GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“God also says:
“When the time’s ripe, I answer you.
When victory’s due, I help you.
I form you and use you
to reconnect the people with Me,
To put the land in order,
to resettle families on the ruined properties…”
(Is 49:8; TM)

The child of God…

“his path (is) blazed by God, he’s happy.

If he stumbles, he’s not down for long; (for) God has a grip on his hand” (Ps 37:23, 24; TM)

We are building our new sanctuary. Most of the work is done with the willing volunteers from the church. They are lovingly called ‘the men of valor’. The women in the church have decided to cook daily for the workers. This holy project is on for about two years. Every day one of the women cooks for about 50 men. This is not a small job…The men like ‘heavy’ food. Here it is called ‘eba ’and it is made from cassava flour mixed with hot water. It becomes strong like a ball. It is eaten with different soups.

Sister Ufuoma was the one to cook yesterday. Her name in the native language means ‘Peace’. She is a godly wife, a wonderful mother of two and heavily pregnant. She also goes to school intending to be a teacher. This is her testimony: Yesterday, at lunch time, she came with the food to the site. She stopped the car close to the building. She went behind, opened the boot (trunk) of the car and brought down the heavy coolers with the hot food. Then she went back to the wheel and…by mistake…she reversed the car…the tires crushed the coolers and all the food was wasted on the ground… The workers shouted to stop but, somehow, she did not hear…When she saw what happened, she cried…of course… then she did what a woman of God should do…tears on her face, she entered the car and drove back to the market, bought the meat and the stuff…went home and cooked again… before the brethren closed for the day, at about 6 pm, to the shouts of ‘Praise the Lord!’… Ufuoma was back with new coolers and hot food and all…

This is not easy… She had every reason to just cry, then go home and sleep. But she could not declare defeat. God gave her the grace and the strength to redeem the time and make the best out of a hopeless situation. She obeyed the command to conquer evil with good.

Maybe by now you realize that I am very proud of my spiritual daughters here.

To God be all the glory!

In Christ I declare:

If I stumble, I do not fall, for God grips me!

I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me!

Praise the Lord!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor…if the witness is a false witness, who has testified falsely against his brother, then you shall do to him as he thought to have done to his brother… And those who remain shall hear and fear, and hereafter they shall not again commit such evil among you…” (Ex 20:16; Deut 19:18-20)

God hates evil. God hates the sin of lying, of giving a false testimony against another. God is the God of Justice.

Perjury is the willful, deliberate act of giving false, misleading, or incomplete testimony under oath in the court. It is the attempt to deceive, misuse or manipulate the judge to do harm against another person. The punishment on the perjurer is determined by the perjurer himself. The harm he planned to do against another shall return back to him.

In The Old Testament, one witness was not enough to convict someone of a crime. At least two people were needed to testify against a suspect. But if any man bore false witness against another, that is considered evil. The liar shall receive the exact punishment he intended for the innocent victim. This reversal of punishment was God’s way to bring the fear of God in the land, to bring to and end the flood of sin and wickedness. There shall be no mercy with any slanderer (Deut 19:15-21).

In the Book of Esther there is classical story on how the God of justice reversed the human manipulations and gave the guilty man the punishment he intended against the innocent. Haman ‘the enemy of the Jews’ was the prime minister in Persia. He convinced King Xerxes to kill all the Jews in the land by saying that they are a very rebellious and evil people. The King was deceived by this false testimony. He agreed to the crime, not knowing that his wife, Queen Ester is a Jew. Also, Mordecai, one of his most faithful servants, one who saved his life in the past, is also a Jew. But the Sovereign God intervenes and over-rules the plans of the wicked. When the king discovers Haman’s evil plan he reversed it. The reward Haman planned for himself was given to Mordecai. Also, the exact punishment he planned for Mordecai was given to him. This is how Haman died and Mordecai took his place. The Jews rejoiced all over the land for God changed their sorrow into joy and brought life out of death!

This is the Gospel of Christ! Jesus died on the Cross to save His people! Anyone who rejects the Gospel is condemned already!

We pray for revival in this land. Revival comes when men shall fear God, when they take His Word seriously. The Holy Spirit convicts all men of the Judgment of God. Jesus shall come again. He shall judge all sinners! There is mercy only for them who belong to Him. The rest shall perish. Sinner, give your life to Christ! Repent of every wicked thought or careless word you spoke against another! You do not have to bring down a man to take his position. Genuine promotion comes only from God! This is not my opinion. This is the truth. Repent and be saved! Come to the Cross! Let the Blood of Jesus speak on behalf of your soul! Jesus is the only way to escape the wrath of God! May God touch your heart today! This is my prayer for you…

In Christ I declare:

I make a covenant with God today: FROM TODAY, I SHALL NEVER LIE AGAIN!

No matter what, I shall always speak the truth in love!

Holy Spirit, help me!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“So I (Jesus) tell you to stop worrying…”

“The Lord is near. Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks” (Mt 6:25; Philip 4:5, 6)

Worry is defined as an aggressive mental attack of anxiety.  Worry is totally useless and even dangerous.

Spiritually, worry is an attack coming from evil spirits. It is a continuous harassment; disturbance, nagging or torment intended to shake your position of peace. Like wild dogs, the evil spirits attack the neck, the most vulnerable part of the body. The purpose is to choke you to death, like with a rope around the neck. The effect of this slow strangulation is that you cannot breathe or swallow well. Spiritually speaking, the breath represents the Holy Spirit. Swallowing food, the bread of live and drinking the living water represent the daily intake of the Word of God. Therefore, worry is the major hindrance against being filled with the Holy Spirit and of the understanding of God’s Word.

The effect of worry is seen upon God’s Word deposited in the heart. It chokes it! It strangulates it from within! The Word cannot grow and multiply. The anxious heart becomes dry and barren (Mk 4:7). It is like a pregnancy that fails to develop! In other words, constant worry is able to hinder the spiritual growth of a believer. You have to identify it and completely reject it!

What is the solution?

It is prayer!

We are commanded by the Lord not to be anxious! This is not just a suggestion. It is His command and we either obey it or not. Dear believer, to continue to worry about your life, brings you close to the cursed and dangerous land of rebellion, which is connected and strengthened by witchcraft (1Sam 15:23). This is a most serious charge! This is the Truth!

Anxiety is a spiritual toxic waste. It spreads like poison, like spiritual pollution, everywhere. One anxious person does a lot of harm to his family and community. As a child of God, my ministry should be ‘a recycling godly factory’ that overcomes evil with good. I diligently replace anxiety with prayer, worship and thanksgiving! Therefore, in obedience with God’s Word, I should stop worrying! Now! I should reject all evil spirits of mental harassment! I should not just quietly tolerate them. I should actively reject them thru spiritual warfare. Instead of worrying, I should change all my anxieties into prayer, worship and thanksgiving to God! From today, this is exactly what I shall do! This is my promise to God!

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

I resist and reject all forms of worry!

I pray always!

I give thanks to God!

I am delivered from worry!

Peace is my portion!

I am a blessing to my family and my community!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

 
“I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus” (Rev 19:10)

Are you calling my name?
Do you want me to listen to your testimony…I would love that…but I need to hear your heart first, then your words…is your cross like my cross…tell me how your world came to an end… show me the spot where, without any rehearsal, spontaneously, your spirit’s overflow voiced the eternal ‘It is finished!’…let me hear your silence…when words fail… the hammer’s sound is the only living song…the Cross denies entrance to hope…when the head bows in surrender and the devils rejoice for such an easy victory…
Tell me also how you woke up like from the dead…tell me about the day when your tears dried and all fears died…how you discovered that Christ died in your place…when your cage was broken and you came out with wings of rainbows and stars in your hands… Let me hear the breeze of the resurrection power destroying all opposition… describe to me the terror of the terror of darkness… the fleeing and the falling of wicked opposition…the sudden turning of tables… the new beginning of an untamed hope…the shower and the inspiration of true worship… the impartation of heaven and the gift from the Most High…tell me about Jesus and how He has changed your heart…how His prayer became yours, His song yours and His testimony of death and life yours…All stories make me tired, even before they end…. But the testimony of Jesus makes me happy and strong…I never get tired of the story of Jesus…so here I am, my friend, tell me about my Lord…I promise to always listen… .

In Christ I declare:
I testify about Jesus my Lord!
I am saved by grace!
The Holy Spirit of prophecy is upon me!
I worship God alone!
In Jesus name
Amen!

“And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that…Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev 19:10)

True testimony is always prophetic. Prophesy means ‘to speak for God’, to tell others God’s opinion about a situation. God’s opinion is truth. Truth sets free. Jesus testifies about the Father. The Holy Spirit testifies about Jesus. These THREE are ONE!

We too must be sensitive and maintain the unity of the Spirit when speaking, preaching, prophesying, counseling, testifying or teaching. Any other type of speech that masquerades itself as ‘a testimony’ is a proud utterance of idolatry and false prophecy. It should be completely rejected!

A true prophetic utterance must follow the testimony pattern of the life and death of the Lord Jesus Christ. The testifier should prove to us how the Lord Jesus changed his life. He should be able to guide us on the same path of humiliation and rejection to the place of suffering, forgiveness and death. The flesh can never take a stroll on Calvary Hill. The flesh can only boast of self and gossip. Only the spirit can truly minister life thru personal experience and godly testimony. The flesh will soon be tired and fall…but the Spirit leads the way and empowers the willing pilgrim…

In Christ I declare:

This is my testimony: I deny myself, I carry my cross daily and I follow Jesus!

This is my story; this is my song; praising my Savior, all the day long!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel now say…”

I just try to imagine the feeling of someone who is not saved… I do not have to think too far, for once I was lost but now I am found. I still remember the feeling of not having God on my side…Let us consider this soberly for there are only two positions: God is on your side or He is not on your side. There is no other option. There is no neutral ground between the two. Please quietly meditate on the Word of God. You shall either rejoice or despair!

2-            But…If God is not on your side then you are lost. You shall fail in all things. You are not a child of God. You will be filled with fears, worries, confusion and doubts about your life. You shall not fulfill your destiny as a human being. God will oppose all you do, your work and your plans. Your family will suffer directly or indirectly because of your troubles. You fear all threats and you shall lose all battles. You are weak and but unable to receive strength. You are foolish but there is no wisdom. You are dead and you refuse to receive life. You live and die as a wasted soul. You are God’s enemy and you can never win against Him. No matter who is on your side, even if the whole world votes for you, you shall fail at last. You shall be jealous on the believers and try to deceive or persecute them. But you shall fail for God is with them. Go and ask Pharaoh…the army of Egypt, with all the chariots and the noise, was swallowed by the Sea. Go and ask Nebuchadnezzar…how he felt staring at the face of the Fourth Man in the furnace…Go and ask the great men of Persia how it was when their leaders met the lions in the den…Go and ask Korah, Jezebel, Herod, Herodias, Simon the Sorcerer and all the wicked servants of satan who perish at last…

But it is not only the reprobates that should be concerned. If you are a child of God, but refuse to be filled or lead by the Holy Spirit, if you grieve the Holy Spirit thru un- confessed sin, thru stubbornness and pride, then God is not on your side. You shall not know His sweet smile of approval or His anointing that destroys all yokes. And that is a loss beyond words…Selah!

In Christ I declare:

I am forever grateful for God’s mercy and grace!

I rejoice in my salvation!

God’s favor is on me and mine!

I preach the True Gospel of Christ Crucified!

As I lift up the name of Jesus, sinners shall be saved!

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

In Jesus name

Amen!

 
“If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel now say…”

I just try to imagine the feeling of someone who is not saved… I do not have to think too far, for once I was lost but now I am found. I still remember the feeling of not having God on my side…Let us consider this soberly for there are only two positions: God is on your side or He is not on your side. There is no other option. There is no neutral ground between the two. Please quietly meditate on the Word of God. You shall either rejoice or despair!

1- If God is on your side, then you shall fulfill your destiny. ‘Success’ shall be your middle name. You are a child of God, filled and lead by the Holy Spirit. You have joy, peace and confidence in God. You have totally surrendered your body soul and spirit to God. He loves you and you know it. The work of your hand shall prosper. Your children are blessed. Your ministry is fruitful. Your faith increases every day. You are not afraid of any man, devil or circumstances. You move on from one victory to another. You make fast spiritual progress and come closer to God. God uses you mightily as His servant, witness and soldier. God trusts you. You are God’s friend and He tells you His secrets. You are also on the side of God any time He calls for attention. It does not matter who opposes you, you shall win the battle. Even if the whole world rejects you, they shall fail. Mary Slessor, said that ‘he who is with God is in majority’. That is why she did great exploits as a missionary to Calabar many years ago.

God alone takes the glory. It is not me and God…then I can boast of some success…No, it is God alone, Christ alone on the Cross, He died to save my soul…Christ alone kept me and broke the snare of my sin. Go and ask Abraham, Isaac and Jacob…Go and ask Joseph, Moses, Deborah, David and Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego…Mary, Peter and Paul…and all the rest saints in heaven…they will tell you the same thing: God was on their side!

In Christ I declare:
As for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord!
God is on our side!
All glory to God!
In Jesus name
Amen!

 “You shall receive power when the Holy Ghost shall come upon you. And you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and unto the ends of the earth” (Ac 1:8)

Just before going back to heaven, this is what the resurrected Christ said to His disciples (I paraphrase):

“You need My Power to be My Witnesses! You need My power to testify to men about Me! Without the power of the Holy Ghost, no man will believe that you are My servants! Desire and pray for that power to come to you! Do not go and do ministry without it! I want you to have My power!”

You need the Holy Spirit’s power to be a witness for Jesus; to give a true testimony about His grace in your life. The word ‘witness’ here is the same with the one translated ‘testimony’ (in Greek ‘marturia’).It means a firsthand confirmation of a fact, made under oath (in a court). You have to testify to what you have seen with your own eyes. No other story or ‘second hand’ testimony is accepted in the court of God.

The word ‘power’ in Greek is ‘dunamis’ from where the word dynamite comes from. This same word really means ‘miracles’. It is the supernatural, violent ability of the Spirit of God to destroy all hindrances in its path. It makes a way for the overflow of grace, the river of blessings at flood tide and the manifestation of eternal life.

To give a testimony is to witness of Jesus; to what He has done in your life and not in another. You need to be born again and Spirit filled to be able to give a true testimony. You need the power of the Holy Ghost! Any ‘testimony’ given in flesh, by a religious unbeliever is not acceptable to God for it does not give glory to Jesus! It should be rejected by the listeners!

One of the functions of the Holy Spirit is power to do ministry, to witness to the Lord Jesus Christ. You can be a Christian, born again child of God and still lack this ‘dunamis’ power. You have to desire it with all your heart. As a ‘baby’ Christian, you may not be aware of its importance. You may try to serve God in your own personal strength. But ‘flesh profits nothing’ – says the Lord. You will become tired, discouraged, distracted and afraid if you try to do ministry in the flesh. You will talk and talk and there shall be no genuine fruit to prove your calling. It is one of the most frustrating things in life to work for God in the flesh. God will not allow true success to come and encourage you. This is because God wants you to desire Him even as ‘Partner’ in ministry. God is jealous and He wants all the glory to be given to Him; not to you or to your ministry.

I know that these are painful words to read. But this is a good pain. It is the pain of the truth that sets free…

I pray that your pain will lead you to the Cross, to see Christ once more. May the frustration of a barren life and of a fruitless ministry drive you to Jesus! May you tarry in His presence… ask and you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost! Your life, your marriage, your family, your job, your ministry, your words, your songs…nothing will be the same again. You shall speak few words and your listeners shall be saved and transformed. You shall sing a little chorus and all will be slain in the Spirit! You shall work a little and make great impact.

May you be willing to give God ‘the good’ in your hand for ‘the best’ in His pierced hand!

Be filled with the Holy Spirit!

In Christ I declare:

The Holy Ghost is upon me!

The power of the Holy Ghost is in me!

I am witness that Jesus is Lord!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice O heavens, and you who dwell in them!” (Rev 12:10-12)

Testimony’ –definition- a true solemn statement or a firsthand confirmation of a fact, made under oath (in a court)

The word ‘testimony’ in Greek is ‘marturia’ and it is translated as witness, giving an honest report, someone who correctly records an event, evidence given in the Temple (in the presence of God). The word is also translated ‘a martyr’; someone who voluntarily suffers torture, pain or even death as a penalty for witnessing for God and for refusing to give up his religion.

A true testimony is one of the most powerful weapons in spiritual warfare. The devil hates it and will try to corrupt its meaning so that we may be deceived.

The weapon called ‘the word of our testimony’ is the Word of God that has produced fruits and manifestations in our lives. Jesus is ‘the Word made flesh’. In the same way, the Word of God must replace ‘our flesh’. The flesh dies and it is replaced with the mind of Christ, the testimony of Jesus in us. The gift of the Cross is this wonderful weapon called ‘the word of our testimony’. Praise the Lord!

When a believer gives a testimony, he speaks in the fear and presence of God, giving Him all the glory. The testifier also intends to disgrace the defeated devil, proving how he tried to stop the testimony but failed to do so. Because the testimony is a banner of victory to the Crucified, it is also an encouragement, a challenge and an inspiration to all the brethren. A testimony proves that Jesus is the center of your life and changes it for good. Each testimony is a miracle that gives glory to the Lamb of God. Genuine testimony is always a firsthand evidence of God’s grace in your own life. When testifying, you relate facts about your own life, not about other people or about things you read in the books. It has to be a personal account of the Living God’s intervention in your life.

This is the commission of Paul by Jesus Himself to be a witness and a living testimony to Him. He shall testify only about the things Jesus has done in his life and he has seen with his eyes!

“So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you” (Ac 26:15, 16)

According to the Bible, any speech, no matter how ‘spiritual’, that cannot fulfill these holy conditions, is not a testimony! Any speech that is not inspired by the Holy Spirit is not a testimony. Any ‘story’ influenced by an evil spirit, bringing doubt in the power of God, or fear of the future is not a testimony! It is a false testimony or a false prophecy. It is intended to bring division, doubt, fear or confusion in the midst of the church. It should be completely rejected and the speaker restrained. Selah!

In Christ I declare:

This is my testimony:

I am born again!

I am Spirit filled!

I am sure of my salvation!

Jesus is Lord!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“Jesus cured many who were sick with various diseases…” (Mk 1:34)

Exactly one year ago I stumbled and fell. I bruised my knees and lower legs. It took quite a while for the dark patches to disappear. What was left on both of my legs was something reddish like a rash that refused to go away. I have been using long skirts since then. I asked God for wisdom and I prayed for healing. My husband prayed too. Then we waited…

I am a medical doctor by profession but since March 2000 in full time ministry. I do not prescribe medications anymore, including to myself. I do not forbid medicines but prayer is my first choice always.

Back to my rashes … I had no idea what to call them. In hot water they got brighter. They did not spread. I was not lead to go and see any Doctor here or abroad. I tried some creams and powders, but nothing worked. The rashes were painless and did not itch. Just there, on both my legs, where they do not belong… ugly and stubborn, mocking my faith…

One night, two weeks ago, I could not sleep. I went to the internet and saw some rashes similar to mine. They said it is lack of Vitamin C. I was not convinced that is my problem. I like oranges and fresh fruits. But then I made up my mind to give it a try. I took two tablets of Vitamin C daily. In less than a week, the rashes have completely disappeared. I look now at my legs…not even a shadow of what has been there for more than a year.  Glory to God!

This testimony of healing may be a joke to my former colleagues (I used to laugh at ‘testimonies’ too). But it is the truth. I was sick and now I am healed!  This testimony is given to remind the believers of the power of God to heal. It is also a reminder of the privilege of prayer and of God’s care for you. Jehovah Rapha is the same forever: God our Healer. God never changes! God hears prayers done in the name of His Son! Pray and trust God! Do not be impatient. As in my case, the cure may come late…But do not lose faith in God! He hears every whisper from His children! This was my wish: I did not want an ‘ordinary’ treatment or money spent in hospitals. I wanted the healing, but more so, I wanted a testimony attached to it. For a medical doctor like me, this journey of faith is very exciting…

Please remember…No sickness is too difficult for God to heal!

You do not need money…just FAITH IN GOD!

Now place your hand where you are sick and pray! Fear and doubt, go away! Be healed! Receive your testimony of healing! In Jesus name, Amen!

Lastly, be sure to give all the glory to God!

In Christ I declare:

Jehovah Rapha is my God!

Jesus Christ is my Lord!

I believe in miracles!

I am healed!

All glory to God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it” (Job 1:7).

In the Book of Job Satan is described as a restless wanderer. He is not just an excited traveler or an adventurer. Satan’s condition describes a wicked feverish state of no permanent location. Satan looks for every opportunity, everywhere to practice evil. You cannot predict satan for he does not dwell in any particular place. The name ‘satan’ in Hebrew means someone who opposes. He is an enemy to all that is good, including God. He attacks and accuses anyone who stands in his path, especially God’s children. Satan has no peace. Satan has no mercy. There is absolutely nothing good in him.

In Job we see that he has some power over the natural elements on earth. He can cause tornadoes and storms, strong enough to kill men and destroy property. God also produces these violent winds. So what is the difference between the two? Look at ‘the victims’. God can judge the unrepentant sinners with storms and earthquakes. But when satan attacks, he usually comes against the righteous, persecuting them. That may be a vague difference; so generally, it is not easy to tell. Pray and God will reveal the truth!

When satan attacks a man he gives him no breathing space. In the story of Job he attacks him relentlessly, going on and on using different methods to kill, steal and destroy. Satan is totally evil. Only God can stop his mad pursuit against the children of God. His aim was to force Job to curse God. He wants to destroy our relationship with our Heavenly Father and to make us grieve the Holy Spirit.

But we know that nothing shall separate us from God and His love in Christ Jesus! Child of God, remember this… especially during painful attacks: God has defeated satan! He is a defeated foe! Many forget this truth and they give up the fight. They become weak spiritually, surrendering to the enemy and betraying their Lord. If you know the truth, you do not need to backslide. Satan is too strong for you but he is not too strong for God! Study the Word! Pray always! Stand and fight trusting God for the victory!

In Christ I declare:

I have overcome satan by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of my testimony!

The gates of Hell cannot prevail against the church or against my family!

I command all demons of sickness to leave me and go away!

I command the tormenting storm of my circumstances to be still!

I am healed! I am delivered! I am free!

All glory to God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“…the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel” (Nu 25:1-3)

This is one of the saddest stories in the Bible. The children of God are ready to cross River Jordan and to enter the Promised Land. Face to face with their hopes, as a nation, they fall to temptation. Prophet Balaam could not curse Israel. So he devised a strategy more deadly than a direct curse. He counseled Barak to send foreign women in the camp of Israel. Balaam told him that Jehovah God is very jealous over His people and He wants them separated from other nations, to be pure and holy like Him. If they succeed in making the Jewish men fall to sexual sins, bringing them to the worship their gods, Jehovah Himself will punish Israel. This wicked occult counsel is called ‘the doctrine of Balaam’.

The strategy worked. The men committed adultery with the pagan women and followed them to worship Baal Peor. As Balaam predicted God got angry with His people and sent a plague among them. More than 24 thousand died as a result.

In the midst of it all, Phineas the priest, the grandson of Aaron, intervened. He saw a Jewish man shamelessly committing fornication with a Midian woman. Angrily, he killed them both with the spear. Then the anger of God subsided and the plague steeped. Because Phineas was jealous for God’s name and reputation, he was blessed by God. For this singular act he received the approval of God as a covenant of peace, to him and his descendants. Then God commands His people to treat the Midianites as enemies and to fight them. They killed the kings of Midian. Balaam was also among the dead.

The idol called ‘Baal Peor’ was worshiped thru acts of sexual immorality in the hope of receiving material blessings. I read that the least sacrifice the worshippers had to do is to get naked in public. The idol has gone but the demon is still active. Even today, the demon tells foolish people to naked themselves for others to see them. Medically, this is called Exhibitionism and it is considered a psychiatric disorder. But the root of it is clearly spiritual, demonic. This unholy practice arises from an evil desire to expose the nakedness to friends or to strangers, with the intent to shock them, for their amusement or perverted sexual satisfaction. The people who indulge in this activity do so for many reasons: to sexually arouse themselves and others, to create admiration, disgust, anger, intimidation or fear in the victims. The root of this demonic sickness is to feel in control of their world, by spiritually polluting the environment. These wretched people want to shock others into submission to their demon. In many countries indecent exposure it is considered a criminal offence. Other demons connected with this idolatry lead to premarital sex, cohabiting together, homosexuality, pornography, pedophilia and other sins. The doctrine of Balaam says that you can call yourself a Christian and in the same time indulge in all these sadistic perverted sins and that God will approve of it. That is a lie! God is angry with the wicked ever day (Ps 7:11).

What are the lessons for us?  The breaking of the seventh commandment leads to the breaking of all the rest.  Adultery leads to idolatry, lying, stealing, slander, rebellion, covetousness and other sins. The devil has used sex as a weapon from the beginning of the human race. Adam and Eve were naked and unashamed until they fell to the sin of rebellion. Then shame became part of their lives. Balaam’s tragic life is a warning to all who desire to do ministry but refuse to give God the glory. The devil can never be a friend. Sometimes he pretends to be a helper, a poor man in need, a victim or a minister of God. But in reality, he hates God and His children. He will attack the believers trying to steal their blessings. It is a dangerous thing to willingly enter the reckless path of temptation. It only leads to more sin, frustration, anger, pain, spiritual blindness, disgrace and eventually, death. There is no safety there. God hates and punishes sin. The Cross is a proof to that!

As a true believer, trust that even in the midst of temptation, God is on your side. He will overturn the counsel of the wicked and change their curses into added blessings! Lastly, be like Phineas, jealous over God’s name and glory! Then the peace of God shall be on you and your children!

In Christ I declare:

I hate evil and sin!

I reject all evil, unclean spirits of false prophets!

I hate all wrong doctrines of demons!

I preach only Christ and Him crucified!

God will turn my enemy’s curses into blessings!

The Peace of God is upon my home!

In Jesus name

Amen!

STEP FIVE: THE GREAT DELIVERANCE

“If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel now say…”

We are mountaineers to the glory of God. After a long and difficult trek, we have arrived at a new level of holy progress. We shall call it: The Great Deliverance.

Today we shall remember the great victories and deliverances the Lord God has done for us in the past. This Psalm is a song of the holy survivors, a song of thanks-giving. We shall give thanks to God for who He is in our lives!

There are some things men boast of performing. But the blessings of eternal value, the perfect gifts, come from God alone. Let’s imagine now how our lives could have been ‘if the Lord had not been on our side…’

There is this little word ‘if’. It means that not all people can claim the constant presence of God with them. Some people are alone, godless and lost. They live and die without a purpose and without a hope. But we, the children of God, have a Father in Heaven, a Savior on the Throne and the Holy Spirit as our Comforter forever.

God is not a respecter of Persons. He does not discriminate between rich and poor, educated or not. That is true. But we can also say that God discriminates between His children and the rest of mankind. During conflicts and war, God is on our side and He is not on ‘their side’. That is why we pray and know that the victory is ours. If God was not on our side, we could have died in sins; any sickness could have killed us; wicked people could have eliminated us. We could not have had peace and joy, hope and wisdom. We could have lacked a testimony of freedom from sin, healing from sickness and deliverance from circumstances beyond our control.

If God was not on the side of Israel, the Bible we read could have been a very different book. Abraham and Sarah could have died childless. Isaac could have starved to death. Jacob could have been killed by Laban or Esau. Joseph could have died as a slave in Egypt. Job could have died as a desperate, childless, poor man. Daniel could have ended in the stomach of the lions. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego could have been just ashes. Jonah could have drowned in the Great Sea. David could never be a king; Peter could have died in prison….

This is also my story…if God was not on my side I could not have been saved. I could have remained a foolish atheist, proud of my lack of spirituality, ignorant of the beauty and grace of a Savior, who died to set me free. Without God, this life makes no sense. Why will anyone be happy to live 80 years on this earth, and then go to an eternal death in hell? Without God there is no purpose, no hope, no joy, no wisdom, no fellowship or friendship, no love, no romance, no happy marriage…just a boring routine surrounded by darkness, fears, confusion and sorrow.

But ‘God is indeed on our side’, let Israel, let the church say so! Jehovah, the Self Existent God, the God of the covenant, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is our God! Jesus promised: “I will never leave you never forsake you! Nobody can pluck you out of My hand! Without Me you can do nothing!” “I need Thee, O, I need Thee!”

If God is for us who can be against us? Nobody! God is the Judge of all men and in Christ, He has already justified us. Who can condemn us? Nobody! All trials and tribulations, sickness, sorrow, created things, angels or demons, poverty and even death nothing is able to separate us from the love of God found in Christ Jesus, our Lord! God knew and loved us from the foundation of the world. He called us, justified and glorified us. He shall perfect all concerning us, even to the end! (Rom 8:31-39).

“Where would I’ve been, You only know

I’m glad You see, thru eyes of love

A hopeless case, an empty grave, if not for grace…

Amazing grace, How sweet the sound

I once was lost, but now I’m found…

Thank You Jesus…”

Does your heart sing? Do you feel like dancing? Do you feel like shouting the name of Jesus? I do…JESUS……

“And now, Give thanks! Let the weak say I am strong! Let the poor say: I am rich! For what the Lord has done, for us…..Give thanks!”

In Christ I declare:

I am saved! I am delivered!

God is on my side! That is why I live!

Nobody can steal my salvation!

In the midst of trials, for as long as I live, God will always make a way of escape for me!

I give thanks to God!

All the glory to the Lamb upon the throne!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“Woe to them! For they…have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit…they will do anything for money” (Jude 11)

Balak, the Moabite king, hired the false prophet Balaam to curse Israel. He had no good reason to go against the children of God. He did not attack them from a defensive position. The truth is that God did not give his land to the Jews, so there was no danger to his territory (Judg 11:18). So why did he plan evil against the children of God? This is the answer: He attacked Israel out of pure wickedness and greed. This may explain his plans to destroy them: Israel won the battle against king Sihon, a former enemy to Moab. They took over his land (Nu 21:23-26). Balak thought that by defeating Israel he can recover his lost territory. Both Balak and Balaam are covetous people, helping each other in evil and greed.

The first time the princes of Moab come to tempt Balaam, he refused to follow them. In his heart he really wanted to go because of the promise of a reward, but God restrained him. His refusal was not because he loved God, but because he was ‘forced’ to stay home.  The second time the elders came, they offered more money to Balaam.  He knew God’s answer but he prayed again. The love of money made him restless. Surprisingly, this second time, God answers him according to his secret heart’s desire. God says that he can go to Balak, but he will not be able to curse His people and he can only speak His word. Balaam is too stubborn to let go of such ‘a golden opportunity’ to make money. Even with all these restrictions on his ministry, he goes to meet Balak, hoping against all odds that God will change His mind.

Balaam willingly chooses to enter the path of temptation. This is a reckless sinful road that always ends in sorrow and death. Even the donkey tries to restrain him because he is blind to any danger. In the struggle, his foot is injured. He gets very angry. When confronted by the Lord Jesus Christ, who appears in the form of an Angel, he partially repents but still insists to go on. Eventually Balaam is killed by Israel in a battle ordained by God. He envied God’s people, wishing to die like them, a glorious death (Nu 23:10). But his life ends as it began, shamefully. This is the tragic story of a low class hireling; a false prophet who sold his inheritance, an enemy, a traitor to God and to His people.

“Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death…The wages of sin is death” (Jam 1:15; Rom 6:23)

Dear Heavenly Father: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”

In Christ I declare:

I reject all false prophets, no matter who they are!

By God’s grace, I shall never willingly enter the shameful path of temptation, lust, sin and death!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“And God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed” (Nu 22:12)

Balaam is a strange character. Some say that he was a true prophet of God who was backsliding. But the best way to describe him is that he was a religious unbeliever and not a true child of God. But he is still a mysterious person. He has a prophetic gift, no doubt about that. But he cannot be described as a true prophet of God. He is a prophetic hireling.  He has a covetous heart. He loves money more than God; especially money made thru evil occult means. There is no record that he ever repented of his wickedness. He knows enough about God and some of his prophesies about the Messiah are wonderful. But in the same time he refuses to obey God. He does not fear God. He is ready to exploit God and to make money out of ministry. He does not care that thousands died as a result of his wicked advice to Balak. Money is his god. The love of this world propelled him to do evil and to sell his prophetic gift to satan’s agents.

The princes of Moab traveled a distance of about 200 miles to see Balaam. That means Balak, the devil’s agent, is ready to pay much to defeat and destroy the children of God. He is afraid of the number and power of Israel as a nation. He knows that he cannot defeat them thru a direct military attack. His strategy is to attack them thru occult means. He wants a spell placed upon them so that they become weak spiritually and physically. Then they shall be defeated.

The first time the elders of Moab came with a gift to tempt Balaam, he did not sin. He did the right thing by praying to God. Then God answered: “No! You should not go and curse these people for they are blessed by Me!” A true prophet of God will accept any word from God, even if the answer is ‘No!’ Balaam grudgingly refuses but he blames God for not allowing him to come with them. Then Balak sends more men with even a greater gift. Balaam already knows God’s answer concerning this issue but he is not willing to accept ‘No’ as the answer. So he goes to pray again. Surprisingly, God says ‘Yes’ this time. In other words, God says to him: “I know that it is in your heart to go there and make money as a prophet. I permit you to go and make money because this is your wish. But this is my condition: your mouth remains under My control. You will only speak My words to them. Now…you can go…”

The lessons here are many. The devil is very persistent and patient. If he is interested in your ‘services’ he is willing to increase the price. Temptation is not just once. For as long as we live on earth, it is an ongoing process. If you have defeated the devil once, he may come back again with a similar proposal.

Also, it is a dangerous thing to allow an idol to dwell in your heart when you go to God and pray. If you ask for guidance, God may allow that idol to direct you in a reckless path that you shall regret.

But the greater lesson is that God is ultimately in control. He can use even evil men for His own purposes and glory. This is a great mystery that should give us much comfort. God is the Father of the believers but He is the God and Judge of all men. Never forget, God is totally in charge of His creation!

In Christ I declare:

I hate the devil!

I repent and reject all idols, visible and invisible!

I love God! All my life, I shall serve God with a pure heart!

God is in charge of my life and my circumstances; even right now!

All things work together for good for me because I love God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

THE BEST FOR THE LAST
“This, the first of His signs (miracles, wonder-works), Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory [by it He displayed His greatness and His power openly], and His disciples believed in Him [adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Him]” (Jn 2:11; AMP)

How did Jesus perform this miracle? Let’s see what He did not do: He did not touch the water; He did not fill the pots Himself; He did not pray or prophesy over the water.
What was the method Jesus used to perform this mysterious miracle?
Simply said, Jesus changed the water into wine by the power of His will. He just wanted it to happen. God can do anything He wants. All power belongs to God (Ps 62:11). This is very important to believe that God, who is the creator, is able to will anything into existence.
We need to believe that Jesus is God and He can perform any miracle just by willing it to happen. A good example is the healing story of a leprous man who had the revelation of the power of God’s will (Mt 8:1-5). Jesus said: ‘I am willing! Be clean!’ This is how the miracle happened and the man was healed!
Another example of the power of the will of Jesus is found in His high priestly prayer. He said this to God:
‘Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am and to see My glory!’ (Jn 17:24)
In other words, we shall go to heaven and we shall worship the King of Glory forever just because Jesus wants it! This is His desire! That desire is enough! And the Father granted it!

The miracle at Cana was ‘the beginning of His miracles…He thus revealed His glory and His disciples put their faith in Him’. In Greek, the word miracle is also the word for ‘sign’. The definition of ‘a sign’ is something that points away from itself to something else. When you see a sign, you don’t just stop there; you look ahead to your destination. In other words, Jesus does miracles as a sign to point our attention to His person, His glory, His power and His will to bless all who believe in Him!

Finally…Mary was one of the few people at the foot of the Cross, staying with Jesus until He died. She was also among the brethren who waited for the Holy Spirit in prayer. This is a wonderful testimony about Mary, the mother of Jesus! Her prophetic prayer was answered and for the past two thousand years, ‘all generations have called her blessed!’
There is no better way to end it than with Mary’s wonderful words:
“God has been mindful of the humble estate of His servant…for the Mighty One has done great things for me! Holy is His name! His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation!” (Lk 1:48-50)

In Christ I declare:
My future is better than my past!
I am a sign post pointing to Jesus!
My testimony as a servant of God shall increase!
As I humble myself, God shall grant me His favor!
I fear and I worship God!
God’s mercy is on my family!
God has done great things for me and my family!
I am blessed!
In Jesus name
Amen!

TO THE BRIM!
“Jesus said to them, Fill the water-pots with water. So they filled them up to the brim” (Jn 2:7)

The next thing Mary does is a wonderful step of faith. This is indeed to her credit, that she was a woman of God. When rebuked, she did not draw back in self-pity or wounded pride. Mary trusted Jesus as the faithful, powerful, loving and the only Living God. Like Job of old she possibly said to herself:
‘Though He slays me, yet will I trust in Him!’ (Job 13:15)
Mary goes ahead and by faith, she counsels the servants: “Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it!” This counsel for total obedience with the Word of Jesus shows her faith that the miracle will happen. She knows that Jesus is so different than the ordinary men, that His words may sound weird to their natural ears. By faith, she goes ahead to prepare the minds of the servants for their complete obedience. She removes any hindrance of fear or doubt, in preparation for the miracle of God. She facilitates the miracle just like John the Baptist went ahead of the Lord to prepare the way for Him. Mary’s faith is now pure, trusting Jesus, not as her son, but as God! Once Mary prayed to Jesus, she had peace. She did not interfere with God’s methods but she had faith that the miracle will manifest.
That is ‘the hour’ when Jesus ordered the servants: “Fill the water-pots with water.” These were huge vessels, each containing about forty gallons of water, used for religious purification. The house servants, their mind prepared by Mary, obeyed. They filled the pots ‘to the brim’. This little detail indirectly describes complete obedience. Then Jesus commanded: ‘Draw some out now, and bear it unto the governor of the feast’
Jesus does not pronounce the word ‘wine’ at all. He only talks about water. When the master of ceremonies ‘tasted the water that became wine’, he complimented the host for keeping and bringing ‘the best for the last’.
Lastly, it is not clear when the water becomes wine. It looks like the miracle happened right on the table, when all the commands of Jesus had been fully obeyed. The lesson we should remember is this: If I diligently and completely obey God’s commands, then ‘I have the right’ to expect a miracle! May God help me to passionately desire total obedience to God’s Word!

In Christ I declare:
I shall obey God’s Word to the end and to the best of my knowledge!
I shall obey ‘to the brim’!
I am filled with God’s Word and His Spirit ‘to the brim’!
I expect a miracle right now!
I believe in God’s promises!
In Jesus name
Amen!

EVEN IF YOUR PRAYER IS NOT PERFECT, STILL TRUST GOD TO ANSWER IT!

“Jesus said to her, [Dear] woman, what is that to you and to Me? [What do we have in common? Leave it to Me.] My time (hour to act) has not yet come” (Jn 2:4; AMP)

To be fair to Mary, she did not insist on her own way. She did not tell Jesus what means to use to solve the problem. She prayed and when rebuked she kept silent. She humbled herself and continued to trust in Him.
‘My hour has not yet come’ -Jesus said.
The word ‘hour’ in Greek means the particular season when things are ordained to happen; the moment, sometimes in the evening, when the ocean reaches the highest tide. In other words, Jesus is telling Mary something like this: ‘Dear Lady, Thank you for telling me, but I already know about the need. I knew about it even before I came here. That is why I came. I will supply the need in My own way and in My own time. Quietly trust Me!’
This is another lesson: When God sounds ‘harsh’ it may be that He purifies the motives of our prayers!
For example, the Canaanite woman was rebuked by Jesus and even insulted. He called her a dog. But she did not take offence knowing that He alone is King. He has the key to her heart and to her life. This humble attitude of accepting rebuke from God and not be offended by His words is called ‘great faith’ and it pleases God. If you have made up your mind never to withdraw from God’s words of rebuke, but remain in quiet expectation of a miracle, you are blessed indeed. And the miracle shall come. ‘Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me’ (Mt 11:6; 15:21-28).

In Christ I declare:
I deny myself, I take up my cross and follow Jesus!
By the grace of God, I shall not be offended by anything my Lord does to me!
No matter what, in all circumstances, I shall continue to pray and trust God!
I believe that God has heard my prayer!
God shall answer me in His own way and in His own time!
I rebuke any evil spirit of the world!
God shall perfect all that concerns me!
In Jesus name
Amen!

NO MATTER YOUR NEED, WHEN YOU PRAY, DESIRE GOD’S GLORY ABOVE ALL THINGS!
“Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come” (Jn 2:4)

Jesus mildly rebukes Mary. His response to her request sounds harsh to our natural ears, but it may not be so. Jesus addresses her as ‘woman’. That is not an insult as some people say. In today’s conversation, it can be translated as ‘dear lady’ or ‘Madam’. It seems as Jesus desires to restrain her emotions, to allow some space between the two of them. The Holy Spirit has to take control of the situation. Only then a miracle that glorifies God can happen!

Please observe that Jesus did not say to her: ‘I will never do it!’
Mary knew that Jesus was not ‘an ordinary’ man. We are told that ‘she pondered in her heart’ about the words of God and about other prophetic confirmations about her son. As a child, Jesus grew up ‘in strength and grace’ in her presence. She had enough time to study Him, His words and His actions. She also heard that recently, Jesus was publicly declared to be ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’. She knew that Jesus has already started His ministry as a man of God. His disciples following Him were an added proof that her son was a leader of men. She knew His potential. But now, for a moment, she forgot all these things and tried ‘to push’ Him a little to perform a miracle.

The truth is that Mary had faith in Jesus, but the motives in her heart were not totally pure. She addressed Him as a natural loving mother. The response of Jesus shows that He detected her fleshly manipulation. She talks to Him as a mother talks to a son. Jesus addresses her as God speaking to His creation. She was worried about a natural need and about men’s opinions. Jesus was ‘worried’ about God’s glory! That is why there was a friction and a clash of spirits!

In Christ I declare:
In all I do, during my prayers and worship, at home or in ministry, I shall not be concerned about men’s opinions or how to please them, but I shall always ‘be worried’ about giving glory to God!
So help me God!
In Jesus name
Amen!