“And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper” (2Chr 26:5)

Many Christians are seeking for the way to prosperity. They pray long prayers and fast too, but their lives do not change. This is because they are not willing to pay the price to seek God acceptably who alone is the Author and Giver of prosperity. King Uzziah was a successful king. He lived a long life; he defeated the great enemies of Judah; he became famous and rich; he built cities and had a great army. Later in life his prosperity made him proud and God judged him with leprosy. Nevertheless we can learn from him, what the secret of his prosperity was. We can also learn from his mistakes and be careful to remain humble even when God blesses us financially.

In the scripture above you see the two basic requirements you need to fulfill if you desire a successful life with God at the center. Simply said you need to seek (God) and submit (to the spiritual authority God placed above you). Uzziah did both and God granted him prosperity.  In Hebrew the word ‘Prosper’ means to push forward, to break out mightily and to be profitable.

To seek it means to search for something that is hidden. God reveals Himself and also He conceals Himself. Often God brings a cloud of darkness between you and Him. The purpose of this separation is to stir you up to holy romance and to create a longing in your heart so that you will run after Him. To seek it means to ask questions. Never be afraid to ask God questions. You will not be rude or proud in asking. This is my experience: as a teacher I take pleasure when my students ask me questions. I know the difference, when they want to waste my time and when they are truly serious to learn more. The purpose of asking these questions is to know God better, to understand His heart and His ways. To seek it also means to dream big and to pursue the fulfillment of these dreams. This is my advice: If you want to know God, then you need to ask God questions and wait for His answers. The opposite of seeking is to be passive, to hide or to ignore God. It also means to lose opportunities of intimate communion with God, when He is available and willing to answer your questions.

The second thing you need to do on the holy road of prosperity is to submit to the spiritual authority God has placed over you. King Uzziah’s father was a king. He learned the royal protocol from his father. But Uzziah was wise and humble enough to realize that he needs a spiritual mentor. He knew the power of spiritual covering. He cherished his relationship with a prophet called Zechariah, who ‘had understanding in the visions of God’ ‘who thought him the fear of God’ (KJ; NIV). Uzziah’s prosperity was directly connected with his humble submission to the prophet. It is not easy for a king to humble himself under one of his ‘subjects’. But he knew that the ‘man of God’ was more spiritual than him and he gladly accepted his counsel.

Lastly, this is a warning: any form of passivity, spiritual laziness, carelessness about the affairs of your soul, rebellion or pride will shut the door to prosperity. No matter the level of your education, your past professional experience, skills, gifts or hard work, you will not proposer if you reject the law of God. May God grant ‘a melting anointing’ so that you can truly repent from the heart! According to His Word, may God bless the humble seekers with His promised prosperity! In Jesus’ name, amen!

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

The prayer meeting was very good. We praised God, we did spiritual warfare and we prayed. At the beginning there was an opposition in the atmosphere, a stronghold of religion that did not permit us to freely enjoy God’s presence. This hindrance could have been a good excuse to just declare defeat. But we refused to be defeated. The Captain of our salvation commanded us to fight therefore we must fight. We could not think about the danger of the battle. We needed to obey the Word and leave the worry for later. We prayed against every hindrance that blocks our spiritual progress as people, as families and as a church. We declared that no evil person will be able to hide in the crowd and attend church tomorrow. We declared that the fire of the Holy Spirit will drive away from the gate all occult unrepentant people! In the name of Jesus!

“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” (Lk 12:49)

When Jesus came into this world of sin, His express desire was to bring ‘fire on the earth’. John said that Jesus will baptize His own with the Holy Spirit and with fire. God is described as a consuming fire. What is the source of this fire? That volcano is found on the Calvary hill, at the Cross of Christ. It was there, hanging on that tree, the Son of God became a curse for us. It was there, when Jesus died for our sins that the fire of God came from heaven and consumed all things. The history of humanity, nothing and nobody was ever the same, after the Cross. Old things passed away and everything became new.

Fire stands for judgment. We are afraid of fire, for we know that fire has no mercy. All things, all labor and ministry shall be tried with fire. We all have an encounter with the fire of God. There is no salvation, deliverance, promotion or blessings that come without the fire. It purges the hearts and kindles passion in pure vessels. Once you pass thru the fire, you are safe. For example, the patient who survived the sickness called Ebola, has nothing to fear anymore. The wicked virus has tried to kill him but failed. The immunity of the body has won. This survivor is the best candidate to go back to the Ebola infested villages and with bare hands help the others. That is a picture of a man who has passed thru fire and survived. There is no more fear; only power and only joy. That is a picture of a believer baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire. Nothing shall hurt him anymore. The devil has failed in his life.

I heard of a story. There was a man and his little son walking in a park in New York. Suddenly a fire started burning along the path. In few minutes they were trapped by the blaze. The father tried to use branches to quench the fire, but all in vain. The wind was driving the flames closer and closer to them. Then the father knew that the only way of escape is to pass thru the fire. He carried his son on his shoulders, comforted him that all is well, and jumped thru the fire to the other side. Behind the blaze all was calm. For all things were burnt off. The fire can never go back to a place that is burnt. That is the law of the fire, it never goes back to where it has damaged.

There is a spiritual lesson here. Whatever things you have suffered, if God was with you during that trial, you shall never go back to them again. The devil tried to kill you. And really, you should have died. That sickness should have sent you to the mortuary. That stress should have given you incurable depression. That loss should have made you homeless sleeping under the bridge…But, by the grace of God you survived…This is your testimony, that passing thru the fire, you did not end up a corpse. Even the things that got burnt, have a new meaning for you, for God promised to give you beauty for ashes, joy instead of weeping and a victory song nobody can quench. In the furnace of affliction, Shedrack, Meshach and Abednego met with the Forth Man, the Son of God who is the King of kings and also the King of fire.

This is my testimony: fire tried but failed to destroy me; its heat was not enough to disfigure my anointing; its flames could only purify my heart and my vision. I passed thru the fire of rejection, misunderstanding, sickness and slander. And I survived. Not only survived, but I am now qualified to encourage others coming behind.

So this is my word to you: Fear not! Like that father and son, let’s jump together to the safe place behind the fire…Follow me as I follow Christ…Let’s go to the Cross where Jesus died for our sins…Let’s go behind the Cross, where no sorrow, no pain, no rejection and no sickness can ever attack. Come on…that is the way…thru the fire, into the freedom of worship, the power of true anointing and the victory of the blessed!

The Saturday Prayer meeting was very good. We praised God and we prayed to God. We destroyed every evil covenant that was made on our behalf, knowingly or un-knowingly, during our childhood.  The lingering effects of wicked utterances spoken by parents, siblings, extended family members, neighbors or friends were destroyed. The memory of negative words like: ‘you are a fool… you be yeye… you are a lazy boy (girl)… you are a loser… you will always be last in the class… you will be poor like your father (mother)… go to hell… Idiot… nonsense boy (girl)… you will suffer in this life…you are a witch…God punish you… ” was destroyed by the Blood of Jesus! We separated ourselves from ‘shadow demons’ that follow us behind.

We declared that God hears the prayers of His children… that there is power in the name of Jesus… that Jehovah is above every other power… that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. We praised the Almighty God in English and Nigerian dialects. This evening ministry was not easy. There was a battle in the atmosphere. Some brethren were afraid to praise God with all their hearts because of the trouble they may encounter once they leave the church’ premises. This fear was a background hindrance for more than an hour. But as we continued to press on, to praise God, with songs, hands clapping, dancing and proclamation of the Word of God, the fear left and we felt free. We are blessed to partake and to contribute to the congregational anointing. Coming to church services is never a waste of time. Once the Holy Spirit moves in our midst, anything can happen (I wanted to say: miracles will happen). We went home refreshed. Indeed, Jesus Christ is Lord! Bless His holy name!

“Dear friend,
I see that there is still much secret desire and dreaming in your heart, to do something great for God, in your life time…
I pray for you… that the Holy Spirit fills you and gives you the power to change regrets into actions and weakness into passion so that you accomplish your good dreams! May this prayer become praise!
In Jesus’ name
Amen!”

The Lord Jesus said to Ananias about the Apostle Paul at the beginning of his ministry: “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim My name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.” (Ac 9:15, 16).

This word applies to all who desire to follow Jesus and do ministry. The word ‘suffer’ means experiential pain, not just imagination. If you want to serve the Lord in any capacity, if you desire to be an ambassador for Christ, then you need to carry this cross that kills the flesh; not all at once, but little by little, and daily… Ministry is not money and glamour. Ministry is pain that becomes praise, tears that supply the river of life, a broken alabaster box that spreads the fragrance of Christ to the whole house. If you can do that, then the money and the fame may come.

This is my testimony: For every drop of the revelation of God’s name, I had to suffer.  I had to become ‘friends’ with loneliness, sickness, discrimination, misunderstanding and painful betrayal from people who were close to me. Why?  So that I have just one desire: to desperately know my Lord and the power of His resurrection! The appreciation of God’s grace is not free. The knowledge of the power of the name of Jesus is not cheap. It is much more than a prayer ‘In the name of Jesus’.  It is not English! It is Blood! The door of God’s intimate treasures is never found by them who just pass by and covet from afar. There were times when I was sick, really sick. In the midst of the sickness I had no desire to go to see a doctor. Why? So that I learn to press on to know who Jehovah Rapha is, how He operates, delivers and heals…in the quietness of my spirit, there came a knowing…that my sickness is not ‘a sickness’, not a punishment, not a dead end… but a pathway, a road… Sickness helped me. Pain became my teacher… I did not like his face at the beginning… I thought about changing classes… It took me long to learn the patience of obedience and the joy of reward coming from suffering. When this inner pain refused to go away, it forced me to come closer to the throne to receive a fresh testimony, not just of healing, but so much more…My reward was the impartation of the Excellency of knowing my Lord, the King of kings!

The strange sickness and the mysterious healing baptized me into the Body of Christ. As I moved on, from victory to victory I started changing. The old Lia died. The new Lia lives on… I can never be the same. I am now so much hungrier to know the Healer and not just His healing touch of the moment…I was once a student in the Medical School… I am now a disciple to Jehovah Rapha…what a privilege…how can I ever describe in words the class room in the clouds…the surgery done on top of the holy mountain…all my new class mates dwell in the same atmosphere and they too have lost the desire to be ordinary…

The first test expected by Jehovah Rapha is to praise Him in all situations, not because I feel like praising, not because my pain is gone, not because I like music … but just because the praise belongs to God!!! God is jealous for His praise.  He forbids that idols should steal it! You too be jealous to give all the glory to God alone!  This is my counsel:  if you need healing, the fruit of the womb, or a financial breakthrough, then praise God with all your strength! Do not cheat on praise! Do not imitate others! Do not compare yourself with others! Praise God! Think of God, think of His power, love, glory, willingness to touch and heal you The presence of the pain, oppression, frustration, anxiety, infirmity, sickness can be the pulpit from where the praise goes up to the Owner.

Like a little flower in the desert, with no water and no shade, but happily blooming by the power of the Holy Spirit within, I will rejoice and praise my Savior, my Lord and my Healer!  “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines; though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food; though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls… Yet! I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in God my Savior!” (Habakkuk 3:17, 18). Glory to God!

“So he ( Namaan) went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him and he said, “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel…” (2Kg 5:14, 15)

Please, read again the story of Namaan, the great Syrian general (2Kg 5). He had money, fame and visible success in life. But he also had leprosy. In those days, leprosy was incurable and shameful. Medically speaking leprosy affects the nerves. It manifests as muscular weakness, loss of sensitivity and tumors on the skin. The patient cannot move fast, cannot feel pain and looks ugly and smelly. Without treatment the sickness slowly progresses to death.

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

“Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5:18-20)

Our Women’ Fellowship this evening was very good. The Holy Spirit was moving in our midst! The praise, the prayers and the testimonies, in the unity of the Spirit, gave glory to God alone. It was a thanksgiving ‘dinner’ of the daughters of God. We thanked God for our lives, body, souls and spirit, health, marriages, children, protection, provision and ministries. We thanked God for what He has done, for what He is doing at this very moment and what He will do in the future. We rejected every demon of fear (fear of the future, fear of untimely death for our children, fear of poverty, fear of divorce…). By faith, we declared that no parents will bury their children! We rejected every demon of depression, confusion, bareness and religious pride. We welcomed the Person of God the Holy Spirit in our midst. The fire of the Holy Spirit was hot. It only burnt the chains and the cages of limitations. We came out from the fire free and fair.

We could not sit on the chairs. We prayed seated on the floor. Some knelt and some lied down flat still praying. We humbled ourselves so that grace may be imparted to us according to God’s promise. We prayed in English (with understanding) and we prayed in tongues (in the Spirit, by-passing the human understanding). The anointing was too strong for me, the pastor, to preach my prepared sermon. Once the Holy Spirit moves in our midst, there is nothing more man can say. God makes my work easier these days. Looking at us, we look so small, a group of ‘nobodies’…… But looking at God, and what He is doing among us, my faith increases and my worship overflows. I am excited to see how the prayers of today will become praises tomorrow! Fresh testimonies have been approved by heaven and released on earth. The river of blessings is flowing faster…I can feel it… Glory to God!

Dear Sister, do not just stand and look… Do not be jealous on them who are blessed! Enter in the middle of the flow where the speed is at the highest. If God has done it once for you, He will do it again! The Joy of the Lord is your strength! In Jesus’ name, amen!

“How is your beloved better than others, most beautiful of women?… What’s so great about your lover, fair lady? What’s so special about him?” (SS 5:9; NIV; TM)

My husband and I, we are married for more than 43 years! We married as unbelievers. God’s grace saved our souls and marriage. Both of us are now in full time ministry. The older I get, the more I appreciate my husband’s character. Without fear and without shame, I can boast about my God and I also can boast about my husband. Below is a partial list of my husband’s qualities, blessings that I have discovered over the years. By the grace of God, my husband is ‘better than others’. He is:
*A true man of God!
*A wonderful husband to me, father and grandfather!
*Loving, generous, compassionate and kind!
*Bold for God. He does not take the easy path because of fear. He confronts difficult situations like a soldier.
*Perseveres until he achieves results. He does not get tired in the middle of the problems!
*Honest, truthful and open; he does not lie, steal or cheat!
*Courageous, doing what is right even in the presence of rejection or danger!
*Willing to sacrifice himself and his money for the work of God and helping others!
*Controls himself; he stays calm under provocation, temptation or stress!
*Just and fair; he does not discriminate!
*Good citizen; he abides by the laws of the country!
*Spirit of excellence; he does no compromise his conscience; he does his best and he is happy with his work!
*Keeps his promises; is dependable and trustworthy; he hates to disappoint others!
*Respects others; he honors their rights, dignity and freedom! Hates to hurt them unnecessarily!
*Responsible; he does not shift blame on others!
*Patient; he knows that good things take time to achieve! He is willing to wait.
*Forgiving; he is able to leave hurtful things behind; does not seek revenge! (He forgets my mistakes)
*Peace Maker; he is able to talk things without being violent!
*Very good teacher. Most of the things about life in Nigeria I have learned from him directly!
*Encourager. He encourages me to fulfill God’s plan for my life, to do ministry.
*Lover. He loves me with words and deeds when we are alone and he declares his love for me in public.
And so on… And so on …
To God be all the glory!

“Set me as a seal upon your heart,

As a seal upon your arm;

For love is as strong as death,

Jealousy as cruel as the grave;

Its flames are flames of fire,

A most vehement flame…

Many waters cannot quench love,

Nor can the floods drown it.

If a man would give for love

All the wealth of his house,

It would be utterly despised” (SS8:6, 7)

This is the voice of the Bride… Love has its own sound, its own song, its own fragrance, its own way and its own price. Money cannot buy it. Blood is its price. The Blood of the Prince of peace was shed for love to live. Love is jealous. El Qanna, the Jealous God, will fight to keep your love alive and pure. Love is strong. Love never fails. Love draws near. Love changes the hearts. The Spirit and the Bride is calling…Come… What will the Lover say in response to her longing?

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’” (Rev 3:19-22)

This is the Love of the Lover. It is the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ, calling from the other side of the Cross, the side of joy and victory. The Blood was shed. Death has died. The grave has been disappointed. This is the season of love… He who loves rebukes and chastens. The Lover is the Teacher. He disciplines His students, His children, so that they may know how to love better. Many tears will stain your face and many disappointments will hurt your heart before you learn how to receive and give love in return. It takes a long time before you are able to appreciate true love. To love is not easy. But it is worth it! Dead men do not love. He who loves is alive!

Love calls you to come inside the holy place. Love offers you a dinner of joyful eternal blessings and a royal seat of power. Are you afraid to open the door? Are you afraid at what the Lover might say or do?  If you hear His voice, then please open the door! You shall have no peace until you open and worship the Lord at His feet, face to face, no interruption and no separation. God is calling you to be with Him, to do ministry, to intercession…God is calling you to separate from the world, to worship Him alone in the beauty of His holiness. Even so come Lord Jesus…

Singing:

I’m in love, I’m in love, I’m in love….

Sweet Holy Spirit…

I’m in love!

Recently, I had to counsel and pray with some young men who are taking marihuana. Their lives are scattered. Their minds are confused. They hear (religious) voices. The devil keeps them in bondage. The cage is very strong. Without help from God, they cannot recover. I write these lines with pain and anger in my heart. I hate the devil! I hate these drugs! I write these words as a doctor, pastor, mother and grandmother. It is not a subject I like to think about. But I cannot ignore it! I had to re-examine the terrible effects these illegal drugs have on the people, especially the youths. Many are true Christians and come to church. They love the Lord and want to serve Him. They want to have a good life, to go to school, marry and live well. But the addiction to this poison hinders them to live well and live long.

The most common and the cheapest addiction that the devil offers here in Nigeria is ‘marihuana’. The young men smoke it or drink the tea made from its dry leaves.  Marijuana (Cannabis, Hemp, Hashish) is a plant used by many all over the world as an illegal pleasure drug. The word ‘marijuana’ is related with a Spanish word which is translated ‘prisoner’. (Attention: the devil wants to make you his prisoner thru this plant that God has created!!!). More and more young people try it and become addicted to it. It is a deception to think that marihuana is a harmless drug. It has great potential of destroying your health and your future. Marijuana, like other drugs of abuse, can result in addiction. During intoxication, marijuana can interfere with the cognitive function of the brain (ex. memory and perception of time) and the motor function (e.g., coordination). These effects can have detrimental consequences (ex. traffic accidents). The people who use marijuana have a higher risk of developing depression, anxiety and other more serious psychiatric sicknesses.  Repeated marijuana use during adolescence may result in long-lasting changes in brain function that can jeopardize educational, professional, and social achievements. Most people who smoke marihuana drop out from school and get involved in other crimes.

Dear young man! Dear young woman! You who takes illegal drugs: If you read these words, it means that God is talking to you! God wants to help you, to deliver you from the demons associated with them. God loves you! Give your life to Christ! Start reading the Bible and pray. Go to a good church. Let your pastor pray for you. Deliver yourself! At the name of Jesus every knee will bow! One with God is majority! God is able and more than able to deliver you, to heal you and give you a good future.

This is God’s Promise to you:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity…” (Jer 29:11-14)

Let’s pray: “Dear Heavenly Father I come to You on behalf of Your people who desire deliverance from drug addiction, especially marihuana. Have mercy Oh, Lord. Nobody can help them except You. Do for them what money cannot buy and man cannot give. I take authority against the wicked demon of drug addiction, against fear, anxiety, depression, madness, restlessness, poverty, suicide, hopelessness, deception and confusion! I bind you! I silence you! Leave God’s people alone and go away! In the name of Jesus! I destroy every spell that the devil has placed on them! I destroy the spiritual cage of addiction! Holy Spirit please take control. I plead the Blood of Jesus over you! Let the miracle of freedom happen! Let freedom be real! Revel to them the power and the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ! Let their body reject the desire to go back to drugs! I declare that their minds are sound, that their hearts are filled with peace and joy! Father God, it is all to Your Glory! In Jesus name I pray, amen!”

“Honor is no more associated with fools than snow with summer or rain with harvest.
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.
Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back!
Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.
Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!
A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg.
Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.
A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.
An employer who hires a fool or a bystander is like an archer who shoots at random.
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.
There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise” (PV 26:1-12, TLB)

The Bible is the Word of God. Study the scriptures! Every counsel is perfect. Obey the Word of God and you shall be saved, healed, free and happy. Question: What will you do if you are attacked by fools? This situation is as bad as when mad dogs come against you. A fool is not just an innocent, ignorant, in-need-of-help person. Fools are terrible and dangerous. They can drag you down to their level. Pray for wisdom!

Read and meditate on the above verses from Proverbs 26. The word ‘fool’ in Hebrew is kesyl. It means to be fat and silly. His foolishness is ‘perverse’. A fool in the Bible is seen as someone who is an unbeliever (‘A fool says in his heart: there is no God’ Ps 14:1). He is a wayward, stubborn, wicked, rebellious person. He says and does what he knows is wrong, willfully turning away from what is right and good. He argues too much and, like a virus, he spreads his foolish stubbornness to others. He takes pleasure seeing that you fall. That is why he is dangerous!

In the Bible we are told that:
*Honor should not be given to a fool. The word ‘honor’ in Hebrew is translated ‘glory, boasting, to be noble, to promote and to be rich’. Practically it means that if I encounter a fool, I should try my best to avoid him. I should not go out of my way to make friends with him, to respect or to imitate him. I should not boast of my relationship with him. I should not help him to be promoted or to get richer. If I do so, I will share in his ‘shame’. “The wise are promoted to honor, but fools are promoted to shame!” (PV 3:35). The word ‘shame’ also means disgrace or confusion. Making friends with fools is one of the common ways to become confused in life, losing focus and faith. Friendship with fools will make you to backslide. You have to choose between that fool and your faith in God!

*The best thing is to avoid a fool. Try NOT answering his arguments, so that you do not become like him. But if you really have to talk, then pray for the leading of the Holy Spirit on your mind and tongue. The only thing a fool needs is rebuke! Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, you have to discipline him! You need a tongue of fire to rebuke a fool! The fools win all arguments if you answer them in your flesh. You need the help of the Holy Spirit who is the ‘Wonderful Counsellor’. You may be led to speak just one sentence, but filled with the Holy Spirit, it will be a rebuke from heaven. The fool will feel it as a lash on his back. Pain is good for a fool. Like a mad dog who tried to bite you, after that lash, he will retreat! He may not repent from his foolishness but he will avoid you from that time on. To be free from the tongue and the manipulation of a fool is great deliverance! Thank God for that!

*Fools are not to be trusted with your heart and with your words. They are rebellious. They are trouble makers. They will add or remove from your words. They will misinterpret them. You will end in trouble if you send a message thru a fool. Do not trust a fool. Do not delegate your authority to a fool. Never do that. If you have no wise person to send a message, go yourself or keep quiet and wait. Fools are wicked. Fools can never represent you in public. Never marry a fool for you will suffer! Do not make friends with fools for you will weep! Do not hire a fool for he will run down your business! Run away from a church whose pastor is foolish, no matter how handsome, beautiful, rich or famous he (she) is!

Finally, pray that God will purify your heart from resident foolishness and your world from wicked people. May the Fire of the Holy Spirit surround you now! Be filled with the Holy Spirit! In Jesus name, amen!

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1Cor 10:13)

This morning I want to encourage you… One of the best promises we have as believers in Christ is that when tempted, we shall not be left alone. This is the truth: God will be there in the furnace with you, helping you to find ‘the way of escape’ out of the fire. The way out of the cage is down, at the bottom. The humble believer kneels down, prays and finds it. But the proud one looks up, tries to climb out and will miss it. That is why proud men suffer much longer than the humble ones. Lesson: When you suffer, humble yourself and trust God! Soon the pain is over!

All trials that come your way ‘are common to man’! These afflictions are suited to men, to what men can bear, not different than what other men experience in this life. Remember: God is faithful! His faithfulness is seen much clearer during times of temptations. God oversees your trial. He will not permit the devil to attack you until you break down, backslide or die. Your present pain will not be above or beyond your power to resist the devil and to remain faithful to God to the end.  The faithfulness of God is the proof why all of us who are suffering one trial or another, are still alive and well. If not for God we should all be mad, admitted in a psychiatric hospital with deep depression. Surprisingly, we are able to endure, to bear pain, patiently waiting for God to reveal the way of escape. Lesson: because God is faithful to me, I will be faithful to Him!

The reason why temptations are so painful is that the devil attacks not only with sickness or poverty, but with many lies as well. These are some of the lies that you must resist and reject:

Lie number one: ’God does not love you, that is why you suffer…’ This is a lie! If you are a child of God, then you should know that God’s love to you!!! In Christ, God’s love is unconditional and eternal. God uses painful things to discipline you, for your own good, but He will not take away His love from you.

Lie number two: ’You may start well but you do not have the power to end well…’ This is a lie! The grace of God is sufficient to start and finish the race. Do not be discouraged!

Lie number three: ‘If you are spiritually mature you will be able to avoid al temptations…’ This is a lie! The closer you get to God the more His light will shine on you. This light will expose your weakness and sins. You will become more sensitive to sin and temptations. Remember that Jesus was tempted, Paul was tempted and all believers will be tempted. Temptation is not sin. Backsliding in the middle of the temptation is sin! Stop trying to use ‘wisdom’ to avoid pain. Accept it as part of life. See the gain of pain! Pass thru the fire! Like Job, you will come out shining like gold!

Lie number four: ‘Nothing good comes out of this temptation…’ This is a lie! Sin is useless but temptation is used by God to purify our hearts, especially the motives for serving Him. God will be grieved if you fall and backslide because of trials. God will be happy if you trust in Him always and stand faithful to the end!

Lesson: Be faithful to God! God rewards faithfulness and obedience! Give God all the glory! Praise God for your salvation, your testimony, your healing, your deliverance, your fruitfulness, your family, your anointing for ministry and so many blessings! This temptation is temporary but God is eternal! Jesus saves to the uttermost! Shout Hallelujah!

“David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord.  I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” (2 Sam 6:21, 22)

Tonight’ prayer meeting was very good. It was raining outside. It is always a challenge to come to church when the weather is not friendly. I prayed that the ones who are willing to come should be blessed in an unusual way. God answered my prayer. We started praying and thanking God for our lives, health and freedom. Then we began praising God calling His wonderful names aloud. The adults and the children, the rich and the poor, everybody had an opportunity to ‘taste and see that the Lord is good’ (Ps 34:8).

Then there was a prophetic word: ‘if you want the Holy Spirit to freely move in your midst tonight, then you should praise God with songs and dancing like King David did long ago’ (2 Samuel 6:20-23).  This is the story: When David brought the ark of God to Zion, he danced on the streets like ‘a mad man’. For the sake of God he killed his pride. He ‘disgraced’ himself and danced with all his heart. This dance was a form of worship, a sacrifice to God. Everybody who loved the presence of God followed David and danced unto God. No one cared about reputation, social position and titles or about what men may say.

But Michal, David’s wife, was not in the crowd. She was up, at the balcony judging David. She complained that David danced ‘half naked’ like a mad man and that the young women laughed at him. David was surprised at this evil comment coming from his own household. He explained that he danced unto the Lord and not unto the men and women. It was ‘a worship dance’ and not ‘a romantic dance’. David also said that for God, he will disgrace himself even more in the future. Because of this negative attitude towards the Holy Spirit, towards the King and God’s praise, Michal remained barren all her life. This evening we took this warning as serious as we could. Nobody wanted to be proud and complaining. We too ‘disgraced’ our flesh and freely danced without shoes this evening. The Holy Spirit honored His Word and our child-like faith and came down mightily. No one wanted to be a passive wicked spectator like Michal. God forbid! In Father’s House, none is too old, too rich, too educated or too great before the King of kings! The anointing was so strong that all yokes were broken! The bondages of depression, doubt, bareness, sickness, empty religion, fear and sadness were broken. We were filled afresh with the Holy Spirit. We received peace and joy unto overflow!!!

These words are not just poetic or symbolic. This evening we literarily drank from the water of life unto the satisfaction of our souls. According to His Word God fulfilled His promise:  “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” (Jer 21:35). I had prepared a sermon but I could not preach it for, as a drop in the ocean of grace, everybody was ‘lost’ in His presence and none could listen to a mere mortal talking. All eyes were on Jesus! What a way to ‘spend’ an evening! Glory to God!

I saw this little dog chained at the entrance of a church in Nice, France. Probably, its owner went inside the church to pray. He was patiently waiting outside in the sunshine. I felt sorry for the dog… To me, this was a spiritual picture of some people who want to serve God but they are still in bondage to the devil. The evil spirit of religion will not mind you going to church, if you still remain outside Christ and His offer of salvation.

What is the lesson? Give your life to Christ! Be born again by the power of the Holy Spirit! Be free from the chains of religion! Rejoice in the freedom Christ purchased for you by His Blood on the Cross of Calvary! Glory to God!!!!

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

The women’ fellowship was very good. We shared testimonies. We praised God with singing and dancing. Sister D said that two times a rat ate the photocopy of an important document. Then when she came to church last month ago, she said that we prayed against physical and spiritual ‘rats’ that do damage to our property. She had faith and prayed hard. Since then, no ‘rat’ destroyed anything in her possession. All the sisters gave thanks to God calling Him the Faithful One. Then the Word came. It was about the spiritual gift of helps. We said that this gift is not just a natural tendency to ‘do good’. It is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit who will change your heart. You shall receive the desire to help others who have less than you. You shall pray for wisdom and anointing to help others and God will give these ennoblements to you. We prayed that for each sister who desires to be supernaturally generous to help others, God will open a door of financial breakthrough.

ONESIPHORUS – PAUL’S HELPER

“The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus” (2Tim 1:16-18)

One of the best examples of a child of God engaged in the ministry of helps is Onesiphorus (2Tim 1:16-18). Paul was in prison. This brother Onesiphorus did three wonderful things to bless Paul.

*He was not ashamed of Paul’s chains (how many of us can make time to visit prisoners?)

*He sought Paul ‘very zealously’ until he found him. Onesiphorus was not a man who will easily give us. He wanted to be a blessing to Paul, to help him in prison, and he found him at last.

*Onesiphorus often did ‘refresh’ Paul. The word means to cool somebody off. To refresh it means to help somebody to feel better, to visit him, to encourage him, to help him carry a burden, to listen to somebody who needs to speak, to give water of food. We do not know what Onesiphorus brought to Paul. Maybe it was some apples or some juice. Jesus said that even giving water to one of His people will be rewarded by God. “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” (Mt 10:42). Paul prays for him to receive mercy from God at the judgment day. Good gifts are never lost. If you sow kindness you shall reap kindness hundredfold. Every good thing you do for others, in the name of the Lord, shall be rewarded by Him. “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (PV 11:25)

This is our testimony: There are people in the church who often refresh us with an encouraging word, prayer or gifts. There are people who send us bottled water, fruit juices, puff puff, bread, eggs, fruits, vegetables, oil, books, phone recharge cards, cooked meals, fish, meat, chicken, Christmas hampers and many other gifts. I may not remember all of them but God knows each one of you. I pray that you may find mercy on that day! I pray that God will send Holy Ghost refreshing on you! I pray that God will bless you and your families, spiritually and materially! In Jesus name, amen!

‘And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me… No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer’ (Jdg 7:2; 2Tim 2:4)

God raised an ‘ordinary’ man to save the nation. His name was Gideon. Led by God, that man raised an unusually small army to fight an enemy ‘as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude’ (Jdg 7:12).  But this small army was ready to obey God, to fight with very special, unique, God-designed, ‘unheard of’ military weapons (trumpets, jars of clay and fire). Just imagine what was in Gideon’s mind? To go to battle with such a ‘crazy’ mini army you need to be sure that God is with you! At the first testing, from 32000 – 10000 go away. They are the fearful, the cowards. They are disqualified to partake in the labor of success and in the joy of victory. He is now left with 22000. These are few but Gideon thinks that ‘he can manage’ with them. But God says ‘you still have too many… they will gang up together and try to steal My glory…I will not permit that… I will test them for you…’

God tested them at the river. The applicants for the posts of national heroes did not know that it was a test: how to drink water when you are very thirsty… The angels, with video cameras in their wings, streamed the sight… Most of the men allowed their flesh to overpower them. For a moment, they forgot that they are still soldiers. They drank like there is no tomorrow. Losing the battle before the battle even began they went home disappointed in a God who cares about our eating and our drinking.  Finally, God made His choice! He approved the 300 men who drank water like the dogs, looking around, careful to see if there is an enemy around, during the times of rest. God approved their drinking style, which was a mirror of their faithful hearts! These men loved God and wanted do His will. Even when thirsty, they were faithful like the dogs to their master. They did not forget that they were working servants. They were disciplined, patient and alert. The 300 men of valor, tested and approved by God became Gideon’s army. These people can never lose any battle! They will never desire to share in God’s glory! They consider it as the highest privilege to be soldiers under the Captain of our salvation.

This is the same old story: Man always complains that he has two little resources (money, friends, connections…) to be successful. But God is never worried about the size of the visible. His Holy Spirit and His Word are always sufficient to glorify His name on the earth!  These are the soldiers for Christ, faithful from their heart. As believers in active duty we should strive to be in that number. For as long as we live, when in the battlefield or at home, when praying or praising, when working or relaxing with the family, when eating or drinking, we should be found faithful, passionately desiring  to please the Lord Jesus Christ, our ‘Commanding officer’ who called us to His service. In Christ, God promised us to always walk in triumph! From victory to victory! To the glory of the name of Jesus! Halleluiah!