THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT

This is a letter I received from a sister in Christ, a married woman and a mother of three. She comes from a difficult background before she got married. She was proud, rebellious and very stubborn.  Her marriage suffered greatly because of her attitude. Both she and her husband came for counsels and prayers. Thanks be to God! Their marriage is now an example to many. She has repented and changed very much for the past few years. She is now a committed Christian and humbly and faithfully serves God in the church. In the women’ fellowship we have been discussing the need and the importance of the unity of the Spirit in the marriage. She is a testimony that the Word of God is working when you chose to believe. All glory to God!

“Good morning Ma.

I can’t thank God enough for what He has been doing for me and my family. I have been praying for unity of the Spirit for my husband and me. Not just for a few things but for all things. A few days ago, my husband got an amount of money though not much but there was a way I wanted the money spent which I strongly believe will bring glory to God. Usually I will tell him what God puts in my heart, but this time I didn’t. When my husband told me the things he wanted to do with the money it was exactly how the Lord had told me. I was shocked. I give God all the glory because these things are very big to me considering my history which is now a testimony. My mouth will continue to sing His praise forever! Thank You Jesus!

Your daughter…”

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the Unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph 4:1-3)

I received this letter from a young Christian man. It is about Bible translations. Read his letter and my reply.

“Good morning Ma,

There is something bothering me for some weeks now. I came across a link online claiming NIV has removed 64,575 words from the Bible and also removed 45 complete verses. I was able to confirm from my bible on my phone and also proceeded to check a hardcopy to clear my doubt and to my surprise those verses were actually not there. I tried bringing it up in our light house but nobody has heard about it. I discussed it with some brethren. A brother told me when King James wrote the bible, he wasn’t having enough materials then so he assumed somethings which NIV decided to remove when they discovered more materials when they were writing. I wasn’t too convinced yet. I decided I was going to ask from my father & mother in the Lord first before drawing conclusions. I went to a church about 3weeks ago and I was faced with this same challenge again.

Ma, I know you use NIV & Tali uses KJV/NKJV. I need help in this subject matter likewise others in our church. Thanks for your time and God bless Ma”

Dear…

Thank you for your note. This is my opinion in the matter. I will not join the train of arguments about translations. What matters the most is that I am saved. I am a born again child of God and God is speaking to me thru His Word, by the Holy Spirit. All I want is the read the Bible every day and pray. That is my business! There is no ‘perfect’ translation of the Bible. Even we, the believers, no one of us perfectly understand the Bible, in any translation. As you know, English is not my primary language. I use mostly NIV for I find it easier to understand the words. But I also use KJ, NKJ and others. To me, KJ version is too difficult to understand. I will waste too much time in finding the meaning of the words in the ‘old English’ and that is not profitable to me. The discussion about different translations and their weaknesses is an old one. Just the way some men say that the Roman Catholic Church is the only church approved by God, in the same way, some men say that the KJ version is the only one approved by God. To me, these arguments about translations, is a temptation in itself. In the country of my birth Romania, which was Communist for many years, the believers in a city use to have just one copy of the Bible. They will tear it and each one will take only one page to secretly read it at home. ‘When you finish your page I exchange it with mine…’ This is because religion in all forms was considered a state crime. That is why I did not see any Bible with my eyes before I came to Nigeria. So why will I complain about translations today? This is the truth, both in the natural and the spiritual: Hungry men appreciate even a small slice of dry bread. The rich and spoiled reject even fry chicken saying that it has too many calories. I hope you understand…

These arguments take away from us the desire to study the Word of God. There is a Nigerian proverb that says “a lazy man complains about his tools when he cannot perform”. I believe that this argument about which Bible translation is better is started by an evil spirit of religion and not by the Holy Spirit. If you follow this evil spirit (God forbid!) you shall soon find out that no translation is good enough for you and there is no need to read the Bible anyway. In the same way, a single (foolish) man will say that no woman is perfect therefore he will not marry at all. This evil spirit wants you to leave the most important things in life, go after details and get lost in them. I advise you to reject this evil spirit for it produces doubt, restlessness and depression. It is a spirit of spiritual suicide and backsliding! Reject it! If not, soon you will find fault with all things, including your wife, your child and all! God forbid!

Deceived men have divorced their wives and marry others, for they thought these were more spiritual, better ‘versions’ of women or better ‘translations’. I hope you see the evil spirit and the damage he intends to do! The only men who fall to these wicked schemes are the ones who are spiritually lazy and who do not love the truth!

“Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge” (1Tim 6:20; NLT). The Word of God is the Word of God! No matter the translation! The Holy Spirit witnesses to it! And brings peace to my soul! I hope this has helped you! If you are helped, pray about it and you be the one that will explain and encourage the others who are confused.

Love in Christ alone,

Malia!

May God help all true believers in these ‘perilous times’! Find peace with God! Jesus is Lord!

“For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!” (1Kg 17:14; NLT)

PRAISE REPORT

This is letter from a young sister. She is in her thirties. She is a committed Christian. She prays and she worships God like few people can do. She can’t sing very well but she joined the choir by faith. She is a beautiful, faithful and kind young woman of God. But she has a tendency to feel sad and lonely. This is because of rejection from family and friends in the past. She has been praying for marriage since I know her. I know that she will be a bride one day. This is God’s will for her. She knows for I told her. If you have any words of encouragement for her, please comment, for she will read them.

“Good day Ma! I have a testimony, the Lord has removed the spirit of boredom away from my life & He gave me peace of mind, no more fears, no more worries, no more doubts, my Faith 100% has increased, Before now each time my birthday is approaching, the devil always use to put fears in my heart, that am growing old, no marriage, that I have not achieved anything good in life… Each time I see young singles celebrating birthdays, I always feel they don’t know what they are doing, instead of waiting to celebrate their marriages they are celebrating birthdays. Although I prayed & thank God in my closet, I was still ungrateful to God in my heart. But today I have been delivered! I thank God! I have life and hope. CHRIST in me is the hope of all Glory! I have been delivered, I been set free! Am enjoying peace in Christ today!

Malia, God bless you for all the encouragement & prayers! Thanks Ma Lia!

Your daughter…”

“If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1Pet 4:11)

This ‘little’ scripture is a great treasure for them who ‘find’ it. It only applies to the children of God who desire to serve their Father. God gives you a work to do or He sends you on a holy ‘errand’. Do not go anywhere before receiving the strength from Him which is necessary to perform that assignment. Do not work for God in your own strength. Flesh, no matter how religious, willing or zealous, profits nothing in the Spirit realm. For example, If you hire a driver, you do not expect him to pay for his food. Is the boss that pays for all his expenses! How much more God supplies all that you need for your work on earth!

In Greek, the word ‘strength’ means ability, force, power and might. It also means the state of being strong, the capacity to endure, the power to resist attack and also moving forward. Ability is the physical, mental and legal power to perform, to accomplish something; to be skillful, competent and effective, producing the desired effect. It means to be forceful; fruitful; ready for service or action, efficient and with no waste of energy or resources.

In Greek, the word ‘provide’ is a very interesting one. It is ‘choregeo’ from which the English word choreography (the art of dancing) comes from. This word means to be a dance or a choir leader and to help others becoming one. It means to give or to minister, to generously supply what is needed so that others may perform their duty.

If you use your personal strength to do ministry (even if it is to sweep the church) the glory will not go to Jesus, but to yourself. That is very dangerous! You will be a fake political religious man using the strength supplied by the evil territorial spirits around you!

But if you use God’s strength to do ministry, the glory goes to God alone! Jesus wants you to come closer to Him, so that both of you sing together, dance together and become lovers and friends. This intimacy is the source of all supernatural spiritual strength.  Talking like Jesus, singing like Jesus, dancing like Jesus, serving others like Jesus, will release the fragrance of His Person to all others around you. Be like Jesus and your life will give Him all the glory.  Men will know that you are heavenly person, an ambassador of Christ. Your ministry will be approved by God and by men! What a wonderful promise! May this word touch your heart today! In Jesus name, amen!

“I returned and saw under the sun that—

The race is not to the swift,

Nor the battle to the strong,

Nor bread to the wise,

Nor riches to men of understanding,

Nor favor to men of skill;

But time and chance happen to them all” (Ecc 9:11)

This expression is attributed to Charles Darwin who brought the idea of ‘Evolution of the species’. He believed that the animal species develop from one another, from the inferior to the superior. He also believed that the weaker species die and the strong ones survive. He said that the fittest survive because they can better adapt to the environment and because they have stronger ‘genes’ to multiply faster. It is Darwin that said that men came out of monkeys. This theory was later applied to the human behavior in general.  Even today people believe that the leaders, the champions and the heroes are the strongest men. They are the ones who are physically fit, eat well and daily train in a gym. It has affected many intellectuals all over the world. It is the basis of racism, discrimination of all kinds and the culture of abortion. The people who believe in this theory say that those who are eliminated in the struggle for existence are unfit to live anyway. They are not sorry for the weak, the handicap, the ugly, the poor and the humble.

The following is an example taken from a famous book that expresses this idea. “He was a killer, a thing that preyed, living on the things that lived, unaided, alone, by virtue of his own strength and prowess, surviving triumphantly in a hostile environment where only the strong survive.” (Jack London; The Call of the Wild)

Now, I want to say: This is a worldly theory. The world is the system of men that works without God. The devil is called ‘the god of this world’ (2Cor 4:4). The theory of evolution totally ignores Elohim- God, who is the Creator of all that is created. The survival of the fittest ignores God who is in charge of His creation, who decides who lives and who dies. God promotes and demotes any man He wants. In fact who the world calls strong is nothing to God. “That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble” (Jam 4:6)

When Jesus Christ came to this world He did not seem ‘fit’ as the world describes its heroes. He died on the Cross in weakness. Men and devils thought that is the end of Him. But Jesus ‘survived’ over them all. His descendants are like the stars of the sky and the sea on the seashore. We are His children and we are like Him. We may look weak and foolish but we live forever! In Christ, we overcome the world! The wisdom of the world is foolishness to God.

This is my testimony: I grew up in Romania, a communist country at that time. We studied Darwin and his theory in school and we believed in it. I did not believe in God. I really thought that monkeys were my ancestors. Thank God for Jesus! After I got saved, I repented of all my foolish and dangerous worldly ideas! I now believe and know without any shadow of doubt that God has created me, saved me and sustains me.  God loves me! I have no business with Darwin and his world. My business now is to serve and worship my Savior and Hero forever! He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God! Halleluiah!

“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.  Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (1Tim 6:17-19)

The word ‘command’ is a military word. This is not a suggestion. The Word of God commands us not to be proud or to trust in Mammon! God commands us to do good things and to be generous! That is how our heavenly account will increase and our trust and love of God will increase accordingly!

Do you want to store up treasures that are absolutely secure for the future? Then put your money where neither moths nor rust corrupt, where thieves can’t break in to steal (Matt. 6:19-21). Anything you invest in this life can be taken from you. Anything you invest in eternity is secure in the bank of heaven. If you had thousands of dollars in paper money that you needed to store in a safe place, you wouldn’t put it in a shack in a forest known for its frequent fires. And yet people who take a measure of caution in making sure their earthly goods are safe never stop to consider that the earth is going to burn (2 Pet. 3:10). Only what you invest in God’s kingdom will remain.

I read a very interesting story. A sailor shipwrecked on a Pacific Island. The natives captured him, put him on their shoulders, carried him to their village, set him on a crude throne and made him their king. Little by little the man learned that it was their custom each year to make some man a king for a year. He liked that idea until he began wondering what had happened to all the previous kings. He discovered that after the year was up, the kings were banished to a deserted island where they starved to death. The sailor didn’t like that idea, but he still had some time left. So he put his subjects to work, building a house, transplanting fruit trees, and planting crops on that deserted island. So when his year was up, as he knew it would be, he was banished, not to a barren island, but to a place of abundance.

We all die one day. You can’t take money with you at the time of your death. How then can you be ‘rich towards God’? You can pay into your heavenly account while you are still alive here in earth. It is called ‘paying forward’. You pay to your heavenly account where there is no inflation or recession. There is ever increasing profit. This is how you pay into your sure eternal heavenly account: by paying your tithes, by giving generously to the work of God and to the people who are in need. Just in case you doubt saying: ‘does God know how much I give to Him and to men?’ The answer is “Yes! He knows everything! He will reward you for every cent you have given to His work on earth! Believe in God! He is not a man that He should deceive you! The promise of reward is sure and the reward is also sure!  Trust God!

“And Pharaoh said to his servants: “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”… And Pharaoh said to Joseph: “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt… Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt” (Gen 41:38- 44)

The story of Joseph is one of my favorites. Joseph suffered much for many years. He was betrayed, sexually tempted, slandered and rejected. He had to wait for a long time before he saw his childhood dreams come true. But in those difficult years one thing never changed: “God was with Joseph!” The waiting was difficult but his sweet promotion came suddenly. It is the Holy Spirit in him that gave him the strength to endure and the wisdom to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh. He went the extra mile and even recommended the only solution to the crisis.

He woke up that morning in his prison cell. It was like any day. Over the years he has lost his trust in men but he had not lost his trust in God. In fact, his faith in God increased daily. Then there was noise at the gate. Pharaoh is calling him. Pharaoh needs him! ‘Are you saying Pharaoh…? The last thing that he did in the prison was to quickly have a bath, shave and take new clothes to see Pharaoh. He took nothing from the prison. He left everything there. In that shower room he left the sweat, the dirt and the tears. He did not take any old accusation, misunderstanding, bitterness or the sour taste of sleepless nights. He did not take the chains of loneliness. Everything became new. Dressing up with new garments was the first thing he did in readiness for the new beginning. Joseph woke up as a prisoner that morning. But that night, he slept in the palace, as the prime minister of Egypt, the greatest country at that time.

Joseph was promoted to the highest place, next only to the Pharaoh. He was above Mr. and Mrs. Potiphar, all magicians and ministers. His promotion was greater than he could have imagined. At the time of his promotion the whole world was suffering and dying from hunger. The whole world depended on him. He became the savior of the world. Then God gave him a wife, a free gift from Pharaoh! They have two sons. Manasseh means Forgetfulness for God has helped him to forget his painful past. The second son is Ephraim- Fruitful, because God made him fruitful not only in riches but even in poverty.

Joseph is a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ. He came from heaven to earth. He was betrayed by His creation. He died on the Cross for you and me. He was buried in a tomb. On the third day He rose to life having the keys of death in His hand. He bodily ascended to heaven. He sent the Holy Spirit. He is now the King of kings and the Lord of lords! Do you know this Jesus? Give your life to Christ today!

Lessons for you, child of God:
All God’s promises and dreams that God has given to you shall be fulfilled!
Your enemies do not have the last word in your life! God does!
Be filled with the Holy Spirit! He is your recommendation before all men!
No man can resist the wisdom given by the Holy Spirit to you!
Things can change suddenly because God is with you!
Your promotion comes from God!
Your promotion is greater than what you have imagined!
Many people shall rejoice at your promotion for you shall be a blessing to many!
Your children and friends shall be more numerous and much greater than all your past proud enemies!
God has helped you to forget your sins, shame and pain!
The peace that passes understanding is now your portion!
God has made you fruitful in all things and all seasons! Your gain, spiritual and natural, must increase!
It is your destiny to marry well! At the end of your suffering, your promotion package includes happy marriage!
You are a fruitful vine! You shall have children, spiritual and natural!
Your faith will increase daily! You shall do greater exploits than in the past!
Nobody can destroy your testimony for it is God’s gift to you!
Your life is to the glory to God!

“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal 6:14)

Nothing can save your soul except faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross, where He shed His Blood for you. The Cross is the only power that can deliver you from the bondage of the devil of the world and of sin! I love the Cross! It has brought eternal salvation to me! That is why I rejoice, I boast in the Cross of Jesus Christ! I have no other things to boast about! Nothing else matters, not my beauty, my education, my intelligence or my successes! To me Christ is my life! I am dead to the world and the world is dead to me. There is no more love or attraction between the two of us! The Cross did it! It is finished! I am free!

Jesus is my Lord and my Savior! He is my Doctor and my Lawyer! He is my Wisdom and my Peace! He is my Testimony and my Victory! Praise His holy Name! I am now singing: “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back! The Cross before me, the world behind me! No turning back, no turning back!” Glory to the Lamb upon the Throne!

“When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all”
(By Isaac Watts, 1707)

“The street shall be built again, and the wall,
Even in troublesome times” (Dan 9:25)

Daniel was in exile. He discovered the scroll of the Prophet Jeremiah who said that the people of God shall be in exile for 70 years. That was the time to fulfill their chastisement. After that, God will show mercy on them and bring them back to Israel. Daniel discovers that the time is at hand. He does not take it for granted that the promises of God will come to pass. Daniel does not passively admire the Word of God. He prays reminding God of His promises. This is a big lesson: we should not take the Promises of God for granted. He that has the revelation is the one who should lead in prayer and intercession.

Daniel knew that Jerusalem was an abandoned city. If the people of God return they shall only meet desolation. Trusting God for the return of the exiles, he prays for Jerusalem. This is another good lesson: if we really have faith, then we should pray forward. We are not looking at the present place or situation. We are praying for the things that shall be but they are not. That is called a prayer of faith. If you are barren, pray for your grandchildren. If you are sick, pray for that work or ministry God told you about. If you are poor, pray about the color of the roses in front of your new house.

Daniel prays for mercy. I often to the same! When it comes to me, Mercy is wonderful beyond word. Mercy smiles, embraces; smells like the lilies, dresses like a bride and sings like the doves.

Daniel confesses the sins of his people. He identifies with them. Because of sin, the only thing we have now is ‘confusion of the face’. The word confusion means shame, spiritual dryness, disappointment and sadness. He prays that God should shine His face upon the sanctuary. God’s gracious face will prevail against the shame of our faces. This is our prayer: The presence of God should come back to the house of God. The glory of God should be revealed to the faithful and humble worshippers. The Person of God the Holy Spirit should freely move in our midst. God is all they need. God is all we need.

Daniel spoke to Angel Gabriel and was greatly blessed by him. But Daniel knows that the house of God needs more than an angel. They need God! We too need God to come and dwell among His people. We need revival. We need healing. We need deliverance. We need the grace of God. We need a new beginning. Only God can grant these. Only Jesus Christ can save. May we forget all else! May we forget the success of the past and the failure of the present time! May we hunger and thirst for God to come down! Then the wilderness shall bloom like a field. Then the building shall rise. Then the wall shall be built! The troubled times of this season are powerless against the move of God! The gates of hell cannot prevail against the church! The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead tells us to rise once more. To the glory of God! All honor and adoration to the Lamb upon the Throne! In Jesus name, amen!

“For He orders His angels to protect you wherever you go! They will steady you with their hands to keep you from stumbling against the rocks on the trail” (Ps 91:11, 12; TLB)

This afternoon a great miracle happened. Brother Marcello (his nick name), one of the brothers from our church fell down from the ceiling at the new sanctuary. We are preparing the tubes for the ACs. He was welding inside the ceiling and lost his balance. The height of the ceiling is surely above 25 feet. We never had any accident since we started the building three years ago. This is the first one. Miraculously, he only had some little bruises on his back. Nothing else! No fracture! No bleeding! Nothing serious! Pastor Leigh said that it was like an angel placed foam on the floor so that he will not be hurt.

This evening we had the mid-week service. Brother Marcello came to church like usual. There was much joy in the congregation. We praised God for His goodness and faithfulness to us as a church! We serve the Living God! To God be all the glory!

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways…. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (Jam 1:6-8; 4:7, 8)

A young man who claims to be born again sent me this letter: “Dear Malia, I am in big trouble. Please help me! Please pray for me! I can’t even sleep. I am ashamed and worried. This is my story… There are two sisters in my life. The first one is very nice. She is a little older than me. She has a good job. She said that she is sorry for me. She offered to help me with prayer, counsel and money. She has been doing that for more than a year. I know that she loves me but we have nothing romantic between us. The second one is younger than me. I love her but I don’t know if she loves me. Last month I made a serious mistake. On an impulse I went to propose marriage to both of them in the same day. Each said yes, but later they found out what I did. They are both now angry with me threatening to tell my pastor. Please tell me what to do…”

I told him to give his life to Christ that he is not born again. I told him to repent of all his sins especially doubt, wickedness, manipulation and lust. I told him that for now, he is not ready to marry. That he should serve God until he is a mature Christian. I prayed that God should show him mercy and grant him a new beginning…

But the reason why I printed this letter is to show you how a double minded man behaves. In Greek, the word ‘double minded’ means to have ‘two souls in one body’. A double minded man may be religious but he is always disappointed with his ‘Christianity’ for God does not answer his prayers. He is the one praying and he is the one answering himself. He is like the wave of the sea, up and down, depending on the outside winds. He is a man who says yes and no in the same time. He has no true faith in God, because faith is ‘the assurance of things not seen’ (Heb 1:1). He cannot come to God with assurance in his heart that God is God. He does not trust God’s promises!

Listen, you cannot have both assurance and doubts in the same time. This man is ‘unstable in all his ways’. To be spiritually and emotionally unstable is almost mental sickness. An unstable man changes easily. He listens to what men say and tries to please them all. He is moody and anxious, restless and easily depressed. He is unstable not only in his prayer life, but ‘in all his ways’. His friends and family are never sure of what he will do next. He has no clear focus or defined purpose in life. You can never make plans with such a man for he will always disappoint you. These people are always unhappy in their marriages. Their spouses complain of this wavering in all their plans.

What is the cure? God! The Bible commands this man to come closer to God, to totally submit to the Lord Jesus Christ. This drawing closer to God so that He ‘takes notice and respond’ is a great spiritual principle! You cannot be forgiven, cleansed, healed and delivered at a distance. This principle was known and practiced even in the Old Testament. “The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you” (2Chr 15:2). Once you come into God’s presence, you shall receive the power of the Holy Spirit. You shall be able to resist any demon and you shall be delivered. These things are true!

May you hear the voice of God calling you to His presence! May God give you a fresh testimony and a new smile of thanksgiving! Nothing is impossible for God!  In Jesus name, Amen!

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled” (Heb 12:14, 15)

As a pastor I meet people who always murmur and complain. In medicine, a murmur in the heart means serious trouble. That heart is sick and dying. Spiritually it is the same. People who have a murmuring heart are never satisfied and never happy. They like to argue for little things. There is a shadow on their faces that shows internal pain. They are extremely difficult to help. They have grieved the Holy Spirit but they still insist on their rights. To murmur it means to be angry silently, to complain in a low tone that God is not fair to you. In Hebrew, the word ‘murmur’ is very interesting. It means to stop from a journey and lodge in a house. But the whole night you cannot sleep, you stubbornly complain about everything in that room.  After a long journey you have come to this house along the road. You enter and the host offers you bed and some food. It may not be the best in the world, but this is the best that he has .The whole night you prepared to argue with the host to reduce the price of that lodging. But in the morning, he tells you that there is no payment. You are surprised at his kindness but you don’t want to show it. Courtesy demands that at least you say ‘thank you’. But in your heart you reject the kindness of the host and you insult him when you leave. Many years have passed. You still remember the gracious kindness of the stranger. But on top of that, you remember the mosquitoes in the room; the AC that was not working well and the toilet that had no seat. You forgot that you were very tired when you came to his gate. You forgot that he gave you the best he had without charging you money. Forgetting the good and remembering the bad produces bitterness.

Remembering only the problems that accompanied a blessing in the past it is sin. The grace, the kindness, the unmerited favor of that stranger has failed to make you a grateful man. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ has failed in your heart. That grace that saves the souls of men died in your soul.  It could not save itself in you. Bitterness killed grace! What a tragedy! The effect will be a troubled conscience and no peace at all. The spiritual pollution will open the door to demons who will harass and trouble you. This is a most serious matter. Repent! Come to the Cross of Christ! Plead the Blood of Jesus! Deliver yourself from bitterness! Separate yourself from bitter, ungrateful and proud men! Say ‘thank you’ often, for all things and to all people!  Train yourself to be godly! Be holy as God is holy! I pray for you In Jesus name, amen!

“Draw me… Take me away with you—let us hurry!

Let the King bring me into His chambers” (SS 1:4)

‘Draw me closer to You, my Lord…’ This is one of the greatest prayers for a Christian.

You may ask: why do I have to pray such a prayer? I already know Jesus Christ. I am a child of God. Why then should I ask the Lord ‘draw me’? This is because there are many levels of intimacy with the Lord. The Christian life is not stagnant. It is not a lake that slowly evaporates in the heat of a merciless sun. The eternal life is like a river, ever increasing, becoming a flood, until finally it disappears into the ocean of God’s grace. Another reason to pray such a prayer it is because the heart of man is deceitful. You may have your feet close to the throne in heaven and your heart is still looking down on earth, longing for thins left behind.

‘Draw me…’ This is called the drawing of love, the drawing of grace. Love is like a magnet; its force breaks every chain of the world. It is a royal voice calling you into the chambers of holy things never felt before.

As for me, I am right now sited at His banqueting table and His banner over me is love! I have tasted and I now testify that my Lord is good and strong and sweet. His voice is powerful and gentle in the same time. His song is like a trumpet and like the strings in the same time. In His embrace I finally lose myself, I let go… of my fears, of all these unanswered questions. Bothering my mind… He knows all things and that is enough for me… He whispers love to my heart…He breathes peace to my soul. This is my morning dose of the Spirit. Just because the way it started I know for sure that today is a good day!

‘Draw me closer to You my Lord until all that is left is You and You alone…In Jesus name, amen!’

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

This was a very wonderful prayer meeting. I do not have words to describe it but I will try my best…This evening to pray and to worship was very easy. It is like we all danced in the clouds. We prayed for revival. We thanked God for His Word and for His Spirit in our church. We thanked Him for the gift of prophesy. We thanked Him for His grace upon us.

We prayed against the evil spirit of ‘boredom’. To be bored it means to be weary and tired of your life, thru lack of interest. This demon attacks especially the believers who wait on God. It is ‘a brother’ with the spirit of religion, impatience and backsliding. The demon says something like this: ‘Don’t you see that God does not hear your prayers? Your situation will never change. Morning, afternoon and evening you shall be the same. Nothing good, nothing new happens to you. Your wife, your husband, your business…will never change! God has forgotten about you. It is better to give up…’ Boredom comes with weakness of the body, restlessness, depression and anxiety. The same demon will tell you to drink alcohol or to over- eat because these things are like entertainment. This demon is a liar for in Christ, old things have passed away and everything is made new. Mercy is new every morning. How can I ever be bored? If you have an encounter with the Lord, you can never be bored and you can never be the same! Life will be an eternal adventure, no matter the circumstances.

We prayed to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came in His special way. We sang again and again: “Jesus You are beautiful…” The anointing was too strong to preach any message. Long ago we made a promise to God that He will always be first, in everything. He has all our heart, all our love, all our time and all our attention. Nothing shall interfere with the move of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in this church. God first and man second! It shall always be like that until, Jesus comes! Thank God for the grace to keep such a wonderful promise!

“I see Your face…Jesus You are beautiful… You are beautiful…You are beautiful…”

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1)
This is a good picture that helped me long ago to understand what faith is. There were two very poor and hungry men. A rich man came and felt pity on them. He gave each of them a bag of corn and told them: ‘This food will be enough for you for as long as you live!” Each one jumped with happiness and said ‘Amen!’ Each then took his gift and went home with it. Mr. Doubt and his wife feasted daily on it until it got finished. Then he became a poor beggar again. Mr. Faith and his wife decided to divide the corn in two places. Half of the seeds in the bag they planted in their garden. The other half they eat it daily, not too much, but just enough to live. Their sacrifice and humility was great wisdom. When their corn got finished, the harvest of the one planted just began. With time, he became the greatest corn farmer in his country. It all started with a bag of grains and a word of hope from a rich man called Jesus! He told both of them: ‘This food will be enough for you for as long as you live!” Mr. Doubt eat it all like there is no tomorrow. Bro. Faith believed the Word. That is faith! “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17)

“The appetite of laborers works for them; their hunger drives them on” (PV 16:26)
God made man to labor. All labor, both natural and spiritual, has profit! God made the Garden of Eden and told Adam and Eve to labor in it. Any idle man (ex. being on welfare for a long time) will soon go down, spiritually and mentally. A lazy man cannot prosper. The nations that work hard to survive have a better education and health system. Like in the countries where there is harsh weather (winter), men gave to work hard to live, if not they die. But if a country has it too easy (good weather…) the people become lazy. For example, you just wake up in the morning and you find banana outside your window, hanging in a tree you have not planted, and then you just eat it…why bother to plant anything?

The appetite is a stimulant to push man to work. It is God’s gift! When you are hungry, even if you are tired, you get up from bed and look for food. A man who is sick and dying loses his appetite. The return of the appetite is a sign that the patient is recovering back to life. It is the same in the natural realm and in the spiritual realm.

This is my testimony: God has blessed me with a high spiritual appetite. From morning till night I only dream of the Word of God, how to read it, to understand it and to pray about it. This appetite makes me strong to seek God. I give God all the glory for my spiritual appetite! I praise Him for the unending provision of His heavenly manna to me! Today shall be a good day, for the Word of God is fresh, fragrant and appetizing, calling me, waiting for me to partake from its sweetness! ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good!’ In Jesus name amen! (Ps 34:8)

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the Word” (Ac 10:44)

Cornelius was a Roman soldier. He needed God. He needed salvation. He did many good things that touched the heart of God in heaven. God sent an angel to talk to him. The angel could not preach but directed him to the preacher. This is how Peter, the servant of God, entered the scene. Cornelius is a rich man and Peter is a poor man.  But Cornelius and his family worshipped him. Peter refused their worship saying: ‘I am only a man just like you…’ Don’t blame Cornelius. If an angel from heaven recommends a man on earth that is the greatest recommendation needed for any ‘interview’. Peter preached the Gospel! He told them about Jesus, how He came to seek and save the lost; how he died on the Cross for sinful men. Even before he could ‘say the grace’, the Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius and his family.

Maybe you think that an angel coming to you is the greatest miracle. But the angel referred his case to a man like me and you. The angel could fly to heaven and back with the speed of light but he could not preach the Gospel. The angel could kill an army but he could not save a soul. Peter, the man of God, the servant of God spoke the Word of God to the hungry sinners. Men and women living in sin need you and me to preach the Word of God. Angels cannot do it! We must do it! Let’s do it! “Preach the Word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching” (2Tim 4:2, NLT). And God will bless you!

Romania is the country of my birth. Over there roses are very easy to grow. My parents’ house had many roses, of all colors and shapes. But in Nigeria, where I live, it is very hard to grow these flowers. The heat and the humidity is not good for them. For many years, it was one of my secret pain that I will not be able to touch a natural rose here. That is why when I see one rose in bloom, I consider it as a gift from God to me. Jesus said that He is the Rose of Sharon…beautiful, exotic and fragrant. Now you understand my joy when I saw this rose blooming in front of my kitchen window in Warri, Nigeria. Just because of this rose, I declare that today is a good day! In Jesus name, amen!

“I am the Rose of Sharon…” (SS 2:1)

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

The prayer meeting was wonderful. We went to heaven and back in just two hours. We dance a new dance called “all things have become new”. Of course it was the Holy Spirit who thought us the steps. There was a strong anointing of joy. The altar was calling for us to come closer to God. Let the Potter’s hands mold us, for His pleasure. We then talked about the keys of heaven. They belong to the Lord Jesus but He gave them to us. We prayed for the discernment, when to open and when to shut down; when to say yes and when to say no. The keys are not for personal use, only for the benefit of the Kingdom and for the glory of the King of kings. They represent the authority of heaven invested to the children of God. I could not trust myself to preach such a mighty revelation. But the Holy Spirit was carrying us like eagles. The anointing was so strong that even the foolish among us understood the message and they are now ready to use the keys. What a evening! There is no better place to be than in the presence of God! All glory to God!