“Quench not the Spirit… Don’t stifle the Spirit… Do not put out the Spirit’s fire” (1Thess 5:19)
The Holy Spirit is a Person. The Holy Spirit is God. One of His symbols in the Bible is fire. “Our God is a consuming fire’ (Heb 12:29). Fire purifies by burning the impurities in a metal. “Silver and gold are purified by fire, but God purifies hearts” (PV 17:3). Passing anything thru fire it reduces the weight and size of that object, for only that which is pure will remain.
God allows us to pass thru the fire of affliction, sickness, loneliness and pain. These are unpleasant things. Nobody likes to suffer. But God supervises the process and like Job, we come out the better. At the end of the tunnel we start manifesting the Fruit of the Spirit, we become more loving, patient and wise. Our words have greater impact in the listeners. Every true Christian is able to give thanks to God for the fire of the Holy Spirit. This work of purifying the character cannot be done by man or by circumstances. We may pray many prayers and nothing changes. Suddenly Jesus manifests as the Baptizer with fire and terrible habits and sins just disappear. Your heavy burden of shame and condemnation is gone! When fire comes down is always a miracle of life revived!

How does a Christian quench the Holy Spirit?
This is one of the shortest verses in the Bible. It is God’s command to His children because an unbeliever does not know the Holy Spirit. We have a choice: we either obey or we disobey.
The warning against the quenching of the Spirit applies to individual believers and congregations. One way to quench the Spirit is by allowing the evil spirit of religion to have access to your mind or to your church. It is the same as offering ‘strange, fake fire’ from the devil who comes as an angel of light. Now there is a competition of fires. God is jealous and He will instantly expose the fake. But if you continue to resist the chastisement of the Holy Spirit you shall grieve Him to the point in which He will withdraw from your life or church. That will manifest as an increase of sins that no prayer can stop. Demons come back. Sinful habits you gave up in the past are revived and overcome your personality. The heart becomes a stronghold for evil spirits, full of wicked thoughts and unholy imaginations. There is a terror inside that will kill any desire to serve God. The believer backslides and no man can help.

No deliverance is possible in the absence of the fire of the Holy Spirit. Once the Holy Spirit is quenched in a church, the religious spirits take over. The holy place becomes ‘a den of robbers’. The true worship is replaced by ordinary singing. True ministry is replaced by restless activities. Entertainment and programs define that church. The pastor stops preaching the Gospel of Christ Crucified. The words that come from the pulpit are only business and empty slogans. Mammon is god over that congregation. Nobody is saved. Hell is happy…The end is death and destruction…what a tragedy…

How do we bring back the fire?
Come to God in repentance. Go to the Cross! See Christ crucified! Pray until He has mercy on you. Pray until God touches your heart again. All revivals start with honest desperate prayers. Go back to the Bible. Read it on your knees. Tell God that you miss Him. Tell God that you are the prodigal son coming home. God listens to your words. Reject all evil demons of religion, doubt, love of the world, love of money and entertainment. Desire to be a true, holy and serious Christian! Desire to serve and worship God! Change your church if there is no fire! Your soul is more important than any friends you have made there! Be persistent! Eventually, God will come down and embrace you! The fire will burn your fears and depression! The fire will come with joy unspeakable and full of glory! Even your liver will smile! You shall have a new push for life! You shall rejoice in the Lord once more! The joy of the Lord shall become your strength! God is faithful! He will do it!

“Come, Jesus, Lord, with holy fire,
Come, and my quickened heart inspire,
My conscience purged by blood;
Now to my soul Thyself reveal,
Thy mighty working let me feel,
Since I am born of God!

Let nothing now my heart divide,
Since with Thee I am crucified,
And live to God in Thee.
Dead to the world and all its toys,
Its idle pomp and fading joys,
Jesus, my glory be!”

(Charles Wesley 1707-1788)

May the fire of the Holy Spirit burn once more in your soul! This is my prayer for you!
“Fire fall on me!”

“A new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another…God is love…We love because He first loved us”

(Jn 13;34, 35; 1Jn 4:8, 19)

In Greek, the word ‘love’ is ‘agape’. It appears more than 250 times in the New Testament. This love is not a soft romantic nice sexy feeling. Also, it is not a friendly brotherly (sisterly) attachment to family and friends. The agape love is basically defined as self-sacrifice, loving like God, who suffered and died that we might live. It is the only love ‘found’ in the Bible. It is a spiritual love poured into our hearts when we become born again. God does not just love by nature but He is love Himself. That is why everything that proceeds from God is coming from His heart of love. We do not merit this love. It is pure grace in action.

Agape love affects the whole man. Its overflow extends not only to your family and friends, but to your neighbors, enemies and even to the whole world. There is no virtue in loving your own family or even ‘falling in love’ with someone you like to marry.  But to love like Jesus is a sacrifice and an eternal achievement that even heaven acknowledges and admires! This Christian love is not just an emotion, but a mighty victory of your selfish flesh, over your natural mind and will! Agape love defines a true champion!

God has loved us first of all. The word ‘first’ means to be foremost in time, in place and in the order of importance. Out of the revelation of this ‘first love’ we have received, we become able to overflow in worship and to love other men. This love starts like a little seed and becomes a harvest of adoration and service back to the Father. Love then becomes ‘perfect’. It now affects the whole character of man. As a fruit of the Spirit flowing out, this love touches others like nothing else will do. The love of God in the heart of the mature believer has universal favor will all men. None can resist it. Jesus said that ‘all men will know’ that we belong to Jesus!

There is always a danger in becoming lukewarm and forsaking your ‘first love’ (Rev 2:4). Religious spirits may look attractive but they do not have a drop of love. Test the spirits of men who come to you with sweet words, gifts and promises. Look for the universal sign of ‘love like Jesus’. The man may be hard working, handsome, rich, gifted and all. The woman may look soft, nice and beautiful, and she may sing like an angel. But if they have no love, they are just a noisy, out of tune, out of the orchestra cymbals, trouble makers and bitter roots. Without agape love, like Absalom, they are just thieves of hearts! Run away from them! Do not befriend them! Do not marry them! You must repent of seeking to please anyone else than the God who loved you first!

The greatest proof of love is the Cross. The Father sent His Son to die for us, the sinners. There is no greater love than that. Here you see the root of agape love: it is self-sacrifice. Our destiny is to glorify the God of the Cross and to desire to be like His Son who died on it! Agape love is more than words, it is action love. You shall have enough opportunities to prove that agape love flows in your veins by helping others to fulfill their destiny, by postponing the satisfaction of your desires, by waiting on God and interceding for others. You learn to respect the needs of others more than yours.

OUR TESTIMONY

We got married as unbelievers. We started our life together based on eros mixed with philio love. It was all flesh. Yes, it was beautiful and romantic but flesh nevertheless. After we became saved, we saw the need for our marriage to be saved. Both my husband and I started to pray to love like Jesus. It was not an easy transition. The devil attacked us like never before. We made mistakes along the way but we persevere on that royal way of the Cross. Little by little we saw the light and the hope of glory. Our marriage became new, holy, full of genuine romance and joy that none could quench. The unity of the Spirit was established. Even more than that, it became a ministry to many, challenging and encouraging them to follow the same path. .

This is the simplest way I can say it…For example, I shall sleep hungry tonight if all we have is just a piece of bread. My husband coming tired from work shall eat it and he will not even know that I am hungry. That is the least of my proof of loving him. He shall also do the same… This shall become a marriage life style and ministry to the end.

“By this we have known the love of God, because He laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers” (1 John 3:16). Because of God’s love toward us, we are now able to love one another.

This is my wish for you…O, that you may be interested to learn more about the love of Christ flowing in your soul…O, that you may desire to worship God thru this agape love…O, that you may desire to practice self-sacrifice for the sake of Christ…O, that you may humbly take your cross daily and follow Jesus…O, like water becoming wine, may your erotic love in marriage be changed into the undying love of God found in Christ Jesus our Lord…O, that you may desire to be a true champion, a holy vessel unto the Lord, an inspiration to all men and angels too…O…O…O…

In Jesus name

Amen!

“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me;
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’
And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ (Mat 25)

GOD IS EXALTED EVEN IN SMALL THINGS
Sister V is a true woman of God. She is a wife, mother and grandmother. She is humble and kind. She is my friend and sister in Christ. She has a ministry of helps among the difficult people (1Cor 12:28). I have seen her pray for impossible situations that soon became easy. She is a blessing to her neighbors and many others. She rarely gets discouraged when doing her labor for God. She is a lover of God’s Word, an intercessor for the nations and a poet too. I am encouraged by all her letters. Please read her testimony. Also pray for her that her ministry will increase. That God will provide all that she needs, resources, wisdom, money, other helpers and most of all more of the Holy Spirit to her. Pray also that God will bless her family too.
If you are in the helps ministry, be encouraged today!
Below is a portion from her letter:

Dear Malia…
I now fellowship with my neighbor, she is now in her apartment, but her family does not come to see her. She is a difficult woman, at first she did not want to receive help. i prayed for wisdom and grace to help her. Listen to this testimony: I came to visit with her (this was before she went to the nursing home). I found her lying on the floor unable to get up. This was a woman that was walking two days ago. She still did not want me to help her, but iI called 911 and she was taken to the emergency room. From there she was admitted to the hospital and from there to another hospital and from there to the nursing home. To my surprise she had the nursing home call me and she asked me to be her emergency contact person. This was how I got to know about this nursing home. This lady wanted to go home but the people were convinced that she was incapable of caring for herself.
We prayed for God to make a way, long story short this lady became depressed, they were convinced that she was mental, but I told them that her mind was clear. By divine intervention, she had to be taken to the hospital in the middle of the night. it was there that a doctor decided to send her home. Immediately she came home, it was amazing! She brightened up and told me that she will walk again because God has heard our prayers. She can now walk with a walker and is looking forward to getting a motorized wheel chair. Praise God! I went to see her this evening and she got approved for the wheel chair! I am still rejoicing and thanking God for what He has done. She is no longer a difficult woman, i was able to call on her behalf and get her a care provider that comes in everyday to take care of all her needs. In the past she always keeps her blinds closed, but now she lets in the light. I have said a lot because I know that God has the finale say, not man! And must be glorified!

“Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge”
(Psalm 46:10, 11)

Love in Him,
V

In Christ I declare:
Sister V is blessed!
Her family and the work of her hands are blessed!
There shall be increase of resources and new open doors for her ministry!
All to the glory of God!
In Jesus name’
Amen!

“Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day…” (Josh 14:12)

Caleb made this speech on his 85^th birthday. He reminded Joshua of the promise God made to him, 45 years previously, thru His servant Moses. Caleb was one of the twelve men Moses sent ahead to spy the Promised Land. They came back confirming that the land is ‘flowing with milk and honey’. But ten of them added that it is impossible to occupy the land because giants live there. Their negative report made the hearts of the people of God ‘melt with fear’. Joshua and Caleb confronted them saying that ‘if God is with us, we can conquer them; for their protection is gone, for God is with us!’ (Nu 14)

God comes to the scene and gives His judgment. The ten spies who spread a bad report and discouraged the congregation died of a plague ‘before the Lord’. For doubting and grumbling against God the people of Israel will waste forty years in the wilderness and die there. Only their children will enter the Promised Land.

As for Joshua and Caleb, because they were loyal to God and believed His promises, they shall enter too and occupy the very places were their feet have walked upon.  Caleb went up to Hebron, which he calls ‘a mountain’.  In a most wonderful speech full of faith he now reminds Joshua of God’s promise made to him so many years ago:

“You know the word which the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God. So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’ And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the giants were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said” (Josh 14:6-12).

Joshua confirms his request.  At 85, Caleb and his children go to war against the giants and they killed them all. At last, Hebron became his property. The name Hebron means ‘Fellowship’. The name Caleb means ‘he is able’.

“He is able, more than able, to do much more than I can ever dream…

Jesus is able, more than able, to make me what He wants me to be…”

If God has given you any promise in the past, thru the Word or by His Spirit, please remember today that He is the faithful God. Even if time has gone, it is never too late for God. If you are faithful to God you shall become His intimate friend and have sweet fellowship with him. If you serve God faithfully in your youth, you shall enjoy your old age. Your strength and passion for life and serving God shall not reduce.   The natural laws of getting old shall not apply to you. With ‘long life I will satisfy him’ (Ps 91:16)! You shall possess the gates of your enemies! Your children shall be taught by the Lord, have peace, be strong and do ministry just like their parents!

In Christ I declare:

All God’s promises shall be fulfilled in my life!

I shall possess my mountain, the best God has for me!

As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

The prayer meeting was very good. I am not saying this lightly. For I have attended all types of ‘prayer meetings’ in my life. The truth is that something is happening to us. The fire is burning and more and more people are willing to pay the price to experience ‘practical godliness’. We hear more often testimonies about sick people prayed for and the sickness gone. Even if the patient is far away, ‘prayer works’! The Holy Spirit moves more freely in our midst. Old songs sound new again. People you could not have believed that they can come to church, are now here. One of our grand-daughters, a teenager, she prayed for some time to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Last Sunday, during worshipped it happened. She told me that she was suddenly so happy that she could not stop smiling. Later at home, she got burnt with hot oil on her hand. She continued to laugh saying that she feels no pain. I pray that you may desire the wine of the Spirit, available to all the children of God who long for it and pray!
The following was the sermon:

“How the oppressor has ceased, the golden city ceased!
The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked,
The scepter of the rulers;
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!” (Isiah 14)

Please read the whole chapter of Isaiah 14. Pride is a sin that first manifested in heaven. Lucifer was an archangel, a leader in heaven. God created him with wisdom and beauty above the rest angels. For a long time pride is invisible. Lucifer made rebellious plans to overthrow God. He wanted to replace God, to seat on God’s throne. The proud ambitious plan was conceived in his heart (v 13). He convinced a number of angels that his plan was good. They followed him in his rebellion. Eventually God sent them away from heaven.
The following are the five ‘I will’ of Lucifer:
*’I will ascend to heaven…’
He was in heaven but he wanted a higher position than the one given to him by God. He forgot that no one can enter the presence of God uninvited! The word ‘ascend’ appears two times in his speech. In Hebrew it means to climb up, ‘to work my way up the ladder’, to excel, to be exalted, to increase, to recover from damage and to become perfect.
*’I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…’
The word ‘exalt’ means to promote self, to be loud, presumptuous and proud. By God’s appointment he was the leader of angels in heaven, but he was not satisfied. He wanted to promote himself above all royalty, thrones, powers or princes created by God. That authority will be universal and not only in heaven. .
* ‘I will also sit on the mount of the congregation’
Lucifer wants to be in charge of the gathering of God’s people. In other words, he wants to be the head of the church. He is a religious spirit also called ‘the spirit of anti-Christ’.
*’I will ascend above the heights of the clouds’.
The words describe the high places of mysterious shadows and dark clouds that only God has access to. These rise and fall like the waves of the sea.
*I will be like the Most High’.
Lucifer’s ambition has no limit. He wants to be like the Most High God whose name is Elyon. He will be so high that he does not have to bow to God anymore. The title ‘Most High’ is one of God’s names: ‘Elyon’. The revelation of Elyon is connected with Abraham. He went to battle against his enemies. With little resources he won the victory against a much greater power. His trust was in Elyon. Another revelation of Elyon is the God who blessed them who pay tithes (Gen 14:18-20). Lucifer’s ambition was to be like Elyon, the Most High God. This speech is the basis of the devil’s condemnation. God judged him together with the rest angels who followed him.

In Isaiah 14 the fall of Lucifer is described in four steps:
*Fall from heaven (v 12)
*Cast down to earth (v 12)
*Brought down to the grave (v 15)
*Brought to the lowest depths of hell (the pit) (v 15)

Once thrown on earth, these are the sins of Lucifer (as described in Isaiah 14)
*He made the earth tremble
*He shook kingdoms
*He made the world as a wilderness
*He destroyed its cities
*He did not open the house of his prisoners (merciless to his victims)
*He destroyed the land and slain the people

PRAYER OF REPENTANCE AND DELIVERANCE
“Lord, have mercy on us! We repent of pride, bitter envy, impatience, covetousness, quarrels and fights at home or in the office! We repent of all selfish ambition! We separate from any connection with the Babylonian system. We command you lucifer and all your demons to leave our lives, our homes, our businesses, our church and city!
We trust You, Father for revival! There shall be a turning around of circumstances! We trust You for healing, deliverance and prosperity! The evil spirit of heaviness shall be replaced with the garment of praise! We worship You forever! We give You all the glory! In Jesus name, Amen!

MY DECLARATION OF FAITH:
In Christ I declare, that by the leading and power of the Holy Spirit and by the grace of God:
I destroy any familiar and generational curse coming from past connection with lucifer and his agents!
I destroy any generational curse coming from my ancestors who made wealth or gained fame, based on manipulation, witchcraft, pride, worldly wisdom, bitter envy and selfish ambition!
I destroy any generational curse coming from my ancestors who were wicked and merciless in their dealings with other men, were racist or involved in political tribalism! I plead the Blood of Jesus and the power of the name of Jesus upon me, my marriage, my children, natural and spiritual and their descendants! We are free to serve God! I shall seek the Kingdom of God and its righteousness and all other blessings shall be added to me and to my children!
In Jesus name,
Amen!

“The Lord God said: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him… I will make a helpmeet for him… a suitable companion who will help him… a counterpart” (Gen 2:18)

HAPPY SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE MEANS FULFILLED DESTINY

Looking at all these definitions and quotes, we draw the conclusion that marriage is very important to God because He invented it. To be a godly wife is an extraordinary achievement. Marriage was decreed even before the church was born. A question for you: how much value do you think God places on your marriage? The answer is a great revelation: God loves your marriage as much as Christ loves the church! That is why He commands the men to love their wives just like Jesus loves the church. The women submit to their own husbands just like the church submits to Christ! Selah!

LEAVE AND CLEAVE!

For marriage to be successful, you need ‘to leave your mother and father and to cleave to your husband’! If there is no ‘leaving’ there is no ‘cleaving’. As a married woman you do not have to obey your parents anymore. You help them and honor them. But you are not under their direct authority anymore. The word ‘leave’ means to forsake, to dis-engage and let something go away. After marriage, your relationship with your parents has to go to the altar. Things have to change. The natural becomes spiritual! It is all for the better. You need to ‘cleave’ to your husband, for the unity of the Spirit to be manifested. In Hebrew, the word ‘cleave’ means to pursue hard, to chase another and to overtake him. The picture is a violent collision that will create an effect. It means to hold very tight until you are joined together. For example, the same word describes the way Eleazar, one of David’s men of valor, held on his sword until he killed all his enemies. God gave him supernatural victory because ‘he cleaved to his sword’. NIV says that his hand ‘froze’ to the sword (2Sam 23:10). You too, hold on to your husband, cleave to him, praying to God, until the victory is sure!

As a wife, ‘you submit to your own husband as unto the Lord’ (Eph 5:22). Your submission will become his help. Without you, your husband will not be able to fulfill his destiny. Literarily, his future is in your hands. This is a great responsibility. That is why you should not marry an unbeliever. But even if you made a mistake, you should not divorce, but continue to pray for mercy and grace. Pray that your marriage will succeed! To be a godly wife is ministry indeed! Be a ‘Proverbs 31 woman of God’! Do not take your marriage for granted! Husband and wife have to be best friends! If your husband falls, be a helper and lift him up! Do it quietly and give all the glory to God! Fear not! God is on your side! God loves and values your marriage! Do not disappoint God! Even if your husband does not appreciate you, God appreciates you! My husband and I are married for over 40 years. I speak trusting the authority of the Word of God and even from my own experience!

May God bless you, help you and give you peace!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

“The Lord God said: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him… I will make a helpmeet for him… a suitable companion who will help him… a counterpart” (Gen 2:18)

THE WIFE IS A HELPER SUITABLE TO HER HUSBAND

The wife is designed to be a Helper to her husband. It is a pity that sin has distorted much of our understanding of things. For many, the word ‘helper’ describes a low paid house servant, over-worked and un-fulfilled. This is the opposite of the truth described in the Book of Genesis.  God calls the wife ‘a helper comparable with her husband’. The word ‘helper’ is very powerful. It doesn’t imply in any way to be inferior. God doesn’t create inferior things. God Himself is a Helper. For example, the psalmist cries to God for help knowing that without help he will die. A helper is the one who saves another who is in need and gives him the gift of life.

‘O Lord, be my help…Surely God is my help; the Lord is the One who sustains me’ (Ps 30:10; 54:4).

In Hebrew the word ‘helper’ is ‘Azar’. It means to protect, help, succor, support and give material or nonmaterial encouragement. It often refers to aid in the form of military assistance; to lend strength or resources towards fulfilling a purpose. It also means to relieve from pain or to cure diseases. After receiving help, the man changes for the better.

In Greek it means to literarily run towards someone who needs help and cries in pain. The helper delivers another from suffering and troubles. A helper sustains another. The word ‘sustain’ means to carry on his back, to support during pain so that he can enter rest. Only a helper can facilitate the journey from pain to triumph! ‘Helper’ is a fellowship word; it is an intercession word. You help somebody else with your own resources. You give assistance, to support, to improve the atmosphere around the other person so that he can work better. It means to save from danger and unnecessary trials. It means to prevent and restrain intruders, to protect the relationship. It means to promote, to make something better than it is. Without the helper, the man cannot fulfill his God’s given destiny. This is God’s wonderful design for us women in general and wives in particular.

TO BE A GODY WIFE YOU NEED THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES:

The wisdom of a teacher

The strength of a soldier

The gentleness of a mother

The patience of a nurse

The eyes of a prophet

The anointing of a preacher

The account of a millionaire

The feet of a gazelle

The wings of a eagle

The skilful tongue of a ready writer

The freedom of an angel

The beauty of holiness

The faithfulness of a friend

The passion of a lover…

You need the Spirit of God filling and leading you…

No woman can be a successful wife, without the help of God!

Be filled with the Holy Spirit!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

“The Lord God said: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him… I will make a helpmeet for him… a suitable companion who will help him… a counterpart” (Gen 2:18)

Before sin entered in the world, the creation is declared to be ‘very good’. It is in this atmosphere that we see the details of the first wedding. It is pure and it is beautiful! Much inspiration for our marriages comes from meditating upon it. God Himself is the Father of the Bride, the Father of the Bridegroom, the officiating Pastor and the wedding planner. The whole creation and the angels are the guests. Adam was created first. By God’s choice he shall be older than his wife. God gives him work to do in the garden. He tells him that the paradise has to be maintained in its purity thru loving labor and obedience to its Creator. God commands Adam ‘to work and to take care’ of the garden, created for his enjoyment. God did not plan to leave heaven, come down and settle in the garden. He was to come and visit in the evenings, to fellowship with Adam and Eve. The authority to take care of the earth was given to Adam by God.

Then suddenly God makes an observation. He says that ‘it is not good for man to be alone’. This is the first time God says ‘it is not good’. The word ‘alone’ means to be solitary, without companions or friends; it gives a sense of being incomplete, of longing for fellowship with others. The word in Hebrew means to be a branch of a tree without fruits. It describes just the part of a whole. It also means to be so unique, special and peculiar, that he is left without a mate. Adam was not aware of his loneliness. God who created him like that makes this observation. This loneliness is in spite of His continuous sweet fellowship with Adam. God has something in mind. He knows the needs of His creation more than anyone else. The loneliness God describes is the need for Adam to have someone just like him. That partner must also be created by God in His image. But that new creation is not a spirit; it must be covered with flesh like Adam.

To help Adam understand his need and to appreciate the new creation, God tells him to study the animal kingdom. He brings all the animals before Adam. He names them all. In the process he discovers that each one has a pair. Together they multiply. Slowly, Adam sees that he is really alone. He needs a partner, a companion, a friend, human like him but with the Spirit of God inside. Once the need was understood by Adam, God does the surgery. Out of his rib He creates Eve, as the wife of Adam. God decrees that these two are destined for one another, that they shall leave their parents and cleave to one another. That unit called marriage is the foundation of all other relationships on earth.
In the Garden of Eden, this tender scene is filled with holy romance…

In Christ I declare:
God loves my husband, me and our children!
God loves our marriage!
My husband shall never be alone!
I am created to be a suitable helper for him!
By the grace of God I shall never disappoint God!
Together, we shall fulfill destiny!
In Jesus name,
Amen!

 
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Is 41:10)

A young wife, pregnant for the first time, had serious anxiety about going to the labor room. She is a born again sister in Christ. I encouraged her that God did not give us the demon of fear, but of power, love and sound mind (2Tim 1:7). I also prayed for her. She said that she is now encouraged. She just Email me her declaration of faith.

“I say NO to fear!!! I declare that my pregnancy and baby, including the delivery are a gift from God. The whole process will be a blessing. The delivery will be quick with minimal to no pain. I will come through stronger with no pain meds, no epidural, no tearing or episiotomy, no excess bleeding, no anxiety, just worship. I believe that I will be worshipping as I push our baby out to the glory of God! I will be laughing and thinking of Jesus safely bringing our baby out. I declare these to be truth! I declare that even the hospital staff will be blessed by the delivery. I declare peace in that room. I declare victory in childbirth!!! In Jesus’ name, AMEN!!!”

If you are in a similar situation, or if fear of the future attacks you, tap from this anointing of courage and faith! The devil has lost another battle! The army of the Lord is increasing!
Jesus is Lord!
More testimonies shall follow!

“Also, to punish or fine the righteous is not good, nor to smite the noble for their uprightness… How shortsighted to fine the godly for being good! And to punish nobles for being honest! It’s wrong to penalize good behavior, or make good citizens pay for the crimes of others” (PV 17:26 AM; TLB; TM)

Once you are born again and filled with the Holy Spirit strange things will happen to you. I call them strange because these things are peculiar attacks against the true believer. The devil will attack you, not because you are good or bad, but because you belong to Jesus. The devil is a coward. He hates your Master and he will try to attack Him thru you. That is why you shall experience things that ‘have no connection with you’. These attacks come as unexpected sicknesses that do not resemble anything you have experienced in the past. The attacks may come as persecution from family, colleagues and friends. You shall be punished for doing good and for standing for Christ. But God shall judge them who judge you and they shall repent for their foolishness!

Before these strange attacks come, you are not able to understand the power of evil and the victory of the Cross.

These are practical teachings from the Holy Spirit. Thru it all, you shall know the power and the victory of the Blood of Jesus shed on the Cross. You shall also see with your own eyes the defeat of the devil, like never before! You shall see how his arrows fall at your feet, how the poison loses its effect and the sickness stops without medical help. This is a prophetic season when God judges His children in the church. The believer who is able to rejoice at the privilege of partaking from the cup of Christ’s shame, pain and suffering, shall be highly rewarded! But he, who is still selfish and refuses to enter the furnace of God, shall lose his reward! So, dear brother and sister trust God who is your faithful Creator! He is faithful in creating you, in keeping you alive and in saving your soul. He will not leave you and He will not forsake you. Even in the midst of strange trials, let your praise never cease but continue to rise to heaven!

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now, “if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (1Pet 4:12-19)

In Christ I declare:

It is well with your soul!

The tunnel is dark and fearful but I can see the light!

The storm is over!

Rejoice for God will not put you to shame!

The power of Ebola Virus in Africa is destroyed!

The Holy Spirit has encouraged me!

I am healed and delivered!

All glory to God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“God has not given us the evil spirit of fear (over concern) but POWER, LOVE AND SOUND MIND!” (2 Tim 1:7).

Each time you sense fear coming to you, for whatever reason at all, you should reject it straight and without pity!!! it is a deceptive demon! Fear attacks in many forms: fear of sickness, fear of the future, fear of poverty, fear of divorce, fear of failure, fear of men’s opinions, fear to be single, fear of flying, fear to be cheated, fear of going to hell and many others. The greatest enemy of all is the fear of (untimely) death. It is a spiritual poison that weakness you from inside and feeds on any drop of joy you have in your heart, leaving you dry and feeling lost.

In Greek, the word ‘power’ means supernatural strength that trusts God for miracles; the violent faith of the believer who produces great testimonies and an abundance of blessings. The word ‘agape –love’ means the supernatural power to love like Jesus. This overflow of this love is the source of all true worship, happy marriages and true ministry.  To have a ‘sound mind’ means to have the disciplined mind of a student of the Word of God; it means to be moderate in opinions and passions. In today slang, it means to be supernaturally ‘cool’.

Fear is the opposite of all these. Fear is an evil spirit. It makes a man to be coward and a traitor to God who sustains his life. It means to indulge in wild negative imaginations of failure and defeat. It brings depression and bitterness. The demon of fear is the opposite of faith. A coward is unable to trust God for miracles. His life is anxious and boring. A coward cannot worship God and is unhappy in his marriage. He cannot study the Bible.

Fear is deceptive for it comes as a real option to manage your difficult circumstances.

Because fear is an evil spirit it can never help you! The devil is a thief and a liar. Fear will always disappoint you, for it is a dangerous and fake way of thinking. Lastly, this is a spiritual battle. There is no medicine against fear. It is only a believer in Christ that can win the war against fear! To identify and reject the demon of fear is great gain! Your reward will come as the sweet enjoying of your life!

The only fear that is ‘good and healthy’ is the fear of God which is the beginning of wisdom! Fear God alone! Fear the One who created you and keeps your heart beating! Fear the One who has all power!

Be a champion! Be wise! Be strong! Be happy!

Today, I agree with you in prayer! Have faith! God will deliver you! He has done it for me, He will do it for you!

“We command the evil spirit of fear to depart from you, right now! We destroy any connection with the evil spirit of fear! We destroy any spell placed on you by the evil spirit of fear! In Christ, we declare war against fear and the victory is ours! In Jesus name we pray, amen!”

In Christ I declare:

I am forever free from fear!

I am filled with faith in God Almighty!

To the glory of God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“King Hezekiah broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses has made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. And he called it Nehushtan” (2Kg 18:4) King Hezekiah was only twenty five years old when he became the king of Israel. He was a good man. He destroyed all the idols in the land. He broke to pieces the bronze snake Moses had made long ago. That copper snake was manufactured at the command of God, at the time when Israel suffered because God’s wrath. They murmured against God and Moses. God hates all sin but he hates rebellion in particular. He sent poisonous snakes among the people. Many died untimely painful deaths because of these snakes. Humbled by force, they repented openly and cried to Moses for forgiveness and healing. That is when God instructed Moses to make a bronze snake and to lift it high on a pole. That shining object was easy to see by all people. God said that if anyone looks at the snake and has faith that God is greater than their sickness, that one shall live. The bronze snake was the point of contact with the healing of heaven. The method worked! All who looked at the copper snake lived! (Nu 21:4-9)

Many years have passed since then. The Israelites kept the bronze snake as a reminder of an old act of mercy, healing and deliverance. But they made the mistake to elevate that object to the status of an idol. They began to worship it, forgetting the God who is the true Healer. Idolatry always provokes God. That is why Hezekiah broke the snake to pieces. Mockingly, he called it Nehushtan. The word in Hebrew means a thing made of copper (an inferior metal when compared with silver and gold). It symbolizes a useless nonsense thing. It also means something like a snake, hissing its way, a magic spell or the work of a witch.

What are the lessons for us? Jesus said that He is the true eternal copper snake lifted in the desert of our terrible circumstances (Jn 3:14, 15). The material things compete with the true source of healing which is spiritual. God is Jehovah Rapha, our Healer!  Material things that propped our faith in the past become ‘Nehushtan’. Do not worship visible things, doctors, nurses, procedures or methods. These are temporary. Only Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever. You can safely worship Him! He alone is the Savior of your soul and the Healer of your body!   Another lesson is this: Looking in the right direction, having the proper spiritual vision and mixed with faith in the Healer is the cure for any disease. Without vision people perish (PV 29:18). If my eyes are good, my whole body is full of light and healing (Mt 6:22). Spiritual blindness is criminal! I cannot afford to be blind to my only hope of a cure… My vision determines my destiny, my peace and my health! “Open my eyes Lord to see Jesus…”

Lastly, looking for healing, I may be in danger of falling into the sin of idolatry. This is a warning and I should take it seriously! Something that was good in the past, something that God used to help or heal me years ago, can become an idol in my heart. God is the Creator. He can use any method He pleases to speak to us, to bless us or to heal our diseases. We should never get stuck with the means or with the gifts of God. These change with the seasons, with the circumstances and with the level of our faith. The only ‘factor’ that never changes is God Himself. But revelation is progressive. We should mature spiritually, move on and allow God to be fresh in His revelation day by day. Do not look back like Lot’s wife! Leave at the feet of Jesus the memories of all good things God used in the past. Do not make idols from the memories of past successes, healings or blessings.

This is a word for you: God wants to do a new thing in your life! Do not try to imagine it for that will hinder its manifestation! Let god be God! This blessing shall come in a most unexpected way! This healing shall come from a different direction than what you’ve known in the past! This breakthrough shall come with a different sound! This is a new day, a new season…A new song shall rise from the ashes of disappointment and pain… Let God, the Holy Spirit be free to move in your circumstances… It is time to move on… “Holy Spirit, You are welcome in this place…”

In Christ I declare: I destroy all idols in my heart that drag me behind! I reject the demon of backsliding! I look unto Jesus Christ! I am saved! I am healed! My marriage is revived and blessed! My breakthrough has come! Like rivers in the desert, my testimony is a miracle that glorifies God! In Jesus name Amen!

This is what the Lord says:

“I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells” (Micah 5:12)

DEFINITIONS:

WITCHCRAFT is the skill to use demonic power to control other people or events; to achieve selfish results, completely outside the leading of the Holy Spirit and in opposition to the plan and purpose of God for mankind.

Witchcraft is the same as sorcery. It manifests in different ways but the following are the most common of all:

MANIPULATION means to control and cheat another by using skillful, deceptive, hidden means to achieve his selfish purpose. It produces frustration, guilt and a feeling of being cheated.

For example, King Balak is a political manipulator. He tries to hire a famous false prophet called Balaam to curse the children of Israel who came out of Egypt. His intent was to use demonic power to weaken them in such a way that it will be easy to defeat them in war and drive them away. He is promised money and honor if he can curse them successfully (Nu 22-24).

An example of religious manipulation is when a man goes to see a prophet for counsel and prayer. But he has a hidden idol in his heart. He wants prayer and blessings but he refuses to openly confess his sins. The demon of witchcraft may blind the prophet to bless such a man. God overrules the prayer and the blessings and judges the sin of manipulation. The prophet and the man who came for prayer shall be punished together (Ezekiel 14).

Personally, I take this warning very seriously. I always pray that the Holy Spirit takes control of any discussion, counsel or prayer session I am involved in. I often pray for the manifestation of the gift of discerning the spirits, to be able to see in the Spirit and not to be deceived by the visible. Carelessness in life is dangerous, but in ministry is even more so. The devil will send his agents with the primary purpose to make the pastor or the believer backslide.

INTIMIDATION means to make another afraid and to force him into submission. It means to push back another, to stop his progress in life.  The victim becomes timid and full of inferiority complex. It is done by constant demands or threats. The victim’s spirit is broken and all courage lost. It means to bully thru aggression and insults. The fear of God is replaced by the fear of man or the fear of death in the victim.

This is an example of intimidation: Jezebel was an agent of the devil sent to pollute the religious atmosphere in Israel. She sponsors all the false prophets and kills all the true servants of God. God sends Elijah to confront the Prophets of Baal. In a dramatic display of power, they are defeated publicly and killed on the slopes of Mount Carmel. When Ahab tell his wife about the defeat she becomes mad with anger. She invokes the power of her gods and threatened Elijah with death. This is a clear curse of witchcraft using intimidation. Elijah runs away (1Kg 19:1-3). The great prophet needs a fresh encounter with Jehovah to be delivered from the effect of fear before he can return to ministry.

This is another example of intimidation: Goliath cursed David by his gods that he will die. But God’s promise to Abraham has to be fulfilled. God promised that He ‘will curse them that curse’ the descendants of Abraham. By cursing David, the fate of Goliath was sealed. With all his strength, stature and experience as a soldier, he died (1Sam 17:43)

There was a wizard called ‘Elymas the Sorcerer’ who opposed the ministry of Paul. AS with Goliath, he had to be punished for that. Paul declared that he will be blind for a season and it was so (Acts 13:1-12)

OPPRESSION means to crush the spirit of another by adding false burdens. It is done by misusing the power or the authority of a leader. The victim becomes silent, weak, foolish, hopeless and unable to mature spiritually (witchcraft stops the spiritual and mental growth of its victims). Under continual oppression the general attitude will be that of a slave.

For example, the children of Israel became slaves under the Egyptians who oppressed them with heavy burdens and much work (Ex 1). A boss in the office, a husband, a father or a pastor may oppress others and force them to submit to them. The evil spirit of witchcraft is doing much damage to families, churches. It is very active in the work force, in the offices and government officials all over the world. God is on the side of the victim whose responsibility is to pray always for help to come from above. A silent victim is ignorantly co-operating with the oppressor. Spiritual passivity is always a mark of witchcraft.

In Christ I declare:

I destroy any spell of witchcraft over my life, my marriage, my family, my ministry and my church!

I am free from an influence of the demons of manipulation, intimidation or oppression! I reject any form of sickness, weakness, confusion, fear, deception or evil attacks! I am healed! I am free! I am happy! I belong to God! Jesus Christ has died of the Cross for my sins! I am free from any condemnation! My accuser is defeated! I shall live and not die and declare the works of the Lord! God’s plan and purpose for me and my family shall be fulfilled! Any human agent, who is actively engaged in witchcraft, to curse me and my family, shall be exposed and disgraced as a fool! No weapon fashioned against me and my family shall prosper! This is our heritage as servants of God! The victory is ours! To the glory of God! In Jesus name, Amen!

“Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”

So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” (Ex 4:10-12)

Today I simply want to give all the glory to God for my ministry as a preacher of the Word of God and a pastor. This is my story: In 1980, I came to Nigeria as a young wife with two little children. I did not know where Nigeria was on the map. All I heard about Africa was tragedy and terror. I did not know a soul. But I loved my husband and I was ready to follow him ‘to the ends of the earth’. I could not speak English and nobody here understood Romanian. I was an unbeliever. God had mercy on me and changed my heart. I became saved here in 1986. Nigeria became my second home. Like Ruth, my husband’s people became my people….My husband DR. Richmond Leigh and I, we worked as medical doctors until 2000 when God said that we should sell our clinic (Lily Clinic, Warri) and change the building into a church. This is how Father’s House Bible Church was ‘born’. We started with less than 20 people, mostly family friends and former patients. Now we are thousands…

The transition was not easy for me. As a doctor, I did not need my tongue so much. Actions were more important than words. But in the ministry, I cannot hide behind a stethoscope. I cried to God like Moses. I did not mind to just work ‘behind the scenes’ helping my husband and others. But God decided something else. He called me to be a preacher, a teacher of the Word of God, a pastor and a worshipper. That was not my plan for my life. That was God’s plan!

Humanly speaking I was at a serious disadvantage…I prayed and I cried to God, asking for the miracle of anointing, spiritual utterance, open prophetic eyes to see Jesus, open ears to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, creativity in writing, spiritual fruitfulness and favor with people in a foreign land… And especially I asked for the confidence of a preacher of the Gospel God answered me even more that I could have imagined…I needed a tongue of fire. God gave that to me…. I needed the boldness of a lion…God gave that to me…I needed the gentleness of a Lamb…God gave that to me…I needed the anointing of the Holy Spirit that breaks all yokes…God gave that to me!!! God even gave me peace concerning our children and grandchildren who live far away from us!

So what can I say? God is good! All the time! God answers prayers! To God be all the glory for the things He has done! Thank You Father, for it has been Your good pleasure to send me to Nigeria, as Your ambassador! You sent me here to take care of Your sheep and lambs. Thank You for everything… for the peace, the joy, the success, the fruitfulness, the prosperity, the wisdom, the energy and the miracles! All my crowns are laid at Your feet! You are worthy of all the praise, now and forever!

‘My people please join me to praise God…’

(This is how we say in Nigeria…)

In Christ I declare:

I am blessed!

My marriage is blessed!

My children and grandchildren are blessed!

My spiritual children are blessed!

God made my mouth!

God teaches me what to say!

God is with me wherever I go!

To God be all the glory!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“The person who gets money dishonestly

is like a bird that hatches eggs it didn’t lay.

In the prime of life he will lose his riches,

and in the end he is nothing but a fool” (Jer 17:11)

This is the story of a fool!

Charles Deville Wells (1841–1922), was a famous gambler and confidence trickster, a con artist. Such a man sets out to defraud or deceive people by persuading them to believe a lie and making them give money away.

In July 1891 Wells went to Monte Carlo with £4,000 that he had defrauded from investors in a bogus invention, called a musical jump rope. He used this money to stay in an expensive hotel and gamble daily.  He won millions of francs at the roulette. Despite hiring private detectives the Casino never discovered Wells’s system of wining.

He soon became a celebrity. He bought cars and houses. Women followed him. He lied that his success was because he was a brilliant engineer, who had also invented a fuel-saving device for steam-ships. He persuaded many wealthy people to invest in his invention. He made another trip to Monte Carlo in a large yacht in the winter of 1892 with his mistress. Wells explained that the yacht was to test his device. Wells invested his money and that of others in gambling again. This time he lost millions.

Wells was arrested and extradited to England. He was found guilty of fraud and given eight years. Later, he immigrated to France, where a financial scam earned him another five-year sentence in prison.

In 1922, Wells died as a poor beggar in Paris.

The Word of God is true!

Someone needs this encouragement today. Don’t give up!

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds…” (Ps 147:3)
A young sister came to my office looking very sad. A young man proposed marriage to her. She has known him for more than ten years, but there was no romance all this time. They were close family friends. But in her heart, she had a secret crush for him. When he proposed marriage to her, it seems that her dream came true. Not long after that, she came to my office and she looked so happy. She was telling me about their plans for the future as a married couple. I rejoiced with her too. That was some moths ago…

Recently she came to see me again. This time she was broken hearted. The young man of her dreams simply informed her that he has changed his mind…that he fell in love with another…that he will marry another lady….soon… He then told her that he hopes she understands…she said that she understands…’what else can I say’ she told me…she said that she did not want to break down before him… she even prayed for him, that his marriage will be happy… She told me that since this pain broke her heart, her daily prayer is this: “Lord Jesus, make me better and not bitter…” She also told me that a lady from the church passed by and mocked her saying: “Some people get married and some people are losers…” Again she prayed to be better and not bitter…
But in my office, far from the stares of the selfish and wicked, free to be herself, she broke down, weeping like a child. She said that her mistake was to trust him too much…I told her that she is not the first and not the last… many have passed this road of painful betrayal and unexpected disappointment…Yes, the tears must flow, but not forever, I told her…

How can I help such a soul? I knew that there is no need to even try to use my power…”I need Thee, Lord, I need Thee…” was my prayer…”Holy Spirit please come and heal a broken heart child of God…” The rest prayer was only in tongues…Suddenly, the mighty rushing wind came from heaven…the sister stopped weeping and started praying with a grateful heart, worshipping God like never before…then she started laughing and laughing…supernatural joy, a gift from God…she could not stop rejoicing…the tears of pain became tears of joy…I was witnessing a miracle of healing and deliverance, God’s style…She said it on and on: “Jesus loves me…Jesus loves me…that is enough for me…that is enough for me…” What treasure of grace opened to her…what wonderful healing manifested to a lonely broken soul, rejected by men, but accepted by her God…I am still in awe from what my eyes have seen and what my hands have touched…
I was once a doctor, maybe I could have prescribed anti-depressants, at least for a while…but it took God just a touch and all the pain was gone…Oh, may genuine miracles be my portion as I do ministry among the hopeless, the sick and the poor… May my eyes remain fixed on Jesus Christ, who alone can heal a broken heart and make it new…
I worship You Lord this evening…There is no one like You…I will never fear what the devil will do, to me and to my children…for the Hope of Glory has spoken and His Word is AMEN!

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 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…Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You. Let such as love Your salvation say continually: “The Lord be magnified!” (Ps 40)

PATIENCE PRODUCES AN OPEN PRAYER LINE; DELIVERANCE; SECURITY; WORSHIP; SUCCESSFUL MINISTRY AND TESTIMONIES!!!

King David describes how he suffered when he was at his lowest. He also shares how God helped him and restored his testimony as a man of God. In Psalm 40 are great lessons, how to patiently wait for God to act on your behalf.

For many years, King Saul was his personal enemy. He was jealous on David. He chased him in the desert, trying to kill him ‘like a dog’. David’s method of choice to deal with his many trials was to ‘wait patiently for the Lord’.

This is a great lesson: patient waiting on God is a choice!!! Patience is not our natural response. No unbeliever can wait on God. They are too restless and too proud to do that. To an unbeliever, the process of waiting seems useless, for all is quiet outwardly. Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit growing only in the heart of the believer in Christ. David had faith in God! He trusted that God will come to his rescue and vindicate him at last. True waiting on God is an active living fruitful spiritual work that gives glory to God!

Questions:

What did David do all those long lonely years in the desert, as he was waiting on God?

What are we to do as we wait on God?

*David remembers God’s past wonderful works and miracles that he had witnessed

David meditates on God’s loving thoughts towards him personally. He remembers that faith in God never fails. When I fast and pray waiting on God, I remember His mercy towards me and my family in the past. I remember how we prayed and how God answered. This always revives my spirit and I am able to praise God again!

* David prays that God ‘opens’ his ears

He takes advantage of the season of pain and he re-surrenders himself to God. In Hebrew ‘to open’ means to dig in the dry ground, to bore a hole in a hard place. “Dear Lord, open my ears to hear Your Word…” This is a good prayer to rise from any pit of difficult circumstances. The sound of freedom may come as a song, as a gentle touch…The ‘still small voice’ can be drowned by the waves of noisy activities, too many friends and cares. In the lowest times of my life, more than any other time before, I need to hear the whispers of God. I need God’s voice to speak life, peace, comfort and strength to my heart. Once I hear His voice, I am satisfied!

*David does spiritual warfare.

David knows that this persecution is the result of his standing for God. He preaches the truth to them who are in bondage. The devil attacks him thru proud and deceitful men. He prays that his enemies will be ashamed, confused and disappointed. God shall oppose them until they retreat and backslide. Others shall hurt and wound them.

*David strengthens himself in the Lord and starts to rejoice, praising God

The pit of trouble becomes an altar to offer sacrifices of praise. Fresh inspiration and anointing is poured down below. David praises the Lord with a new song. This peculiar joy coming out of pain is the signal that God is close by. Suddenly, God draws him up out of the miry clay. God Himself gives him a fresh reason to praise Him and a new testimony of deliverance and victory. This testimony shall produce fruit amongst men. Many shall become saved and delivered too. Ministry shall be established.

No one likes to suffer pain. But the lessons I had to learn thru the fire of afflictions have remained with me; they are sealed in my spirit. No man wants to wait on God if he has any other option to solve his problems. But when all things crumble and my friends and dearest go away, I know where to go to… I run to God…to the Cross! Jesus said that He will never forsake me! This promise applies not only when things are good, when I am in the midst of friends, successful and rich…but the Word is mine especially when I am alone, feeling sick and old…

This is my testimony: God is faithful to His promises! God is with me as I write these lines. I may not know great secrets or wonderful revelations, but one thing I know for sure: God is good to me and to my family! I have tested God in the fire of furnace…My God is always the same: faithful, kind, all knowing and all powerful!

“Dear Father, I remember the past…You have saved me many times, from sickness and troubles…Thank You for opening my ears and my eyes…I reject all covenant I made with the devil or his agents, knowingly or not…I rejoice Lord for you are on my side…You can never lose any battle…The victory is sure…This praise is rising in my soul…

I praise You Father! I praise You Son! I praise You Holy Ghost! Jesus Christ, my Savior, my Lord and my best Friend! Thank You for the Comfort in my heart! Thank You for the new song I just found in my mouth! You are fearful in praises! You shall vindicate me! You shall establish me! You are my strength when I am weak! You are always doing wonders for me! Be magnified in my life! I vow to give You all the glory! Forever! It is well with my soul… Alleluia!”

If the world from you withhold of its silver and its gold,
And you have to get along with meager fare,
Just remember, in His Word, how He feeds the little bird—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Refrain:
Leave it there, leave it there,
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there;
If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

If your body suffers pain and your health you can’t regain,
And your soul is almost sinking in despair,
Jesus knows the pain you feel, He can save and He can heal—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

When your enemies assail and your heart begins to fail,
Don’t forget that God in Heaven answers prayer;
He will make a way for you and will lead you safely through—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

When your youthful days are gone and old age is stealing on,
And your body bends beneath the weight of care;
He will never leave you then, He’ll go with you to the end—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Charles A. Tindley, 1916