“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10)

This is God’s eternal command: “You shall not steal” (Ex 20:15). To steal it means to come secretly and gradually taking something that does not belong to you. Stealing is a sinful habit directly connecting with the devil. The thief takes something that belongs to another and uses it without asking the true owner for permission. The more foolish and ignorant the owner is of what belongs to him, the easier is for the thief to steal. The more God is blessing you, the more the thieves are attracted to you. This is natural.

It is said that thieves prefer to steal from big companies far more than from private individuals. In this way they feel less guilty for companies have no voice, no heart and no face. I also read that thieves prefer to steal from wealthy men more than from the poorer ones. They feel that the rich ones should be punished for their wealth. By stealing, they see themselves as ministering justice. This is the wickedness and the deception of sin.

The devil is called ‘the thief’. He deceives people that he is kind, helpful and funny. He makes friends with the foolish and spiritually ignorant. But his only intent is to ‘steal, kill and destroy’. He steals money and material property but he also steals spiritual things. The devil and his agents want to steal your peace, joy, testimony and the Word of God from your memory. He has no mercy for you. He does not care if you become poor so that he becomes rich thru your loss. If any person steals habitually without any remorse or any desire to change, that person is not a child of God (1Cor 6:10). A confirmed thief is a child of the devil.

The opposite of stealing is to be kind, loving and generous; it means to give gifts, to let go of your things and to protect another. A sign of repenting from stealing is that you begin to work with your hands and you stop begging. You need to have a good job or business. Protect your testimony and your reputation. “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need” (Eph 4:28)

The highest and worst way of stealing it is stealing from God. If you habitually refuse to pay your tithe and you are happy like that, then you steal from God. If you refuse to give to the work of God, you are stealing from your Maker who holds your breath in His hands. Be careful! As a child of God you shall have no peace if you steal from God! “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions” (Mal 3:8)

Let’s pray: “Dear Heavenly Father, we ask for forgiveness for stealing from You. We vow that from now on, we shall pay our tithes to a local church. You evil spirit of foolishness and ignorance, go away in the name of Jesus! Begging, go away! You evil spirit of stealing, go away from us in the name of Jesus! We hate you! We resist you! We repent from any desire to become rich on behalf of others. We repent of covetousness. We declare that we are satisfied with Your provision. We vow to be generous with others. We want to work with our hands. Please provide jobs for us. Bless the work of our hands. Change our hearts, Oh, Lord! We destroy every connection we have made with the evil spirit of stealing. We destroy every covenant that was made against our material and spiritual wealth. We trust You Lord for prosperity, peace, joy and protection. We receive the eternal abundant life of Jesus! We vow to give You alone all the glory! In Jesus name we pray, amen!”

“The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband… and that you may serve the Lord without distraction” (1Cor 7:34, 35)

Marriage is one of the greatest blessings given by God to men on earth. But there is a snare attached to it. It must be overcome, if not trouble comes into the home. You have to see marriage as a gift from God. The Giver is always greater than the gift. There is a temptation married men and women need to overcome. They need to learn to love Jesus more than their spouses. Love is not a natural gift. By the power of the Holy Spirit you need to learn how to love.

All people desire to marry. Some marry and some do not. But even among the married ones, few learn to balance spirituality with the demands of marital life. My husband and I we have been married for more than 41 years. This I can say: It is not easy to be holy and married in the same time. The primary enemy is called ‘spiritual distraction’. The word means to be entangled in domestic bondage. Imagine a house full of clutter. There are things scattered everywhere. Some things are good and some are bad. Some are new and some are old. Some are useful and many are useless. But the main problem is that the things are too many. There is no place to walk. You cannot even see the floor. This is the picture of a distracted mind. It is a very common problem afflicting the married couples. From morning until night, the wife thinks and plans how to please her husband. The same applies to the husband. They buy books about marriage, listen to sermons, listen to advice from others who are ‘better qualified’ than them. All this information clutters their minds. Trying to please their spouses, they become sluggish, materialistic and confused. They lose the focus to serve God, to love Jesus above all others.

This is my prayer tonight for you: that the Holy Spirit will ‘clear the floor’ of your heart! That the Holy Spirit will remove the dust from your eyes! That the Holy Spirit will revive your spirit! That you may find the divine balance to be holy unto God and happily married! Worship God with all your heart! Out of that sweet overflow, love your spouse! To God be all the glory!

“No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy]” (1Cor 10:13, AMP)

Generally speaking, life is hard. There are many trials, temptations and obstacles in our way. The devil is wicked and the flesh is weak. Life is hard even for the Christians. We have faith but this faith must be tested to become strong, mature and fruitful. That is why God allows trials to come our way. But in this scripture, we find one of the greatest encouragements in the Bible. There are so many lessons that we should learn before the trials come. In that way, when (not if, but when) the trials come, we are prepared for them and overcome them easier.

The first lesson is that trials come. They are painful and stressful. But we should not be surprised and taken unawares. Secondly, the strategy of the devil that attacks you is predictable. He is not creative. The devil makes nothing new. The way he attacked Adam and Eve, that is how he will attack you. By reading the Bible we find all the ‘secrets’ of the devil and prepare the right defenses against them. The third lesson is that God is there with you in the middle of that trial. God remains faithful to His promises and nature. People and things change but God never changes! “Jesus Christ is the same; yesterday, today and forever” (Heb 13:8). No matter how difficult things may be, God is still good, merciful, all- powerful, all-wise and generous. His grace is greater than all your sins! His power is made perfect in your weakness! His wealth will suddenly manifest in your poverty! His miracles overcome your sickness! God is not a limited weak man like me and you. God is not intimidated by any difficulty you may face. God is forever true to Himself and He shall turn your trial into a great testimony! God will glorify Himself in your life! God will give you the eyes to see the way of escape and the strength to endure the trial without backsliding from the faith.

The way of escape means to see the exit in a dark building. Most men are able to identify the gate, the entrance, the beginning of their trial. For example, they say…’Since I got that sickness, I became weak’… ‘Since I was fired from my job, I became broke’…They see how the problem entered but they cannot see the way it will go away. God promises to show you the way out, the exit door of that trial. The great spiritual lesson is that trials come and go. They do not stay with you forever. Child of God, you shall not always be weak, sick, poor or restless. Say ‘good bye’ to these problems for they shall soon be only a fading memory. Fear not! Jesus Christ is the King of kings and He sits on His throne! He has the last say in all that concern you! Have faith for a mighty deliverance, healing and breakthrough! See the exit of that problem!

“Fear not! Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will show to you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall see them again no more forever!” (Ex 14:13)

“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that plants any thing, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase. Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are laborers together with God” (1Cor 3:6-9)

The service was very good. We prayed against evil spirits of religion, sickness, armed robbery, depression, poverty and fear. The praise was wonderful. Have you seen children worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth? We are blessed to have children like Lolade, Ibukun and Yemogho, little girls who love Jesus with all their hearts, ministering in songs and prayers. Of course, the Holy Spirit responded and came down on us all. Then the message followed:

“And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying: We will eat our own food and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by your name, to take away our reproach” (Is 4:1)

This is a parable: seven desperate women hold one man begging him to marry them. Seven women take hold of a man. So, who are these seven women? Spiritually, the man is a symbol of Christ and the woman is a symbol of the church. The church is called the Body or the Bride of Christ. The seven women represent the seven churches in the Book of Revelation. They are backsliders, worldly believers. They want to ‘marry’ Christ. They choose Christ for themselves! But this is the truth: You did not choose God. You did not want salvation. It God who has chosen to save you! It is by His grace alone! This is the Biblical pattern: The man choses his wife! Christ choses His Living Stones to build His church! Only in Christ the guilt and the reproach of sin can be removed. Jesus died for our sins! Not because we merit, not because we pray for it. It is the grace of God. We are saved not because we have food and clothes, but it is the mercy and the grace of God. This is God’s sovereign will. He calls, choses and saves those whom He wants. Nobody can force God, bribe God or deceive God into salvation or eternal blessings.

“And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying: We will eat our own food and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by your name, to take away our reproach” (Is 4:1)

This is a parable: seven desperate women hold one man begging him to marry them. Seven women take hold of a man. In Hebrew, the word ‘to hold’ describes a warrior. It means to be strong, to seize somebody, to be stubborn, urgent, hardened, to fight like a man and to prevail. These seven are strong women who are ready to use any means to win an argument or a battle. They can seduce the men if that brings them success. But if seduction fails, they are not afraid to provoke their husbands or their leaders to open confrontation, trying to take over their positions of leadership. These women want to lead. They have their own resources and money. They even have their own clothes. All they want is to rule and reign over men.

So, who are these seven women? Spiritually, the man is a symbol of Christ and the woman is a symbol of the church. The church is called the Body or the Bride of Christ. The seven women represent the seven churches in the Book of Revelation. Number seven means perfection. Therefore, these assemblies represent all the New Testament churches to the end of time. If you read the letters of the Resurrected Christ in the Book of Revelation you discover that five out of the seven of these churches are in error, are backsliding. They have forsaken their ‘first love’. They commit spiritual adultery and Christ, their Bridegroom is angry with them. These churches love the world and imitate the world. They stop preaching the true Gospel. They preach another gospel, receive another spirit and worship another ‘jesus’.

Now you see the false church in action. These seven women hold on to one man fighting for marriage. Who is this man? It represents Jesus. Biblically, it is the man who find the wife (PV 18:22) and not the woman who finds a husband. Biblically it is the man who provides food for his family and the wife is the helper. But here we see that the women provide for themselves. They do not need a man for that. Why? It is because they do not want to submit to their husbands. It is because they do not want Christ to rule over them! These women want to ‘marry’ Christ; they want peace and joy but reject the Holy Spirit. They trust in themselves for salvation. They trust in their prayers. They think that by living a good life, by working hard, by giving money to the church or by taking the Holy Communion, they become saved and righteous. These women think that they can manipulate Christ, that He will do what they want, that He will answer all their prayers, even if they pray ‘amiss’. These women are deceived to believe the doctrines of the devils that shall become more and more common in these last days (1Tim 4:1).

But you child of God be encouraged! Jesus has already married you. Nothing shall separate you from His eternal love! No need to fight with others to gain Christ! He is already yours! Just worship Him! Give Him all the glory!

“And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying: We will eat our own food and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by your name, to take away our reproach” (Is 4:1)

This is a parable: seven desperate women hold one man begging him to marry them. Seven women take hold of a man. In Hebrew, the word ‘to hold’ describes a warrior. It means to be strong, to seize somebody, to be stubborn, urgent, hardened, to fight like a man and to prevail. These seven are strong women who are ready to use any means to win an argument or a battle. They can seduce the men if that brings them success. But if seduction fails, they are not afraid to provoke their husbands or their leaders to open confrontation, trying to take over their positions of leadership. These women want to lead. They have their own resources and money. They even have their own clothes. All they want is to rule and reign over men.

So, who are these seven women? Spiritually, the man is a symbol of Christ and the woman is a symbol of the church. The church is called the Body or the Bride of Christ. The seven women represent the seven churches in the Book of Revelation. Number seven means perfection. Therefore, these assemblies represent all the New Testament churches to the end of time.  If you read the letters of the Resurrected Christ in the Book of Revelation you discover that five out of the seven of these churches are in error, are backsliding. They have forsaken their ‘first love’. They commit spiritual adultery and Christ, their Bridegroom is angry with them. These churches love the world and imitate the world. They stop preaching the true Gospel. They preach another gospel, receive another spirit and worship another ‘jesus’.

Now you see the false church in action. These seven women hold on to one man fighting for marriage. Who is this man? It represents Jesus. Biblically, it is the man who find the wife (PV 18:22) and not the woman who finds a husband. Biblically it is the man who provides food for his family and the wife is the helper. But here we see that the women provide for themselves. They do not need a man for that. Why? It is because they do not want to submit to their husbands. It is because they do not want Christ to rule over them! These women want to ‘marry’ Christ; they want peace and joy but reject the Holy Spirit. They trust in themselves for salvation.  They trust in their prayers. They think that by living a good life, by working hard, by giving money to the church or by taking the Holy Communion, they become saved and righteous. These women think that they can manipulate Christ, that He will do what they want, that He will answer all their prayers, even if they pray ‘amiss’. These women are deceived to believe the doctrines of the devils that shall become more and more common in these last days (1Tim 4:1).

But you child of God be encouraged! Jesus has already married you. Nothing shall separate you from His eternal love! No need to fight with others to gain Christ! He is already yours! Just worship Him! Give Him all the glory!

“According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1Cor 3:10, 11)

As a congregation, we are getting ready to move to our new church building. As a family, my husband and I, we are getting ready to move into our new home. We are counting the days. The work is much but the grace is supplied. We have prayed for an easy transition and God has answered the prayer more than we could have imagined.

Many sisters have asked if they can come and help with the work in our house. With all the pots and pans on the floor, the offer to help is natural. That was so good of them. But to each I gently and firmly said ‘no’. Is it because I do not need help? I do! But it is a spiritual principle that for every new work you need to lay the foundation yourself. He that lays the foundation is ‘the owner’ of the land, of the business. Together with my husband, I need to be alone in my house as I quietly and prayerfully decide where each item goes to. I need to know where my things are located in this new house. I need to wash the plates and things placing them on the shelves by myself.

Later, I may delegate responsibility to others ‘to build’ on our foundation. Time will tell if I need that help or not.

This is the counsel of Paul, the ‘wise builder’. It is good especially as you contemplate the start of a new ministry, building project or business. You need to lay the foundation yourself! Dig deep until you touch the Rock of Ages! You need to be secure in that new beginning! Laying the foundation is safety for the future! You have to do what you have to do! Sharing a vision too early, delegating work to others before the foundation is laid by you, spiritually speaking, that is a dangerous step! There is a time to work and there is time to rest.

Now, for us, it is the time of blessed work for God! The foundation for our ministry and home is Jesus Christ and Him Crucified! Him we preach! Him we serve! On Him we rest our tired bodies and souls! Praise God for this new beginning! The glory of the latter house is indeed greater than the former! To God be all the glory!