiritual work that gives glory to God!

Questions:

What did David do all those long lonely years in the desert, as he was waiting on God?

What are we to do as we wait on God?

*David remembers God’s past wonderful works and miracles that he had witnessed

David meditates on God’s loving thoughts towards him personally. He remembers that faith in God never fails. When I fast and pray waiting on God, I remember His mercy towards me and my family in the past. I remember how we prayed and how God answered. This always revives my spirit and I am able to praise God again!

* David prays that God ‘opens’ his ears

He takes advantage of the season of pain and he re-surrenders himself to God. In Hebrew ‘to open’ means to dig in the dry ground, to bore a hole in a hard place. “Dear Lord, open my ears to hear Your Word…” This is a good prayer to rise from any pit of difficult circumstances. The sound of freedom may come as a song, as a gentle touch…The ‘still small voice’ can be drowned by the waves of noisy activities, too many friends and cares. In the lowest times of my life, more than any other time before, I need to hear the whispers of God. I need God’s voice to speak life, peace, comfort and strength to my heart. Once I hear His voice, I am satisfied!

*David does spiritual warfare.

David knows that this persecution is the result of his standing for God. He preaches the truth to them who are in bondage. The devil attacks him thru proud and deceitful men. He prays that his enemies will be ashamed, confused and disappointed. God shall oppose them until they retreat and backslide. Others shall hurt and wound them.

*David strengthens himself in the Lord and starts to rejoice, praising God

The pit of trouble becomes an altar to offer sacrifices of praise. Fresh inspiration and anointing is poured down below. David praises the Lord with a new song. This peculiar joy coming out of pain is the signal that God is close by. Suddenly, God draws him up out of the miry clay. God Himself gives him a fresh reason to praise Him and a new testimony of deliverance and victory. This testimony shall produce fruit amongst men. Many shall become saved and delivered too. Ministry shall be established.

No one likes to suffer pain. But the lessons I had to learn thru the fire of afflictions have remained with me; they are sealed in my spirit. No man wants to wait on God if he has any other option to solve his problems. But when all things crumble and my friends and dearest go away, I know where to go to… I run to God…to the Cross! Jesus said that He will never forsake me! This promise applies not only when things are good, when I am in the midst of friends, successful and rich…but the Word is mine especially when I am alone, feeling sick and old…

This is my testimony: God is faithful to His promises! God is with me as I write these lines. I may not know great secrets or wonderful revelations, but one thing I know for sure: God is good to me and to my family! I have tested God in the fire of furnace…My God is always the same: faithful, kind, all knowing and all powerful!

“Dear Father, I remember the past…You have saved me many times, from sickness and troubles…Thank You for opening my ears and my eyes…I reject all covenant I made with the devil or his agents, knowingly or not…I rejoice Lord for you are on my side…You can never lose any battle…The victory is sure…This praise is rising in my soul…

I praise You Father! I praise You Son! I praise You Holy Ghost! Jesus Christ, my Savior, my Lord and my best Friend! Thank You for the Comfort in my heart! Thank You for the new song I just found in my mouth! You are fearful in praises! You shall vindicate me! You shall establish me! You are my strength when I am weak! You are always doing wonders for me! Be magnified in my life! I vow to give You all the glory! Forever! It is well with my soul… Alleluia!”

If the world from you withhold of its silver and its gold,
And you have to get along with meager fare,
Just remember, in His Word, how He feeds the little bird—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Refrain:
Leave it there, leave it there,
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there;
If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

If your body suffers pain and your health you can’t regain,
And your soul is almost sinking in despair,
Jesus knows the pain you feel, He can save and He can heal—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

When your enemies assail and your heart begins to fail,
Don’t forget that God in Heaven answers prayer;
He will make a way for you and will lead you safely through—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

When your youthful days are gone and old age is stealing on,
And your body bends beneath the weight of care;
He will never leave you then, He’ll go with you to the end—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Charles A. Tindley, 1916

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations” (Ps 100:4, 5)

Lead by the Holy Spirit, we declared today as a thanksgiving day! We praised God with singing, dances and grateful hearts!
Thanksgiving must be the life style of the believer. We thank God especially for His goodness, love and faithfulness, to us and to our children. Just like the mother teaches her child how to say ‘thank you’ for every gift received, no matter how small, so we have to practice thanksgiving when relating to God. A sinner is an ungrateful and proud person. In these last days, men shall become more wicked, ‘ungrateful and unholy…Have nothing to do with them’ (2Tim 3:2, 5).
As a man, Jesus was the most grateful Son. Jesus thanked the Father for the gift of prayer. “Father, I thank You that You always hear Me…” (Jn 11:41). Not all people have the privilege of an open line of prayer to God. Be grateful that God listens to you! When He had to feed the thousands with just few loaves of bread He did not really pray. He just gave thanks to the Father for the bread in His hands. Then, as He divided the loaves, they miraculously multiplied to feed the multitudes (Jn 6:11). These are great lessons: the grateful heart is positioned to receive miracles. Also, thank God for the little things and they shall multiply according to the need of the moment.
The opposite of thanksgiving is to be bitter, to complain. You say that you need millions and all you have is too little to start a business. Thank God for the little you have in your hand. You say that your marriage is not happy. But at least you are married. Many are still praying to receive what you already have. You say that you are sick, but you are still breathing. Thank God for your breath….
God does not owe man anything. All we have is a product of His grace, the unmerited favor of God. In Greek, Spanish and Italian, the word ‘thank you’ is the same as the word ‘grace’. To a humble and grateful man, the favor of God shall increase! “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1Thess 5:18)

THE CURE FOR THE CURSES

The cure is found in Christ alone. He became a curse that we may be free. In Christ we have power over the devil:

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Gal 3:13)

The curses came thru the mouth. So the mouth will destroy it! Pray and trust God!

“Like a fluttering sparrow… an undeserved curse does not come to rest (will not land on its intended victim)” (PV 26:2)

‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me; come, denounce Israel.’

How can I curse those whom God has not cursed?

How can I denounce those whom the Lord has not denounced?” (Nu 23:7, 8)

The word ‘denounce’ means to accuse, to condemn and publicly proclaim as evil; it also means to publicly announce the separation from another, the termination of a contract or divorce. Jesus denounced them who received the blessings of miracles but remained proud and refused to repent (Mt 11:20-24)

“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.  He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons” (Mk 3:13-15)

“Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you” (Lk 10:18, 19)

“These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mk 16:17, 18)

“I shall not die, but live and declare the works of the Lord” (PS 118:17)

“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)

THE CAUSES OF CURSES

1. Idolatry (Ex 20:1-4; Deut 27:15)

2. Witches, native doctors, false prophets, secret societies and cults (Balak and Balaam Nu 22: 24)

3-Dihonoring your parents (natural and spiritual) (Gen 9:25; Deut 27:16; PV 30:17)

4-Betrayal (PV 17:13)

5-Opressing, exploiting the weak and the poor (shedding innocent blood, abortions) (PV 28:27)

6-Unnatural sex (any other form of sex that is different from the normal one practiced by a married man and his wife) (Lev 20)

7- Anti Semitism, hating the children of God (Gen 12:3; 27:29)

8-Trusting men and backsliding from God (Jer 17:5, 6)

9-Stealing, perjury (false swearing under oath), false prophets, taking God’s name in vain (Zech 5:1-4)

10- Stealing from God, not paying tithes or being stingy in the church (Mal 3:8-10)

WHO CAN BLESS OR CURSE?

God has total authority to bless or to curse! Secondly, your father or your pastor can do the same (Gen 9; 27; 49). A witch or an occult person can curse an unbeliever (Nu 22:6). There is also a self-inflicted curse (Gen 27:23). A child of God cannot be totally cursed. But the curse can affect some part of his life. Identify the curse! Pray and deliver yourself from its influence!

HOW DOES A CURSE MANIFEST?

A curse manifests as a feeling of dying! The man is unhappy with your life! Imagining suicide, thinking of death, fear of untimely death, chronic depression, anxiety and bitterness…these are signs of a possible curse in the family.

“Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.” (Gen 27:46, NIV)

The word ‘disgusted’ means to be anxious, angry, grieved or to lose interest in life. There is nothing good or interesting in this life. There is no joy, no satisfaction and nor hope. Chronic depression is a sign of a curse. Generally, curses manifest as prolonged troubles. A curse man is always in need, sick, poor or in trouble. He has the tendency to fall down easily, no matter how much he succeeds for a time. He is always unhappy with his life bitter and complaining. Even if he takes a loan, even if other people help, he is always in need. There are terrible things happening in his life and his family: they are not able to marry, unhappy marriages, bareness, divorce, untimely or mysterious deaths in the family. These people are always a liability to others. They depend on others for their daily bread. Their old age is filled with bitterness and regrets.

To be continued…

This prayer meeting was one of the best we had for a long time. This week I prepared my message for today. But last night I was restless. God was saying something and I could not hear well. Eventually I got it. He changed my message. I remembered the time I became a Christian. I remember the reaction I had as I read Deuteronomy 28 for the first in my life. At the same time I got a book on deliverance by Derek Prince. He immediately became one of my mentors. I studied the scriptures on deliverance and prayed the prayers. I became Spirit filled and free. I broke the generational and familiar curses. My life changed. The fire that started burning then has not quenched until today.

So, last night the Holy Spirit said I should prepare a message concerning the blessings and curses in the Bible. I did as I was told. Today, just before we started the prayer meeting, the electric power went off. We have two generators. Both worked well but the electric current did not come out. So the house and the sanctuary were in darkness until 5:30. But the brethren prayed faithfully, light or no light. We prayed against the forces of darkness. The devil knew he is in trouble.

Finally, the power was restored. We wasted no time. We help hands and prayed like never before. When I announced that today we shall pray and break generational curses, everybody jumped and shouted for joy like we all won the lottery. The foundation was laid. The unity of the Spirit was strong. The expectation to see miracles was very high. It is a pleasure to preach to prepared willing hearts. May the anointing overflow to you and may you be delivered, healed and set free! Nothing is impossible with God! The following was the message:

BLESSINGS AND CURSES

“The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil” (Ps 125:3)

“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.  He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons” (Mk 3:13-15)

OBEDIENCE- DEFINITION:

Obedience means to actively follow the commands, restrictions, guidance and wishes of another who I trust.  The commander’s word becomes my action. True obedience is a sign of life, of living faith. It is done joyfully and totally. Faith without obedience and works is dead (Jam 2:14-26). This is a spiritual law: God blesses obedience!

God blessed obedience and curses (punishes) disobedience.

Obedience is better than sacrifice. Disobedience, rebellion is like witchcraft (1Sam 15:22, 23)

God gives the Holy Spirit o those who obey Him! If you are not yet filled with the Holy Spirit, it means there is hidden rebellion against God in your heart (Ac 5:29-32; Ac 10:38)

We shall study the blessings and the curses found in Deuteronomy 28. These are opposed to one another.

“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God” (Deut 28:1, 2; NKJ)

HOW DO BLESSINGS OR CURSES COME TO MAN?

Our reaction to the voice of the Holy Spirit and the written Word of God!

By hearing and obeying the voice and the Word of God- we are blessed!

By refusing to hear and disobedience to the Word of God, we are cursed!

The word ‘obey’ means to hear intelligently, to pay attention, to understand the command and to witness to it by action.

The word ‘observe’ means to protect, to surround like with thorns, so that no enemy will destroy the commandments.

The first blessing is to ‘be set high above all’. In Hebrew the word is ‘Elyon’. It means to become like the Most High God. No enemy can bring you down all the days of your life!

The blessings come and overtake. The words mean that the blessings will surely locate you, enter your life and become rooted in you. There is no risk of missing the mark.   The blessings will surely catch up with you and come suddenly.

BLESSINGS CONTRASTED WITH CURSES

*Promotion—–………………………………………………..Demotion

*Fruitful life……………………………………………………..Barren life

*Health……………………………………………………………Chronic sickness

*Prosperity (success)………………………………………Poverty (failure)

*Victory against enemies………………………………..Defeat

*Authority (head: leader, making decisions)….Slave (tail, follower of men)

In Hebrew the word ‘Blessing’ is Barak. It means becoming ‘a great happy man’; a store or a pool of successful, happy life, abundance, overflow of joy that brings praise and thanksgiving. A blessed man makes impact on his generation and the ones to come.

The word ‘Curses’ is ‘qelala’. It means becoming a nobody; small, insignificant, despised, unhappy, hated, suffering and transitory with no remembrance of you

FAMILIAR CURSES

Both blessings and curses come thru the words spoken or imagined. Every swearing or promises done to invisible personalities become binding on that person.

The curses come from the individual who, knowingly or ignorantly, has used his mouth to connect with the occult. Curses also come from the previous generations. All occult involvement, making friends with a witch, having sex with a witch, going to shrines or native doctors, all these are the foundations of curses. These are familiar evil spirits who have built strongholds affecting up to 3-4 generations.

To be continued…

He’s all I need when I just need someone to talk to,
He’s always there to hear my prayer each time I call him;
All my needs He supplies, my thirsty soul He satisfies,
He’s the Lord of Lords, He’s all I need.

He’s all I need, I need not turn to any other,
For He’s a friend I can depend closer than a brother;
On this friend I can rely to be my strength as life goes by,
He’s the Lord of all, He’s all I need.

He comforts me when I’m weary and eases every pain,
Fills my deepest longing time and time again;
He’s my soul’s inspiration, my heart’s consolation,
He’s my everything, He’s all I need.

He’s all I need,
He’s all I need,
He’s my everything,
He’s all I need.

(Genelle Tennant)

“Come and see what the Lord has done.
See what amazing things He has done on earth.
He stops wars all over the world;
He breaks bows, destroys spears,
and sets shields on fire.
“Stop fighting,” He says, “and know that I am God,
supreme among the nations,
supreme over the world” (Ps 46:8-10)

“And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth…The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but He is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (Ex 34:6; 2Pet 3:9)

Some of the sisters in our midst are battling with different problems. Some have chronic sicknesses: malaria, typhoid fever, diabetes, high blood pressure, rheumatism, depression….Many single sisters are above thirty but still no married.  Some are married but struggle with the unity of the Spirit in their homes. Others are married but have no children. Some are jobless or very poor. Some are widows. As you see, the problems are too many and too diverse to be solved by any man’s counsel. Only God can help them all. I have faith that God will answer prayers and grant us miracles. For nothing is impossible for God to do!

One of the most effective keys of spiritual success is to be patient as you wait on God. Patience is hard to practice but it never fails. The words bellow may look similar but please read and meditate upon their meaning. Prayerfully apply the Word of God in your life! You shall never regret it!

God is patient! Be like God! Patience is not a waste of time! It is the blessed way to enter your promised joy! Selah!

DEFINITIONS:

PATIENCE

The quality of bearing provocation, trouble or pain, without complaint, restlessness or loss of temper in the presence of delay or difficult circumstances; the skill to successfully wait on God, trusting Him to do what is right, no matter the circumstances

TO WAIT

To remain unmoved or to rest in expectation, ready for action when necessary; to tarry, to hold on until a weaker one catches up; to remain temporarily neglected postponing the satisfaction of your needs

FORBEARANCE

It is the godly quality to refrain from action, to delay in enforcing my rights or privileges

To remain calm in the presence of other men’s failures or faults

LONG-SUFFERING

To remain calm (slow to speak, slow to be angry, not bitterness) in the face of human opposition coming from trouble-makers who intentionally desire to hurt you; the reason for long suffering is to promote love, peace and to heal damaged relationships

ENDURANCE

To remain calm (slow to speak, slow to be angry, not bitterness) in the midst of negative circumstances, trials and temptations

PERSEVERANCE

It means the ability to make progress in the midst of negative circumstances, trials and temptations

IMPATIENCE

It means to be restless, quarrelsome, anxious or easily angry in the midst of negative circumstances or delay

The inability to wait on God to perform His will

Are you patient? If not, repent and come to God! Be filled with the Holy Spirit! May God grant the grace of patience to you until you receive your miracle! In Jesus name, Amen!

“if anyone is in Christ he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2Cor 5:17)

A lady came to my office not too long ago. She is a married woman with children. She has been attending our church for some times. Previously, she was very active in another church.  I observed that each time she talks to me it was always about her business. She was in her words ‘a workaholic’. The last time I saw her I confronted her with the truth. I told her that I am not a business consultant but a pastor. I told her that I am more interested in her soul than in her bank account. She was surprised at my words. She said that in the previous church she had attended the pastor talks the opposite. I then told her that her destiny is to be a mature Christian, a woman of God. I also told her that her lack of interest in the spiritual things may be because she is not truly born again. I also told her that she needs to be filled with the Holy Spirit. These blessings are not available in any market. She cannot buy them with money. But if she humbles herself and if she has faith God will grant her salvation and power for service. She laughs a lot but suddenly she became sober. Then we held hands and prayed…

At the beginning she was shy, praying some routine prayers memorized from her childhood. I was quietly praying in tongues. Then suddenly she became bolder. Her voice became louder and more confident. She rejected all interference with the powers of darkness. I could see faith rising in her soul. It was almost visible. I knew that from this moment on, anything can happen for the Holy Spirit is now in full control. This is the holy moment I’m always waiting for. The face changes…the very atmosphere changes…then she started praying in tongues and prophesying over her life, to partake from the blessings of Christ…after some time, she started laughing and laughing like a prisoner who suddenly is set free…If you have not experienced this miracle, there is no way you can understand what I am saying… The free people have their own language, their own songs and their own dances. A soul was set free that afternoon. Religious spirits bowed at the name of Jesus! She became truly born again. Much later she went home. I was very happy in my spirit, reminding myself that revival is coming…

A week later she came back. She was rejoicing and but she had some questions. She said that her life has totally changed. She made up her mind to dedicate some time every morning to the study the Bible and prayer. Previously, she was praying only ‘in her mind’, with her eyes closed, still lying down on the bed in the morning. Now she gets up, reads her Bible and prays with her voice. She said that she also made the decision not to worry about her business. She also said that she is not anxious anymore when she goes late to open her shop. She will trust God for her financial gain. Just looking at her I saw the peace of God on her face. She told me that even her husband is happy with her new commitment to become a serious Christian.

The she had some questions…she said that since that day, her neighbor in the market suddenly changed her attitude towards her. This was for no good reason. She knew that the other lady is not a serious Christian but she thought that for the sake of business and peace, they can be friends. They trusted each other with heart secrets and their businesses. If one goes for break the other will sell for her. Suddenly, after the experience in my office, the other lady just hated her. She started quarreling, abusing her, her marriage and even her pastor. One day, a strange wind came and the other woman’s umbrella fell on the sister’s things. All her products fell down. Things got broken or damaged. She had great loss that day. The other woman did not even apologize. Then she knew that this is a spiritual battle and not something that can be ‘settled’ with common sense. She cried saying that she did not know that being filled with the Holy Spirit means she will lose her friends and business partners.

I encouraged her as a believer.… I asked her if she regrets being filled with the Holy Spirit and she clearly said ‘No’. I told her that God will give her a new supernatural wisdom to deal with situations as a child of God and not just as a business woman. I also told her that, from now on, all her friends must pass the ‘test of fire’. God has to approve them, if not they will not be able to come to close to her. This is the royal road of the Cross. This is the beginning of the process called sanctification. The world goes away and the Kingdom of God becomes more real than ever. With time, the faith will become stronger and these temptations will not seem so strange anymore.

Lastly…I encourage you dear child of God to hold on to your faith, which is more expensive than gold. There is nothing in this world greater than your God! There is nobody who can compare with the Excellency of knowing Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Do not look back! Look ahead and upwards. You shall see Jesus! You shall hear the cheering from the cloud of witnesses, the saints of old who have suffered like you do now, but remained faithful unto the end. God will not give you more than you can bear, but He will allow you to see the way of escape, so that you may be a champion for Christ! The truth is this: you can never be the same again! Your life has changed forever! May the peace of God surround your soul even right now! Continue to praise God, for the future is more wonderful than the present sufferings! Jesus is worthy of your service and sacrifice! He will reward you and bless you more than you can ever imagine or think! I am sure 100%!  Be filled with the Holy Spirit! In Jesus name, Amen!