‘These also shall be unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the earth: the mole…’ (Lev 11:29)

Reading the Old Testament you shall find that God forbids His people, the Jews, to eat or touch some animals. They are called ‘unclean’. Among them is the Mole.

The mole is a small animal resembling a field mouse. It lives mostly underground. Its body is adapted to live below the earth. Its eyes and ears are extremely small, for there is no use for them underground. The front paws are very big and strong. With them the mole digs even the stony ground. The back feet are smaller and with them it throws the earth away. Moles tolerate higher levels of carbon dioxide, more than the other mammals. Their blood cells have a unique haemoglobin protein. Moles are even able to re-use the oxygen inhaled when above the ground.

A mole’s diet primarily consists of earthworms and a variety of nuts. The mole’s underground tunnels are in reality ‘worm traps’. When a worm falls into the tunnel the mole quickly kills it and eats it. Because their saliva contains a toxin that can paralyze earthworms, moles are able to store their still-living prey for later consumption. They construct special underground stores for just this purpose; researchers have discovered such with over a thousand earthworms in them. Moles are not friendly animals. They are solitary creatures, coming together only to mate. They damage the fields, by destroying the roots of the plants underground. The farmers hate them and consider them dangerous pests. They have many methods how to kill these troubling creatures: traps, smoke their underground tunnels etc. The people who eat moles say that their taste is extremely unpleasant. God forbid!

Spiritually speaking the moles represent men who ‘creep’ underground into homes, to spiritually arrest foolish, easily deceived religious women and men. Their words (just like the mole’s saliva) may be sweet but poisonous, having the ability to weaken the victim, who is the listener. The moles are called ‘unclean’. In Hebrew this word means a foreign substance mixed with the real, which produces a corrupt, impure, inferior material. The word also means adultery. These men who creep into the homes are like the unclean moles. Do not trust their friendship!   With eyes full of adultery they never stop sinning. We are commanded to ‘turn away’ from such evil people!

‘Having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth’ (2Tim 3:5-7)

“We come against the evil spirit of creepers, of destroyers of marriages, seducing unclean spirits! We reject you in the name of Jesus! Go away in the name of Jesus! We plead the Blood of Jesus over our lives, homes, marriages, children, ministries and the work of our hands! We vow to give God all the glory to revival, restoration and deliverance! In Jesus name we pray! Amen!”

(in the pictures: a mole coming out its tunnel and a field damaged by mole hills)

“My heart is overflowing with a good theme;
I recite my composition concerning the King;
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer” (Ps 45:1)

This is a wonderful testimony from a young man who attends our church. To God be all the glory! May your faith increase! God is not a respecter of persons! Faith is a extremely strong spiritual chemistry! Read and be blessed!

“Good Evening Malia,
I am writing you this letter to testify to the glory of God, the Owner and Creator of all things. I am so blessed since this season to meet with Jehovah Jireh. I have thought having to feed the family and being prosperous is what you were talking about under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, but not until yesterday…
I had a misunderstanding with my wife because she used up all the money we had in the house and both in the bank for irrelevant things, I was sore bitter angry with her , and to top it all she came home late with the baby sick and having temperature, and now no single dime with me!! I became numb in my feelings to her and fear came to my mind that something might happen to our baby. I began praying in the spirit. Then the Lord whispered to me to take the baby to the hospital, I replied Lord, I have no money at all! , and moreover it was very late , so I promised the Lord I will take the baby to the hospital in Morning, and told my wife that we will go to the hospital in the morning while they are in the hospital I will go and look for money.

“Indeed, it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying:

“For He is good,

For His mercy endures forever”

that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God” (2Chron 5:13. 14)

This is the story of how Solomon and the people of Israel brought in the Ark of God to its final resting place, inside the Temple. This is part of their history. But there are many lessons for us today, for the Word of God is forever fresh and powerful. King David prepared all things necessary for the house of God. Solomon, his son built the Temple exactly as his father said it.

First lesson: parents should prepare a spiritual inheritance for their children, who should build and improve on that foundation. Pray for your children! Read the Bible to them! Bring them to church! Children obey your parents, pray for them; listen to their wisdom!

The temple Solomon built in Jerusalem was magnificent; it was one of the wonders of the ancient world. It was a copy of the Tabernacle that Moses built in the wilderness. But it was much bigger and more luxurious. It was built with silver and gold. But one thing remained the same, for it could not be improved upon: the Ark of God. Inside, it contained the two tablets with the Ten Commandments, written by the finger of God. Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever!

Second lesson: We build great cathedrals or we can worship in a little room. But the presence of God is the same. They may have different buildings, but the same Holy Spirit dwells inside them all.  It is the same Word of God that is preached. The rich and the poor believer are the same before God. God is not a respecter of men or buildings! The presence of the Holy Spirit abiding inside is vital for a church to be called a true living church!

The priests brought the Ark of God from Zion, from under the tabernacle originally prepared by David. They ‘brought up’ the Ark and carried it on their shoulders. Then they ‘brought in’ the Ark, placing it inside the Holy of Holies. In Hebrew, the word ‘brought up’ means to exalt, to honor, to excel unto perfection. The word ‘brought in’ means to lead inside and follow, to enter and abide, rest there.

Third lesson: If you are born again, then you are a priest of God and a preacher of the Word. You need to practice how to ‘bring up and bring in’ the presence of God and the Word of God! You need to be spiritually strong to lift Jesus high so that He will draw men’s hearts after Him.  Your light must shine in His name destroying the darkness of sin in men’s hearts. The Word must penetrate their spirits as an arrow of life bringing eternal abiding salvation.

To bring the Ark of God into the Temple, the priests sacrificed countless sheep and oxen. The road was ‘bloody red’ where the Presence of God passed.

Fourth lesson: You need to trust the power of the Blood of Jesus to host the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

The priests, the singers and all worshipers sang praises to God in one accord. This unity of the Spirit is necessary for the Holy Spirit to come and move in the midst of the congregation. In particular they praised God’s goodness and mercy, His eternal attributes as God, His glory and power, His favor and the beauty of His holiness. As all men praised God with loud voice and grateful hearts, suddenly, the cloud of the Shekinah glory of God came and filled the Temple. The priests fell on their faces and could stand to do their work. For who needs men when Jehovah takes possession of His house?

Fifth lesson: We pray for revival to come. If we meet the conditions, God will come down and fill His house and our lives! It does not matter if the church is expensive or simple! It does not matter if the choir has robes or not! It does not matter if men carry theological titles of not! What matter is that we should humble ourselves before the Almighty God! We should seek Him with abiding passion, hunger and thirst for His presence.  We need to have faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ! We need to worship God in Spirit and in truth! We need to maintain the unity of the Spirit, between the pastors and the congregation, between adults and children! Finally, we need to praise God (loud) with all our hearts until He comes down!

Oh, how I love it when I am ‘replaced’ by God…when the congregation forgets about me…when I am ‘marginalized’ by God so that He takes the center place… when the Holy Wind blows and revival is in the air! I love it! I love it! More, Lord, more……To You be all the glory! In Jesus name, Amen!

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

I am a priest of the Most High God!

I am a preacher of the Gospel!

God is good and His mercy endures forever to me and my family!

Goodness and mercy shall follow me and my family all the days of our lives!

We shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

“When gathering clouds around I view
And days are dark and friends are few
On Him I lean, who, not in vain
Experienced every human pain
He sees my wants, allays my fears
And counts and treasures up my tears”

(By Robert Grant 1779-1838)

“Dear Malia
Greetings in the name of our Lord. How are you and Tali?
Thank you for all the messages on face book, I look forward to them everyday, thank you for availing yourself to be used so mightily by God.
I also want to thank God for my sister… she has totally changed, the joy of the Lord is so much in her. She said the amount of knowledge, revelation and understanding the Holy Spirit has given her through the word of God between last August and this January is more than she can tell. There so much excitement in her about the word of God. She is really happy.

Dear son,

Forty years ago this day you came into our world. Your arrival made us a true family. Your dad and I we were young and romantic. You added to that romance…

This day I remember how I felt as a young mother, having you in my arms for the first time…I cannot explain how I felt…All I remember now is joy, adventure, hope, pride, singing, calling your name aloud… l was not a Christian, yet I saw the light of God on your face…Maybe what Jochebed felt when she saw her baby Moses…a special child…heaven sent…

For many years I could not relax when looking and later thinking of you…I wanted the best for my baby…What I had to offer seem so small… So I struggled as a mother… Yet I loved you the best way I could… You were almost grown up when I became a believer in Christ. From that moment on I understood the grace of God, His unmerited favor to me, a simple girl from Romania coming to Nigeria, God saved my soul and gave me an extraordinary child…From that time on I started praying for you, that you become a man of God…

Yes, God loves you John…from heaven to earth and back to heaven, Jesus loves you…

Your dad and I, we pray for you daily…for your wife and for your children…

This is my prayer song for you today:

“Surround him Oh, Lord

Surround him Oh, Lord

Surround John Oh Lord

Let Your Spirit fill his heart”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN LEIGH!

 
“The band and chorus united as one to praise and thank the Lord; their selections were interspersed with trumpet obbligatos, the clashing of cymbals, and the loud playing of other musical instruments—all praising and thanking the Lord. Their theme was “He is so good! His loving-kindness lasts forever!”
And at that moment the glory of the Lord, coming as a bright cloud, filled the Temple so that the priests could not continue their work” (2Chr 5:13, 14; LB)

PRAISE REPORT
This was Sister U’s testimony: Last year she almost got married. A young man she met thru fb proposed to her. They fixed a date and plans were on the way. They were to marry last November in our church. One day her fiancée’s friend called her and said: ‘I am sorry for you. I see that you are a child of God. My friend who wants to marry you is deceiving you. He is a liar and a cheat. He is a jobless man and a fake. U did not believe at the beginning. Later she discovered the painful truth. The young man who wanted to marry her was a deceiver. She broke the relationship. For months after that she was seriously depressed. She looked sad and old. But she continued to do her work in the church (she is an usher and she cleans the toilets). For ten years she worked in the market. This is so that she can pay her school fees. She comes from a broken poor home. Two years ago she graduated from the College of Education with a bachelor degree in Education. But she got so used to selling in the market that she could not resign that work. She was afraid to stand and trust God for a new beginning. Eventually she resigned on the last day of last year.
In the month of January she decided to fast and pray every day, for an encounter with God. On the 5th day the miracle happened. She was holding her CV in her hands, knelt down in the church’ toilet and she prayed and cried to God. After that, she stood up and by faith she went to a big private school to look a job as a teacher. She had no experience and she knew nobody. The first person she met was a woman she had never met before. This woman was the owner of the school. The interview was done on the spot. The principal asked her some questions and she answered. When God is in charge no interview is ‘normal’. The discussion went like this…
“Are you looking for a job? Yes Ma! Do you have experience as a teacher? No Ma! Are you born again? Yes Ma! Do you speak in tongues? Yes Ma! What church do you attend? Father’s House Bible Church Ma! Are you from Father’s House where Dr. Leigh is the pastor? Yes Ma! Wonderful! I love this man’s preaching on the TV…I saw the Nativity Drama…I made a covenant with God that if anybody comes here from Father’s House I will hire the person, no matter the qualification…you are hired my dear…Just thank your God!”
I have never seen U so happy. She was glowing with the glory of God. The old depression has disappeared. We prophesied that she will marry 2015. This word is settled in heaven and on earth! In Jesus name, amen!

THE GLORY CLOUD
The prayer meeting was indeed wonderful. We shared testimonies about the goodness and the power of God. The testimonies (like tehone above) only added fuel to the fire. Then, we praised God with all our strength and with all our heart. The anointing was so strong that people could not sit down on their seats. We could not have a regular, business as usual service. O, how I love it when the Holy Ghost comes down. The very atmosphere is charged with the glory of the eternal. Faith increases like never before. Nothing and nobody looks the same. Ugly people look beautiful! Foolish people look so wise! The praise went on and on… the adults sang…the children sang… the congregation sang and danced… In the God’s presence there are eternal indescribable holy pleasures…Yes, God was happy with us tonight! All the glory to the Most High God!

In Christ I declare:
I am a child of God!
My testimony shall be fruitful!
To the glory of God!
In Jesus name
Amen!

“Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely” (Ps 141:10)
The Manchineel tree is found in Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. The name means ‘the little apple of death’. The tree and its parts contain strong toxins, some unidentified. Its milky white sap contains phorbol and other skin irritants, producing strong allergic dermatitis. Standing beneath the tree during rain will cause blistering of the skin from mere contact withthis liquid (even a small drop of rain with the milky substance in it will cause the skin to blister). Burning the tree may cause blindness if the smoke reaches the eyes. The fruit is fatal if eaten. It produces severe gastroenteritis with bleeding, shock. There is no specific treatment. Care is supportive. In some places the trees carry a warning sign of death, while others are marked with a red “X” on the trunk to indicate danger. However, many trees are still unmarked.

 
“Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown” (Rev 3:10, 11)

Today I saw a strange picture in the internet. It was the coronation of Miss Brazil 2015. The officials were placing the crown of her head. Suddenly, the runner-up attacked her and forcefully removed her crown claiming that she is more beautiful than the winner. Of course ‘the loser’ was disqualified on the spot for such an ugly act. And the crown came back to the queen. This picture reminded me of a scripture from the Book of Revelation.

Read the scripture above. This is a warning to the believers. It comes from the resurrected Christ. To be a king it is more than just to have ‘luck’ or money. It is more than just to have a crown on your head. The devil is a thief. Men steal crowns and titles. There shall be a testing to prove true royalty. The word ‘test’ means to endure the pain of piercing without complaining or desiring to backslide. If you take your cross daily and follow your Jesus, your King, you shall get used to the pain of piercing and you shall be able to endure any other pain.

You need to value the price paid for your salvation and for your crown. Jesus died to set you free, to bring you into His family of kings and priests. This honor of the saints must be jealously guarded. You need the strength of the Holy Spirit to preserve your testimony. You cannot depend on the power or wisdom of your flesh, for it shall fail in the hour of trial. Your crown is a badge of royalty, the prize of a champion in the public games, a symbol of universal honor. Your crown is the visible proof that God has rewarded your silent, behind the scenes, faithfulness in all things. Hold fast to it! It is yours in His name!

Also, never forget that you have a mortal enemy. The devil hates God’s favor and reflected glory on you. He wants to steal your reputation, reward and testimony as a believer. He is a wicked, greedy, jealous, covetous and violent enemy. He will attack, bribe, manipulate or deceive to take your crown. Be watchful and pray.

The way to keep your ‘crown’ is ‘to keep the Word of My perseverance’. The word ‘keep’ appears two times. It means to guard from loss or injury by keeping an eye on it. It is what the commander of a prison does. No prisoner can be kidnaped or escape from within. Or it is like a mother observing her baby; he can go very far for the mother watches him.

You need to be patient, to persevere in all trials. Waiting on God is not easy but is a command from the Word of God. You need to remain humble and faithful as you wait. The devil will bring a proposal for you to become restless or doubtful. The devil will try to deceive you to promote yourself. The good and noble heart produces fruit thru perseverance. The promises of God are fulfilled thru faith and perseverance. God knows that you are waiting for Him. He knows how slow the time passes. He knows every moment and counts every heartbeat. You are not alone in this holy waiting. You are blessed as you wait for God to come ‘quickly’. Read and meditate on the Word of God. Patiently and faithfully bear the trials of life.

In Christ I declare:
I am a child of God!
The devil attacked me but he lost the battle! Again!
I hold fast to my crown, to my reward!
God is my reward!
In Jesus name
Amen!

“Be not deceived: evil companions corrupt good character” (1Cor 15:33)
I heard a story. There was a man who had a beautiful bird, a canary in a cage. Each day the bird was singing wonderful songs of praise to God. The man loved his bird. One day he thought that the canary was too lonely and decided to hang the cage on a tree in the garden. Many sparrows came around the cage to ‘talk’ to the canary. Some months later he brought his bird to the house. To his surprise the canary could not sing again. It could only say: ‘tweet…tweet…’ just like the simple sparrows. He has lost his wonderful gift of singing and learned to behave like an ordinary bird.

“Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” (Mt 21:1-3)

This is the story of a little female donkey and her colt. She is just an ordinary animal but interestingly, her story is part of the Word of God. She was a mother. She was ‘tied by the door without in a place where two ways met’ (Mk 11:4, KJ). In other words, the owner tied his donkey by the door of his house, which was in the middle of a junction. Jesus commanded His disciples: Go- Find her- Loose her and Bring her to me! And if you are asked for an explanation, simply say: “The Lord has need of them!” This is how the donkey and her baby came to Jesus. No man ever sat on this donkey before. Jesus was the first to sit on it and this is how the King entered Jerusalem according to old prophecy.

This is my story…I am that donkey. My life had no meaning until I met the Lord.  I had an ordinary life until the Lord sent His servants to call me to Him. I and my children were tied by chains of sin, at the door of hell; in bondage to unbelief, fear and foolishness. I was tied down at the junction of confusion, unable to make up my mind, to trust God or not.

Then one day two men looking like angels came and said that Jesus needs me. I was surprised and afraid at the beginning.  But the joy of the coming encounter suddenly sprang in my soul. The two servants of God told me the story of their Master. They said that Jesus is the most wonderful man! They said that Jesus Christ is the Lord of lords. They said that Jesus is God. That He has the power to set the captives free. That He brought back His friend Lazarus from the death. Their Gospel brought peace and joy and hope to my heart. Can Jesus love even a donkey?

In the power of His name, they loosed my chains and set me free. I could have stayed tied to sin forever if God did not have mercy on me. Jesus died to set me free. God does not need anybody, yet He said he needs me. Amazing grace…What a honor? No man sat on me. But coming to Jesus, I just knew that I have to humble myself and submit to His glory weight. I carried my King into Jerusalem. People were shouting Hosanna! Hosanna! They waved branches to the King. My baby and I heard it all! We were totally forgotten in the midst of that celebration… But for the first time I knew that being used by God, becoming nothing that my King be all in all, this is my destiny. I was born to carry my Lord into fame and praises! Little me, I lifted Jesus up that day and all men were drawn to the beauty of my Lord! This is my story! If donkeys can sing, then this is also my song!

“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” (Jn 12:32)

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, in one accord…” (Acts 2)

The day of Pentecost came. With it, a sound like ‘a mighty rushing wind’ filled the room where the disciples sat together, in one accord. The Holy Spirit invaded the earth according to the promise of our Lord. He already said it that some people will not die until the Kingdom of God will come with power. Even John the Baptist said that he baptizes with water for the remission of sins but another One shall come, much stronger, who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. Prophet Joel said it that in the last days, the Spirit of God shall fall on men and women all over the world. So the Holy Spirit came to fulfill prophecy in Christ!

Jesus died on the Cross. Fifty days later the promised Holy Spirit finally came. His coming announces to all that ‘this’ Jesus Christ is now in heaven and He is the King of kings, seated at the right hand of God the Father. Many men travel abroad and they get lost. We don’t hear anything from them again. But when Jesus ‘traveled abroad’ to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to keep in touch with earth and to encourage us to finish the race. One day we shall see the King face to face. What a day that will be…

The sending of the Holy Spirit gave birth to the Church, the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit brings us together. He makes us one in Christ. That is why the believers did all things in common and had fellowship in ‘one accord’. In Greek, this word means one mind, one passion! The unity of the Spirit is necessary for a healthy church, for the anointing of Spirit and life to flow down, from God to men.

This is our testimony: The secret of Father’s House Bible Church Warri, Nigeria is the constant un-grieved blessed presence of God the Holy Spirit in our midst. He heals, delivers, leads into all truth, helps us to worship the Lord Jesus Christ and keeps us humble and teachable! Miracles, signs and wonder follow the preaching of the Word!

To God be all the glory!

Together we held hands and sang:

“Bind us together Lord, Bind us together, with cords that cannot be broken…There is only one faith! There is only one King! There is only one Spirit! That is why we sing…Bind us together Lord…”