“Something beautiful, something good
All my confusion He understood
All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife
But He made something beautiful of my life

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me?” (Heb 13:5, 6)

The devil tempts us to forget the presence of God…yes, we know that God exists in a general way, but we ignore His active manifested power and love in our personal daily walk…that is the temptation you have to learn to defeat… Our needs will never be ‘breaking news’ for they are always with us, one way or another…but even then, Jesus promised “never to leave you and never to forsake you”…this promise has to be active in your soul, working internally, until your faith is purified and the worship rises to God…never be intimidated by your needs, let your faith in God increase and your testimony will come…

If you are born again, Christ is your eternal savings account, that is why you can never be poor and you can never beg! It is only the unbelievers that are worried about money. The believer only needs faith and money will come!

As a believer, your life is a proof that Jesus is alive and that He is God! Your life is a proof that the devil has been defeated at the Cross! Your life should be an encouragement to other believers! This is your destiny!

 
“A man with (a spiritual) experience is never at the mercy of a man with (a religious) argument”

(Leonard Ravenhill 1907-1994)

Pray for a genuine encounter with the Lord! You will never be the same!

“Lord, I want to see You…”

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2Cor 3:17, 18)

This is a great and wonderful revelation: where the Holy Spirit has access and dwells, there is liberty. What does this mean? Generally, liberty is defined as the state to be free; to be a citizen and not a slave; to enjoy the social, political and economic privileges of a country; to be free from burdens, tyrants and oppressors; to be able to do what you please and walk where you want (within some defined boundaries). In other words, liberty manifests as true power and true joy.

The liberty described above is not just religious, but it is a spiritual liberty. It is the work of God. No man can make himself free. It is the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer in Christ. No unbeliever is free. The salvation story starts with the process of justification: Because Christ died for you, God can now declare you free from the bondage of sin.  The next thing God does in your soul is to change you to become more and more like Jesus. This process is called sanctification. It is the peculiar work of the Holy Spirit who uses the Word of God. It is a godly, good and glorious work. No child of God becomes totally sinless in this life but he surely changes into better. God wants us to be holy! This practical holiness in the soul of man is called liberty. The deeper the work of the Holy Spirit inside your soul, the greater your experience of liberty…

This liberty manifests as freedom from the burden, shame and guilt of sin. The conscience becomes free.  No more feeling of condemnation or inferiority complexes. No more regrets or bitterness. No more influenced by the opinions of men. From now on, God’s opinion is all that counts and all that you long for. No more desire to impress men by obeying their set of religious rules. The terrible yoke of legalism and hypocrisy is gradually destroyed. The fear of death and of going to hell is also going away. Heaven becomes more real than ever. We are commanded to ‘grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ’ (2Pet 3:18). This gradual growth manifests as spiritual maturity with the clear and unique stamp of spiritual freedom.

This freedom is a sign of victory. Jesus died for us, to die to no more. He has been crowned as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. This is God’s eternal decree that can never be altered. As the Holy Spirit changes you from inside out, you start to resemble the Lord in speech, choices and actions. Because He lives, and He enjoys life, you shall do the same. The stamp of a winner will appear on your forehead. A loser fears all things, but a winner is able to stand straight in the beauty of holiness, confident of his authority imputed unto him by Christ. Holiness in the soul is the red carpet to heaven. Glory is stamped on your way, dear child of God. This glory increases with each step that brings you closer to your Lord.

This is your destiny, to worship God and to become like Jesus! Meditate upon this revelation! Allow the Holy Spirit to have free access to your soul! Study and obey the Word of God! Then entrance shall be ministered to you, going into the glorious freedom of the children of God! This is God’s promise! Trust God! Be like Jesus!

GOD PUT A NEW SONG IN MY MOUTH

“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord” (Ps 40:3)

For the past 7 weeks I had a bad cough. That was inconvenient enough, for I hate sickness. But my pain was that I could not talk well and I could not sing. My ministry was attacked. Last week Sunday I ministered the Word but I was not confident enough that I can sing without coughing.

Finally, yesterday in Saturday class, led and empowered by the Holy Spirit, I sang…an old song but new and fresh to me…I was ‘shy’ at the beginning, but the anointing took over and like an eagle I soared freely….the devil has lost another battle…the worship must continue…may these words of faith touch you today!

”Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One…Give thanks for he has given Jesus Christ, the Son…and now…let the weak say I am strong, let the poor say I am rich, because of what the Lord has done…for us…GIVE THANKS!’

All glory to the Lamb upon the throne! Hallelujah!

“And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the wilderness” (2Sam 15:23)
“When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered” (Jn 18:1)

The Kidron valley is on the eastern side of The Old City of Jerusalem, separating the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives. It continues east through the Judean Desert, towards the Dead Sea, descending 4000 feet along its 20 mile course. In Hebrew, the word ‘kidron’ means darkness. This valley was a rubbish dump that collected the sewage of Jerusalem. All the animal carcasses left after the sacrifices at the temple were also dumped there. During the reign of godly kings, al the idols were destroyed and thrown in the Kidron valley too to be burnt to ashes. That is why the valley was permanently covered with smoke, a symbol of hell. The first time the Kidron valley appears in the Bible is when David was betrayed by his son Absalom. To protect Jerusalem, David decides to abandon his beloved city and weeping, he crosses the Kidron Valley going up on the Mount of Olives. He is a symbol of Christ who on the night of his betrayal, He also crossed the same valley to go to the Garden of Gethsemane, on the Mount of Olives. He was arrested by soldiers lead by Judas, one of His disciples.
Both these men were kings betrayed by their people. Both crossed the Kidron valley humiliated and rejected by their own people. Each had just some few men following them. Their friends, Ahithophel and Judas betrayed them. But they both came back victorious. After the death of Absalom, David came back to his throne, and all the nation repented of their sins. Jesus shall come back again and his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, as a victorious King forever (Zech 14:4).

The Kidron valley represents a form of hell, of death. It is the lowest man can go while still alive on earth. David said: ‘Though I walk thru the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me…’ (Ps 23). A mature Christian is not afraid to cross the valley of the shadow of death, for even in hell, God is with him. This valley separates the true and the false believer. The religious person may walk thru fields of flowers and streets of marble, but he can never cross over the valley of the shadow of death. It is at the edge of this valley that your fake friends will draw back, for no amount of money, kisses or promises will be able to buy their confidence to mix with the dry bones. But the true believer will cross over anything, for God is with him.
The lowest points in your life, as unpleasant as they may be these are your protection from evil. The valley is not the end of the story. The mountain of transfiguration is still ahead, where heaven touches earth and all things become new. Your sickness, your needs, your challenges…these are not the end of your story. Your sin foes not define you anymore. Your fears are not your master anymore. Something has happen! You are now a child of God! Old things pass away and everything becomes new! Jesus destroyed death thru death. We shall do the same. As the flesh dies under the power revealed at the Cross, my spirit rises to prove that Jesus is Lord!

“I am forever grateful for saving me, my Lord…”

 
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philip 4:6, 7)

This is again one of the most wonderful scriptures in the Bible. The danger for me is to read it, like it, even preach it but fail to apply it in my present circumstances. That danger ‘to be a hearer and refuse to be a doer’ of the Word, is in fact a very common deception coming from the devil (Jam 1:22).
So this early morning, as I allow the truth of God to sink deep in my spirit, I decide (once more) to obey the Word. In other words, from this very moment, I will completely refuse to be worried about anything at all that concerns me. I shall not worry about my health issues, financial or family things. Let the world divide itself into two, I shall not worry at all. Why? Because God commands me not to, and I really want to obey His Word! No matter the situation, I shall refuse to allow anxiety find a space in my heart. Does this sound as a crazy woman’s wish? Let it be so, let it sound crazy or impossible, but I have made up my mind to honor God’s Word and not worry anymore!

Anxiety takes a lot of energy out of a person. Unchecked, it becomes a mental sickness. Who wants that? Nobody! Then if I don’t worry, what will I use my time, my emotions and strength to do? I shall pray? Pray for what? “In everything by prayer…” From this morning on, I shall pray about all things, big and small. I shall believe that God hears my prayers and that He has all what it takes to solve my problems. I shall believe that prayer is the contact point between heaven and earth.

Question: Is it that God does not know about my problems? Of course He knows all things. But He commands me to pray for everything. I shall accept the challenge to think that without Jesus I can do nothing. But in Christ, I can do all things! So I will take everything that comes my way as a point of prayer. I will pray more and not less. I shall be more grateful for this opportunity to pray for everything. Thanksgiving shall become my foundational thinking. All men have problems and anxieties, but not all know Jesus, and not all pray. I recognize that I am a part of the blessed holy remnant of God’s people; I am not perfect but I am a prayer warrior. I appreciate this wonderful privilege and supernatural way of knowing God, therefore I am grateful. Then the peace of God will come and surround me, cover and heal my soul. Peace makes me happy! Then my body shall be healed too!

I refuse to borrow the chronic anxieties of my parents, my teachers, my neighbors or my doctors. I refuse that burden! I shall be free from anxiety and I shall pray! This life style shall define me from today on. Are you trying to imagine how will my life be? Without the load of daily anxieties and filled to the brim with prayers and praise, how will my life be? It has to be better, no doubt at all! It has to be easier, no doubt at all! Christ in me, the hope of Glory will shine brighter for all to see… I can only win and I can never lose…I shall be happy, free, supernaturally wise and strong. Miracles shall follow me. They have to! So, here the holy adventure begins!

“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 is one of the most wonderful promises of God. I applied it often, especially in times of need. Please read it knowing that it is God’s Word to you. What are the lessons?

*Temptations must come; they are unavoidable. The devil tempted Jesus so he will tempt us too. Do not be surprised when the attack comes, when the evil day comes, when things are hard and they make no sense. Temptation is not counted as sin. But a sinful response during temptation is sin.  God monitors your response to the evil attack. If you endure temptation successfully, you shall be promoted and receive the crown of life. If you fail during the temptation, you shall suffer loss. The intent of the devil is that during temptations, you should forget God and backslide; that you should shift from your stable position, even if a little. He will be very happy if you abandon your sure foundation of faith. Do not let the pain of the attack overpower your mind or emotions to the extent of doubting God. The pain will come and go, but your God abides with you forever!

*All temptations are ‘common to man’. They are ‘ordinary’. There is nothing special or unique about an evil attack. The devil does not create. He only repeats himself. The way he deceived our ancestors, that same way he will try to deceive you too. By studying the Word of God we can find the strategy, how to successfully resist temptation.  For example, God promised Abraham and Sarah a son. There was no need for plan B. There was no need for Abraham to go into Hagar. That was a mistake, a sin of doubt concerning the promise of God. They should have waited until Isaac came. By reading the Bible we are encouraged to avoid their mistakes.

*God is faithful to His promises. God does not tempt you! God does not plan your downfall! God does not lie! If God has spoken, that Word must come to pass. Make up your mind to honor God by trusting Him 100%. If you trust God, you shall not be disappointed; you shall not be put to shame! That is another wonderful promise!

*God is with you inside the problem. He monitors the size of the problem. You are not alone during temptations! God knows your strength too. He is intimately involved in your life. The temptation is to make you better, stronger, not to make you fall. God is in charge of your problem. At the last minute (as God counts it) He will open your eyes to see ‘the way of escape’. This is the exit out of a burning building. It is the miracle open door out of an impossible situation. All your attention is to find this miracle door. When the temptation comes, the door is designed as part of it. God never panics thinking of solutions at the last minute. God is never confused! Your problem does not intimidate Him! The door of escape, the solution, is part of the problem from the very beginning. You shall find it and suddenly you are free!

It does not matter if the challenge is about health, finances, marital and family issues. These things differ. But one thing is sure: God never changes! Jesus is forever the same, yesterday, today and forever! God is always faithful! God has never lost any battle and he will not start with you! Let me tell you this: Even if you plan to prove God unfaithful, you shall lose the game! Because the truth is this: God is faithful to His promises! That is how God is!

May your eyes open to see the faithful door of escape! I say: Enough of this sickness! I say: Enough of this stress!  It is time to leave this furnace and go outside in the cool evening under the rainbow of peace! Let’s celebrate deliverance! Let’s honor freedom! Jesus is Lord!

“A wise man is strong,

Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength;

For by wise counsel you will wage your own war,

And in a multitude of counselors there is safety” (PV 24:5, 6)

Recently I had a serious challenge with my health. Sickness is like a prison, makes you lonely and ashamed. I did everything I knew was right. I reminded myself that God is with me in all situations. I also prayed for wisdom, for that is God’s day and night open prayer line. The Holy Spirit comforted me and did not allow me to fear the evil associated with temptation. As difficult as the sickness was, the peace of God that passes all understanding was my permanent companion.

During this challenging time, God surprised me by sending special, trained, loving, faithful, experienced and wise warriors to pray for me and counsel me. The first of the list is my husband of 40 years. From beginning to the end, he was a source of faith, great strength and love. I have never been so sick in the past, so now I know the meaning of being one ‘in sickness and in health’. Yes, marriage is a wonderful thing, no matter the circumstances.

But God surprised me by sending other servants of His, with the right words spoken at the right time. These ‘angels’ reminded me of my own sermons… of my own words spoken to them in the past. Seeds planted long ago to help them in their hour of need, came back to me as a harvest of faith and strength and hope. These true friends helped me to reject the lies of the enemy and to stand for Jesus. They did not waver in their support. Their words brought much encouragement to me. They lifted me up when I was about to fall. How blessed I am that all my friends are wise people, that foolishness is far from my camp, that prayer warriors lifted their voices on my behalf, that together we can share in this wonderful testimony of healing and victory!  Yes, God honored me by sending true intercessors at the lowest point during this trial of health. The time of pain became a door for much grace revealed to me. I am humbled and grateful! Indeed, God is faithful!

“Dear Father, I thank you for Your presence in my life…I thank You for Your Word and for Your Spirit…I thank You for sending Your faithful servants to support me during this battle with sickness…I thank You for the lives of all people who prayed and encouraged me at the time of my need! Please bless them with the blessings of Christ! We share in the joy of healing and the victory against the forces of darkness! We give You alone all the glory! In Jesus name Amen!”

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt…” (Jam 1:5, 6)

In this world we experience many challenges: health, financial, marital, children, ministry, jobs…As different as these trials are, there is a common need in them all: the request for wisdom from God.

Wisdom is the skill, the capacity, to practically apply the scriptures in daily living. Many people memorize and quote the Word of God but they seem unable to apply what they know. The Word of God remains a stranger to their lives, more like a decoration than real food for the spirit. The scriptures do not ‘work’ for them. They lack godly wisdom.

Wisdom is not the same as intelligence or education. There are many men who have PHDs but their lives are a mess. Wisdom is a gift from God giving to the humble that have faith. They recognize the need and the value for it. That is why James says: “If any of you lacks wisdom…” We all lack wisdom, we are all basically weak, ignorant and foolish, but few recognize the need for wisdom from God.

For the people who desire wisdom the advice is to ask, to pray to God. Wisdom does not come from men, so do not look around for none can supply it. Wisdom comes only from God, so look up and pray with faith. God may find fault with other requests when we pray amiss, but the prayer for wisdom is always answered, 100%. This is a great encouragement, for any answer to prayer is a stepping stone to increase your faith for later challenges. When God sends His Word of Wisdom, it is always generously done. You shall know what to do in your present circumstances, and even much more than that. God encourages us to be wise children; this is one of His attributes as a Father. The wisdom of God always leads to victory and greater testimony.

Practically, what can you do? If you are sick: pray for wisdom…if you are in trouble: pray for wisdom…if you have financial stress: pray for wisdom…The prayer is the same, God is the same, but the answers are many, adapted to your needs. O, the sweet power released when God speaks to you… directing your path… His Word of Wisdom may be very different than the human common sense you are used to. But wisdom from heaven never fails. It is the love expression of the Wonderful Counsellor, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Wisdom of God.

Let’s Pray:

“Father, I have a great need.  I come to ask for wisdom for my situation right now. I believe that You will give it to me according to your promise in James 1:5. I promise to give You all the glory when my problem is solved. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!”

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity” (PV 28:13, 14)

Your relationship with God will reflect in all other relationships you have on earth, including your marriage. You can only be a good a friend, wife or mother if you are first of all a good servant of God. God cannot be deceived. This is God’s law! God monitors your spiritual seeds and harvests in your matrimonial home! If you are a secretive person, if you refuse to openly acknowledge your sins and if you are not willing to repent, you shall ‘fall into calamity’. In Hebrew, the word means trouble, affliction, depression, misery and evil. A secretive hard hearted person shall fall into temptation and is not protected from evil. Divorce and the bad name of a betrayer are only few of the miseries ahead. Like with Pharaoh, God hardens the heart of some people as a sign of divine punishment. God told Moses in advance that the king of Egypt will be hard hearted that he will refuse to yield to the Word of God. The whole country was destroyed because of the stubbornness of its leader. Once the Blood of the Lamb was shed, Pharaoh eventually had to bow to Jehovah and let God’s people freely go (Ex 9:12).

Dear Friends, Think about all these things. If you are single and you pray for marriage, be sure that you marry a child of God. More than wealth or education, this is the most important quality of all. He may be poor today but if he is really saved, God is his Father and he will never beg for food. The spiritual status is the most important thing as you prepare for marriage. Remember that you cannot change your husband. Only God has access to a man’s heart. You can pray and try your best to help but you cannot convert your spouse. This is the truth!  To marry an unbeliever is a great deception; it means that you want to help a wicked person to practice more wickedness. And remember, God hates that unequal yoking!

Please meditate upon God’s Word…Is the Word of God penetrating your heart? Are you really changing from within? That is a good sign, for it means that the hardness of heart is melting away…Learn from the mistakes of others…pray for your marriage…pray for your children…pray for your heart…humble yourself…every hidden sin should be repented of!. Do not practice secrecy in the home. God’s Word is like ‘a hammer that breaks the rocks’ (Jer 23:29). Study the Bible! Pray always! This is the holy secret of successful marriage! To God be all the glory!

“Some Pharisees came and tested Jesus by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

“What did Moses command you?” He replied.

They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”

“It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female. ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Mk 10:2-9)

Marriage has been under attack from the beginning of human race. But recently the danger has increased manifolds. The rate of divorce in the western countries is above 50%.  This terrible statistics includes the Christians too. There are many authors who write books about marriage. But because marriage is designed by God, it follows that coming closer to God will make a marriage successful. Backsliding from God will destroy all relationships, including the marriage.

Our Lord tells the religious leaders that marriage was God’s idea. He quotes from Genesis, chapters 1 and 2. There was no mention of divorce when it was instituted. Even after the fall, divorce is an exception. God allows it because of the entrance of sin and the damage it does. Sin has damaged the image of God in man and the purity of God’s plan for marriage. God ‘hates divorce’ and He only allows it in extreme cases to prevent a greater damage to the victim. The main reason for unhappiness in marriage and divorce is given by our Lord. He said that ‘a hard heart’ will destroy the marriage. If both the husband and the wife have hard hearts, the risk of divorce is almost 100%. If one of them is a committed Christian and the other has this hard heart, the risk for divorce will be 50%.

The word ‘hard’ refers to a stony heart not easily penetrated by the Word of God. It does not easily submit, yield to pressure, repent or change. The heart is not capable of being sensitive, kind, patient or merciful. It is burdensome, oppressive, bossy and proud. It is troublesome; it takes pleasure in causing pain to others; it is easily provoked, angry or quarrelsome. It is difficult, hard to understand, unreasonable and unteachable. A person with such a heart does not finish what he starts, for there are many obstacles in its path.

The source of this hardness of heart is ignorance of God, His Word and His Ways. These are religious people who go to church; they listen to sermons but cannot understand any word. They are spiritually foolish, deaf and blind. It is a spiritual disease that only Jesus can cure. It is a sign of rebellion against God. If a habitually stubborn person provokes God in heaven, how do you think that such a one can have a happy marriage? It is impossible!

This is a warning to pray and be sure that you do not take marriage for granted. You should only marry a true born again believer. For all unbelievers have sinful hard hearts, even if they go to church, pray or read the Bible. Single sisters and brothers, please note: no husband can change his wife and no wife can change her husband. Marriage itself does not change the hearts of men. Only God does that! M\

May God have mercy on us! May the wisdom from above be imparted in this hour of need! May God be glorified in our lives! In Jesus name, Amen!

 
“Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you…” (Ecc 9:9)

God invented marriage. He who created Adam said that ‘it is not good for man to be alone’. God made Eve from his rib. Adam recognized and accepted her back from God. As pastors, we conduct many weddings in our church. Each couple has a story, a testimony. It is a pity that many couples forget the God who brought them together. Marriage is not man’s idea, but God’s. If you desire a successful marriage, a godly home, the most important thing is to remember God!!!

If you are ignorant of the divine purpose of marriage, you shall misuse it and fail to bring glory to God in your home. That will end in much sorrow. The husband, the wife and the children have a duty to read the Bible and pray daily. The Word of God should rule all decisions in the home. They have to serve God in the local church. These things are vital for the peace in the home. Joshua was not just s great leader, but an excellent husband and father. . Jesus is the Head of the Church. This is His advice to all families, if they want peace, joy and prosperity!
“As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord” (Josh 24:15)

When God created the man and the woman, they were both naked and felt no shame. After the fall of mankind, sin and shame came in. God cursed the snake and the devil that possessed him (Gen 3). Then God judged Adam and Eve. Both the husband and the wife have a tendency to serve idols, even if ignorantly. God exposed the secret sinful desire of the woman to control her husband. God’s judgment is that the husband will frustrate and defeat that rebellious desire in his wife. The natural woman is consumed with a desire to control her home. She wants to know everything the husband or the children are doing. She is restless and jealous, never at peace. Her marriage becomes her idol. She wants to take the glory for the success of her home.
It is different with the men. God commanded Adam to work and take care of the Garden. Work was part of man’s purpose in creation. But after the fall, the husband will go to work in a difficult environment. Work will not be a pleasure anymore, but a burden and a pain. The husband is consumed with the desire to be rich and successful in his business. He spends many hours and days outside his home, looking for money. He abandons his duty as a pastor to his household. His business is his idol. God and marriage trail behind.

What is the solution? GOD!!! The remedy for both is to be born again and filled with the Holy Spirit! (Eph 5:18). Both need to be like Jesus! The wife needs to submit to her husband as Jesus submitted to His Father. The husband has to love his wife as Jesus loves the church. This is the divine formula for marital success! It is 100% guaranteed! Then God shall be glorified in that home! And yes, you shall enjoy your marriage like a piece of heaven on earth! May you drink from the King’s pitcher filled with the wine of Joy! Enjoy life together! Amen!

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (Ps 150:6)

I am trying to find words to express my gratitude to God for a successful trip, even when more than half of the time I was in pain. This is God’s promise: God’s strength is perfected in my weakness. It is a strange scripture. Maybe I was too proud about my health, my strength, my gift of organizing things. This time I became like a baby, waiting for Tali to help me. Usually he is so fast…but these days he slowed down waiting for me to come along. Love never fails…God keeps the best for the last…if the devil likes or not, I shall enjoy my latter years and our mature marriage. Pain or no pain, my breath stayed with me, therefore I shall praise my God!

“For the Lord your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory” (Deut 20:4)

The battle was fierce but the victory is mine. O…sweet peace…
If you are a born again believer, in whatever situation, you are always the winner. This is not my wish. It is God’s Word! Victory manifests in many ways, but all these ways have something in common. They spread the sweet powerful fragrance of Christ, the Eternal Victor. In times of trials the devil attacks with lies, mostly the idea that the battle will rage on forever and there shall be no clear winner. These are all lies. The weeping may endure for the night, but morning is faithful to displace the power of darkness, with the songs of joy leading the transition.
At the Cross, the devil rejoiced to see the Son of Man defeated and humiliated. What he did not know was that the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. Jesus died for our sins, that we may be forgiven, healed and changed, to become the sons of God. If the devil knew that the death of Christ will become the tree of life for many, he could not have killed the King of glory. But now it is too late, for the power of resurrection has destroyed even the memory of the power and shame of failure and death.

“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!

“For life is more than food and the body more than clothing” (Lk 12:23)

We are spending some time in Houston, Tx, visiting the children and the grandchildren. Some few days I was really sick, with a mysterious cold that ‘missed road’ as we say in Nigeria. Here fashion is king. All the malls have a lot of stuff, dresses, shoes…in the past I used to get excited, seeing all that display…it is natural, you may say… But this time, it was different…Feverish, as I walked between the rows of stuff, all my mind was to go home and rest…I saw beautiful hats with ribbons, but I had a headache…I saw shining shoes, exactly my size, but my feet hurt…I saw leather bags of all shapes and styles, but my left shoulder was paining me… I saw some belts with studs but my waist was too stiff to try them on… I tried to smell some expensive perfume but I had a dry cough that refused to let me enjoy it… we went to some fine restaurants but I had no appetite for any food…

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1Tim 6:10)

These are ‘the last days’. The spiritual darkness will increase and men will become worse. But the light of God shines in the midst of darkness, unafraid and unquenchable. The people of God shall become stronger, more faithful and do exploits in the name of the Lord. Light is not intimidated by darkness for it is the winner.

One of the terrible manifestations of spiritual darkness is the replacement of the holy love of God with the love of money. There are many pastors who survive just by preaching and encouraging the love of money. There are many congregations who are lead astray from the truth of the Gospel. These end up as bitter roots, trouble makers, practicing ‘all kinds of evil’ that will bring much sorrow and disappointment at last. The love of money competes directly with the worship of God. It is an enemy to the knowledge of God. You cannot serve bot God and mammon. You have to choose one and reject the other.

This is a true story. Many years ago I visited a church here in Nigeria. During the sermon God gave me a word for the church. At the end of the service I asked one of the ushers about the protocol in that particular church. I said I wanted to talk to the pastor who just preached the message or to his wife. I was directed to his wife. I introduced myself and I told her that I feel in my spirit that they are going towards danger; that they are deviating from the safe path of godliness with contentment, that they encourage lusting after material things and greed as a life style. I told her to pray about it and discuss it with her husband. I told her that I personally have no gain in bringing this word; that I came as a messenger of God. She looked at me with a strange look and said: “Dr. Mrs. Leigh, I know you… Next time please do not bother coming with any word. We know the Bible more than you. What we need is money. You are a successful doctor and not a pastor. Tell your husband to bring money to church…we need money…” I was shocked. I could not comment. I greeted her and left. I never went back to that church. But the Word of God is true. This couple has suffered untold sorrows, much more than the problems ‘common to men’.

Greed is a terrible and shameful thing. Please be honest…These are good questions: Do you love money? Do you direct your life based on the profit you make? Is your job or your boss your god? Are you ready to take any risk and be transferred to the ends of the earth just for a better job? Is the choice of a spouse based on your financial calculations? Is the choice of your local church based on greed? Are you sadder when you lose money than when you lose a friend? Are you more worried by your lack of promotion in your office than by the grieving of the Holy Spirit? Is the choice of a Bank more important to you than the choice of a local church where you can serve God and fellowship with godly men? Does your Bank manager have more influence in your life than your pastor? Do you go to church to hear about finances all the time or you really want to know God?

The answers are sign posts on your path. You either go to heaven or to hell. There is no middle ground.

What is the solution? Jesus said that you should seek FIRST the kingdom of God and its righteousness and then, all other things, including money, promotions and other material things shall follow you. This is the Word of God. No man or devil can change it! May mercy and wisdom from above be your portion today! In Jesus name, Amen!

“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left” (Is 30:21)

The flesh is restless. We get easily bored on walking the straight and narrow path. Things attract us to deviate, just for the fun of it. On the right, there is the pull of secular entertainment, the music of second hand cymbals and plastic trumpets. On the left is the attraction of legalistic religion…just tell me what to do and I will be happy…the choir sings and the congregation applauds…going home un-changed, that is what I want…

“Out of His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given” (Jn 1:16)

Grace is defined as the unmerited favor of God. The only source of grace in the whole universe is God. Jesus came to earth ‘full of truth and grace’. Truth without grace is fearful to sinful men. But grace makes it easy to digest, so that truth changes us to be free and strong. When the grace of God abides on a man, things just ‘happen’ with ease and joy. Other men labour and struggle, but the man who has the favor of God moves on, thru all things unhindered. If you see a man who is successful without much labor, the only explanation is that the grace of God is on Him.