TROUBLE BEFORE PEACE

 

“Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river… So Pharaoh awoke. He slept and dreamed a second time… So Pharaoh awoke, and indeed, it was a dream. Now it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh… Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.” So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace” (Genesis 41)

 

Pharaoh had a dream. It was not an ordinary dream. God was talking to him about his future. The survival of his country Egypt was at stake. Pharaoh’s sleep was interrupted. He ‘woke’ up. He was supposed to think and pray about the meaning of this strange dream. But this state of being awaken did not last long.  He went back to sleep. In Hebrew the word ‘sleep’ means to be slack, negligent, stale and spiritually lazy like an old dying man. To be stale refers to old dry bread; it is food no longer fresh and not pleasant to eat. This is the description of Pharaoh’s spirit who was not sensitive when God was talking to him about his very destiny. Please observe God’s patience in dealing with spiritually sleepy men. God comes back the second time with another dream. This time Pharaoh wakes up and cannot go back to sleep. ‘His spirit becomes troubled’. The word ‘troubled’ here means God knocking at the door of his heart. It means to shake, to fear and to become agitated. As unpleasant as this troubling is, this is the correct reaction to God’s Word. We must fear God and tremble at His Word. We should not sleep like the foolish virgins when God is near. Troubled and afraid, Pharaoh does not rest until he finds the solution to his problem. Somebody must remind him of the forgotten dreams and interpreted them. His magicians could not help him. He presses on until he eventually finds Joseph who gives him an answer of peace. Joseph is a type of Christ, who is the Prince of peace.

 

What is the lesson for us? When God speaks to you, thru dreams, thru visions, thru the Bible or thru prophetic utterances, pray that you may hear and respond immediately with the fear of God. Your spirit should feel agitated. Do not ‘ignore’ God! This is not the time to go back to sleep. You must seek God with all your heart and you shall find Him. The only True and Living God has revealed Himself thru His Son Jesus Christ, who is the ‘heavenly Joseph’. You must pay the price and find Jesus! Men in your church may have put Jesus ‘in prison’. They may tell you that Jesus does not exist. Your freedom may be in bondage. Your peace may be in chains. Your hope may be lost. This is work of the evil spirit of religion telling you that there is no hope for you and you should go to sleep. Do not listen to lies! Get us! Stay awake and pray! Go to the Cross! Find Christ! Fight for your soul! It is the Holy Spirit who is troubling you! You cannot fight Him! The Lord Jesus Christ shall come and help you! I am a witness! I know! Awake you sleeper and Christ will shine on you!

Joseph before Pharoah

IN ME YOU MAY HAVE PEACE

“Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:31-33)

These are the words spoken by our Lord just before He went to the Cross. He challenged His disciples to believe that He alone is the Savior of men. His disciples were ‘scattered’ and left Him alone to die. In Greek, the word ‘scattered’ is ‘skorpio’. It means the sting of a scorpion, so painful, that men run away and scatter abroad. Peter, who represents all of us, ran away from Jesus and even denied knowing Him. The devil, the evil ‘scorpion’, has done his worst. But Jesus encourages His disciples by reminding them of who He is. Jesus is Lord! Even when we are unfaithful, He remains faithful. Even when we fail, Christ can never fail! He is the victor over sin, sickness and death! Salvation was done by Jesus Christ alone. We ran away. We cannot share in His glory as the only Savior of men. The glory is His alone, the Lamb upon the throne, slain for the salvation of sinners like you and me. I believe!

Jesus is preparing His disciples for what shall come. His words are eternal. In this world we shall have ‘tribulation’. In Greek, the word ‘tribulation’ means to be hard pressed, to be stressed or to be squeezed into the mold of the world. The world is the system of men who live without Christ. The people of this world hate God but love religion. They strive against one another. ‘Dog eats dog’ is their strategy to succeed. They have bitter envy and selfish ambition in their hearts. They lust for sex and material things. The devil is ‘the god of this world’. He will try his best to make you backslide, for you to enter the world system and to live like them. The devil will try to teach you how to seduce, manipulate and intimidate others so that you ‘succeed’ in this world. Resist the devil and he will run away from you!

What shall we do then? What is our hope and shield against this flood of evil in our minds? It is the peace of Jesus Christ that ‘passes all understanding’. Jesus left this peace to us on earth! This is not the natural peace you may have when all things go well. The supernatural peace of Jesus becomes stronger when things go wrong, when hearts break and tears fall. Filled with this peace Jesus went to the Cross. He died in peace. He rose from the dead in peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace! Our Lord is the greatest Champion who has ever lived. This is His anthem: ‘I have overcome the world!’ Never forget that! Thru His peace Jesus has overcome the world system of greed, lust, envy and wickedness. Peace is stronger than them all. In Him alone we find this peace. ‘In Me you may have peace!’ That is why in Christ, we too, are champions. No matter how loud the world shouts about its success, anyone outside Christ is a loser!!! Do not be intimidated by then! But anyone inside Christ is a winner! We move from one triumph to another, from one testimony to another! Victory is our portion! Jesus says: “Be of good cheer!” Thru all things in this life, be strong, faithful, courageous and confident of the God you serve! There is no one like Him! Give God the Glory! Child of God, I say to you: Be encouraged today! Be filled with the Holy Spirit! May the peace of God fill your hearts today and forever! In Jesus name, amen!

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MY SOUL WAITS FOR GOD ALONE

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

The prayer meeting was very good. We prayed and praised God with songs and dances. Then there was a prophetic word: Wait for God alone! “My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from Him” (Ps 62:5). My soul, position yourself to seek God, to wait for God! Do not wait for men or for money. Wait for God alone. Waiting is worship! God will not disappoint you. God works on behalf of them who wait on Him. As you wait for God, miracles will happen. There shall be miracles of acceleration. God will increase the speed of your breakthrough. The money you make in one year, you shall make in one week. Do not wait for the healing. Wait for the Healer! Do not wait for money! Wait for Jehovah Jireh. God loves our children. They will not suffer what we have suffered. They will not repeat the same mistakes we have made. Their lives will be better than ours. Give thanks for the breakthrough! Give thanks for the healing, for the provision and for the protection! it is permanent! We danced in the Spirit a dance called ‘permanent’. We give thanks!

CHRIST OUR PASSOVER

 

“Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us” (1Cor 5:7)

 

Today we had a wonderful Holy Communion service. As commanded by the Lord, we were careful to ‘remember’ Him.  One of the symbols of our Lord is the Passover Lamb. The story is found in the Book of Exodus 12. The people of God have been in Egypt for 430 years. At the beginning things were good, for Joseph was the Prime minister of Egypt. But after Joseph died, the new Pharaoh enslaved the people of God. For the past 80 years the Egyptians killed their sons by throwing them into River Nile.   They lost their sons, their hope, freedom and joy. They tried different methods to free themselves but all were in vain.  At the fullness of time God intervenes in their lives by sending a deliverer, Moses. He confronts Pharaoh speaking on behalf of Jehovah God: “Then the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve Me” (Ex 9:1). Pharaoh refused to obey God’s command. Sending one plague after another, God judged the gods of Egypt.

 

Finally God tells Moses that the time to leave Egypt has come. This night is the Passover night. He commands His people to do three things:

  1. To kill a lamb! The sinless male lamb and eat its flesh with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. This meal must be eaten in a hurry, ready for departure. That night they shall be free. Just like that! The road of suffering and bondage was long but deliverance comes suddenly!
  2. To apply the blood of the lamb! It was to be applied on the door posts. That will be the sign that God will Passover that house and show mercy.
  3. To stay inside their houses! That night God will pass throughout the land of Egypt and kill all the first born sons in any house where the blood was not applied. In this night of judgment there shall be no hope, no life and no salvation, except behind the Blood! This night God tells His people to make plans for a life outside Egypt. Freedom, just a dream for so long, has become sight. The people bowed their head and worshipped. Worship starts in Egypt but it shall be free outside the land of slavery! (Start worshipping God in the middle of that your trial, for God will take notice of it and heal you, so that the worship will continue!). Just imagine that: in the middle of the night, the Egyptians start wailing: your neighbors, your ‘friends’, your bosses… You are hearing all these cries but you cannot come out to help. This is divine retribution. For 80 years the Egyptians have thrown the male children of Israel into the Nile. Now God pays them in like manner. Pharaoh begs Moses to leave and go away. Suffering was long but salvation comes suddenly. Just like that! No time to waste. God commanded them to celebrate this night of darkness and prophetic dawn.

 

This is the ‘sermon’ of the Holy Communion! No matter what happens, stay inside Christ! Like Noah and his family were saved from the flood of Judgment, so we must stay inside the Ark called Christ. Any form of rebellion will be punished with the rest enemies of God. In Christ there is life! Outside Christ is only death! Do not backslide! Christ, our Passover Lamb was sacrificed for us. For this sacrifice to ‘work’ on our behalf, by faith, His Blood must be applied on our souls. Have faith in God! Worship the Lamb who was slain that men may be free! Halleluiah!!!!

Paasover

WHEN YOU PRAY

 

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mk 11:24; KJ)

Dear Child of God, the revelation faith of this particular scripture has healed the sick, has delivered the oppressed and has opened a great door of freedom for many people. Study it word by word. Pray over each word. The Holy Spirit will help you see the truth that will set you free.

 

These are the very words of our Lord Jesus Christ. ‘I say unto you…’ He brings our attention to the things we desire. ‘What things soever ye desire…’ This is the truth: each person has his (her) own heart’ desires. Please observe that there is no limit to the desires (plural) expressed in prayer. Of course, God will not approve sinful lusts or those desires that are against His will. But one thing is clear: express all your desires to God, even if you are not sure which one is right or wrong.  God is sovereign even in the way He answers prayers. He has to right to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ as He pleases.

 

The next thing Jesus says is to pray; not ‘if you pray’ but ‘when you pray’. In other words, no matter what, no matter how you feel, no matter the circumstances, you should pray! Prayer is your duty and responsibility as a child of God!

 

Then you observe that during the time of prayer, you have to do something: You need to ‘inject’ faith mixed with an expectation to receive the answer. To ‘receive’ it means to make space, to make room for the answer. It is like a woman getting pregnant, receiving the baby in her womb. Many make a mistake here.  They just wait passively for God to ‘do something’. But this ‘believing and receiving’ is not passive. It is a pro – active thing. The word ‘receive’ means to ‘greet’ the miracle, to ‘welcome’ the testimony. (For example: you are sick with malaria. You come to God with worship and prayer. During the prayer, you ‘make space’ for this ‘believe and receive’ part. These verbs are written at present tense. In other words: ‘By faith I believed and I received’! You then ‘stop’ the prayer and welcome your healing. You say: ‘Healing, you are my gift from God! I welcome you into my heart, into my spirit, into my body. I greet you, I embrace you. I am soo happy to meet with you. I waited for you for a long time! You are mine….’  Then you end the prayer with thanksgiving, vowing to give God all the glory for the healing).

 

Here you see the power and the privilege of prayer in the name of Jesus! Once you do all these, you can rest your soul. Start to rejoice! The answer shall surely come: ‘ye shall have them’. This is the promise of God! Please observe that this ‘believing and receiving’ is not done after the end of the prayer, after you say ‘amen’ and you have gone out of the presence of God. You are to ‘believe and receive’ ‘WHEN YOU PRAY’; when you are in the throne room, face to face with the King of kings. The timing and the spiritual protocol is very important. Selah!!!

 

Finally, remember that God loves you and He wants to bless you with His gifts. God is generous, gracious, loving, kind and powerful. Nothing is impossible for Him to do.  Practice prayer in the Spirit. Worship the Lord! Make friends with men and women who love to pray. Reject the religious evil spirit who pretends to pray but uses doubt instead of faith and fear instead of joy. Also note that even if God does not immediately sends you the answer, the fact that you desire to seek Him, God will reward you for that (Heb 11:6). May prayer become your blessed, faithful and holy ‘work’ from today! Come back with a testimony, that God has answered your prayers! I wait for you! I pray for you! God bless you!

DEAR FRIEND, LISTEN TO ME!

“The one who listens to you listens to Me (The Lord Jesus Christ); and the one who rejects you rejects Me (The Lord Jesus Christ); and the one who rejects Me (The Lord Jesus Christ) rejects Him [My Heavenly Father] who sent Me (The Lord Jesus Christ)” (Luke 10:16)
 
In Christ I declare: I am a child of God! I am a servant of Christ! I am an ambassador of Christ! He sends me to others, to speak His Word. These are not my words but His. Along the way, as I do ministry, I know that I will meet two types of people. Some will listen to me and others will close their ears. Some will receive me and others will reject me. There is no other ‘middle road’ group. This is a simple instruction received from my Master. There is no need to be confused or deceived by the men who reject me or my message of peace.
 
The truth is that the Lord has sent me into a good and great field. This is my message: Jesus Christ came to save sinners like me and you! He died for you that you may live! Proclaiming this message is my ministry! There is the promise of an abundant harvest connected with the Hope of glory! It is also a dangerous field. I do not deceive myself. I am a sheep sent to save and encourage other sheep that are lost in the forest claimed by the wolves. I do not have physical weapons. I do not have strong teeth to bite. I cannot run faster than the wolves. I cannot manipulate, seduce or be rude. But the divine wisdom, the power and the Spirit’s anointing, these are weapons of grace given to me by my Shepherd and are always more than sufficient for every situation.
 
My life is an ‘on- going- never- ending’ miracle. I lose nothing even when I pour out my heart daily. The supply, both spiritual and material, never stops. God’s mercy and encouragement are new and creative every morning. I do not speak old faded words. My words are fresh like the dew, each morning. My spiritual engine is fueled by the agape love of God that never fails. I carry with me in my heart and in my mouth the words of peace, power, healing and eternal life. If any receive them, the seal of the Holy Spirit will become visible upon that one. He will be blessed with all manner of riches. The spiritual connection between me and that one endures forever. In heaven we shall remember and rejoice at the testimony of how our holy friendship started on earth. But if anyone (politely or rudely) ignores or rejects my words, I take it that the person does not need me. He will answer to the God who sent me. God may use another of His messengers who is more qualified than me. No problem! When someone rejects me, I never feel sorry for myself. I do not indulge in self-pity. That is a luxury I cannot afford.
 
I know that my work for God comes with a very high responsibility. I pray daily, for instructions and for the strength and wisdom to obey them. I do not criticize myself. I leave the results with God. I know that my ministry has the greatest reward there is. Jesus promised to be with my always, to the end of the world and to the end of time. God’s presence is my Reward! I seek no other! To God be all the glory!

WALKING BY FAITH

 

“For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2Cor 5:7)

Faith in God is very powerful. Faith is the ‘evidence of things not seen’ (Heb 11:1). Like a seed planted in the ground, faith works in the spiritual (invisible) realm. With time, it produces miracles and visible fruits. Once it becomes visible it is no longer faith. It is called sight. Faith is deeper than sight. You use faith to produce sight. You do not use sight to produce faith. In a way, faith and sight are ‘enemies’. Sight represents the natural senses. Faith is a spiritual ‘sense’. Each natural sense has its own function. For example, perfume pleases the sense of smell but it is useless to the ears. In the same way, faith pleases the spirit within you. Faith desires and produces miracles.

Do not be satisfied with a little faith. Pray for a mature faith. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and pray, even before you see the miracle with your eyes. Walk by faith! Make progress in life by trusting God to help you! But if you insist on seeing things, your sight will increase in power but your faith will become weaker. For example, if you pray to get pregnant, and each day you do your ‘pregnancy test’, your faith will become weaker. If you are sick and every day you spend money for ‘blood tests’, whatever is the result of the tests, your faith will not be able to mature. You need to trust the promises of God more than what men say or not say.

 

Sight is superficial and lustful. It is also called ‘the lust of the eyes’. Like cocaine, lust is an addictive, unfulfilled and unsatisfying desire. The more you see the less you are satisfied with your sight. After some time, you get bored with what your eyes see. “The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing” (Ecc 1:8). It is the same thing with the other natural senses. For example: that ice cream you loved to eat as a child will not be as sweet when you taste it much later in life.  Men pay a lot of money to have ‘designer’ eye glasses. They want to see better, even the little letters on the pages. But it is much more beneficial to desire an increase of faith to see spiritually, to see the invisible things hidden below the surface of the natural, but connected with them.

 

Faith comes by reading and hearing the word of God. My advice is that you read less other books and read more the Bible. Listen less to the daily news on the radio. Go to a living church and listen to the preaching of the Word of God. Invest in your spiritual senses! ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches’! By faith, let the weak say: ‘I am strong!’ and strength shall be supplied! By faith, let the sick say: ‘I am well!’ and God will heal you! By faith, let the barren say: ‘I am pregnant!’ and you shall have children! By faith, let the poor say: ‘I am rich!’ and money shall come from heaven to you! Confess your miracle and God will work with and confirm your words of faith. Remember that faith pleases God and nothing is impossible for Him! Your testimony is sure!

 

May your eyes be opened to see King Jesus in His beauty and glory! May your ears hear a word directing your path ahead! May your faith in God be fruitful! In Jesus name, amen!

FOUNDATIONAL FAITH

 

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen… And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God” (Heb 11:1; Mk 11:20-22, KJ)

 

For us, the children of God, faith is one of the greatest and most precious subjects to study. All believers have an amount of faith. This ‘saving faith’ is trusting in the Person of Jesus Christ and not in ‘a religious thing’. We trust the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of our souls and for answers to our prayers. Some have little faith and some have bigger faith. We pray that our faith increases with time. Faith is not an imagination. It is ‘substance’ and it is ‘evidence’. In Greek, the word ‘substance’ means foundation. This foundation is invisible to the eyes but it the underground support of the building (successful life) you see. Faith is intimately connected to hope. Faith works ‘now’ and hope works in the future. Hope is defined as the joyful expectation of the future. You believe God today for the manifestation of things you desire to see in your future. Without faith working today, your hopes for tomorrow are false and deceiving. Work on your present faith and your hope shall not be ‘cut off’. “For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed” (Rom 10:11)

 

Faith is the opposite of sight. Faith relates to the invisible things of the Spirit. When Jesus cursed the barren fig tree, Peter observes that the tree got dried from the roots up. The leaves were still green but the dryness was going up from the roots. The Lord explained this by pointing to ‘faith in God’. You need faith to curse a sickness and you need faith to bless someone. In both cases, faith starts working from the underground, from the invisible foundation, from the spiritual realm of ‘roots’ and invisible motives of actions. Faith dried the tree from the roots, which is the invisible part. Faith works in the invisible realm but later, it produces visible fruits. Once faith becomes visible it is no longer faith. It is called sight. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2Cor 5:7). May God increase your faith! May your dreams for the future come to pass! In Jesus name, amen!

 

Let’s pray: “Dear Heavenly Father, right now, in the name of Jesus Christ, I… (Please, write your name)… trust You for salvation, for healing, deliverance and breakthrough. I declare that my future is better than my past! By faith, I command the mountains that block my progress in life to be removed and be thrown into the sea of forgetfulness.  I declare that I trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and therefore I am saved. My miracle has come! By the stripes of Jesus I am healed and delivered from oppression. I declare that I am happily married and fruitful. I declare that it is well with me. As Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, so my life is secure and fulfilled in Him! To the glory of God! In Jesus name’, Amen!”

 

NO OTHER GOD CAN DELIVER LIKE THIS

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

“And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.“Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God…  “Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon” (Daniel 3)

I am writing this letter just coming out from the fire, from the other (good) side of the testimony! The prayer meeting was very good. We started slowly. The worship team was ‘trying their best’. But the congregation was spiritually cold and divided. I told them that they all look spiritually stiff, like people whose shirt is buttoned so high up the neck and they cannot breathe. Invisible chains bound them up to their necks. We prayed against the spirit of religion that is responsible for such bondage bringing people to church to torment them, to hinder them not to become saved, healed or delivered. I said that God the Holy Spirit is Omnipresent but He will not ‘move’ in our midst except we invite Him in. We then turned 180 degrees and faced the back door. We invited the King Of glory to come in. Just like Nebuchadnezzar pushed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fire, we felt like the world rejected us and shut us in that room. Our only hope to live was Jesus!!!!!! We pleaded with the Lord to come. From our hearts we welcomed Him.

Suddenly the atmosphere changed and the Lord of lords entered in. He was the Fourth Man in that furnace of death. Life entered the room! The boasting of the flames of death was silenced. The only thing the fire could burn was our fears, sicknesses, poverty and religious bondage. Where the presence of God is there is glorious and joyful liberty. What a change! We came to church tired and sad. We went out from this prayer meeting with dance on our feet, praise in our mouths and a testimony that God is alive! Our mouths are full of laughter! Nobody can speak against our God! Our enemies are confused and disappointed. Their plans to bring us down, to eliminate us, have been burnt in the fire. We came out alive, free, well, happy and strong! According to the Word of God, promotion shall follow. It shall surely come! To the glory of God and to the shame of the devil! Out testimonies shall multiply!  Sing with me: “I will worship my God-o! I will shout Halleluiah! I go worship my God-o! God e do well for me!” Praise the Lord!!!

 

Shedrach faith.jpg

 

 

WHAT DOES THE HUSBAND WANT FROM HIS WIFE? (3)

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FAITHFULNESS – FRIENDSHIP – UNDERSTANDING
From the Bible we see that God invented marriage and God hates divorce. Marriage is God’s idea. Many wives are ignorant of their husbands’ spiritual and physical needs. The devil takes opportunity of their ignorance and attacks their homes. That is why many marriages are like stagnant waters, dangerous, boring and unhappy. From what the Bible says and from my experience as a wife I bring to you some time tested wisdom. Dear sisters, please try to answer these questions: “What does my husband want from me? What shall I give him so that our marriage will be strong, spiritual and happy?” These are the first five qualities most of the husbands expect from their wives (in this particular order): Respect, Sexual satisfaction, Faithfulness, Friendship and Understanding. Pray about it!
 
3. FAITHFULNESS
“Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man” (PV 3:3, 4). Faithfulness means to be steadfast in love, keeping your promises and always doing what you are supposed to do. To be faithful it means to be loyal. Money cannot buy it. It describes a true friend, always rejecting the temptation to divorce or to betray. A faithful wife does not lust after another man, even if he is richer, more handsome or more successful than her husband. Your husband will greatly appreciate your faithfulness to God and to him.
 
4. FRIENDSHIP
“A friend loves at all times” (PV 17:17). Friendship is defined as a close, warm, kind, faithful and helpful relationship. Husband and wife should desire to be friends. Your husband should be your favorite companion. Do you enjoy being home alone with him? This friendship is holy; it never becomes overfamiliarity or mockery. You never lose respect for one another.
 
5. UNDERSTANDING
“The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man (woman) of understanding will draw it out” (PV 20:5). To understand it means that you perceive the intended meaning of your husband’s words. Understanding produces a friendly and harmonious relationship based on the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph 4:3). As a wife, you need to educate yourself to understand your husband general attitude to life, his point of view on different issues and his passion for the things he loves. As his intercessor, you need to understand his spiritual background and God’s plan for his life. As his helper you need to support him with wise counsel and prayers. Study the Word of God to be able to have quality fellowship with him. Be spiritually strong and flexible in the same time.. You should desire to know your husband better, to understand him deeper. This knowledge does not come in one day. Learns from your mistakes! Does not repeat the same mistakes again and again! Only a fool does that. Your husband will appreciate your understanding, helping him fulfill his destiny!
 
God bless you with the blessings of Christ and with the gift of a wonderful marriage! In Jesus name! Amen!

WHAT DOES THE HUSBAND WANT FROM HIS WIFE? (2)

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From the Bible we see that God invented marriage and God hates divorce. Marriage is God’s idea. As a pastor I counsel many women (and men) who struggle in their marriages. Many wives are ignorant of their husbands’ spiritual and physical needs. The devil takes opportunity of their ignorance and attacks their homes. That is why many marriages are like stagnant waters, dangerous, boring and unhappy. From what the Bible says and from my experience as a wife I bring to you some time tested wisdom. Dear sisters, please try to answer these questions: “What does my husband want from me? What shall I give him so that our marriage will be strong, spiritual and happy?” These are the first five qualities most of the husbands expect from their wives (in this particular order): Respect, Sexual satisfaction, Faithfulness, Friendship and Understanding. Pray about it!

2. SEXUAL SATISFACTION
“Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control” (1Cor 7:3-5)

God created the men and the women. Physically there are differences. The bodies of men and the bodies of women function differently. Generally, men appreciate the physical side of sex more than the women. There are exceptions, of course, but men love to see and to touch their wives more than the women. This is a difficult subject to discuss. Many women are ignorant of their husbands’ sexual needs. One thing is clear: God invented sex. Therefore sex is good! Sex is not sinful, dirty or shameful! Sex is God’s gift given only to the married couples. Any sexual activity outside marriage is sin. It is called fornication or adultery. Sin grieves the Holy Spirit. Sexual sin must be confessed to God and to the injured spouse. Forgiveness is God’s first choice to heal a broken heart and a broken marriage. Dear wife, God will give you the grace to forgive your unfaithful husband. But if you cannot forgive his adultery and you desire to divorce, then you may do so (Mt 5:32). The Bible also says that once married, the husband and the wife should not abstain from sex except they decide to fast and pray together for a limited period of time.. Some women hate sex. This medical condition is called ‘frigidity’. The frigid woman is sexually ‘cold’, unemotional, lacking passion, sympathy or sensitivity towards her sexually active husband. The cause is not known by the medical science. It is also a spiritual condition. It may be related to the stress of life, to hormonal imbalance or depression. Frigidity is a serious hindrance to a happy relationship. Sexual activity is a sign of a healthy and happy marriage. Pray for one another! Pray for deliverance and healing. Remember, nothing is impossible for God!

God bless you with the blessings of Christ and with the gift of a wonderful marriage! In Jesus name! Amen!

WHAT DOES THE HUSBAND WANT FROM HIS WIFE? (1)

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT
Our women’ fellowship was very good. There was a heavy rain outside. I was personally encouraged that many of the sisters came to the church in spite of the rain. We praised God and we shared testimonies. The sermon was about the price to pay for a successful and happy marriage.
 
From the Bible we see that God invented marriage and God hates divorce. Marriage is God’s idea. As a pastor I counsel many women (and men) who struggle in their marriages. Many wives are ignorant of their husbands’ spiritual and physical needs. The devil takes opportunity of their ignorance and attacks their homes. That is why many marriages are like stagnant waters, dangerous, boring and unhappy. From what the Bible says and from my experience as a wife I bring to you some time tested wisdom. Dear sisters, please try to answer these questions: “What does my husband want from me? What shall I give him so that our marriage will be strong, spiritual and happy?” These are the first five qualities most of the husbands expect from their wives (in this particular order): Respect, Sexual satisfaction, Faithfulness, Friendship and Understanding.
 
1. RESPECT
Many women think that what men desire most of all is sex. This is a lie! The first thing men (believers and unbelievers) desire from their wives is RESPECT! In other words: dear wife, your husband wants you to respect him! Then he will be happy! Then the marriage will be better. Your home will be happier! But if you disrespect him, he will be sad or angry and you too will be unhappy. To respect it means to recognize and appreciate the value of a person. Wife, you should admire your husband. He married you! Therefore you owe him that respect! See him as a good, special, handsome and important man. Thru your words, body language, attitude and deeds, treat him like he is your ‘senior’ best friend. Do not speak badly of him to others. Do not treat him like a child. Your husband is not your baby! Encourages him to dress well! Do not be jealous! If he does a mistake and he hurts you, never correct him in public. Wait for the right time, when both of you are alone, to express your pain. Do not manipulate him with silent tears of moodiness. Before making any decision, ask him for his opinion. Cooperate with what he says. Discuss things! Keep the unity of the Spirit in the marriage in the bond of peace. To learn how to respect your husband is a difficult work but the harvest is a blessed and peaceful home. Study the Bible and pray daily! You will be wiser and stronger.
 
“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband” (Eph 5:31-33)
In this scripture you see that marriage is a spiritual mystery. It is more than a man sleeping in the same bed with his wife. A mystery is something deep, something that cannot be totally explained. If you are filled with the Holy Spirit you will appreciate the mystery of marriage and the spiritual side of your husband. To respect your husband it means that you see him thru the eyes of Christ. To ‘see your husband finish’ is disrespect. God commands your husband to ‘leave his father and mother’ and to join himself to you, his wife. This joining is spiritual and physical. Your husband may struggle with God’s command. He may be slow to obey it. He may still be connected to his parents in a way that the marriage suffers. It is easy to disrespect him for that. Many wives complain that their husbands listen to their mothers more than they listen to them. Of course this is wrong, but you cannot solve this sensitive matter by complaining or by quarreling. Pray for him, that he is able to obey God’s difficult command. As a wife, learn to be patient. It’s hard for him to disconnect and reconnect. Love and respect him even when he is struggling to be a good husband. Pity and love him. God will help you both.
 
God bless you with the blessings of Christ and with the gift of a wonderful marriage! In Jesus name! Amen!

THE FLAME OF LOVE IN MARRIAGE

“Many waters cannot quench the flame of love, neither can the floods drown it. If a man tried to buy it with everything he owned, he couldn’t do it” (SS 8:7)

From the Bible we see that God invented marriage and God hates divorce. Marriage is God’s idea. As a pastor I counsel many women (and men) who struggle in their marriages. Many wives are ignorant of their husbands’ spiritual and physical needs. The devil takes opportunity of their ignorance and attacks their homes. That is why many marriages are like stagnant waters, boring and unhappy. From what the Bible says and from my experience as a wife I bring to you some time tested wisdom. Dear sisters, please try to answer these questions: “What does my husband want from me? What shall I give him so that our marriage will be strong, spiritual and happy?” These are the first five qualities most of the husbands expect from their wives (in this particular order): Respect, Sexual satisfaction, Faithfulness, Friendship and Understanding. Pray about each of them!

MY TESTIMONY AS A WIFE
My husband and I are happily married for 43 years. We got married as unbelievers. Then we became saved. Now we are pastors in full time ministry. We are parents to three adult children and have six grandchildren. Inspired from the Bible and learning from my experience, by the grace of God, I am now able to teach other women. I see marriage as a gift from God. I do not ‘merit’ to be called ‘a wife’. It is not because I am beautiful or educated. Marriage is ‘a grace gift’. Because I fear God, I fear to damage my marriage. I cannot be a happy wife without the help of the Holy Spirit. I read the Bible daily. I grow in wisdom and knowledge. Therefore my marriage becomes better. I pray daily for my husband, for our children, grandchildren, for our health and ministries. I pray to see Christ in my husband (in his words and deeds). I love peace in my home. I hate quarrels and divisions. I respect my husband not only thru my words and deeds, but even in my heart. I pray to be able to see him as a holy man of God. My prayer has been answered. I like to cook for him and serve his food. I like it when he is hungry and he sits at the table patiently waiting for me to bring the food. I like it when we eat together. I like it when he compliments me for the food I cooked. I like it when he encourages me to do better. I understand him and he understands me. We love each other and we take care of each other.

I like to wake up in the morning knowing that he is my husband. I do not dream about any other man. My imagination is limited only to him. Even after all these years, I appreciate his love for me. I appreciate the fact that out of millions of women he chose me to be his wife. He has his own favorite chair at the table. If a visitor comes and by mistake he sits there, I will not allow it. If we have visitors at the table, I do not use his (particular) plate for other people. These may not be ‘big things’ but to me, these are symbols of respect.

Long ago I knew that my husband will be a man of God and I will be a pastor’s wife. I started studying the Bible with great passion. The knowledge of the Word of God is for my own soul and to help my husband. I love it when we discuss the doctrines and new revelations from the Bible. I love it when I have something good to add to the discussion. I also pray for sexual compatibility. Sex is a great blessing from God that brings happiness to any marriage. It satisfies the bodies and the souls. It brings peace in the bedroom and in the home. We are colleagues in the ministry, we are friends and we are lovers. We rejoice with one another. We ‘gist’ and laugh a lot. Time has not reduced this joy. In fact, it has made it better. The water is now wine. The ordinary taste of life has become sweet. We drink from this cup of intoxicating love and have no apologies for it. We feel old and young in the same time. We feel weak sometimes and strong most of the times. The passion to love God and one another is the holy fire that keeps burning in our home, making it safe and secure. No man or devil can quench it.

May God bless you with the blessings of Christ and with the gift of a wonderful ever sweeter marriage! In Jesus name!

TEARS OR NOT, JUST CALL ME!

“Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me” (Ps 50:15)
A young sister who attends our church sent me this note. She is about 35 years old. She lives with her mum. She is a successful business woman. She is praying to get married. She faithfully attends the church activities. But last Saturday she said that she could not come to church because she had no ‘transport money’. Initially she wept out of frustration. But then she wisely chose to use the pain to worship God. The Holy Spirit filled her afresh. This is a good example how to use your problems to go closer to God. If for whatever reason you can’t come to church, do not give us. It is easy to give us. Pray and worship God wherever you are. The Holy Spirit is omnipresent and He will meet you at the point of your pain and need. To God be all the glory for each disciple of Jesus who pays the price for spiritual maturity! Amen!

“Good evening MaLia and happy Easter. I have a testimony to share with you. It is wonderful to me. Yesterday I attended a wedding and by evening I was unable to attend the prophetic class because of financial constraint. As at 4.30 – 5 pm I started to feel very depressed. So I went into my mum’s bedroom, shut the door and at first I started to cry pitying myself. Then a voice told me to talk to God instead of crying since crying will not give me any solution. So I said to myself that since I couldn’t attend the prophetic class I will just pray and worship on my own and do my own ‘prophetic class’. I started with asking God so many questions amid tears. Why this why that, why He never talks directly to me or show me things like He used to. Why there is so much doubt in my heart… why is He not fulfilling His promises yet…. and so on. For the first time I talked like I was really talking to my friend and father and someone really close and present with me. I asked Him to speak to me directly even if it is through dreams, to help me get rid of the depression and bitterness in me, to help me trust Him more….

Then I started to worship and praise. MaLia!!! The worship took me to another level where I forgot about myself and issues. I really can’t explain all what I prayed about… but I’ve never worshipped that deep or for that long before. I shouted the name of Jesus again and again. I got up at past 8 pm, took my bath and dinner and later went to bed. I then had a dream that I was walking on a road, looking for somewhere to sit so I found this uncompleted shop with no windows or doors and not floored, just sand. I sat on the ground with my knees to my chin like I was patiently waiting for someone to come. Someone came, a woman who looked like you. I know that He is God who came in that form. He asked me what my problem and why I was complaining? Immediately I started to complain again. Stopping me half way He said “why are you complaining? I can hear you! You don’t have the right to doubt. You should never doubt” those were His exact words and He repeated it twice. Although those weren’t the words I was expecting to hear but after hearing them it felt enough, like the answer I needed. I felt peace. Like my restless hunger had been quenched. MaLia!!! God heard me and answered me! I am so happy! I give Him all the glory…”

My answer to her:
“Dear …Thank God for everything! I see that you have allowed an evil spirit of religion, fear, doubt and bitterness to influence you. Now that the Holy Spirit has revealed the truth to you, continue to do warfare until it is completely out of your mind. Do a Bible study on faith which is the opposite of doubt. A grace door has been open to you. Pass thru it. Complete the good work you have started. I wait for you with more testimonies!”

(If you want to counsel her, please do so. She will read your words. Thank you! God bless you dear intercessors)

OPEN DOORS

“I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close” (Rev 3:8)
We checked in a hotel. It was an average hotel. The lady at the reception gave us the room’s key. On top of the key it was written: ‘Open doors you never knew existed’. God speaks in so many ways… For a moment I stood there, in the hotel’s corridor, and my heart missed a beat. I felt God’s love come close. Did I forget that God can open any door? It is so easy to forget good things…and so hard to forget negative things, to forgive offences of the past…But that is another story…
Back to open doors…God knows no limitations, no boundaries and no hindrances…Nobody can say ‘no’ when God says ‘yes’. Did I limit God? Did I write a list with possible miracles, breakthroughs and open doors? Do I desire to control God, to lead God? Why such a foolishness? Sin has planted folly in our hearts and we are ignorant of it. But then, the Holy Spirit comes and breaks the bands asunder, breaks cages and padlocks, and the bird is ready to fly, once more…

The door that Jesus opens is a door of safety, victory, stability and intimacy as reward. These are His holy promises given freely, by His grace alone. The Holy Spirit says:

“My child,
I will force your enemies to bow at your feet…
I will force your enemies to acknowledge that it is you I love…
I will protect you from the painful trials coming to others…
I will seal you with My name that no one can erase…
The whole world shall see that you are My child and My servant and they shall fear you!
This is My promise to you! Just believe it!”

Today I pray for the grace to be able to surrender to God, again, totally, un-conditionally, from my heart…I pray for the grace to see invisible things, to hear the songs of angels and to be filled with the Spirit that opens doors no one can shut! In Jesus name, Amen!

In Christ I declare:
I am God’s child and servant!
I rule in the midst of my enemies!
My victory is sure!
In Jesus name
Amen!

open door

WORTHY IS THE LAMB

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

The prayer meeting was very good. We praised God with songs and dancing. We shouted the name of Jesus with all our hearts. Thank God for the Holy Spirit who always directs our thoughts towards the Lord Jesus Christ. Tomorrow we shall celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. We prayed for the Holy Spirit to help us identify with the death and the resurrection of our Lord. Thru a spirit of religion, the devil tried to deceive us. He wants us to come to church and feel ‘spiritually detached and cold’ when the service is going on. But we resisted the devil and he fled from us. For as long as these wonderful events, the cross and the resurrection, remain buried in history, we cannot gain any wisdom or spiritual impartation today. The Holy Spirit helped us to pray to ‘see and touch Jesus’. We worshiped the Lamb of God who was slayed for our sins and rose up for our glorious justification. When the Lord rose from the dead He proved that His victory is total. We prayed and came closer to God. By His death and resurrection the Lord defeated death, man’s greatest enemy. The grave could not hold Him captive! Death was disgraced for it could not keep its prisoner. The resurrection of our Lord is the proof that as believers we can daily live a victorious life. Sin does not have to be our master. God’s dreams given to us but long buried in our hearts can still come to life and be fulfilled. The resurrection of our Lord is the planting of unending hope and glory. By faith, let the sick say: I am healed! Let the weak say: I am strong! Let the poor say: I am rich! Because of what the Lord has done! We rejoiced that our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of life! We rejoiced that our future is better than our past! We rejoiced because Jesus lives and we live in Him! I know that tomorrow’ service will be powerful because we have tested a little from the glory revealed! Jesus is Lord!

 

‘Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels and living creatures and elders encircling the throne, and their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. In a loud voice they said: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever.” (Rev 5:11-13)

TRUST AND OBEY

 

“If they listen and obey God, then they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives” (Job 36:11)

If you are a true child of God, then you have to go to the school of the Spirit and learn obedience. God commands and you obey! It is as simple as that! It can never be the other way round. For example, the Holy Spirit will send you on ‘errands’. He will say ‘go there… do this or that… speak My word to that man…give that boy 500 Naira…’ These commands may sound childish. Often they ‘make no sense’. Faith itself ‘makes no sense’ most of the time. Why will the weak declare: ‘I am strong?’ Why will the poor say: ‘I am rich?’ It sounds foolish, but the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom! That is the message of the Cross! No matter how you feel, you need to believe God’s Word and declare it in your circumstances! It is easier to doubt for doubt ‘makes sense’! It is easy to give up the battle of faith and accept defeat! That is normal. But we are called to live supernaturally and to walk upon the water. Believer, stand up for Jesus!

 

Know this: there is no particular immediate reward for obeying God’s commands. But you still have to obey! If you put conditions to God saying: ‘Lord, explain to me why You send me there. If not, I will not go…’ or if you query God saying: “Lord, tell me why you send me there?’ I need an explanation before I move…’ …then you have a rebellious spirit. You have grieved the Holy Spirit! This is sin! You need to repent. You need to obey God ‘if you like it or not’. Your feelings should not interfere with your obedience to God. Remember that He is God and you are dust! You are a bondservant to God. The Lord Jesus died on the Cross for you and He bought you with His Blood. Obedience is a ‘faith sign’ saying that you are grateful to God for your salvation. The Lord Jesus said that obedience is love, is worship! Just like Him, if you truly want to please God, you shall learn obedience mostly ‘thru the things you suffer’. Even if it is hard, you need to obey God just because He is God. After some time obedience becomes you very nature. You will be filled with the Holy Spirit and you will joyfully obey the Father like Jesus did. Don’t be discouraged! Sooner or later the reward for obedience shall come. Supernatural blessings shall ‘be added’ and even ‘overtake’ you. For God owes no man. This Good Friday morning, I pray for you, that faith and obedience become your life style! From now until forever! “Trust and obey, for there is no other way, to be happy with Jesus, than to trust and obey”

HELP IN TIME OF NEED

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16)
We are invited, better said ‘commanded’, to come boldly to the throne of grace. We are to run there, ignoring all distracting and doubting contrary voices. Please note that we do not ‘merit’ such favor. The mercy and grace found at the throne of Christ are not rewards for our labor or love. These are totally supernatural gifts paid for by the Lamb of God who was slain. Christ shed His Blood on the Cross for grace to be freely given to us who believe.
 
In Greek, the word ‘help’ means ‘frapping a vessel’. I did not know the meaning of that word. I looked in the dictionary and I discovered that it is a naval word, a marine engineering term. Frapping means tying a rope or a heavy chain under the belly of the ship; it means to use strong cables several times round the ship from stem to stern. These chains pass under the ship to secure it, to strengthen it, to keep the planking from opening under the strain. In the olden days the ships were made of wood. During storms, the sea men did two things: they threw away some of the cargo to lighten the ship. They also frapped the vessel like a bandage on a wounded leg. They passed these heavy chains under the belly of the ship, to tie it, so that the ship will not scatter under the stress of the waves and the winds.
 
This is what the sea men did when Apostle Paul was in the ship going to Rome as they encountered a great storm. By throwing away some stuff and frapping the ship, they survived the storm. “When they had taken it on board, they used frapping cables to undergird the ship… And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship” (Ac 27:17, 18)
 
What is the lesson for us? During the storms of life (sickness, marital or financial troubles) we should not waste time with trying to ‘stabilize’ our lives. We need a Savior, a Helper, a Healer and a Comforter. His name is Jesus Christ. There is no one who can give grace in place of sorrow. There is no one who can give us mercy and kindness in place of troubles. There is no other name given to men so that they can be forgiven from sins and given peace with God.
 
What shall you do? Run to Jesus! Run to the Cross! Read the Bible! Meditate upon the words of Jesus! See how Jesus died to set you free! He will help you by ‘frapping your vessel’. He will use His everlasting arms, like cords of unfailing love, to embrace you that you may not scatter under stress. With all the troubles around, are you not surprised that you have not gone mad? Are you not surprised that you are not depressed? This is the work of the Holy Spirit ‘frapping’ your mind and heart! Life is hard but God’s grace is greater than any sin or sickness! The same arms that were separated when nailed on the cross, will come together to surround you, to wrap you and bandage your soul. This is the Gospel! This is the story of eternal love! This is the healing sent from heaven. This is the kiss that resurrects the dead. I know that the media (Facebook) is full of trash and many people run away from it. But just in case you read these words, may these find favor and acceptance in your soul. If you find gold in the dirt, it still remains the same. These are not my words, but the words of God, able to save, heal and deliver. God loves you! Believe God’s love for you! It is true and strong! Say: “It is well with my soul!” Be healed! Be free! In Jesus name, amen!
 
(in the picture see the strong ropes, ready, just in case frapping of the boat is needed in an emergency)
ropes

BITTER WATERS MADE SWEET (3)

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

“So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you (Jehovah Rapha)” Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters” (Ex 15:22-27)

The prayer meeting was very good. We praised God with all our hearts. The anointing was so strong that we all ‘jumped’ into the river of life and became whole. Then the Word came: The people of God crossed the Red Sea in triumph. All the Egyptians who pursued them died in the same waters. Lesson: By faith in the Living God the believers experience miraculous victory and their enemies are defeated! Only three days have passed. They arrived at a clean beautiful lake. But the waters are bitter. They called the place Marah (which means ‘Bitter’). Then people of God started complaining against Moses saying: ‘What shall we drink?’ Moses knew that he cannot help them. Who can provide ‘sweet’ water for three million people? Only God! In desperation, Moses cried to God. Lesson: It is the responsibility of the leaders (parents, pastors…) to pray in the middle of trouble for the revelation of victory. God answers Moses. He shows him a tree planted by the bitter waters. God tells him that, in the presence of all the people, he should cut down the tree. Then he should throw the ‘bleeding’ tree in the bitter waters. As Moses did that, the bitter waters became sweet. In Hebrews, the word bitter means anger, provocation, wasting and depression. The word ‘tree’ means wood or carpenter. The word ‘sweet’ means to become alive, to have appetite for life or to revive. Lesson: The tree which was cut down is a symbol for Christ crucified. The Blood of Jesus changes any bitterness into sweetness. The Blood of Jesus heals any sickness. This is the revelation of Jehovah Rapha. Please note that the tree was planted by God by the side of the bitter lake. The solution is closer to you than you think. It is planted by the problem. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1Cor 10:13).
May your eyes see, not only the problem, but the solution, the way of escape! Look unto Jesus Christ crucified. “By His stripes we are healed” (Is 53:5). The Lamb of God died to set you free! Say I am free! May your faith in the living God heal you, deliver you and give you peace!

(I just received this note from a sister in the church: “Good afternoon Malia, I just want to share this with you .Like some weeks before you started the teaching on bitterness ,the Lord had been talking to me on that and I was on the lookout for it in my dealings with people, I remember telling a sister that I don’t want any root of bitterness in my heart when she raised a topic. Little did I know that the Holy Spirit was preparing my heart, I was removing all the branches but I had not dealt with the root.
So the first week you preached on it, I received it and asked the Holy Spirit to show me because honestly I couldn’t locate anything,until after the following Saturday’s class that my heart was opened that I had not gotten over what my husband did to me in the past… I only covered it up with other things and from time to time the anger, bitterness sadness will escape from the covering(long story). I asked God for forgiveness and I also finally truly forgave my husband and guess what? Since then it’s been like I got born again, again. My relationship with the Lord took a new dimension and really my husband and children are happy, I can tell you without a shadow of doubt that I am enjoying my marriage to the glory of God)

Just this afternoon my husband was asking me if he is improving (see what God has done). I give God all the glory!”

DELIVERANCE FROM THE DEVIL’S SNARE

 

“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (2Tim 2:22-26)

 

Dear child of God, you should know this: The devil hates God, His children and His servants. He will tempt you to disobey the Word of God. He will call you to indulge in ‘youthful lusts’ that corrupt the body and the heart. Young people fight greater temptations against sexual lusts and the desire to be rich quickly. Young people have many inferiority complexes that produce a tendency to passionately argue to prove a point. They want to please friends and to be accepted by men. These feelings produce strife and divisions among them. That is why it is very hard for the young people to have solid, long lasting friendships. They quarrel easily and so they separate easily. If a young Christian is to live a successful life these ‘youthful lusts’ have to be killed at the cross.  They need to learn to be wise and patient and to avoid quarrels.  Many believers are ignorant that the devil is behind all these selfish wild ambitions, these anxieties to succeed in life at any cost, so to become rich and famous.

 

As a child of God you need to do warfare. You need to be watchful and prayerful. The devil cannot kill a child of God but he can mislead him to go astray, to backslide and lose his testimony. A backslider is recognized by religious pride, impatience, a tendency to argue and to insist on his own opinions. He is ignorant of the truth but claims to be a teacher of truth. He is basically a hypocrite. He is not gentle, not humble and not teachable. This is the snare of the devil that has trapped the foolish believer ‘to do his will’. The devil is happy when the believer becomes foolish. Losing the wisdom and the humility of His Lord, the backslider will be a bad ambassador for Christ. Losing your testimony for Christ is worse than losing millions.

 

I woke up this morning with a burden for the foolish trapped children of God! I pray for you, the ignorant backsliders! I plead the Blood of Jesus upon you, servants of God! I destroy the spell the devil has placed on you, to be blind and foolish at such a time as this! Open your eyes! Wake up from this slumber! I pray that your eyes open to see the truth that sets free. I pray that you may be able to hate sin and to hate the devil. I pray that your spirit is strengthened and revived. I pray that you desire to come back to the Cross, to be a serious Christian! I pray that you desire once more to be filled with the Holy Spirit! Like the prodigal son said, it is better to be a servant in the house of God than a prince in the tents of wickedness! Father God, have mercy on us, Your children! Son, daughter, come home! In Jesus name I pray, amen!

psalm129-4