Monthly Archives: August 2014

THE PRIVILEGE, THE PROTECTION AND THE BLESSING OF DISCERNING THE BODY OF CHRIST

by Silvia Leigh

 

 

“For if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily, not discerning the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. But if we examine ourselves, we will not be examined by God and judged in this way. But when we are judged and disciplined by the Lord, we will not be condemned with the world” (1Cor 11:29-31)

 

Today we had a wonderful Holy Communion service. We do it once a month. Many people attend our church just because they were touched by God during the Holy Communion services. This is always power released by the Holy Spirit as a sign that Jesus is alive and that Jesus is Lord! The evil spirit of religion has corrupted many churches. Their Holy Communion services make no impact at all. It is just a routine regular gathering. There is no supernatural power, no miracles, no healing and no deliverance. The truth is that there is power in the name of Jesus, especially when we come at His table! “Oh, the Blood of Jesus…”

 

Apostle Paul gives instructions concerning the protocol at the Lord’s Table. The first Christians obeyed the Lord’s command and took the Holy Communion in remembrance of Him. But there was need for correction. The greatest mistake they did was to come to the Lord’s Table with a carnal mind and a careless attitude. It was their practice to gather and eat together just for fellowship. From time to time, they had a meal, a love feast, to celebrate their salvation and to bless the poor. The general atmosphere was joyful, friendly and relaxed. But when they came to the Lord’s Table their attitude had to change. There was need for a sober, spiritual and discerning mind that will ignite a grateful heart. There was danger of taking the Holy Communion in an ‘unworthy’ manner. Ignoring this warning produced serious effects: weakness, sickness and even untimely death.

 

What are the lessons we should learn as we come to the Lord’s Table today?

The first one is that the Holy Communion is not an ordinary meal. It should not be taken just as food for the belly, just to satisfy the natural hunger. It has a deep spiritual meaning and it is our duty to discover it. The Holy Communion is more like taking the medicines prescribed by the doctor; it is not ‘a take away’ from the restaurant. You see that your attitude should be different.

Secondly, there is this warning about taking the Communion in ‘an unworthy manner’. This warning is connected with the capacity to discern the Body of Christ. Simply said, if we properly discern the Body of Christ, we should take the Holy Communion and we shall be blessed, healed and delivered. If we are unable to discern the Body of Christ, we should not take the Holy Communion, for fear of grieving the Holy Spirit and the negative effects that follow.

 

What then does it mean to ‘discern the Body of Christ’?

To ‘discern’ it means to see behind the surface of things; to see with spiritual eyes what lies behind the visible; to understand the mind of God about things. It means to have the mind of Christ. It also means to be totally free from deception and lies. It means to have prophetic eyes to see what God sees and to judge things by the Holy Spirit. In Greek the word ‘discern’ means to examine, discriminate and judge correctly; to separate the parts, place them in the proper position so that there is no confusion. For example, the Word of God penetrates the natural mind; it is a discerner of the thoughts and attitudes of men (Heb 4:12). This is another example: The spiritual man understands the things of the Spirit. But the natural man does not understand them, for these are spiritual discerned. There is a gift of the Holy Spirit called ‘the discerning of spirits’. That gift enables the believer to see in the Spirit realm and to clearly identify the evil spirits behind the visible realm (1Cor 2:14; 12:10).

So this is the danger: taking the Holy Communion without spiritually discerning the Body of Christ. The warning is against the religious unbelievers primarily. The Holy Communion is like a lie detector that can never fail.

 

What do we know about the Body of Christ? What can we discern about it?

In Greek the word ‘body’ means something completely whole, no parts missing. This word is similar with the word ‘sozo’ which means salvation, healing, deliverance and protection. The lesson is that person who is a member of the Body of Christ is saved. The believer can also be healed, delivered, protected from enemies and made whole. No unbeliever has these privileges. Do you see that? Do you understand that? Do you discern that?

When we take the Holy Communion, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we remember and discern the things that happen to our Lord’s Body at Calvary. Before Jesus died, they insulted and mocked Him. But immediately He died, God did not allow anybody to harm or wound His Body. With the eyes of the Spirit we see His body hanging on the Cross. Death has done its worst. We then see how gently they took His body down. The believers at the foot of the Cross lovingly wrapped His body in a cloth. they carried the body to the Tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. He asked Pilate to give him the body of Christ for a proper burial in his own newly built tomb. We discern and feel how our Lord’s Body was left in that tomb. After three days, Jesus rose form the death with a new spiritual Body that none can ever destroy. With this spiritual Body He is able to pass thru the walls and to comfort His people. We also understand and discern the power of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit by which the believers in Christ become a part of His Body. Our Lord is the Head of the Body and His life flows to all the members. The parts are many. The gifts are many. But the Body is one! We discern, we understand that wonderful miracle and privilege!

 

We gratitude in our hearts, humbled by these revelations, bowing in worship, we come to the Lord’s Table and remember Him.

We are healed and delivered by the power of the Holy Spirit! Thank You Lord Jesus!

May the anointing released in today service touch you too wherever you are!

“There is power, power wonder-working power

In the Blood of the Lamb…”

CORRUPTING LYING SPIRITS

by Silvia Leigh

 

We had a wonderful prayer meeting. The anointing was high and the unity of the Spirit was established. That is when the devil attacks and strange things may happen.  We praised God with songs. Then lead by the Holy Spirit we called all the children to the altar for prayer. We prayed for them as they continue to sing. We covered them with the Blood of Jesus. We prayed against sicknesses, Ebola and malaria in particular. We prayed that they shall fulfill God’s plan and purpose in their lives. They prayed too, both in English and in the Spirit. It was wonderful. Then the children went back to their seats. Half an hour later something strange happened. One of the girls we prayed for went to the rest room and collapsed there. She was brought to the altar for prayer. She looked very weak and confused. We prayed healing and deliverance in the name of Jesus!  We gave her a sweet drink. She became better. The devil is a liar! You see the importance of living by faith and not by sight. This girl is not sickly. The devil is the author of confusion. But he has failed this evening. Everybody saw this incident as a spiritual attack to be rejected. Even the parents prayed without fear. Thank You, Jesus!

This is the sermon:

 

“And the Lord said, ‘You shall persuade him and also prevail; go out and do so’ Therefore look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared disaster against you.” (2Chr 18:18-22)

 

This story is full of warnings and wisdom. It describes an unholy alliance between two kings, one good (Jehoshaphat) and one very bad (Ahab, the husband of Jezebel). The Lord allows us to see a glimpse of how heaven controls the earth. We see the damage done by the devil and his lying spirits.

Just like with Job, we see that God permits evil spirits to attack men of earth. He even selects the particular demons to afflict particular men. For example, Saul was attacked by an evil spirit. This demon was not random. God send it. “Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and the LORD sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear” (1Sam 16:14). Apostle Paul too had to endure a chronic affliction coming from an evil spirit. This trial was approved by God so that he will learn to appreciate and depend on the grace of God! “To keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from satan to torment me…” (2Cor 12)

 

This may be a difficult doctrine for many believers. Pray for divine wisdom to believe God’s Word even when it is not pleasant.

The true prophet Michaiah comes to see the kings. He is warned by the messenger to join the false prophets’ choir. But he stands his ground and promises to only speak the Word of God. It is not easy to stand for the truth in the midst of liars. Michaiah says that God in heaven has approved an evil spirit of lies to go to earth and deceive the king’s prophets. They in turn will succeed in deceiving Ahab, giving him a false confidence to go to battle and die there. Thru the influence of evil lying spirits, Ahab shall be lead into ‘disaster’. This is the same word used by Ahab when he was complaining that Michaiah prophesies only ‘evil’ (disaster) to him.  It proved to be so at last!

 

This is a sad story. It is easy for us to us to accept that wicked men like Ahab and the false prophets are punished by deception unto destruction. But why Jehoshaphat…how did a godly good king, a believer in Jehovah becomes deceived by the same lying evil spirits? He had enough opportunities to separate himself from Ahab. When Michaiah spoke the truth about the disaster about to happen, why was he deceived to believe otherwise? Why did he accept to see a true prophet dishonored and arrested for speaking the truth? What happened to him? We find an explanation in the Word of God. “Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits” (1Cor 15:33).  If you make friends with wicked people, sooner or later, you shall become like them. In Greek the word ‘corrupts’ means to waste or to wither; that is, to spoil (by any process), to ruin, to defile and destroy. The devil deceives men by telling them to ignore their environment; by telling them that it does not matter who is your friend, husband, teacher, mentor, pastor or prophet. Pray and be very careful in your choice of friends. A counsel is very important, either for good or bad.

 

For his sin of alliance with the evil Ahab, Jehoshaphat was punished in many ways.  He almost lost his life.  He also lost his first born son Jehoram to the devil. The young man married Ahab and Jezebel’s daughter and learn to be wicked like his in laws. He became a mass murderer. He killed all his brothers. For helping the wicked, God also destroyed Jehoshaphat’s business.  His trading ships sank and he suffered great loss (2Chr 20:35-37; 21:1-6)

This story is a warning. Anybody can be deceived by lying spirits. It is not just the unbelievers and the wicked. By yoking with them, we are in danger to share in their blindness and punishment. Let God search your heart! If you are a child of God you should allow the Cross to separate the world from you! May God bless His Word in our hearts! May God have mercy on us! May God forgive all our sins! Jesus is Lord!

 

In Christ I declare:

I destroy any covenant, deal, friendship, relationship or business partnership I made with evil spirits or agents of the devil!

I plead the Blood of Jesus upon my life, my family, my ministry, my business and church!

I reject all lying spirits trying to corrupt my mind!

I shall not die but live to declare the works of the Lord!

To the glory of God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

THE ADVOCATE OF SHEBA

by Silvia Leigh

 

 

“The Queen of Sheba shall rise against this nation in the judgment and condemn it; for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and now one greater than Solomon is here—and you refuse to believe Him” (Mt 12:42)

Sometimes ago a sister in Christ traveled from Lagos to Warri just to attend our church. Compared with Lagos, Warri is a village. This was not a personal visit. It was not a business trip. She came with public transport accompanied by another sister. They attended our Saturday Class prayer meeting and the Sunday service. They went back on Monday morning.
This lady is beautiful and educated. She attends a big church in Lagos. She has a good job. By any standard she is a successful woman. I know her for about 5 years. We communicate and pray thru fb. When she told me that she is coming to Warri I was a little surprised. This is because it is a sacrifice and these days few people are willing to pay the price searching for spiritual blessings. But she came. She was tired after the long journey but soon she jumped in the river of anointing. For the first time in her life she got baptized by the Holy Spirit and she prayed in tongues. That alone was a miracle for she said that she tried many times to do it but ‘it just did not happen’. The Holy Spirit filled her with power, faith, peace, joy and with a fresh desire to serve God like never before. Her faith was so high when she left Warri that I knew in my spirit that God will perfect what He has started. God will fulfill her heart’s desires. She will come back with great testimonies. The seeds planted here shall produce a great harvest, wherever she goes. I told her she looks like the Queen of Sheba …She answered ‘Amen!’

Who is this Queen of Sheba? What we know is only from the Bible. She probably came from Ethiopia. She had her own royal domain. She was a rich and powerful woman. She heard rumors about a man called Solomon, a King in Israel. She heard that God blessed him with a supernatural wisdom and a discerning heart. She decided to go and meet him. This journey was no easy. There were no buses or planes. She could not look in the internet and find the place. There was no Expedia or Google. There was no Bible for her to read, no church in Sheba. The distance was about 1500 miles. They had to use camels or elephants. The weather is very hot and dry. She went with an entourage and a lot of gifts. The gold she carried to give Solomon is valued at $3,000,000. Thieves could have attacked, steal the treasure and kill them all. But she humbled herself, took the risk and went to meet the king.

The Queen of Sheba is a successful seeker and therefore, a finder. That is the best way I can describe her. She was seeking God. She wanted to know the Almighty God. She desired to know her identity and her destiny found in Him alone. She was a pagan queen. All her neighbors were pagan people like her. But she wanted something better than worshipping the moon and the stars. She had so many questions and she did not want to die without answers. She heard that Solomon knows and talks to the Creator of the universe. There were no men like Solomon in her domain. So, she had to go and meet the only man of God ‘available on earth’. She paid the price for an encounter with God. She heard God’s Word in the palace of Solomon. She found Jehovah in His temple in Jerusalem. She brought a lot of gifts as a true royal offering. Her soul was saved and her mind found rest. Then she went home satisfied.

Jesus said that at the Day of Judgment she will stand in the court of heaven as a witness. Her testimony will be placed side by side with that of others who say they are believers. By the price she paid on earth to seek God she has won the right to be a lawyer in heaven and condemn all religious hypocrisy. The Queen of Sheba has been promoted by Jesus. She has now become the Advocate of Sheba.
The question is this: Do you really seek God? Do you seek the treasure called the Kingdom of God? Do you humble yourself and pray until the heavens open to you? Do you seek until you find God? Are you ready to pay the price for an encounter with the Living God? Or do you practice a cheap, second-hand Christianity? David said that ‘he cannot offer God something cheap’. The Queen of Sheba did the same. Are you like David? Do you value the Word of God? Do you really study the Word of God? Do you pray until there is an answer? Do you seek a good living church to attend, even if it is far from your house? Do you pay your tithe? Do you volunteer to serve God in His house? Please answer these questions well. As for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord!

In Christ I declare:
I seek and find God!
I knock unto the door of salvation shall open to me!
I shall pay the price for an encounter with the Living God!
God shall bless me with Himself!
Jehovah God is my reward!
In Jesus name
Amen!

FROM PRAYER TO PRAISE!

by Silvia Leigh

 

 

“Is anyone among you afflicted (ill-treated, suffering evil)? He should pray!

Is anyone glad at heart? He should sing praise [to God]!” (Jam 5:13; AMP)

 

Prayer is one of the greatest doctrines of the Bible. Generally speaking, prayer means ‘talking to God’. Biblically speaking, prayer is the expression of a personal relationship between God and His child. The Almighty God only listens to His children. He hears the voices of all men, for He created them. But He listens and answers only the prayers of the true believers in Christ. This is the truth reveled in the scriptures. If the truth makes you angry, then give your life to Christ. That anger is from the devil who keeps you in bondage of foolishness, doubt and unbelief! No man can ever win a battle against truth for God is supreme!

 

For prayer to be answered, there are some conditions, holy expectations that God has decreed in His Word:

*The first condition for an answer from God is that you indeed pray. It is not enough to think about prayer, to meditate about the possibility of prayer or to say a feeble ‘amen’ when others pray for you…You need to open your heart and your mouth and talk to God yourself!

*You need to pray in faith. Doubt and fear are poison to faith, especially when it comes to prayer.

*You need to be patient and persevere until the answer comes. God decides the answer. It may not be what you expect but it is surely the best option for you. Like with food, it may not be the sweetest but it is surely the most nutritious. God knows the best!  Trust Him for the answer!

 

The devil will attack you especially when you chose to really pray. He will send fiery arrows of doubt, discouragement, fear, weakness, sickness, distractions, laziness, pleasures and other evil things, to poison your mind. You need to bring all these thoughts under the obedience of Christ. You need to identify these as evil, as attacks and not just as ‘normal’ things of life. Do not excuse your spiritual weakness on the traffic, weather or the cares of this world. You are created by God to have an intimate personal relationship with Him. Prayer is basic to that relationship. Many believers get tired of praying. That is exactly what the devil intends…That is a great loss to you…I am not talking just about missing your blessings or rewards by interrupting the flow of prayer. I am saying that the devil has succeeded to break your life line, your Holy connection with your Father in heaven. The devil has succeeded to separate what God intends to be together. The Holy Spirit is grieved by your backsliding…

 

I encourage you to stand firm in faith until the answer comes. Each time God answers you, even if it is for a ‘little’ request, it will increase your faith and become a stepping stone for other prayers. For example, you need $100 to pay your electric bill. if you cannot succeed in praying for that, how can you pray to be the owner of a house? It will not be possible. For God is not the author of confusion, of disturbing the mind about the purpose of things. God is the author of peace, order, spiritual growth, maturity and an ever increasing faith.

 

I am speaking to you who suffer right now…single mother, jobless person, rejected by friends, sick and no insurance, sick and no hope, too little money, too little freedom, too little joy… Do not waste your pains and troubles…Do not just cry….Do not complain…Do not blame God…Do not envy others…Go back to God in prayer! Use all these difficulties as training for prayer! I promise that you shall not regret it!  By praying, your weak faith will become stronger. Waiting patiently on God does not weaken your faith. That is the lie of the devil! The truth is that patience increases faith; it purifies it as gold which passes thru fire. I challenge you to go back and pray again for that ‘old’ problem! Pray daily until God answers! Do not stop seeking God’s face until He gives you a specific Word! Do not stop the flow of the prayer! God is good and God is faithful! God is merciful and all powerful! God will answer you and you shall glorify Him! You will not weep forever! Your breakthrough is closer than you think! There is nothing impossible for God to do! And when the answer comes and you are happy, sing praises to Him! I mean that! God means that! I am hearing praises already…

 

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

I am born again by the Holy Spirit!

Jesus Christ is my Savior and Lord!

God is good, faithful, merciful and powerful!

I will seek God and continue to pray until He speaks to me!

Faith 100%! Doubt 0%!

I will praise God forever!

All glory to God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

ABOVE ALL ELSE GUARD YOUR HEART!

by Silvia Leigh

 

 

“But King Solomon loved many strange women… Solomon clave unto these in love…And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice”

(1Kg 11:1-10)

 

The story of King Solomon is one of the saddest in the Bible. ‘He had it all’, as they say. He was born in a royal home, trained by the best teachers. His father was the greatest King of Israel. God removed his elder brothers and gave him the throne of his father. As a young king he prayed for God’s favor. God appeared to him twice and gave him his heart’s desire. So, what can damage such a testimony? The devil…Yes…but how can the devil do it? The answer is simpler than you anticipate: the king’s fall was thru sexual lust. He ignored God’s commands to have a pure heart.

 

He ‘loved strange women’… In Hebrew, the word ‘strange’ means foreign, adulterous, non-relatives, different than expected, prayed for or planned. The word also means outlandish, strikingly out of the ordinary. It means erratic, capricious and unpredictable, having a tendency to wander away from safety and truth. The same is described as odd, left alone after everybody else is paired. This type of ‘strange woman’ is a religious unbeliever. She can never make a good wife to a Christian man. What she offers to a man is a little bit of religion, a little bit of church-going and some drops of prayer here and there.

 

The reason why Solomon loved these strange women is because he broke the law of God and that of his own conscience. It is the same Solomon who said: “Above all else, guard your heart for everything you do flows from it” (PV 4:23). But he was careless with his heart, allowing the weeds of the world to take over the good planation of the Word. Little by little, the corruption of sin destroyed the holy seeds. The heart withered and died inside. The worship of God seems far away. The Bible is just a book on the shelf. Prayer is just a mumbling and a quick sign of the cross for all to see…

Once upon a time, young King Solomon advised other parents: “Train a child in the way he should go, so that when he is old, he will not depart from it” (PV 22:6). But he lacked the foundation that keeps a soul secure for a life time. The Lord appeared twice to Solomon. But the visions of God could not help him remain in the way of the Lord. The heart was wild and undisciplined. So much investment and so little fruit…And the Lord became angry with him…

 

Why will a believer fall in love with an unbeliever? Why will a Christian marry a strange woman? This sounds impossible but it is quite common. If your salvation is not deep enough to touch and change the heart, it will only be a religious cover for sin. In my experience I discovered that it is possible for a Christian man to love church activities and Bible school; to be committed to ministry and prayer.  But if he desires a ‘quiet home’, free from the intervention of the Holy Spirit he will marry an unbeliever. This man fears God being in charge of his home and marriage. He fears that a true born again wife will serve him prayer in place of breakfast; fasting for lunch and prophesy for dinner. He is scared that his house will become a church and sin will run away. He is afraid that his worldly friends will sense the holy atmosphere there and will avoid visiting him. He is careful with his reputation. He refuses to be known as a fanatic. He likes church outside the home and not inside.

 

This man will fall prey to religious demons wrapped in female flesh. Pagan worship is free from repentance of sin. To him, there is no need for Crosses to carry or for tears to wash the feet of Jesus. To him, Jesus is too rigid and too narrow minded. His heart is slowly drawn away to the world and the pleasures of sin. God is angry but he is not aware of it…He becomes an old foolish man, surrounded by women who care not for his soul…Sad…Sad…

Dear young brothers and sisters, marry only believers! May the power of the Holy Spirit burn in your heart any desire to love strange characters, agents of the forces of darkness! You have nothing in common with demons! Flee fornication! Serve God with all your heart when you are young so that old age will be a harvest of joy!

Dear Parents: never forget! God expects you to train your children having heaven in mind!

 

What is the solution? Go to the Cross! Jesus died that you might live! Jesus paid with His Blood the penalty for your sin! There is no other name to call, to shout, than the name of Jesus! There is no other hope than the hope of glory! God is not dead! Pray! Repent of sin! Give your life to Jesus! There is no short cut! This is the Gospel of salvation! This is the Word of Eternal life! The God that helps me to write these words loves you!

 

In Christ I declare:

I am saved!

I have eternal life!

I separate myself from anything that corrupts my body, soul and spirit!

I love Jesus!

In Jesus name

Amen!

EVEN SO I COME

by Silvia Leigh

 

 

“My Beloved spoke and said unto me: “Rise up, my love, my fair one and come away” (SS2:10)

 

Lord Jesus is my Life, my Friend, my Father, my Brother and my Lover forever.  He is not shy or quiet. He speaks words of strength and compassion. He laughs when He speaks about me…He is so happy…I want to be happy with Him, but this love is so new to me…from where I come from people sell love in little tablets. Here I see it overflowing…He surrounds me with songs of deliverance. He boasts of His love for me to all who have ears to hear. I just discovered this evening that I cannot hide anymore… There are no shadows in this place of light…

 

His light makes me shine. His song make people turn their heads and look…they look at me… I am not used to such a display, but the angels carry cameras and already pictures are seen in the clouds…My dream to be an ordinary Christian is burnt by the fire of His eyes… No regrets, only a panic thinking of what to do with all this love… Do I have to preach about it? What should be the title of my sermon? Can I just sing and preach in tongues? Will anyone understand my language salted by the breeze of heaven? Do lukewarm people ever guess what true passion is? What will religious people think of me? They rejected my English…will they accept my tongues? Is this banqueting table big enough to accommodate all my hungry friends? Is the love banner large enough to cover us all? I want to rest my mind from all this ‘practical’ questions but the wine at the table is too sweet to make me think ‘straight’

 

Suddenly there is a hush…At the head of the table my Lord stands up to testify: He tells all around how he found me, lost and blind…how I was fighting back not knowing what…how I was lonely and poor, dirty from the cares of this world, afraid that I will live and die in vain…His testimony is how He carried me from the darkness to light, how He used His blood to wash me clean, how He filled me with Himself, how we laughed together in one accord for the first time, grateful for a new beginning…

To every word He said the angels clapped their wings and shouted praises…’My Lord is a good preacher- I found myself thinking- ’He can convert the whole heaven… The Gospel is sweet in His mouth…’

His voice is so good to my ears…healing to my soul…

Speak Lord, Thy servant listens…

 

Then He turns towards me saying ‘Rise’…from ashes of defeat, from dirt of failure, from dung of rejection, from useless fears and meaningless doubts…Rise up, even if your ankles are weak and your back aches…Come closer to Me…higher…nearer… touch My hands and see…It is I and not another…Be strong in your knowledge of Me…you are a pillar and nobody can ever push you around…You are fair and beautiful…You are fruitful and strong, for so I made you to be…Leave the past behind and come away…depart…My hands are waiting for Your embrace…It is time to move on, to things unknown by men, to learn a new dance, a new song…This is the time to love…

 

Then the heavenly choir sings a chorus: ‘Forsake your earthly father’s house…the King is enthralled by your beauty…Follow Him…Trust Him…Worship Him… Honor Him… for He is your Lord…

The Bride and the Spirit says Come…

Even so come Lord Jesus!

Even so I come, my Lord Jesus…

FULLNESS OF JOY

by Silvia Leigh

 

 

“You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Ps 16:11)

The evening prayer meeting was special. I prepared a message. But there was no ‘green light to cross the street’. Initially, the people were too ‘slow and too scattered’ spiritually. The only thing left to do was to invite the Commander of the army of Heaven! This has happen to me many times. I do not have any fleshly confidence to preach or teach without the clear leading and empowering of the Holy Spirit. I do not have ‘a plan B’. I do not have something ‘on my sleeve’, or how they say it. It is easy for me to let the Holy Spirit take control. He knows the people. He knows the needs and their prayers much more than me. Who am I anyway? Faith has to be 100% for me to open my mouth and preach. This evening that perfect faith was not supplied…The people were hungry for God and not for me…Thank God!

 

We read some scriptures aloud! The Word of God has power inside! Faith comes by hearing the Word of God! It works! Our faith increased! So we prayed for open heavens, for the Holy Spirit to come down and fill His people. This is exactly what He was waiting for…After about an hour of prayer, like a holy wind the Holy Spirit came down…the children were the first to be baptized and started praying in tongues…Have you ever witnessed that? If not, you are missing… The children are the first ones to jump in the river of life…They know the sound of the ‘splash’…they have no reputation to maintain, no worries about the dry cleaner to wash their clothes…they fall down and pray and sing and laugh…Oh, How I love to hear the children Holy Ghost laughter… It is music to my spirit… By now I am sure that you are getting it…Yes, once again we enjoyed the eternal pleasures in the presence of God.

I love Holy Ghost ministry! Nothing like it! No way to fail! Be healed in Jesus name!

To God be all the glory!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

COUNTED ME FAITHFUL

by Silvia Leigh

 

 

“I give thanks to Him, who hath strengthened me, even to Christ Jesus our Lord, for that He hath counted me faithful, putting me in the ministry” (1Tim 1:12)

 

“Dear Heavenly Father,

I cannot describe in human words the sweet joy of abiding daily in Your presence…the privilege of praying…the honor of studying Your Word. You said that this is my work: To believe in Jesus! To make my faith visible and real to others… so that they can believe in You too! To the world my work is useless, but to me is priceless…

Dear Lord Jesus, I truly love You…You are so patient with me…Strong on my behalf…Gentle and kind…I thank You for the amazing grace to write down the revelation received, for the benefit of the needy souls…I know that this Word shall break the stony hearts and set the captives free…I thank You for giving me this evening a hint of the mighty anointing that shall be released … The way I feel now, I know for sure that the service tomorrow will be great… souls shall be saved, bondages shall be broken, there shall be healing, deliverance and blessings overflow…

Lord, I am so grateful for calling me to Your service…Your Spirit leads me on…

I give thanks…

Eternally and faithfully Yours,

Malia”

LORD SMITE MY ROCKY HEART!

by Silvia Leigh

 

kneeling-at-the-cross

Adorable Jesus! I acknowledge my vileness, my

worthlessness, my ingratitude. With shame and

confusion of face I look up unto You, O bleeding

Lamb, for having slighted your goodness, and

Your loving kindness towards me.

 

Take away this earthliness from my mind; this

coldness from my heart; this insensibility to the

things of God. Preserve me from a secret alienation

of heart; from a growing lukewarmness.

 

You are the Rock of Ages, the everlasting Strength.

Endue me with power from on high to overcome all

my indwelling corruptions, which, like a thick cloud,

intervene between my soul and You, the Sun of

Righteousness; and thus prevent the rays of your

consolation from gladdening my heart, and making

me to abound in the fruits of righteousness.

 

To whom can I look, to whom can I go, but unto

You, O Friend of sinners. Lord, at Your sweet call,

I come for pardon, peace, and holiness.

 

Lord! I am sorely grieved, that I love You so little;

that my affections move so slowly towards You.

 

Stir up my languid desires.

Inflame my cold affections.

Set my whole soul on fire with holy love.

 

How painful, that I should be so little affected

by the agony and bloody sweat, the cross and

passion, of my suffering Redeemer.

 

Why is not my soul all on fire, when I think

of Your love? Why is it not melted into tears,

when I think of my dying Savior?

 

Am I harder than the rock in Horeb?

Am I colder than the northern ice?

 

Lord! smite my rocky heart with the rod of Your

loving kindness; dissolve my frozen affections,

by the melting beams of Your grace.

 

O! blessed Jesus! I praise You for such infinite love,

such abounding grace to the chief of sinners!

 

(Thomas Reade, 1620-1686)

THIS IS THE COMMAND OF GOD: SPEAK THE TRUTH! PUT OFF LYING!

by Silvia Leigh

 

 

“Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.  Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God… (Eph 4:25-32)

 

Declare war against sin! Hate all lies, big or small! You can be free! We are commanded to ‘put away’ lying. The words ‘put off’ mean to lay aside, to forsake or to cast off. In Greek these words describe the opposite of having a purpose, conceive or settling down. It means that you should not allow a lie to settle down in your spirits; you should not permit a lie to take roots in your innermost being. If you allow a lie to go undetected and settle in your heart, you have allowed the devil to become your spiritual ‘tenant’. From deep within; he will deceive you and use you to deceive others. Your words shall be ‘corrupted’ and grieve the Holy Spirit. This is a serious warning! Not only our conscious mind, but also our spirit must be free of deception.

 

What can you do in case you suspect that you host spiritual corruption, hidden sin or self-deception? Pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal the truth and expose the demon hiding in your heart!

The opposite of lying is to be filled with the Holy Spirit! It is to allow the Word of God to sink down and impregnate your spirit. From that innermost holy place, your mouth shall speak words of truth and grace to glorify God and encourage the listeners.

 

Let’s pray according to the Word of God:

“Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless and I shall be innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer…Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps 19:12-14; 139:23, 24)

In Jesus name

Amen!

WORD FOR TODAY

by Silvia Leigh

 

 

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Is 40:28-31)

In Christ I declare:
I have a wonderful testimony! Many shall rejoice when they hear it!
I know that the Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth! He is my Father and my God!
I know that God understands me perfectly!
I know that God does now get tired of me!
I know that God increases my strength when I am weak!
I know that I am healed, delivered and promoted to a higher level!
To the glory of God!
In Jesus name
Amen!

FEARFUL IN PRAISES

by Silvia Leigh

 

 

“Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods?

Who is like You, glorious in holiness,

Fearful in praises, doing wonders?

“The people will hear and be afraid;

Trembling will take hold of them;

By the greatness of Your arm

They will be as still as a stone,

Till Your people pass over, O Lord,

Till the people pass over

Whom You have purchased.

You will bring them in and plant them

In the mountain of Your inheritance,

In the place, O Lord, which You have made

For Your own dwelling,

The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.

“The Lord shall reign forever and ever.” (Ex 15:11-18)

 

The sermon was faithfully and lovingly prepared, but could not be delivered. There was a strange spirit of depression and intimidation over the congregation. The choir tried their best but the praises could not pass the ceiling. We had to do warfare and pray for one another. We prayed for the Holy Spirit to come and take control over the service. We then worshipped Jesus, like Mary who broke the alabaster box for His sake alone. We prayed in tongues most of the time. We rejected the evil spirits of religion, oppression, fear, weakness, sickness and witchcraft. We waited in expectation for the Holy Spirit to come. That is why we could not just ‘go ahead’ and preach. The ground was too dry and the hearts too worried…

 

Suddenly, like a wind, like a holy hush, like a melody from above the Holy Spirit came…the ground became holy…the atmosphere free…He came with His entourage of angels. In that moment the souls of men got encouraged like thirsty men drinking water. There is no need to explain to a thirsty man what to do with a bucket of cold water… Have you ever experienced such an influx of life into dry bones? It cannot be described in human language. Pray that you may receive and experience the best God has for you.

Once we received the supernatural strength the praises started freely and joyfully. The congregation and the choir did not want to stop. I had to go home but I could hear the praises going on forever… Can you imagine this church when the pastor goes home and the congregation still wants to praise God?

 

Yes, the Living God comes down when His people praise Him with all their hearts. He will make their enemies tremble. He will grant the answers to their prayers. I know for sure that there shall be testimonies of healing, deliverance and breakthrough, for no man tastes of the power of the age to come and remain the same.

Yes, our church is not a routine church; it can never be an ordinary church. We started in the Spirit and we must perfect it all in the Spirit. To God alone be all the glory for His wonderful blessed much desired visitation tonight!

Thank You Father! Thank You Lord Jesus! Thank You Holy Spirit!

THE FEAR OF MAN- THE SIN OF NEEDINESS

by Silvia Leigh

 

 

“The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted” (PV 29:25)
Do you want to be down or up? It depends of whom you fear…man or God….
The greatest need for man is to know and worship The Living God; to have an intimate saving relationship with Jesus Christ. (I use the word ‘man’ to mean all human beings, male or female).
Loneliness is painful. It is especially in times of loneliness that the devil attacks and presents relationships with other men as an alternative to the worship of God. Their need of God is replaced by the need to belong to other human beings. Men enter relationships of commitment, love and help with other men. These are spiritual covenants of friendship and faithfulness with the devil as a witness. They manifests as manipulative relationships between a boss and his employee, marriage or other friendships. Men feel that they need one another to support and encourage themselves. But these fleshly relationships are outside the presence of the Holy Spirit. Try to imagine this: the doctor is sick and the patient is sick…who can help? Needy weak men try to support and help other needy weak men. A broken hearted man opens his heart to another broken hearted man. None can help but the deception goes on for a long time.

This neediness is what the Bible calls ‘the fear of man’. The word ‘fear’ here is not the regular word. In Hebrew it describes someone shaking with the fear of being lonely, of losing a friend, like a beggar or a slave of another man. The picture is this: “If you leave me I will die…Nobody will hire me…nobody will marry me…I am lost without you, without your words and love…’
This fear of man is a snare. It traps the soul into spiritual slavery. Men look to you like giants. Men try to become ‘Messiahs’ to other needy men. But there is danger, a snare…when men look great God looks so small. Anytime you think that a man is so great and he is indispensable to your life on earth, you fear losing that man… You fear his leaving you…you fear his rejection…And you make God small…that is the snare!

We are commanded to ‘magnify the Lord and to exalt His name!’ (Ps 34:3). The fear of man makes God look small to you and to others. You cannot witness the Gospel if this fear of man is in you. But the fear of God makes God great, and this becomes your wisdom of life.

I have seen men as slaves of men. They did not have visible chains on their necks, but their souls were bound in sick relationships without hope and without joy. As sick as these relationships are, the victims tremble at the idea of rejection. They hold on to men with trembling hands and pleading eyes….
I have also seen this miracle: God intervenes… Then something happens…one man makes a mistake and disappoints another. The fragile relationship scatters to pieces. The pain of betrayal, bitterness and loss overpowers the sweet memories. All is lost in a second. For no man can save another and second chances are not the gifts of needy men. In times like these the Holy Spirit redirects the broken hearts to the Savior. As the chains of sick love are broken, so eternal life comes in and heals the desperate lonely soul. Jesus came to heal the broken hearted and to free the captives of men. I have seen scales fall from tired eyes…I have heard the sound of fallen broken chains…I have seen the vomit of poisonous ‘love’…I have seen souls set free by the power of the Blood of Jesus! Dear friend, let your trust be in God and he will make something beautiful out of your life! He will exalt you! He will protect you! God knows that it is not good for man to be alone, so He will bring stable, mature men of God close to you…No more manipulation…Like the worm dreaming inside the cocoon, the butterfly will soon come out and prove its wings! You shall fly! You shall succeed! Failure is behind! True love and joy everlasting shall be your potion! I am so sure! I have seen it happen many times!

Be encouraged tonight! Be delivered from the sin of neediness! Jesus died for your sins, including this one too!
May the power of resurrection manifest in your heart right now!
Proclaim the Word of God:
“So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Heb 13:6)
The answer is ‘Nothing!’
Let God be God to you!
In Jesus name
Amen!

LIARS IN THE CHURCH

by Silvia Leigh

 

 

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:9)

 

Jesus Christ is the Word of eternal life who became flesh. He is God so he was always with the Father in heaven. But for few years He took flesh upon Himself, came down to earth and was manifested among men. Jesus is ‘the way, the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6). Outside the Body of Christ man has no purpose, no life, no truth and no joy of fellowship with others. Outside Christ there is only darkness, deception, pain, bitterness, regrets, disappointment, depression and utter tragedy. If you are born again and you walk daily in the light of the truth, you shall have fellowship with God the Father, with God the Son and with the other brethren. You shall never be lonely, barren or useless. You shall make progress, become spiritually fruitful and full of supernatural joy.

 

The word darkness means a cloud, like a shade that hides the truth. Spiritually it means a wrong doctrine, an error of thinking or ignorance of God’s Word. Truth means removal of that veil so that God’s opinion may be seen. In other words, the cloud of lies that covered the truth has been removed. Truth cannot be known by human wisdom. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and leads into the truth. No other spirit knows where truth resides in this universe. Truth discriminates men. Truth is the enemy of lies! Truth fights the liars! Trust can never lose an battle! Truth means freedom from bondage, deception and lies. Truth grows only in the light of God’s Word (Eph 5:9). The Blood of Jesus cleanses only in the light of God where truth manifests!

 

This is a great mystery: the devil has his agents in the church. They are liars and deceivers. You think that men are too afraid to deceive the children of God in the church… You may be surprised at the truth…  How do men lie in the church? Have you seen religious liars? How can ‘a Christian’ practice lies in the church? How can I describe ‘religious liars’? These men hurt the truth in wickedness while still coming to church, pray and read the Bible. Liars in the church a quite common; basically, they manifest in three ways: They pretend to be Christian, but they hate, deny and oppress the Truth.

 

*LIARS HATE THE TRUTH

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1Jn 1:6)

You claim to be a Christian; you say that you have fellowship with God; that God speaks to you daily; that you obey God’s Word. But in reality you are a religious fool, an unbeliever. You ‘walk in darkness’, you are blind and ignorant spiritually. Like a dog goes back to its vomit, so a man who makes mistake upon mistake is a fool and a liar. Selah!

 

*LIARS DENY THE TRUTH

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1Jn 1:8)

You say that you are a Christian. You claim to be without sin. But you deny the presence of sin in your flesh. The Word of God which is truth does not live in you. You speak religious lies and deceive yourself and others. To you sin is nothing, or a ‘small thing’. To you sin is something of the past. You refuse to carry your cross daily for you see no need for it. You refuse to confess your sins for you insist they are not there.

True confession means to speak exactly like God, to have the same opinion as God. But you have a different idea and standard of righteousness. For God sin is a tragedy of cosmic proportion. Sin has separated man from God. Sin is rebellion and breaking of God’s law. Sin is the opposite of holiness. God hates sin for He is holy. Sin killed God’s Son on the Cross. But to you, foolish man, sin is a joke, sin is almost non-existent and too little to be acknowledged and confessed as a crime. So your confession is fake and a lie. God cannot receive it. The Holy Spirit cannot bring peace to your soul. Selah!

 

*LIARS OPPRESS THE TRUTH

“If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1Jn 1:10)

You say that you are a Christian. But you claim that you do not commit acts of sin. You hide your sinful behavior from the eyes of men. You have perfected the shameful ‘art’ of hypocrisy. If God convicts you of sin, you resist the Truth, insult and grieve the Holy Spirit, making God a liar. You insist upon your own self-righteousness. This is one of the most serious sins. Ananias and Saphira died because of this sin. Selah!

 

What is then the answer? Go to the Cross and look long and well upon Christ Crucified. Allow God to search your heart! Open your heart to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. Confess your sins from the bottom of your heart! To deceive yourself that you are right with God is a sin that leads to death. Be wise! Do not run away from the rebuke of God! Your conscience bears witness with God and you cannot suppress it forever!  Why do you want to suffer so long? Right now I pray in my spirit that you listen to these words of warning! As a doctor I am used to warn men of coming danger. But I cannot force them to take their medication. Please, respect and love your soul and come to Jesus! Be saved! Be free!

I plead the Blood of Jesus upon your body, soul, spirit, tongue, ministry and church! The Blood of Jesus shall speak better things concerning you and bring you to the throne of mercy and grace! Amen!

POWER PASS POWER! (3)

by Silvia Leigh

 

“Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that all POWER belongs to God” (Ps 62:11)
This is our (continuing) praise report:
(Please read the first parts of the testimony bellow)
It is 8:30 pm. The last of the three containers carrying the seats for our church has left the port. The first one is already in Benin. The crane got broken in the port that is why it took them so long to bring them out. God is in control. Tomorrow the seats will arrive at Father’s House Bible Church, Warri, Nigeria, where they belong. The devil has tried his best to stop God’s work. He has failed completely. God has used men and women who do not know us personally to facilitate this assignment. God has used many also to fast pray and intercede, for God’s work to be successful. God bless you all! For as long as men and women shall seat on these seats to praise the Lord, until Jesus comes, you shall have your reward! In Jesus name, Amen!
The next letter shall contain the picture of the seats here in Warri.
If you read this letter shout Hallelujah unto the Lord!

“So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?” Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

So he answered and said to me:
“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:
‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the Lord of hosts.
‘Who are you, O great mountain?
Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!
And he shall bring forth the capstone
With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”

Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
“The hands of Zerubbabel
Have laid the foundation of this temple;
His hands shall also finish it.
Then you will know
That the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.
For who has despised the day of small things?
For these seven rejoice to see
The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.
They are the eyes of the Lord,
Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.” (Zech 4:4-10)

WISDOM FROM MENTOR

by Silvia Leigh

 

 

“Now then, My sons, listen to Me; pay attention to what I say” (PV 7:24)

“No man has any right to offer advice who has not first heard God speak. No man has the right to counsel others who is not ready to hear and follow the counsel of the Lord. True moral wisdom must always be an echo of God’s voice.
Before we follow any man we should look for the oil on his forehead. We areunder no spiritual obligation to aid any man in any activity that has not upon it the marks of the Cross. No appeal to our sympathies, no sad stories, no shocking pictures should move us to put our money and our time i to schemes promoted by persons who are too busy to listen to God.
God has His chosen men still and they are without exception good listeners. They can hear when the Lord speaks. We may safely listen to such men. But to no others”
(A W Tozer, 1897-1963)

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked…
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night” (Ps 1:1, 2)