“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations” (Ps 100:4, 5)

Lead by the Holy Spirit, we declared today as a thanksgiving day! We praised God with singing, dances and grateful hearts!
Thanksgiving must be the life style of the believer. We thank God especially for His goodness, love and faithfulness, to us and to our children. Just like the mother teaches her child how to say ‘thank you’ for every gift received, no matter how small, so we have to practice thanksgiving when relating to God. A sinner is an ungrateful and proud person. In these last days, men shall become more wicked, ‘ungrateful and unholy…Have nothing to do with them’ (2Tim 3:2, 5).
As a man, Jesus was the most grateful Son. Jesus thanked the Father for the gift of prayer. “Father, I thank You that You always hear Me…” (Jn 11:41). Not all people have the privilege of an open line of prayer to God. Be grateful that God listens to you! When He had to feed the thousands with just few loaves of bread He did not really pray. He just gave thanks to the Father for the bread in His hands. Then, as He divided the loaves, they miraculously multiplied to feed the multitudes (Jn 6:11). These are great lessons: the grateful heart is positioned to receive miracles. Also, thank God for the little things and they shall multiply according to the need of the moment.
The opposite of thanksgiving is to be bitter, to complain. You say that you need millions and all you have is too little to start a business. Thank God for the little you have in your hand. You say that your marriage is not happy. But at least you are married. Many are still praying to receive what you already have. You say that you are sick, but you are still breathing. Thank God for your breath….
God does not owe man anything. All we have is a product of His grace, the unmerited favor of God. In Greek, Spanish and Italian, the word ‘thank you’ is the same as the word ‘grace’. To a humble and grateful man, the favor of God shall increase! “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1Thess 5:18)

THE CURE FOR THE CURSES

The cure is found in Christ alone. He became a curse that we may be free. In Christ we have power over the devil:

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Gal 3:13)

The curses came thru the mouth. So the mouth will destroy it! Pray and trust God!

“Like a fluttering sparrow… an undeserved curse does not come to rest (will not land on its intended victim)” (PV 26:2)

‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me; come, denounce Israel.’

How can I curse those whom God has not cursed?

How can I denounce those whom the Lord has not denounced?” (Nu 23:7, 8)

The word ‘denounce’ means to accuse, to condemn and publicly proclaim as evil; it also means to publicly announce the separation from another, the termination of a contract or divorce. Jesus denounced them who received the blessings of miracles but remained proud and refused to repent (Mt 11:20-24)

“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.  He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons” (Mk 3:13-15)

“Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you” (Lk 10:18, 19)

“These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mk 16:17, 18)

“I shall not die, but live and declare the works of the Lord” (PS 118:17)

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation” (Ps 91:14-16)

THE CAUSES OF CURSES

1. Idolatry (Ex 20:1-4; Deut 27:15)

2. Witches, native doctors, false prophets, secret societies and cults (Balak and Balaam Nu 22: 24)

3-Dihonoring your parents (natural and spiritual) (Gen 9:25; Deut 27:16; PV 30:17)

4-Betrayal (PV 17:13)

5-Opressing, exploiting the weak and the poor (shedding innocent blood, abortions) (PV 28:27)

6-Unnatural sex (any other form of sex that is different from the normal one practiced by a married man and his wife) (Lev 20)

7- Anti Semitism, hating the children of God (Gen 12:3; 27:29)

8-Trusting men and backsliding from God (Jer 17:5, 6)

9-Stealing, perjury (false swearing under oath), false prophets, taking God’s name in vain (Zech 5:1-4)

10- Stealing from God, not paying tithes or being stingy in the church (Mal 3:8-10)

WHO CAN BLESS OR CURSE?

God has total authority to bless or to curse! Secondly, your father or your pastor can do the same (Gen 9; 27; 49). A witch or an occult person can curse an unbeliever (Nu 22:6). There is also a self-inflicted curse (Gen 27:23). A child of God cannot be totally cursed. But the curse can affect some part of his life. Identify the curse! Pray and deliver yourself from its influence!

HOW DOES A CURSE MANIFEST?

A curse manifests as a feeling of dying! The man is unhappy with your life! Imagining suicide, thinking of death, fear of untimely death, chronic depression, anxiety and bitterness…these are signs of a possible curse in the family.

“Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.” (Gen 27:46, NIV)

The word ‘disgusted’ means to be anxious, angry, grieved or to lose interest in life. There is nothing good or interesting in this life. There is no joy, no satisfaction and nor hope. Chronic depression is a sign of a curse. Generally, curses manifest as prolonged troubles. A curse man is always in need, sick, poor or in trouble. He has the tendency to fall down easily, no matter how much he succeeds for a time. He is always unhappy with his life bitter and complaining. Even if he takes a loan, even if other people help, he is always in need. There are terrible things happening in his life and his family: they are not able to marry, unhappy marriages, bareness, divorce, untimely or mysterious deaths in the family. These people are always a liability to others. They depend on others for their daily bread. Their old age is filled with bitterness and regrets.

To be continued…

This prayer meeting was one of the best we had for a long time. This week I prepared my message for today. But last night I was restless. God was saying something and I could not hear well. Eventually I got it. He changed my message. I remembered the time I became a Christian. I remember the reaction I had as I read Deuteronomy 28 for the first in my life. At the same time I got a book on deliverance by Derek Prince. He immediately became one of my mentors. I studied the scriptures on deliverance and prayed the prayers. I became Spirit filled and free. I broke the generational and familiar curses. My life changed. The fire that started burning then has not quenched until today.

So, last night the Holy Spirit said I should prepare a message concerning the blessings and curses in the Bible. I did as I was told. Today, just before we started the prayer meeting, the electric power went off. We have two generators. Both worked well but the electric current did not come out. So the house and the sanctuary were in darkness until 5:30. But the brethren prayed faithfully, light or no light. We prayed against the forces of darkness. The devil knew he is in trouble.

Finally, the power was restored. We wasted no time. We help hands and prayed like never before. When I announced that today we shall pray and break generational curses, everybody jumped and shouted for joy like we all won the lottery. The foundation was laid. The unity of the Spirit was strong. The expectation to see miracles was very high. It is a pleasure to preach to prepared willing hearts. May the anointing overflow to you and may you be delivered, healed and set free! Nothing is impossible with God! The following was the message:

BLESSINGS AND CURSES

“The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil” (Ps 125:3)

“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.  He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons” (Mk 3:13-15)

OBEDIENCE- DEFINITION:

Obedience means to actively follow the commands, restrictions, guidance and wishes of another who I trust.  The commander’s word becomes my action. True obedience is a sign of life, of living faith. It is done joyfully and totally. Faith without obedience and works is dead (Jam 2:14-26). This is a spiritual law: God blesses obedience!

God blessed obedience and curses (punishes) disobedience.

Obedience is better than sacrifice. Disobedience, rebellion is like witchcraft (1Sam 15:22, 23)

God gives the Holy Spirit o those who obey Him! If you are not yet filled with the Holy Spirit, it means there is hidden rebellion against God in your heart (Ac 5:29-32; Ac 10:38)

We shall study the blessings and the curses found in Deuteronomy 28. These are opposed to one another.

“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God” (Deut 28:1, 2; NKJ)

HOW DO BLESSINGS OR CURSES COME TO MAN?

Our reaction to the voice of the Holy Spirit and the written Word of God!

By hearing and obeying the voice and the Word of God- we are blessed!

By refusing to hear and disobedience to the Word of God, we are cursed!

The word ‘obey’ means to hear intelligently, to pay attention, to understand the command and to witness to it by action.

The word ‘observe’ means to protect, to surround like with thorns, so that no enemy will destroy the commandments.

The first blessing is to ‘be set high above all’. In Hebrew the word is ‘Elyon’. It means to become like the Most High God. No enemy can bring you down all the days of your life!

The blessings come and overtake. The words mean that the blessings will surely locate you, enter your life and become rooted in you. There is no risk of missing the mark.   The blessings will surely catch up with you and come suddenly.

BLESSINGS CONTRASTED WITH CURSES

*Promotion—–………………………………………………..Demotion

*Fruitful life……………………………………………………..Barren life

*Health……………………………………………………………Chronic sickness

*Prosperity (success)………………………………………Poverty (failure)

*Victory against enemies………………………………..Defeat

*Authority (head: leader, making decisions)….Slave (tail, follower of men)

In Hebrew the word ‘Blessing’ is Barak. It means becoming ‘a great happy man’; a store or a pool of successful, happy life, abundance, overflow of joy that brings praise and thanksgiving. A blessed man makes impact on his generation and the ones to come.

The word ‘Curses’ is ‘qelala’. It means becoming a nobody; small, insignificant, despised, unhappy, hated, suffering and transitory with no remembrance of you

FAMILIAR CURSES

Both blessings and curses come thru the words spoken or imagined. Every swearing or promises done to invisible personalities become binding on that person.

The curses come from the individual who, knowingly or ignorantly, has used his mouth to connect with the occult. Curses also come from the previous generations. All occult involvement, making friends with a witch, having sex with a witch, going to shrines or native doctors, all these are the foundations of curses. These are familiar evil spirits who have built strongholds affecting up to 3-4 generations.

To be continued…

He’s all I need when I just need someone to talk to,
He’s always there to hear my prayer each time I call him;
All my needs He supplies, my thirsty soul He satisfies,
He’s the Lord of Lords, He’s all I need.

He’s all I need, I need not turn to any other,
For He’s a friend I can depend closer than a brother;
On this friend I can rely to be my strength as life goes by,
He’s the Lord of all, He’s all I need.

He comforts me when I’m weary and eases every pain,
Fills my deepest longing time and time again;
He’s my soul’s inspiration, my heart’s consolation,
He’s my everything, He’s all I need.

He’s all I need,
He’s all I need,
He’s my everything,
He’s all I need.

(Genelle Tennant)

“Come and see what the Lord has done.
See what amazing things He has done on earth.
He stops wars all over the world;
He breaks bows, destroys spears,
and sets shields on fire.
“Stop fighting,” He says, “and know that I am God,
supreme among the nations,
supreme over the world” (Ps 46:8-10)

“And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth…The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but He is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (Ex 34:6; 2Pet 3:9)

Some of the sisters in our midst are battling with different problems. Some have chronic sicknesses: malaria, typhoid fever, diabetes, high blood pressure, rheumatism, depression….Many single sisters are above thirty but still no married.  Some are married but struggle with the unity of the Spirit in their homes. Others are married but have no children. Some are jobless or very poor. Some are widows. As you see, the problems are too many and too diverse to be solved by any man’s counsel. Only God can help them all. I have faith that God will answer prayers and grant us miracles. For nothing is impossible for God to do!

One of the most effective keys of spiritual success is to be patient as you wait on God. Patience is hard to practice but it never fails. The words bellow may look similar but please read and meditate upon their meaning. Prayerfully apply the Word of God in your life! You shall never regret it!

God is patient! Be like God! Patience is not a waste of time! It is the blessed way to enter your promised joy! Selah!

DEFINITIONS:

PATIENCE

The quality of bearing provocation, trouble or pain, without complaint, restlessness or loss of temper in the presence of delay or difficult circumstances; the skill to successfully wait on God, trusting Him to do what is right, no matter the circumstances

TO WAIT

To remain unmoved or to rest in expectation, ready for action when necessary; to tarry, to hold on until a weaker one catches up; to remain temporarily neglected postponing the satisfaction of your needs

FORBEARANCE

It is the godly quality to refrain from action, to delay in enforcing my rights or privileges

To remain calm in the presence of other men’s failures or faults

LONG-SUFFERING

To remain calm (slow to speak, slow to be angry, not bitterness) in the face of human opposition coming from trouble-makers who intentionally desire to hurt you; the reason for long suffering is to promote love, peace and to heal damaged relationships

ENDURANCE

To remain calm (slow to speak, slow to be angry, not bitterness) in the midst of negative circumstances, trials and temptations

PERSEVERANCE

It means the ability to make progress in the midst of negative circumstances, trials and temptations

IMPATIENCE

It means to be restless, quarrelsome, anxious or easily angry in the midst of negative circumstances or delay

The inability to wait on God to perform His will

Are you patient? If not, repent and come to God! Be filled with the Holy Spirit! May God grant the grace of patience to you until you receive your miracle! In Jesus name, Amen!

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

A lady came to my office not too long ago. She is a married woman with children. She has been attending our church for some times. Previously, she was very active in another church.  I observed that each time she talks to me it was always about her business. She was in her words ‘a workaholic’. The last time I saw her I confronted her with the truth. I told her that I am not a business consultant but a pastor. I told her that I am more interested in her soul than in her bank account. She was surprised at my words. She said that in the previous church she had attended the pastor talks the opposite. I then told her that her destiny is to be a mature Christian, a woman of God. I also told her that her lack of interest in the spiritual things may be because she is not truly born again. I also told her that she needs to be filled with the Holy Spirit. These blessings are not available in any market. She cannot buy them with money. But if she humbles herself and if she has faith God will grant her salvation and power for service. She laughs a lot but suddenly she became sober. Then we held hands and prayed…

At the beginning she was shy, praying some routine prayers memorized from her childhood. I was quietly praying in tongues. Then suddenly she became bolder. Her voice became louder and more confident. She rejected all interference with the powers of darkness. I could see faith rising in her soul. It was almost visible. I knew that from this moment on, anything can happen for the Holy Spirit is now in full control. This is the holy moment I’m always waiting for. The face changes…the very atmosphere changes…then she started praying in tongues and prophesying over her life, to partake from the blessings of Christ…after some time, she started laughing and laughing like a prisoner who suddenly is set free…If you have not experienced this miracle, there is no way you can understand what I am saying… The free people have their own language, their own songs and their own dances. A soul was set free that afternoon. Religious spirits bowed at the name of Jesus! She became truly born again. Much later she went home. I was very happy in my spirit, reminding myself that revival is coming…

A week later she came back. She was rejoicing and but she had some questions. She said that her life has totally changed. She made up her mind to dedicate some time every morning to the study the Bible and prayer. Previously, she was praying only ‘in her mind’, with her eyes closed, still lying down on the bed in the morning. Now she gets up, reads her Bible and prays with her voice. She said that she also made the decision not to worry about her business. She also said that she is not anxious anymore when she goes late to open her shop. She will trust God for her financial gain. Just looking at her I saw the peace of God on her face. She told me that even her husband is happy with her new commitment to become a serious Christian.

The she had some questions…she said that since that day, her neighbor in the market suddenly changed her attitude towards her. This was for no good reason. She knew that the other lady is not a serious Christian but she thought that for the sake of business and peace, they can be friends. They trusted each other with heart secrets and their businesses. If one goes for break the other will sell for her. Suddenly, after the experience in my office, the other lady just hated her. She started quarreling, abusing her, her marriage and even her pastor. One day, a strange wind came and the other woman’s umbrella fell on the sister’s things. All her products fell down. Things got broken or damaged. She had great loss that day. The other woman did not even apologize. Then she knew that this is a spiritual battle and not something that can be ‘settled’ with common sense. She cried saying that she did not know that being filled with the Holy Spirit means she will lose her friends and business partners.

I encouraged her as a believer.… I asked her if she regrets being filled with the Holy Spirit and she clearly said ‘No’. I told her that God will give her a new supernatural wisdom to deal with situations as a child of God and not just as a business woman. I also told her that, from now on, all her friends must pass the ‘test of fire’. God has to approve them, if not they will not be able to come to close to her. This is the royal road of the Cross. This is the beginning of the process called sanctification. The world goes away and the Kingdom of God becomes more real than ever. With time, the faith will become stronger and these temptations will not seem so strange anymore.

Lastly…I encourage you dear child of God to hold on to your faith, which is more expensive than gold. There is nothing in this world greater than your God! There is nobody who can compare with the Excellency of knowing Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Do not look back! Look ahead and upwards. You shall see Jesus! You shall hear the cheering from the cloud of witnesses, the saints of old who have suffered like you do now, but remained faithful unto the end. God will not give you more than you can bear, but He will allow you to see the way of escape, so that you may be a champion for Christ! The truth is this: you can never be the same again! Your life has changed forever! May the peace of God surround your soul even right now! Continue to praise God, for the future is more wonderful than the present sufferings! Jesus is worthy of your service and sacrifice! He will reward you and bless you more than you can ever imagine or think! I am sure 100%!  Be filled with the Holy Spirit! In Jesus name, Amen!

“The Lord is my Shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul…” (Ps 23:1-3)

A sheep that has rolled over on its back is called a “cast sheep’. It can’t get up because its center of gravity is off, sometimes because it’s pregnant or simply because it has a full fleece. Once fallen, a cast sheep tries to restore itself back on its feet. But it is not easy. The sheep then panics, cries and waste more energy.  The gasses start to build up in the abdomen and it can die in a matter of hours. A wild animal can come and kill the defenseless sheep. Most of the times, the sheep is not be able to get up without assistance. That is why the shepherd has to be very observant to know when a sheep is missing. It is the shepherd or his trained dogs that can turn a cast sheep back on its feet. The process seems rough but it saves its life. Once the sheep stands, there is still need to be supported for few minutes. The shepherd holds it between his legs until it stops shaking, until the fear is gone and it is balanced again. After that, the sheep is fine.

David was a shepherd. He knew the danger of staying upside down for too long, just like a cast sheep…

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Ps 43:5).

The word ‘downcast’ describes a cast sheep. His soul is upside down, helpless, depressed, anxious, sinking down in despair.  The danger for a sheep to lose its balance and to overturn is especially when it is pregnant or the fleece is too heavy. Spiritually speaking, our soul is in danger of backsliding when we become fruitful or too comfortable in our blessings. The devil attacks in both situations especially with an evil spirit of pride.

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (PV 16:18)

Pride is extremely difficult to detect. God allows us to fall a little, to expose the hidden pride. We need to repent and become humble servants. Pride leads to backsliding. Once I become proud, I start falling spiritually. Suddenly, my life becomes upside down. Just like a cast sheep, I panic, trying to save myself. My soul becomes ‘disturbed within’. This word means trouble, war, noisy voices and arguments inside my soul. I lose my peace and spiritual balance. I feel hopeless and my world is upside down. The more I struggle to restore myself back on my feet, the worse things become, inside and outside. That is when I have to exercise self-control. I have to stop this crazy, frantic, lonely struggle…I have to remind myself that I am not alone. I belong to Somebody! I have a Shepherd! Elohim, the Creator of the Heavens and the earth is my God! Jesus is my Shepherd!  I shall not want…There is hope!!I i shall praise God again in the sanctuary…I cannot die as a backslider…This is His promise: God will “restore my soul”…I shall humble myself and wait on God…He knows all things…He knows that I am missing from the fold…He said that He will leave 99 sheep to look for me alone…He shall find me and bring me back to His flock where I belong…

“I need You Lord Jesus…I trust in You, Savior…I humble myself…Forgive me for my foolish pride…Please come to help me…I cannot live alone…Nothing else can satisfy but You…No one else  can restore my soul, except You…I love You more than any human on earth, more than my own life…I promise never to go astray…Holy Spirit fill me afresh…Thank You Jesus… Thank You my Lord…All the glory goes to You alone!”

In Christ I declare:

The Lord is my Shepherd!

I shall not want!

My soul is restored!

My health is restored!

My marriage is restored!

My ministry if restored!

My finances are restored!

My peace and joy are restored!

To the glory of God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

David Brainerd (1718–1747) was an American missionary to the Native Americans. At that time, the Europeans settlers wanted to evangelize the native people. But very few Christians answered the call to go to them. The native people were known for crude pagan occult practices and wild behavior. Many who tried to go close to them were rejected or killed.

David went to Yale University but he was sent home after one year because he had tuberculosis and was spitting blood. Disappointed that he could not fulfill his academic dreams he joined a missionary agency that was looking for evangelists to go the Native Americans. God gave him supernatural favor with them. He could not speak their language. He used an interpreter who soon became born again. He rode on a horse back for many miles, in the forest, in places where no white man has ever entered. He often felt lonely and depressed. He never married. He kept a personal diary. He continued to do ministry among the Natives until he was too weak to walk.

A famous man of God Jonathan Edwards heard of him and took him to his house. There was no cure at that time for TB. He told his young daughter to take care of him. It was then that he discovered David’s diaries. Edwards was a pastor and was preaching revival. But he was discouraged that most of the people who called themselves Christians were only religious and not truly born again. Edwards was so touched by the words of David, his commitment to God, his pure faith and worship that he decided to use his own money to publish the dying man’s diaries. These became ‘best sellers immediately. David died at 29. Edward’s daughter contacted the TB and died few months after. They are both buried side by side.

During his short life he endured many difficulties but he never gave up on God. As a result, his biography becomes a source of great inspiration and encouragement to many Christians, especially the missionaries.

These are some lines from his diaries. Do you feel the anointing of the Holy Spirit working thru him?

“April 21 …and God again enabled me to wrestle for numbers of souls, and had much fervency in the sweet duty of intercession…

April 25. This morning I spent about two hours in secret duties and was enabled more than ordinarily to agonize for immortal souls. Though it was early in the morning and the sun scarcely shined at all, yet my body was quite wet with sweat…

December 15. Spent much time in prayer in the woods and seemed raised above the things of this world…

August 4. Was enabled to pray much, through the whole day…

November 3. Spent this day in secret fasting, and prayer, from morning till night…”

This is a great encouragement to me too. It is not only what we do that God uses and rewards. It is our words left behind in the hearts of men and on the pages of a diary. I encourage you all to start writing your thoughts on paper. You do not have to be a great poet to write down things about your life, as you see them. You never know what God will use your dairy to bless many souls unto eternity!

In Christ I declare:

“My heart us stirred by a noble theme…my tongue is the pen of a skilful writer…” (Ps 45:1)

I shall write books!

I shall compose songs!

To the glory of God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“But Jesus said, “Someone touched Me; I know that power has gone out from Me.” Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at His feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched Him and how she had been instantly healed. Then He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” (Lk 8:46-48)

I have just left my office, still angry in my spirit. A Christian sister in need of prayer and counsel came to see me. She is married with three children. Since I know her, she has never been sickly. But now she said that she is sick with a ‘mysterious’ disease. She bleeds internally and she is pale. But she has no pains at all. She went to many hospitals and did many tests. She is not rich but she had to spend a lot of money. The medical results are all conflicting. The doctors could not agree on a particular diagnoses or what treatment she should take. They just gave her some ‘tablets’ and told her to go home, to wait and see…

She was seated in front of me quoting scriptures. But the sound of her voice and the body language spoke only of doubt, fear and defeat. Then I got angry at the devil that was tormenting her. I confronted her: are you born again? She said yes. I asked her: Do you believe that Jesus can heal you? She said yes. Then I commanded the evil spirit of religion to be silent! With the authority of Christ given to me I reminded her of the power in the Blood and in the Name of Jesus!  I told her to go back in time and remember that holy day when she became a child of God. The power that took her sins away is the same power that will take the sickness away. She was struggling to call the names of the microbes the doctor isolated in her fluids. I told her she does not need to know all these foreign bodies. She cannot heal herself! Their names are not important…why? For at the name of Jesus they all must bow! She said the doctors are confused about her sickness.  I told her that Jesus is never confused about His creation! Jesus does not need to ask the doctors for permission before healing her. I reminded her that her body belongs to God and it is declared to be the Temple of the Holy Spirit. I told her that I am also a medical doctor but I was not trained in building or repairing of temples. The medical doctors can treat the unbelievers but they know nothing about the habitation of the Holy Spirit in God’s temples. I told her not to worship doctors, medicine or men!

I told her to remove her eyes from her circumstances! To look only unto Jesus Christ! I told her to believe in miracles! What if God wants to intervene and heal her for His glory alone? The evil spirit of religion has complicated her mind too much. She needs to go back to Jehovah Rapha, to the simplicity of trusting Christ Crucified! She is a child of God! She is the Bride of Christ! God is jealous over her. God does not want to share His glory with doctors, nurses, pharmacists or medicines. I told her to let go of the good to make space in her heart, for faith in the best! I told her to take the medicines prescribed to avoid a conflict with her unbelieving husband who has paid the medical bills. But in her heart she should cry to God who is able and willing to save and to heal! God will not reject any desperate believing soul! I know for I was there too! Thank God that I can practice what I preach! I am not a hypocrite! I am not selling the Word of God! Out of the abundance of my heart, words supplied and sealed with the fire of the Holy Spirit, I have spoken!  God is able! God is faithful! To God be all the glory!

As for you dear reader, Be healed, In Jesus name, Amen!

In Christ I declare:

By the stripes of Jesus I am instantly healed!

I am happy!

I have peace!

I go forth to testify of God’s goodness to me!

In Jesus name

Amen!

There is love that came for us
Humbled to a sinner’s Cross
You broke my shame and sinfulness
You rose again victorious

Faithfulness none can deny
Through the storm and through the fire
There is truth that sets me free
Jesus Christ who lives in me

No beginning and no end
You’re my hope and my defense
You came to seek and save the lost
You paid it all upon the Cross

So let Your name be lifted higher
Be lifted higher, be lifted higher
So let Your name be lifted higher
Be lifted higher, be lifted higher

You are stronger, You are stronger
Sin is broken, You have saved me
It is written, Christ is risen!
Jesus You are Lord of all!!!

(By Hillsong)

The prayer meeting was very good. It is so satisfying to come into the presence of God and find Him waiting. There is nothing like it! The children came to the altar to worship prophetically. Never underestimate their little blessed voices and hearts! Their faith in God and the confidence to worship is amazing. We the adults prayed for them. We declared that all shall be saved; all shall be filled with the Holy Spirit! No one shall be sick even with the ‘normal’ childhood sicknesses! We destroyed any spell upon them that makes them lonely, depressed or slow in school. We used them as a point of contact for all who pray for the fruit of the womb! Children are a reward from God! Even as we prayed, they continued to sing…They did not want to stop…truly, nothing compares with the anointing of the Holy Spirit!  Lastly the message came:

“Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” (Gen 22:15-18)

This is a spiritual law: God rewards obedience! God rewards Abraham for his faith and total obedience done even unto death.  When God spoke he did not just pray or meditate upon the Word. He did something! He ‘offered up’ Isaac. In Greek, the word ‘offered’ means to do something, to actively deal with a situation. It is an action, not just a speech. The word describes somebody who, carrying his burden, endures to the end. This man is a champion who finishes the race. That is how Abraham passed the test: he trusted God that even if Isaac dies, yet he shall live. This faith is active and living. God rewards his faith and his obedience with a confirmation of blessings, everlasting fruitfulness and total victory. God confirms the promise of supernatural extraordinary fruitfulness. His descendants shall be many and brilliant like the stars shining in the night sky. They shall be political and social leaders and spiritual warriors. They are children of light defeating the powers of darkness, with its superstition and ignorance. Like the sand on the seashore they shall stop the waves of the sea, the restless wicked forces in this world. They shall be rulers and governors, in charge of many cities. The reward of Jesus is authority over nations and overflow of joy. In Christ, our descendants shall have both. Great shall be our children’s peace! These rewards are not liabilities. They protect you as the mountains surround Jerusalem. The more I obey God, the more peace and joy protects my soul and the less I fear the enemy’s attacks. For God has become ‘my Shield and my exceeding high reward” (Gen 15:1)

Mount Moriah is a symbol of the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ. All believers in Christ, without any exception, must appear before this throne. This throne is different from the ‘great white throne’ that separates the believers from the unbelievers (Rev 20:11-14).  From the great white throne some go to heaven and some to hell. But the Bema Seat of Christ if for believers only. Their destination is sure: heaven! But their works and ministries shall be judged and rewarded accordingly.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive what is due him for the things done in the body, weather good or bad” (2Cor 5:10).

This throne discriminates between works and ministries. Not all believers shall be rewarded. Some shall be barely saved.  But others shall be loaded with great rewards, both on earth and especially in heaven.

In Greek, these are the meanings of the words:

*we must- it is compulsory, it is binding and necessary

*appear- made manifest, externally, shining publicly, visibly

*Judgment seat of Christ-“BEMA” seat of Christ is a tribunal and a throne

*the things done- practiced habitually, repeatedly, until they are accomplished

*good-“Agatha” means  useful help, kind acts to benefit the victim, profit, gain to the Kingdom of God

*bad- useless help, no benefit, no value to the victim, no profit, no gain to the Kingdom of God

The question is this: Since you became saved, what type of ministry do you do? What sacrifice do you offer to God and to His people? Do your words and actions give glory to God? Do they direct men to Jesus? Do you pray before giving help to men? For example, if you give $100 to a millionaire that is a bad gift, a useless help for he does not need your money…he may need prayer, or better give Him Christ! At the Bema Seat of Christ your ‘$100 gift’ will be counted against you. God searches the motives of the heart!

Finally, this is my testimony…I am attracted by truly humble needy people. It is my desire to lead men to Christ, to give sight to the blind, to heal the sick, to bind the wounds of the broken hearted….I forbid wasting my Master’s resources entrusted to me, giving useless help that is not received with thanksgiving.

For example, next to my Bible, my best material possession is my laptop. As expensive as a Jeep is, if you give me that as a gift, it is (almost) useless to me, for I rarely drive. But a laptop is a blessing for I use daily for ministry.

(Please…I am not saying you buy me a laptop for I already have one, I am only making a point…)

Let me add another example: Many years ago a dear brother in the church freely installed an internet device in our house. He pays for our internet. He does not ask for any visible rewards or compliments from us. The other time he came, adjusted the equipment and made the internet faster than before. Once the equipment got bad….He came immediately to fix it. He said that this is the least he can do for his pastors. That is why you can read my letters…Only God alone knows the reward that brother and his family will receive in heaven for helping us do ministry to the nations. There are other many examples of true sacrificial giving to build the house of God and ‘to water’ His servants! God knows you all! You give in secret so God will reward you openly at the Bema set of Christ!

May God bless and reward all the brethren who continue to seek and serve God, who worship Him in Spirit and in truth!  May your reward protect your souls and your homes In Jesus name, Amen!

“Is there no balm in Gilead?

Is there no physician there?

Why then is there no recovery

for the health of the daughter of my people?” (Jer 8:22)

Gilead was an area east of the Jordan River, well known for its spices and ointments. The “balm of Gilead” was a high-quality ointment with healing properties. The Balm was made from resin taken from a flowering plant. Myrrh is taken from a similar plant. It is said that this balm was worth twice its weight in silver.

The Balm of Gilead appears in the Bible as a medicine for incurable diseases. When Joseph’s brothers planned how to kill him, a caravan of Ishmaelite passed by on their way from Gilead to Egypt. In their cargo were “spices, balm, and myrrh”. Later, Jacob tells his sons to carry some healing balm as a gift to Joseph in Egypt (Gen 37:25; 43:11).

Jeremiah sees that God’s people are rebellious. They are in danger to be punished for their sins and to be sent away as slaves to Babylon. Their many sins are described in Chapter 7. Even today the people of God indulge in the same sins. They are religious but not saved; they oppress the poor, the foreigners, the widows and the orphans.  They steal kill and commit adultery. They listen and obey the false prophets who tell them that all is well when there is no peace in the land. They serve idols, in particular the Queen of heaven, Jezebel. They do not listen to God’s Word and God’s true prophets. All these sins have ‘hurt’ them deeply. The word ‘hurt’ means a deep spiritual damage, a broken heart and an un-healed fracture of the soul. The effect of sin is too deep to be treated with just human words of religious pity. All sinners need God, His touch and healing Hands. All sinners need the forgiveness of God and the peace of God that passes all understanding.

This is Jeremiah’s question:  “How can a people who traded in balm be so sick?” The real question behind the illustration is, “How can the people of God, with the Bible in their hands, going to church every Sunday, praying and singing, be so sinful?”

The truth is that religion can never change your heart! Religion can never save your soul! Church and all activities can never give life eternal! You have to go to the Cross! See the price God had to pay to forgive your sins! You have to give your life to Christ! Unconditionally! By grace and thru faith in the Blood of Jesus, you are saved!

The Blood of Jesus is the Balm of Gilead! It will never lose its power! If you are sick today, if the doctors have lost all hope concerning your case, even then, apply the Blood of Jesus! Have faith that God can heal any disease and change every situation!

The following are just few of some ‘hopeless’ cases I personally know and pray about:

*A couple have been married for more than six years and no baby.

*A sister had a changed valve in the heart and she bleeds often because of her drugs

*A young brother is waiting for heart transplant as the last chance to live

*A husband loves his wife but he is totally impotent for the past 15 years

*A brother has diabetes, heart and kidney failure. He should have died long ago but he is still alive and praying

*A sister is bipolar. She is on medication. She has two children. Her husband works far away. The welfare department may take her children away

*A sister just got pregnant and the man responsible said he is not the father of the baby. She has acute depression

*A sister said that the husband gave her an ultimatum to leave the house and divorce

…and many others…

How can these people live? What help can I give to them? What words will they listed to? The only hope I have to give is the precious Balm of Gilead, the Blood of Jesus! I do not give false hopes! Just the true hope of glory found in Christ alone!  Be saved! Be made whole! Be healed! May you receive your miracle today! In Jesus name, Amen!

This is an old African American Song. May the words minister to you:

“There is a balm in Gilead, To make the wounded whole;

There is a balm in Gilead, To heal the sin-sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged and think my work’s in vain,

But then the Holy Spirit revives my hope again!

If you can’t preach like Peter if you can’t pray like Paul,

Just tell the love of Jesus and say He died for all”

Lastly… as I just finished this letter, I received a wonderful good news! Just in time! The husband whose wife could not have a baby for the past 6 years has just informed me that ‘pregnancy test is positive’ Praise the Lord!!!!!! Yes, there is Balm in Gilead! There is Balm of Gilead in our home and our church! Let the miracles increase!

More, Lord, moooooore!!!

All glory to You alone!

“Let the year be given to God in its every moment!”
(G. Campbell Morgan)

MARRIAGE IS A GOOD THING (30)

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Ps 32:5)

These are some interesting facts about sheep and shepherds:

During summer it is too hot to keep the sheep in the valleys below.  The shepherds take them up the mountains where the weather is cooler and the grass greener. One of the shepherds goes ahead alone to inspect the place where the flock will stay. He has to look for bad poisonous grass and remove them. He also has to build fences to protect the sheep. He inspects the ground for signs of wild animals that may attack the flock. His duty is to construct snares and traps all around to catch the possible predators.

Sheep have many natural predators: cougars (mountain lions), wolves, foxes, bears, wild dogs, eagles etc. Sheep are vulnerable to predators because they are basically defenseless and have no means of protecting themselves. Sheep run when something frightens them. Their only protection is to stay together in a group. Breeds with a strong flocking instinct are less vulnerable to predators than those that scatter. Generally, the wild animals attack the flock to create panic, trying to cause a stampede. In the process some of the sheep injure themselves and they fall prey to the predators. The best way to protect the sheep and lambs is to keep them away from predators, by penning them at night. Certain types of fences (net and high-tensile electric) will aid in keeping predators out. Employing good shepherds is very important. Hirelings are dangerous for they do not care for the sheep. Another method to protect them is to have good guarding dogs. These dogs sleep outside and do not have the privileges of a pet. Their job is to bond with the sheep and not with the shepherd.

But with all the difficulties up on the mountains, the sheep enjoy the cooler weather and the green grass. A good shepherd will love and protect his sheep. Living in peace, without the fear of the enemies, the sheep ‘fall in love’. They mate easier and increase in numbers.

Spiritually speaking Jesus is the Shepherd of our souls. He has employed good under-shepherds to take care of His flock. These are the pastors and the leaders of the local churches. In the context of the family the husband is the shepherd of his wife and kids. They cover their flock with wisdom and love. They remove the poisonous weeds of false doctrines. They protect the flock with prayer and the teaching of the Word of God. Our only protection as sheep is to follow the Shepherd and stay together. Every form of rebellion is fatal. Division in the church is a sin. That is why God hates divorce because it separates the shepherd and his sheep. The devil is like a roaring lion looking for lost sheep to devour. He will attack us with fear so that we injure one another. The fence of the Holy Spirit is a seal that protects us at night. The angels are like the guardian dogs. They surround the house of them who fear God and take Him seriously. A disobedient shepherd is a criminal leader. His flock is not safe. He will lose them one by one to the wild animals. No one will come to their rescue.  “Your sheep will be given to your enemies, and no one will rescue them” (Deut 28:31)

If God has called you to be a pastor, a teacher, a mentor or a husband, that is a high calling. This is serious ministry and not entertainment or a joke. You are responsible to Jesus for the care and the protection of your flock. A husband is accountable to God each time his wife or children are sick of suffer. You have to be a man of God to truly be a good husband. You have to be a woman of God to truly be a godly wife. Going to worldly parties and making friends with unbelievers, will open the door to the devil and his agents to attack your home. But for the godly husband who loves cares and protects his family, your reward is great both in heaven and on earth! May God multiply the good examples of godly stable and successful families! I personally need to see more godly homes having Jesus as their Lord! If you have done mistakes in the past, repent and stand up again! May God help you to love as Jesus loved! May your enemies be disappointed! May God bless the fruit of your body! May peace rule in your home! Amen!

In Christ I declare:

My enemies are disappointed! If they do not repent, they shall die of hunger! My family is safe! My children are safe! There is peace in our home! In Jesus name, Amen!

MARRIAGE IS A GOOD THING (29)

“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. If satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished!” (Mk 3:24-26)

There are two kingdoms and each has a king. The first one is called the Kingdom of God. It is ruled by the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. Its aim is to declare on earth the glory of God the Father and to bring its citizens to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, the only Savior of men. The method of increasing its boundaries is by faith and love in Jesus. This is an everlasting kingdom that will defeat all others.

The second one is called the kingdom of darkness and it is ruled by the prince of the power of the air called satan. It is a wicked evil organization made by demons and fallen angels. Its aim is to fight God and His people, to kill steal and destroy all that is good. All sinners and all unbelievers are citizens of this kingdom. Its increase is by terror, fear, intimidation, witchcraft and manipulation. The head of this kingdom has been defeated by Christ on the Cross of Calvary. Its destruction has been prophesied and it shall be complete.

These two kingdoms influence all structures on earth. Each nation, business, family, each marriage or relationship is ruled by one or the other. For example, it is not possible that both Jesus and satan rule your marriage. There are no two kings in one domain. Satan is the first to apply for leadership. He comes with fake promises of prosperity and pleasure. If at least one of you agrees to his terms, he will take over the relationship and slowly destroys it from inside out. But if you reject its claim and promises, and invite Jesus to control your home, it shall be done!

“Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands” (PV 14:1)

This is a very good example to see how two women behave differently in regard to their marriages.  The wise woman values her soul, her husband and children. She desires a godly testimony. She pays the prize for ‘building’ a home. This is a work done with love, patience and prayer. She shall enjoy the work of her hands. Eventually, all the glory for her successful marriage goes to Jesus, her king. Her marriage is a cell of the kingdom of God and increases its borders. God rewards that spiritual labor and blesses the home with peace, love, joy and unity.

But the other woman is foolish, not because she is illiterate, but because she has yielded to the power of satan to control her words and actions. Her home cannot stand. In Greek, this word means to be established in the covenant of peace, to continue undisturbed and without divorce. But the foolish woman’s house shall be the opposite: shaky, troubled, and unhappy and eventually shall scatter thru divorce. Her house is divided and broken to pieces that cannot be ‘glued’ together. The puzzle will never be completed. The purpose for that wrong marriage cannot give glory to God.

It is very painful to love and marry an unbeliever, to dream lofty dreams of a good life with another whose main purpose is to serve satan. The end is divorce and painful broken hearts. As a pastor, I meet all sorts of women. The wise ones have peace, joy and hope. They are humble. They come for counsel and they are teachable. By faith they solve their problems with the help of the Holy Spirit. They make progress and increase their testimonies. Their marriages improve.  Unfortunately, I also meet proud, foolish women. They come for counsel but they do not take it. They talk too much. Their prayers do not change anything. They are too emotional dramatizing their pains at home. They blame their husbands for everything. They quickly consider divorce without any fear of God. They are troubled like the sea and do not enjoy the gift of marriage. Eventually they end up as bitter defeated women and haters of men. They become jealous on the success of others. They are spiritually dangerous, fallen stars and polluted wells. That is the painful side of being a pastor. My duty is to fight this self –damaging and wicked foolishness and to point them to Jesus for salvation and deliverance. My success in ministry depends on their response. Some change and some refuse to change. But the Word of God never changes…

Recently a foolish ‘sister’ came to see me to confess her many wicked and foolish choices. Her wicked careless behavior has damaged her testimony and her marriage. She asked for forgiveness concerning her long standing rebellion against my ministry as a pastor. She has rejected all the words of counsel I gave to her. She told me: “Malia, indeed God is with you! For all the pain I caused you over the years, you should have left the ministry. You should have gone back to your country. It must be God keeping you here in Nigeria, giving you the strength to go on. I saw that you are not even using the pain I inflicted on you to punish others. Thru it all you have remain calm and loving to all. It must be God, truly…”

This is a true saying, you need the power of the Holy Spirit to do ministry! Yes, today I want to give all the glory to God for finding me worthy to be called a pastor! I give all the glory to God for healing my heart from the many disappointments in ministry over the years! God did not allow me to see only defeat, but has given me many sweet moments of success and breakthroughs!  I want to give God all the glory for the strength to move on and for the many blessings along the way!

In Christ I declare:

For the success in my life and ministry, all glory to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit!

My home, my marriage, my children, my church and my ministry shall stand forever!

To the glory of God!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

“Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared…But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries” (Ex 23:20, 22)

This is the Gospel of Christ found in the Old Testament. God the Father has designed the plan for our salvation. God the Son has executed it. The Holy Spirit applies it to our own understanding. Christianity is a journey of faith. We are not just walking somewhere, aimlessly. God has prepared a special place for us. As a Christian, you need to recognize that you are directed to a particular place, to fulfill your own destiny. God leads and we follow.

The word Angel means the Messenger of God, King, Teacher or Prophet. All these are the offices of Jesus Christ. He is the Angel who leads us on to a path that ends in a particular place. Jesus told His disciples:

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn 14:1-3)

Jesus knew exactly where He is going. He knew for sure that He will prepare a place for them in heaven. He also promised to come back again to take them with Him to that very place.

In Exodus 23 the place described is not heaven, for there are no enemies there. Heaven is the ultimate destination. But this place prepared represents the blessings we have in Christ. God wants us to mature as believers. As you can see, the blessings promised are more than just the basics of life: food and shelter. God wants to give us a true identity as His children, a sense of direction in life, fulfillment, prosperity, healing, deliverance, fruitfulness and victory.

One of the major spiritual laws is this: GOD REWARDS OBEDIENCE! The word ‘reward’ means payment for service, extra gifts and blessings. If you obey God’s Word you shall be rewarded. If you rebel, you shall be punished. There is no escape from this law. For example, if you obey God’s Word, He promised to take over your battles in life. He will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your own adversary. This is not my wish. This is God’s promise! In Hebrew an enemy is someone who attacks to push you to fall. An adversary is someone who wants to cage and bind you, to limit your progress. The promise for the obedient children is this: If any one attacks me, God will attack that person. It is not my duty to attack. God will do it for me! If someone plans to cage me and limit my progress God will do the same to him. I have seen people fallen for my sake. I have also seen people bound and stopped in their tracks for my sake. They could not move on! God did it! This is the Word of God!

As for me, long ago I made up my mind to obey God’s commandments. I started reading the Bible when I was in my thirties. Once I was ignorant and God showed mercy to me. But when light shone on my understanding I made up my mind to simply obey everything in the Bible. For example, I read: “Thou shall not kill!” Immediately I made up my mind that for as long as I live I shall never kill, attempt or desire to kill any human being. I will not kill with gun, with poison, with slander or with abortion. By the grace of God I kept my promise. My simple obedience has been rewarded beyond any dream. God is my witness! God is my reward!

In Christ I declare:

God has a plan, a hope and a future for me!

I am lead by the Holy Spirit to God’s blessed place, promised and prepared!

I obey God’s commands!

God shall fight my enemies and shall oppose my adversaries!

I am free!

To God be all the glory!

In Jesus name

Amen!

 
“In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1Pet 3:15)

There are times when I meet hopeless people. They are so entangled by the sins of the past or by the troubles of the present that they cannot see any hope in the future. The opposite of hope is called despair. That means you either have hope or you have depression. No one who has hope will kill another man or commit suicide.
As a believer you should never despair of life, no matter the circumstances. Even if the doctor says that your sickness is incurable, even if your spouse says there is no more marriage, even if you find yourself kidnapped in the bush, even if armed robbers shut their guns…in all things and all circumstances, as a believer in Christ, hold on to your hope! For as long as you breathe, you have to believe that God has a plan that includes hope for you.

If you are born again, your soul was not saved with silver and gold. Jesus died for the forgiveness of your sins. The Blood of Jesus shed on the Cross was the price God paid for the saving of your soul. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a Gospel of hope. It presents forgiveness for the past sins, healing for the wounds of the present and hope for the future. There is no greater better news that man can ever hear in this world than this: God loves you and He sent His only begotten Son to die in your place, that you might live! I believe God’s Word! My soul is saved now! That is my faith! One day my body shall be redeemed too! That is my hope! I believe that after my work is done here on earth, I shall go to heaven to live there forever, in the presence of God. That is my sure hope!

Maybe you ask: What is hope?
Hope is defined as the confident strong desire and trust that the future is better than the present or the past; it is the joyful anticipation of greater things to come. To have a glimpse of hope, you must look ahead and upwards. Hope is a very strong spiritual chemistry of the heart. It is not weak at all! It is not just wishful thinking that ‘maybe one day things will change, somehow…’ No! Hope is sure of the reward ahead!

“For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it” (Rom 8:24, 25)
In the Bible there are two things connected with hope: it is invisible and it is located in the future. It may not be seen at this very moment but it is there for sure! It is worth it to believe in hope and to wait on God! It is worth it to persevere until the invisible becomes visible. That means believe that one day, the promises of God will become visible testimonies. If you are born again, there is ‘a holy eager restlessness’ to see the manifestations of God’s Word in your life. Patience does not mean passivity. I wait patiently but I also have an active faith to desire to see the fulfillment of God’s promises. That is why I believe in miracles! The sickness may give me fever but it cannot destroy my hope that one day my body will be healed!

This is my testimony:
Like every human being on earth, I was born a sinner. I did not believe in God. I was successful as a wife, mother doctor and all. But inside my heart I was hopeless and troubled. I did not believe in heaven or hell. When people tried to convince me about the existence of God I had many reasons to prove to them that they are foolish and their faith is a joke. Prayer to me was a waste of time. Church for me was a business center for ignorant people. Many tried to preach to me but I was too proud of my unbelief. But things started changing…the words of hope coming from the anointed lips of the true children of God made me hungry to experience the same. I was too stubborn to accept defeat immediately but little by little I sensed a new strange desire in me to have a new hope. I needed something to sustain me and my family.
The first time I read the Bible it was not pleasant at all. I did not find hope or encouragement in it pages. But something really happened. As much as I hated the truth, I became ‘addicted’ to it. I sensed that God wants me to pay to price to come closer to Him. I suddenly became desperate to become God’s friend. I was tired to be His enemy. I continued to read the Bible. I welcomed the pain of repentance. I was hoping against hope to find hope one day… Limping and weak, I finally touched the Cross. To my great amazement I met the Savior there waiting for me, no words of condemnation from His lips, just love to heal my soul. I became truly born again by the Spirit of the Living God. What a change…Eternity is not enough for me to tell my story, how Jesus came to save my soul…

This is my boast: In Christ I believe that I shall go to heaven. For the unbelievers my hope seems like denial of reality, foolishness and day dreaming. I am not surprised…That is how I felt in the past…But we are commanded to patiently give a reason for the hope living in us. Explaining the reality of the hope of glory is one of the greatest ways to evangelize others. Remember, that the world has no hope. Only the believers have hope. Jesus (who is God) says: “My prayer is not for the world, but for those You have given Me, because they belong to You” (Jn 17:9).
As a believer in Christ I have hope because Jesus prays for me right now where He is in heaven. I am sure that one day I will meet Him in heaven. There is no need to be angry at my hope. No need to fight it because it cannot be destroyed! Not even death can destroy it! It is a Living Eternal Hope, the gift of God to me! But if you humble yourself and come to surrender your life to Christ, my hope shall be yours too. I promise you, this is the truth!

In Christ I declare:
“My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name!

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand”
In Jesus name
Amen!

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” Josh 24:15)

(I just discovered this old song. I am surprised at the wisdom of this secular singer…Yes, God can speak in many ways…)

You may be an ambassador to England or France
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls

You might be a rock ’n’ roll addict prancing on the stage
You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage
You may be a businessman or some high-degree thief
They may call you Doctor or they may call you Chief

You may be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk
You may be the head of some big TV network
You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame
You may be living in another country under another name

You may be a construction worker working on a home
You may be living in a mansion or you might live in a dome
You might own guns and you might even own tanks
You might be somebody’s landlord, you might even own banks

You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride
You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side
You may be workin’ in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair
You may be somebody’s mistress, may be somebody’s heir

Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk
Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk
You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread
You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king-sized bed

You may call me Terry, you may call me Timmy
You may call me Bobby, you may call me Zimmy
You may call me R.J., you may call me Ray
You may call me anything but no matter what you say

Chorus:
You’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody

(Bob Dylan, 1979)