MY SUBJECTS

“Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us” (1Sam 17:8, 9; NIV)

What Goliath proposed to God’s people is fair enough. He was confident that he will win. He wanted a public display of victory that will go into the history of his nation. The trouble was that not even one soldier from Israel was bold enough to accept the proposal. From King Saul, to the field commanders and to the rest of the soldiers, they were all ‘dismayed and terrified’. That was the scene that young David met when he came with the bread and cheese to feed his older brothers. What all people saw and heard were the terrifying words of a killer giant. But what David heard was the voice of God who said to him: ‘You can kill him. I am at your side!”

Goliath died long ago, but his spirit leaves on. There are many spiritual ‘giants’ who intimidate God’s people, even today. What is the giant that terrifies you? Is it the evil spirit of fear? Or lust? Or is it Mammon?

This is a spiritual principle: you either kill the giant or he will take you prisoner! For example: you do not attack a witch, using the power of flesh because you shall lose the battle! That particular failure shall affect your family and children! Who knows what your parents have done in the past…if they have foolishly confronted evil people…and lost the battle… They may never tell you the truth about their spiritual failures, but you can sense that all is not well with their children. Some families are known for being in trouble often, for being losers always. This may have a spiritual root, a covenant done with evil spirits that is still active. You need to pray and identify the source of failure. Ask yourself…Why, with all the efforts over the years, you are still poor? Why, with all the doctors treating you and the provision of a health insurance, you are still sick? Why do all your relationships end in failure or divorce?  Why do you have this tendency to be depressed? From where do panic attacks come to you? These are questions you should pray about for they may reveal the need to expose evil covenants done in the past.

David confronted Goliath, not for fun or fame, but for the glory of God! He killed him! According to the proposal, all the Philistines became the prisoners of war to God’s people. Spiritually speaking, if the Holy Spirit leads you to confront a stronghold of evil spirits, you shall surely win against them. The human agents of these demons shall become your converts, your ‘subjects’. God shall give them to you as a trophy and reward for successful warfare. This is ‘the organic’ growth of ministry that gives glory to God. If God is on your side you shall do great exploits and many prisoners shall be set free. With each victory against evil strongholds, ‘my subjects’ are increasing…O, what a wonderful way to fill a church! All glory to God!

In Christ I declare:

I destroy all evil agreements done by my parents, knowingly or un-knowingly!

I declare freedom to the spiritual captives in my family!

I plead the Blood of Jesus over my life, my marriage and children!

We are free indeed, to serve and worship the Living God!

I shall preach the Gospel of Christ Crucified to my last breath!

Many shall hear, shall believe, shall be set free and shall rejoice!

To the glory of God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

BREAD AND CHEESE

“One day Jesse said to David: “Take a half-bushel of this roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and hurry with them to your brothers in the camp. And take these ten cheeses to the commanding officer” (1Sam 17, 18; GNB)

David and Goliath…all children love this story. But can we the adults learn anything new? That shall be our challenge tonight. ‘Holy Spirit, come…”

David was about seventeen years old. He was the youngest son in the family of Jesse. He is a shepherd working for his dad. His life could have been a boring routine, except that ‘God is on his side’ (Ps 124). He just got anointed by Prophet Samuel as the new King of Israel. But after that wonderful day, things went back to normal…back to taking care of the sheep…except that now, the Spirit of God is upon David and nothing shall be the same again.

This day seem to be like every other day. Father Jesse sends him to his brothers with bread and cheese. Before sun set, he will be the new champion of Israel.

Lesson for us: Be content to do ‘ordinary’ ministry! Do not hurry to be famous! Never fear humility! Learn the power of preparation in the secret place! Submit to your leaders! Be satisfied to work for your ‘father in Christ’ or your pastor! Be faithful in little things! God knows and God sees! This is the preparation of God’s hero! There shall be a moment when you shall stand and fight in public! God is and shall be on your side! Your humility and faithfulness in the secret place shall be rewarded with faith to move mountains and strength to kill all giants!

In Christ I declare:

I submit to God and to the authority God has placed upon me!

God is on my side!

I can never lose!

I am faithful in little things!

I shall be promoted!

I prepare for greater victories ahead!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. And the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality” (Est 2:17, 18)

The women fellowship in our church organized a love feast today. This is to celebrate the gift of love in marriage. We fasted and prayed daily in the month of January. We prayed for revival and other needs. The main opposition we had was the evil spirit of seduction and false prophets (we named them Vashti and Haman, as in the story of Esther). We did warfare and gained the victory. We decided to organize a love feast. Each sister brought food or drinks. More than 60 couples came. This is the first time we did such a banquet in our church. As Nigerian men are not too ‘romantic’ with their wives, we take this to be a great breakthrough in their marriages.

The following are some prayer points concerning the banquet:

*By faith we shall organize a love feast called Esther’s banquet.

*Like Esther found favor with king Xerxes, we have found favor with King Jesus and our husbands!

*This banquet is a sign that we have won the victory in the name of Jesus!

*It shall be on Friday evening (so called ‘Valentine’s Day’); 5-7 pm in the church’s sanctuary

*We shall invite our husbands. They shall come and we shall all be happy!

*Dress code traditional (both you and your husband), any color, any tribe

*We shall all contribute to the success of the banquet

*We shall hire tables and chairs… we shall wrap the chairs with ribbons (as they do at receptions)

*We need serviettes, little vases with flowers, little candles and other things to beautify the tables

*Menu shall be complete: rice, fried meat, fried chicken, banga soup, small chops (spring rolls…), cake, fruits, water, can drinks, wine…etc…All food shall be very tasty and well presented, to the glory of God

*We shall not use paper, plastic disposable things on the table. All plates, cutlery and glasses are the ‘real’ ones

*The women whose husbands cannot come on Friday, are free to contribute and attend

*No one shall be sick after the banquet! There shall be no regrets, no quarrels, no bitterness! We forbid it!

*By faith we pray that God will touch our marriages and ‘the water shall be turned into wine’

*We shall trust God for a new beginning in our lives and marriages

*The women shall keep quiet allowing the Holy Spirit to touch our husband to talk to us (PV 31:28-31)

*We trust God for miracles of healing, deliverance, financial and anointing. Our marriages shall be more romantic

*The barren in our midst shall conceive and have children

*The single sisters who trust God that they shall marry in 2014 and volunteer to help at the banquet shall receive ‘a royal virgin daughter’s garment’ as a gift

*We shall all relax and be very happy, grateful to God for the privilege of knowing Jesus as our Savior, for the gift of marriage and children. All to the glory of God!

In Christ we declare:

By the Blood of the Lamb, we are saved!

We are women of God like Sarah, Leah, Esther, Deborah, Ruth, Abigail, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary of Bethany…We shall fulfill our destiny!

We are free from the spell of any evil spirit! Our enemies are defeated already!

Our marriages and children are blessed! The work of our hands is blessed! Our ministries are blessed!

Father’s House Bible Church is blessed!

To God be all the glory!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1:14, 15; RSV)

The doctrine of repentance is basic in understanding the supernatural change, how a sinner becomes saved. Please pay the price to understand the true doctrines of the Bible. You need to know the theory before you can apply it in practical daily living. This is a true saying: good doctrine- good character- good behavior; bad doctrine- bad character- bad behavior. You cannot change your bad behavior just like that. You need to know the true doctrines of the Bible and the change shall manifest, by the power of the Holy Spirit!

Repentance is a Biblical word. Many people who come to church lack the understanding of it. Many pastors avoid preaching about it for fear that the congregation shall be hurt and leave. That is why many churches are filled with religious men and women who are not saved. But without repentance men cannot be saved. Repentance is the spiritual process that applies mostly to the change of mind, when a sinner becomes saved.

True repentance starts with the acknowledgement that you are a sinner. You stop arguing or defending yourself. By the power of the Holy Spirit you start to genuinely feel sorry for your sin and hate it. You deeply regret offending God. The skill of hypocrisy is paralyzed. Godly sorrow that leads to repentance is an extremely painful experience. There is no pain like it! You feel like dying… It is a baptism of fire…If you have not passed thru this you will never know the deep pain of a sinner going to hell. Then by the power of the Holy Spirit you turn away from sin, you forsake the life of sin and you turn the Cross of Christ pleading to obtain mercy. At the foot of the Cross you totally surrender your life, unconditionally to Jesus Christ! There are no pre-conditions! With all your heart you believe that Jesus Christ is your personal Savior and Lord. With your mouth, you confess the same. You believe the Gospel of Christ Crucified. Trusting the Blood of Jesus, you come to your Father in heaven. By faith, you receive the grace and the mercy to be saved. The same Holy Spirit that convicted you of sin, that brought so much sorrow and pain, now fills your heart with supernatural peace and joy. From this moment, you shall be consumed by the passion to live a holy life unto God. The fruit of the Holy Spirit starts manifesting. From now on your desire is to serve and worship God all the days of your life!

The word ‘Repentance’ (Metanoeo, in Greek) means to think differently; to change one’s mind and purpose, as the result of believing the Word of God. This word is used of true repentance, to which remission of sin is promised, because the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.

“Evangelical repentance consists of:

(1) A true sense of one’s own guilt and sinfulness (Lk 18:13)

(2) An apprehension of God’s mercy in Christ (Lk 23:40-43)

(3) An actual hatred of sin and turning from it to God (Ps. 119:128; Job 42:5, 6; 2 Cor. 7:10)

(4) A persistent desire after a holy life, walking with God in the way of His commandments

The true penitent is conscious of guilt (Ps. 51:4, 9), of pollution (Ps. 51:5, 7, 10), and of helplessness (Ps. 51:11; 109:21, 22). He knows that he is a sinner and he has accepted the verdict of death. This is the work of the Holy Spirit without which no man will be able to see himself as a sinner. Thus he apprehends himself to be just what God has always seen him to be and declares him to be. But repentance comprehends not only such a sense of sin, but also an apprehension of mercy, without which there can be no true repentance (Ps. 51:1; 130:4)”

(From Parson’s Bible Dictionary)

There is another similar verb ‘metamelomai’ which is also used of a change of mind. This describes a more superficial repentance such as to produce regret or even remorse on account of sin, but not necessarily a deep change of heart. It is used with reference to the repentance of Judas (Matt. 27:3). This is a false repentance and it is not accepted by God to release the grace to save the soul. The man may feel sorry for his past mistakes and sinful choices, becomes religious, starts going to church but is not born again. This is a great snare for many.

A believer also can repent if he backslides and grieves the Holy Spirit. He has to come back to his ‘first love’ who is Jesus Christ Crucified for him. If the repentance is genuine, he will gladly start doing again the good works of serving God as it was in the beginning (Rev 2:4, 5). The result is personal revival and a new desire to worship God!

In Christ I declare:

This is my testimony:

I came to the Cross!

I repented of my sin!

I believed the Gospel of Christ crucified!

I am now saved!

I am a child of God!

I have eternal life!

All glory to God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

‘FREE’ TO DIVORCE

“If you do not obey the Lord your God… you will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you come out” (Deut 28:15, 19)

Rebellion against God is the most serious threat to a happy life and a successful marriage. Please think of it! If you ignore or actively disobey God’s Word, you shall be cursed (unhappy, to say the least) when you come in (on your wedding day) and you go out (when you divorce). Even with all the prayers said for them in the church on their wedding day, the proud cannot be happy together. This is the decree of God’s Word and it cannot be changed by any man. Except there is deep repentance in both their hearts, they cannot be happily married! Selah!

Queen Vashti behaved exactly like her ‘sister’ Hagar. Abraham organized a feast for the occasion of weaning Isaac. Ishmael, her son, was a teenager by then. Hagar too ‘forgot herself’ and the favor she was shown in the house of Abraham and Sarah. She was a former slave from Egypt. Because she had a son in the house of her master, she became an ungrateful woman. She mocked Sarah and her baby. That sealed her fate. She and her son had to go away forever. For her, freedom meant ‘divorce’. They lost the godly inheritance to be reckoned among God’s special people. This was God’s judgment, not Sarah’s (Gen 21).

 ‘Fear the Lord and the king… and do not join with the rebellious, for those two will send sudden destruction upon them and who knows what calamities they bring?’ (PV 24:21, 22).

In Christ I declare:

The devil is a loser forever!

I totally reject the evil spirit of pride, rebellion and witchcraft!

I loose myself from any connection with the evil spirits of Vashti and Hagar!

I humble myself under the mighty hand of God!

My marriage is on the altar of God!

My marriage is safe and blessed!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine” (PV 3:9, 10)

I am a missionary pastor in Nigeria. Over here, most of the Christians believe in the doctrine of ‘first fruits’. They bring their first month salary of a new job, or the first profit they make from any business, to the church. Sometimes they bring it to the man of God who prayed for the work of their hands. In our church, we do not insist on it, but we do not refuse it either. I have seen it, again and again, how God rewards their faith by blessing the work of their hands. This is the testimony of a Christian sister I know quite well. She does not attend our church but she visits me sometimes.

Some years ago she got married to a man who is at least thirty years older. She comes from a poor family. It seems that it was an arranged marriage. They have two children. Her husband is wealthy but not a believer. She became saved not too long ago. But from time to time she comes to see me for counseling and prayer. She feels idle. Her wish was to work, to do something so that God can bless the work of her hands. Her husband only allows her to attend a church close to their house. He is a very jealous man and does not permit her go out except to take the children to school or to go to the market. She prays a lot. Her marriage is not a happy one but she has learned to be patient and to make the best of a difficult situation.

The last time I saw her was about six months ago. I asked her what does she want to do? What did she read? She said that she read agriculture and that she has found a fish pond for hire not far from the house. But the husband has refused to allow her go there. I asked her: what will you do if he permits you to hire that pond and use it as business? She said that she will give all the glory to God. I told her: ‘this is a good answer!’ We then prayed and she left. Yesterday, early in the morning, she came with a 2, 5 KG cat fish in a bag. She said that this is the very first fish she harvested from her pond and she brought it to me. She also said that she dropped an offering in the box. She was so excited… She told me that there are other ponds around hers but all their fishes died. But in her pond, not one single fish died. The other fisher men gathered to see her fishes. They said that they have not seen such a harvest for a new beginner. She was so excited… She remembered the vow and came to give glory to God. Selah!

We all need encouragement. If you cannot find it in marriage, may God direct you heart to a safe place where you can rejoice in what He does for you.

In Christ I declare:

Jesus Christ shall always be by first love!

My heart is His, forever!

God has blessed the work of my hands!

The ‘first fruits’ offering from my business belongs to God!

To God be all the glory

In Jesus name

Amen!

NOT ENOUGH BEAUTY

“But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs; therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him” (Est 1:12)

Just try to imagine the scene in the palace, in the women’s quarters, when the eunuch came with the message. ‘Ma’am’ Vashti should dress and come with her royal crown to present herself before the king. The women were in the middle of their own feast and possibly drunk themselves; then the idea that Vashti should abandon them and go away to see her husband, even if for an hour, that sounded crazy to them. They may have mocked the king and his messenger. Possibly, they encouraged her to join in the mocking. The song of rebellion sounded just right! The tune, the beat, the modulation…

For a moment, the Queen ‘forgot herself’. She forgot her background; the many years when she prayed for a prince to come and marry her.  She forgot that the crown on her head was the king’s property, given to her ‘by grace’. The palace where she stayed also belonged to the king. Both as a husband and as her king, she owed him respect and honor; especially in the presence of others. O, how easy is to forget gratitude…

Foolishly, she chose to refuse the king’s request. This may not have been the first time that she manifested a rebellious spirit. But this was to be the last time. Rejected, the king burned with anger…Her beauty could not help now. She exhausted the good will of her husband and of the general public. This time there was no more mercy left for her. She has to leave the palace and the marriage.  If she had any children, she will lose them too. From now on she will be known as a bitter woman, living in past glories. Later on, without a throne and without a crown, she may have regretted her foolish boldness. But it was too late. The king has spoken! She was out!

This is one of the most serious lessons for us: Rebellion is always punished in the Bible. Please pray about it! One of the consequences of disobedience and rebellion against God is this: you will never have total peace in any situation in life. No matter the promotion or the wealth associated with it, you will always feel insecure about your position. You’ll feel a constant threat, a permanent anxiety that another person, better than you, shall replace you one day. This insecurity may manifest as pride or as rudeness. But it is a silent ‘worm’ eating you inside and none will understand. You will be consumed by the desire to prove your worth. You will have the tendency to be suspicious of any other person who wants to ‘steal your crown’.

This is the Word of God concerning marriages: A wife should submit to her own husband as unto the Lord (Eph 5:22). Submission is a choice; it is never forced. It is a godly fruit of the ‘wisdom that comes from humility’ (Jam 3:13). It is a foundation law in the kingdom of God and in any successful marriage. It is not easy to submit but the reward is always greater than the pain! You may regret other things, but never submission done by the power of the Holy Ghost! I said ‘never’!

In Christ I declare:

My marriage is a blessing and an inspiration to many. We did not buy it with money. We did not manipulate or seduce to get it. It is the gift of God the Father to us. Jesus Christ is in the center of it. The Holy Spirit sealed it. My husband and I, we maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph 4:3). Knowing that Jesus is coming soon, we hold on to what we already have, watchful that we lose not our blessings and ministry ‘crown’. We are pillars in the house of God and none can uproot us! Even in the future! (Rev 3:11, 12). All to the glory of God!

In Jesus name

Amen

“The priest shall burn all this on the altar as a food offering pleasing to the Lord. All the fat belongs to the Lord” (Lev 3:16; GNB)

In the Old Testament, men were commanded to come and offer animal sacrifices on the altar at the Temple in Jerusalem. God insisted that the Fat and the Blood belong to Him alone. The animal’s fat was to be burned completely for Him. The blood was to be drained and sprinkled on the altar. Men could eat the flesh but not the fat of the animal.

The fat is a symbol. It stands for the best man has to offer, the greatest sacrifice given to God. Your best is not for you, but for God. You give God your best! God is worthy of your best! It also means that the second best you can keep for yourself. It means that in this life you can never be totally happy. It also means that God has accepted your sacrifice; that God knows your name; that He has opened a bank account for you.  From now on, everything you offer to God shall be deposited in your heavenly account, where thieves cannot steal and recession is paralyzed.

The word ‘anointing’ in Hebrew is similar with the words oil or fat. Your anointing should be used for ministry. Your best revelations should be used to feed the Lord’s flock.  At the end of the day, from what is left, you can use it to pray for your needs and for your family.

Your best may not be much…your best may be little, especially when compared with others… but if in your heart you know that this is your best, then give it all to God! Do not keep it for yourself, lest you grieve the Holy Spirit.

Are you striving with God about your best plans and dreams? You can never win this battle, for the best is God’s!

This is the Word of God! I cannot argue with it! I simply believe and obey! So I have peace!

In Christ I declare:

My best efforts and dreams, my successes and crowns, I give them all to You Lord Jesus!

I settle for my second best!

I am satisfied with what is left!

I will never be bitter for giving my best to You!

May God’s perfect will be done in my life!

In Jesus name

Amen!

WOW…SURPRISED BY GREAT WEALTH

“King Xerxes then said to Queen Esther and Mordecai, the Jew, “Look, I have hanged Haman for his plot against the Jews, and I have given Esther his property” (Est 8:7, GNB)

By law, for entering uninvited, Esther should have died in the throne room. But the Holy Spirit has gone before her making a new way in the legalistic religious ‘desert’. The king’s heart and hand is under the control of the Holy Spirit. He lowers the scepter to her and extends his mercy. The devil is totally confused by this unexpected set back. ‘This woman should be dead by now…what is wrong with this stupid king…we thought he is on our side…what is she talking about…a banquet…which banquet…what is she planning to do…’ the palace demons are in total confusion and wailing almost audibly…

But the ball of victory starts rolling. The king behaves like a man who wakes up from a long sleep. Happily, he promises the queen half of his kingdom. But Esther is not impatient. Nothing in her demeanor reveals the danger of death. The Holy Spirit is in control. She is not just a pretty face anymore. Filled with grace, crowned with glory, confident with anointing, speaking with supernatural wisdom and carried on by angels wins she is moving with the very strength of God. She invites the king and Haman to a personal banquet in her chambers. From this very moment on, Esther, filled with the Holy Spirit, is taking control of the spiritual atmosphere of the kingdom of Persia. She has become the ambassador of Christ to the world. And she knows it. The Holy Spirit is in charge, directing her.

At the end of the dinner, she postpones the request for a favor for yet another day. She needs more time to confirm in her heart that God is on her side.  She knows that this is the secret of victory. It cannot be betrayed. The Holy Spirit knows that the next day, Haman, intoxicated with happiness, builds the gallows to kill Mordecai, confirming his wickedness. The postponement of the request makes the king to be even more attracted to her.

The next day, confident enough that God is on her side, she finally reveals her pain: ‘Haman is a traitor, a wicked man and a criminal. He wants to kill me and my people” The king sees the truth and becomes enraged. The servants tell him about the gallows Haman built that same day for Mordecai. The servants’ reaction is just a hint for us to know the atmosphere in the palace and in the city. All people, not only the Jews, they hated Haman and wanted him dead. As Esther gained favor with all people, Haman lost whatever influence he ever had on them. This is the unique peculiar work of the Holy Spirit, bring the wicked down and preparing the promotion for God’s people. Suddenly, king decrees the following: Haman dies on the gallows that he built and Esther shall inherit his estate. Haman’s ring of authority is given to Mordecai who takes his position. By a new royal decree, all the Jews are given the authority to fight back against their enemies and to protect their homes. Their victory is total! Selah!

What are the lessons for us?

Do not be impatient! Do not go before the Holy Spirit! You shall never regret being patient, waiting for God to establish your case. Impatience proves that the flesh is still active and God cannot freely lead you to victory

If you refuse God’s call for your life, there are consequences! And you cannot change them!

God will uproot any plant He did not plant!

God changes situations in an instant! A chronic sickness can vanish in a second! O…Blessed second!

No man fights God or His people and wins!

God never loses any battle!

If God is on your side, you will never fail!!!

Be sure you too are on God’s side!

Your destiny may manifest suddenly! Prepare for that destiny moment!

“The wealth of sinners will go to the righteous” (PV 13:22; GNB)

In Christ I declare:

God shall trouble them that trouble me!

God shall intervene in my case and fight for me!

My enemy has lost his case against me and I shall possess his estate!

The victory is mine!

Faith 100% and doubt 0%!

All glory to God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

NEVER FEAR DEATH!

“I also and my maids will fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish” (Est 4:16)

Finally, after three days of prayer and fasting, Esther goes to see the king. The law of Persia, Haman the Prime Minister and even tradition, all these stand against her. Her only ‘asset’ is Jehovah. The God of her people is on her side. But that is all what she needs for ‘God is the God of the living and He is not the God of the dead’ (Mk 12:27).

Miraculously, Esther receives mercy. This sign alone means that God is on her side. The intended bribe of Haman has failed to influence the king to hate his wife or to misunderstand her motives. The ball of victory starts rolling and it will not stop again!

This is a very important lesson for the children of God: Never fear death! If God is on your side, you shall live! Never forget that! In Christ, death is your property, your faithful servant! “The world, or life and death, or the present and the future… Everything belongs to you and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God” (1Cor 3:22, 23). In Christ, death is not able to betray you and kill you without your permission. Death should intimidate or manipulate your emotions. Especially during trials of health or other difficult circumstances, be sure that you do not fear death; you do not bow down to the demon of death! That is what the pagans do! The fear of death is dead! The boldness of life has to come in! The joy of faith has to manifest!

This is from ‘the sermon’ Jesus preached to Martha:

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? (Jn 11:25, 26)

What are the lessons?

You have to trust and obey God! Not only trust, but also obey His leading!

You can do only what you can do…after that trust that God shall intervene and defend you!

Fasting and prayer are mighty weapons for spiritual warfare!

Maintain the unity of the Spirit! Submit unto God and humbly obey your spiritual mentors!

God’s calling for your life may manifest thru crisis or painful events!   

Trust in God to the end! Serve God to your last breath!

In Christ I declare:

This is my testimony of great deliverance! This is my story! This is my song!

“I didn’t die. I lived!

    And now I’m telling the world what God did.

God tested me, He pushed me hard,

    but He didn’t hand me over to Death.

Swing wide the city gates—the righteous gates!

    I’ll walk right through and thank God!

This Temple Gate belongs to God,

    so the victors can enter and praise” (Ps 118:17-20; TM)

All glory to God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

 
(by Don McCaleb)
(as recorded by WorshipMob)

In the shade of the tree,
A man hung his head.
Together they tried to paint a still life,
But she picked the fruit
And they peeled back the skin
Did we lose the taste of real life
While juice dripped down our chins?
In our chase for something more
We listened to the snake, and we ate,
Till we twisted the stem:
He loves us; He loves us not.
Could God still love us, after we got caught?
In our discontent,
We kept the curse and threw away the core.

The man prayed:
“Father, you made the best of us,
But we made a mess of us.
Now we’re ashamed of what’s left of us.
And we can’t live up to Your tree-turned-measuring-stick
Or fix the feel of the fruit in our fists
Or the flavor of it, fresh against our lips,
The poison gift of a serpent’s kiss
Now we can’t spit out the rooted bitterness
That we grew in the ground of your garden.”
He leaned his back against the tree and wept.
How did this tree of Tree of Life become a tree of death?

In the shade of the tree, THE MAN hung His head,
And said: “Father, if there is any other way.
If you could take this vial of bitterness away,
Find a better way
To rescue all who bent to betray Your grace.
To save the broken and the beautiful,
The bereaved and the beat-up,
The burned-out and the brav.”

Sweat and blood dripped down
To the garden ground in Gethsemane.
As He considered the coming kiss,
And the cost to heal humanity
He leaned His back against the tree and pled
for the plight of the people
And the promised plan to purge the plague.

In the shade of the tree, THE MAN hung his head.
Limbs stretched wide apart.
Holes in his hands, his feet, his side
Empty blood from a heart that broke to mend creation
To hold the damaged and the holy wholly together
Crowd scorned, back scourged, flesh torn,
Cruel thorns crowned his bowed brow
On this tree-turned-mocking-throne
His agony the overture to a symphony of amnesty
That echoes through every soul’s destiny,
Opening the curtain on eternity
His life peeled back, like skin wounded and bruised
To reveal this glorious God… who died.

It was over at that moment.
THE moment…
The moment when justice and love collide,
The defiled overwhelmed by the divine
Despair overwritten by life
Freedom overthrows fear,
Inciting a revolution of Infinite peace,
Bright hope overflows the narrow banks of hate,
Innocence overturns guilt
Forgiveness overcomes shame
Light overtakes darkness
Like the morning sun rising up from the ground
To overpower night,
Mercy and compassion unite
To dance on the grave of death

In the shade of this tree, I hung my head.
Because I have traded the garden-life-dream
Of this Christ king,
In exchange for lonely, rancid things
But this risen God comes again to meet me,
Underneath the now-empty cross,
And write my name in the dust and the mud
Flooded from the flow of beautiful blood
Below where he
Leaned His back against the tree
And bled… for me,
Where this tree of death… became A TREE OF LIFE!

(DESTINY MOMENT)

“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Est 4:13, 14)

Esther is told that Mordecai is in rags, wailing outside. He sends new clothes to him. This is how most of us behave, thinking that a superficial change will solve the problem. But Mordecai tells her that she needs more than a superficial religion. She needs God to save her, him and all their people. She tells her about Haman and the exact amount paid to the king so that she knows the gravity of the situation.

Esther has not seen her husband for at least a month. The spell of the intended bribe from Haman may still work on him (Ex 23:8). But he may still be blind to her, impatient with her and ignoring her request for mercy. The only ‘good thing’, she was told, is that the king was not totally deceived by Haman. He rejected his offer of a bribe and offered to pay the amount from the palace treasury. The law of Persia complicated the matters. No man or woman could go and see the king uninvited. The punishment was death. There was only exception: if the king grants mercy to the offender himself. Only God can save her! Only God can cancel the effects of the bribe in the heart of the king! ‘The heart of the king is in the hand of Jehovah…’ (PV 21:1) –she repeated to herself again and again.

Esther is faced with death from all directions. She makes up her mind to offer her body as a living sacrifice on the altar of Jehovah. She and her servants shall fast and pray. She also asks for prayer from all the Jews. This is a destiny moment. If God is on their side, they shall live. If not, they shall die. There is no other option. She chooses the will of God and if need be, die with it. It is better to die for God than to die for the devil. ‘If I have to die, I choseto die on the side of God, on the right side of the story. In life or in death, my Lord God shall be glorified!

What are the lessons?

You have to trust and obey God! Not only trust, but also obey His leading!

You can do what all you can do…after that trust that God shall move and defend you!

Fasting and prayer are mighty weapons for spiritual warfare!

Maintain the unity of the Spirit! Submit unto God and humbly obey your spiritual mentors!

God’s calling for your life may manifest thru crisis or painful events!

If you refuse God’s call for your life, there are consequences! You cannot change them!

God does need you but you need God!

Be ready to give God all the glory in whatever circumstances!

In Christ I declare:

I need God more than ever!

I trust God to move on my behalf and to defend me and my family!

God is on my side: I shall never die and I shall never fail!

I accept God’s will and plan for my life!

I have a great deliverance testimony to share with all!

Jesus is Lord!

In Jesus name

Amen!

(FACING IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS)

“Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews” (Est 4:7)

This is the story of Hadassah Esther. When Vashti was in the palace, Esther was ‘a Nobody’. She was a simple Jewish girl, an orphan living in the house of her uncle Mordecai. She could not have imagined that in less than a year, Vashti will be on the streets and she will be crowned as the new queen of the Persian Empire. Her husband shall be King Xerxes, the richest and most powerful man in the world at that time.

But the honey moon was short.  Mordecai tells her that Haman, the king’s best friend has been promoted as the prime minister. Haman hates Mordecai for refusing to bow down to him. The king orders all people to bow down to Haman (Est 3:2). This is strange for in the Eastern cultures men easily bow to ‘big men’. It is a revelation for us to know that the people in general hated Haman and they only bowed down to him by force. This is the secret work of the Holy Spirit restraining evil in the world and preparing the minds of men for the mighty deliverance ahead.

Because of Mordecai, Haman decides to kill all the Jews. He deceives the king and offers him money to sign a law to kill all the Jews in Persia. He does not tell the king who these people are. He does not tell the King that Mordecai who is a faithful servant to the king and saved his life, is a Jew. He does not know that the Queen is also a Jew. The money offered is ‘ten thousand talents of silver’. I read that this amount is equal with 2,250,000,000 (Two Billion, Two Hundred Fifty Million) US Dollars!!! The devil is ready to pay billions to kill the children of God!!! Selah! The king is impressed. No man can reject such a gift. But the money offered was not an innocent gift. It was a bribe.

“Do not accept a bribe! For a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous!” (Ex 23:8)

The word ‘twist’ means to pervert, to turn the mind away from truth to error, to misdirect the mind from that which is good to that which is evil, to go astray towards evil.A bribe blinds the men in authority, twists the words of the righteous and is able to poison a whole nation. The bribe was intended to blind the king to the grace and beauty of Esther. It was also given to twist her words so that she will sound foolish and not be able to intercede for her people. That was the devil’s plan.

Mordecai and Esther do not have such money. What can they do? How do you fight an evil man who is so rich? What will you do in impossible situations?

The only answer is GOD! The GOD factor! Never forget the GOD factor!

God is on Esther’s side! She does not need billions! With only God on her side Esther will win the battle!

In Christ I declare:

Only God can change men’s hearts!

The effects of bribes and occult spells shall disappear under the anointing of the Holy Spirit!

I shall continue to pray until my last breath!

The victory is mine!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“He must not be a new Christian, or he might become arrogant like the devil and be condemned. People who are not Christians must speak well of him, or he might become the victim of disgraceful insults that the devil sets as traps for him” (1Tim 3:6, 7; GNB)

Apostle Paul describes the qualities of a godly leader. He can be the overseer of a church, a deacon, a husband or a father. There are some attributes which are vital in the character of the leader. The absence of these qualities disqualifies a man or woman to be in a place of spiritual leadership.

A Christian leader should not be a young man or a young convert. The danger is hidden pride. The devil will try his best to make to the leader fall. Never underestimate his perseverance. Pride is the first sin that was ever committed in this universe. It is difficult to detect and even more difficult to repent of. The devil was once a beautiful angel called Lucifer. He was in the garden of God as a cherub leader, probably in charge of the heavenly choir. He became proud on account of his beauty and he fell from that exalted position (Ez 28:11-20). He is now roaming the earth seeking whom he may destroy.

An immature leader is not settled spiritually and emotionally. He is still like a green wood. The flesh is still too active. He thinks that without him nothing works. He talks too much. He is impatient. Sexual lust is still an issue. He is financially unstable most of the time. But a mature leader has learned by experience to be calm, patient and caring. He is a good listener. He is a good communicator. He has seen God working in the life of his congregation so he knows that he is not alone. He has fewer needs so he can afford to be financially more stable. The world has lost its attraction for him. He is more interested in spiritual things.

A leader must have a good reputation among the unbelievers. This is a very hard test. The unbelievers have a tendency to mock the children of God. They assume that we are fakes or hypocrites. Other times they flatter or bribe a Christian to make him proud. Some try to tempt them sexually or to corrupt the honest people. The unbelievers are agents of the devil and they show no mercy at all. They are not afraid to lie or to slander. The fiery darts are real and very painful if they reach the mark. For any believer who can stand under all these attacks and not fall, that is great achievement indeed.

So ask yourself: what do the unbelievers around say about you? What is your boss saying in his annual review about you? It is not enough to ignore them. If they have to write a secret recommendation about you, what will they say? But if unbelievers confess that they tried their best to make you fall to sexual sin, to provoke you to be angry or bitter and yet they failed, that is the best recommendation for promotion you can receive. It has value on earth and also in heaven. God sometimes listens to the pagan’s report about you. That is something to think about…

In Christ I declare:

I humble myself under the mighty hand of God!

God’s perfect will shall be done in my life!

Miraculously, my enemies shall be at peace with me!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect. You must present it at the entrance to the tent of meeting… You are to lay your hand on the head of the burnt offering and it will be accepted on your behalf to make atonement for you. You are to slaughter the young bull…You are to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces….Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces…You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord” (Lev 1:3-9)

In the Old Testament we find the holy protocol and the priestly procedure of bringing an offering to God. There are many types of offerings but the most important of all is the burnt offering. It has to be voluntary, that is why the passage starts with the word ‘if’. God does not insist on it but ‘if’ you want to ‘impress’ Him then you shall offer it. A Jew is to bring an animal from his flock, slaughter it in the presence of God and place it on the altar to be burnt to ashes. The smell of it shall be pleasing to the Lord.

You may think that is easy….Is it not to burn all of it to ashes? But God insists that as ‘a praise team’, the worshipper and the priests should follow a strict procedure. If not, with all good intentions, God will not accept the offering. It will burn for nothing. It will be counted as a wasted opportunity.

In the New Testament we offer sacrifices of praise and spiritual service to God. We can learn many things from the above scriptures. Read again and mediate upon them. The worshipper has to bring the blameless animal, present it to the Lord, lay his hand on its head and slaughter it himself. This is done at a specific place: the entrance of the Tabernacle. This sacrifice will make atonement for the worshipper. He shall skin the animal and wash the organs inside with water. Then the priests take over. They arrange the pieces on the burning wood, in a particular order where they will burn to ashes. This offering is totally given to God. No man shall taste from it.

The word ‘entrance’ in Hebrew means the place of a new beginning and freedom. The word ‘atonement’ means to cover something as with bitumen, to completely cancel the trouble of the past, to restore the friendship between God and man. It is a proof of forgiveness, mercy and peace. The word ‘arrange’ is a military term and it means to properly estimate the value of each piece and arrange them like soldiers in a battle. The verb ‘to skin’ means to invade the territory of the enemy and to plunder him, leaving him naked and disgraced.  The word ‘wash’ means to purify, to pour water like a river that becomes an overflow of cleansing.

How do we apply these revelations? Praising God is a privilege. It has to be personal, intimate and coming from a willing, grateful heart. You cannot pay another to praise your God. You have to pay the price yourself. By grace, the worship leader receives a holy boldness that inspires others. They who listen and flow with the anointing shall be set free from burdens and sins. Praise makes available among men the hope of glory, the reality of the passion of a deeper relationship with God. Praise is called ‘fearful’ (Ex 15:11) because it is one of the greatest weapons in spiritual warfare. Praising God is never entertainment. It totally defeats and destroys the opposition. When you praise God you are to expect a commotion, devils running away and people slain under the anointing. Worship must flow from inside out as an overflow of pure anointing that will cleanse, deliver and heal the people of God. Then God will receive the aroma of your worship, His heart shall rest and be at peace with you, He will be comforted and be delighted in you. All complains die in the fire. A believer should never complain. The burnt offering of total surrender and intimate worship is what God is looking for among men. Many sing well but very few worship well…

Are you among those who are willing to offer body, soul and spirit as a living sacrifice unto God? Do you want to be a vessel unto honor, for the pleasure of your Master? Do you want to be used by God as a servant and worshiper, for captives to be set free from the sound of praise on your lips? I hear you saying ‘yes’….This is good… But this anointing I am talking about it is more than a wish or a prayer. It is the reality of the Cross manifested on earth among men. It is the power of resurrection breaking the cage of self. It is the power to fulfill destiny, to please God Almighty, the testimony of a soul set free to love God forever.

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess His name” (Heb 13:15)

The altar is waiting…The fire is burning…Jesus Christ our High Priest stands by…The Holy Spirit is calling…Will you come…Come…

In Christ I declare:

Jesus Christ is my Savior and my Lord!

O Lamb of God I come…I come…

In Jesus name

Amen!

“But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness…I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people” (2Cor 12:9 AMP; LB)

Apostle Paul is one of the greatest men who ever lived on this planet. He received extraordinary revelations from The Lord Jesus Christ. He was even caught up to heaven and heard inexpressible things. But with all these spiritual treasures and uncountable blessings he had to endure ‘a thorn in his flesh, an agent of satan’. This was given to him by God so that he will not become proud and forsake the very grace that he coveted so much. This thorn was probably a chronic sickness that made him weak physically. A ‘chronic disease’ is an infirmity that is there for a very long time; it troubles and weakens the body constantly and there is no cure for it. Three times he asked God to remove this infirmity. For a man of God, a missionary who travels a lot, a pastor, this sickness was a pain and a shame. Each time he prayed God answers with the same words: “My grace is sufficient for you…”

He wanted healing but he was given grace.

He wanted physical strength but he was given grace.

He wanted a miracle but he was given grace.

Why grace? What is this grace?

The word ‘grace’ in Greek is ‘charis’. Grace is defined as an unmerited favor from God. It is a gift of God. It cannot be bought with money and it is not available on earth. It means God’s influence upon the heart, changing it into a holy vessel fit for the King. It is a generous joyful blessing from heaven. It is the seal of God’s approval and pleasure on His child. Grace changes a man from a sinner to a saint. Nothing else can perform this mysterious change.

Jesus Christ came to earth full of grace and truth. He is the eternal fountain of grace as it is described in the Bible. By His initial deposit of grace, God has to humble His child to receive more grace. The proud take for granted or forsake the grace that could have been theirs.

“And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (Jn 1:16, 17)

Once God choses a man to pour His grace on him, that man is unbeatable. Even the devil cannot destroy such a man. He becomes a leader and an inspiration to many. The grace of God is greater and stronger than any sin or any weakness. It changes a lamb into a lion. This powerful testimony of a changed character and fulfilled destiny brings complete satisfaction to a child of God. In fact, it is the only thing on earth that truly satisfies. Health, wealth, social status, family and friends, nothing else compares with the satisfaction the grace of God brings in the heart of man. By refusing to answer the prayer of healing and choosing to give more grace instead, God overrules Paul and gives him the best. Removing the thorn meant healing. But that was an ‘ordinary’ healing. But the grace of God gives Paul another type of healing. The grace makes him whole. God reveals to Paul that the weakness in his body is not just an inconvenience. It has a purpose greater than removal. Its purpose is to become God’s ‘container’ to host the supernatural miraculous exquisite perfected strength of the Holy Spirit, which is called ‘anointing’. Grace then manifests as unexplainable strength to live a successful life as a child of God. Grace is more than healing. It is power to mature spiritually in all situations. Grace manifests as increase and fruitfulness in ministry.

Since I’ve seen what God did with Paul, I too pray the same prayer each time I am sick. Here malaria is a common affliction. Its main symptom is weakness of the body. Each time I have malaria, I pray not just that my weakness should go away and leave me ‘malaria-less’ but that the anointing of the Holy Spirit should so rest on me. I pray that my ability to minister the Word increases visibly. Yes, this is my testimony: God’s grace in me has become power. It is more than pleasant. Yes, I dare to pray for things unknown, for mystery revealed, for adventure in the heavenly realms. Yes, I have a passion for the Lord and His Word. I love my Lord who overruled my prayer for comfort and planted this mysterious thorn of grace in me. Yes, malaria or not, I am blessed indeed.

O, amazing grace…

In Christ I declare:

God’s grace is strength and healing to me!

God’s grace is what I need!

God’s grace is what I desire!

God’s grace is sufficient for me!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“Then the Lord said: “I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will do for you. Obey what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you” (Ex 34:10-12)

God makes a covenant with Moses and His people. Each party has a responsibility to be faithful to the covenant.

This is God’s promise to His people:

He will be with Israel and never betray His love for them. He shall perform miracles and wonders in their midst. Even if they pray, He shall not perform miracles among the neighboring nations. These miracles shall be a discrimination sign to the other nations, telling that that He is on the side of His people. These miracles of provision and protection shall bring joy to His people. The other nations will live an ordinary, hard and boring life; nothing supernatural about their existence. They have to labor hard for their daily bread. Their best ‘miracle’ is to have a job. But there shall be no promotion, no profit and no benefits. They have to fight their own battles to protect themselves. They shall become tired with the affairs of this life but God’s people shall have rest in the midst of their pleasant, easy and fruitful labor. These miracles among the believers shall be a terrible sign against the enemies of God. They shall become afraid, intimidated and confused by what they see. They shall be disturbed, distracted and tired mentally trying to understand why the miracles they see with the believers pass them by. They shall not be able to solve this puzzle. Their financial gurus shall not be able to replicate the miracles of provision they see in the camp of God’s people. They shall be angry but not be able to ‘steal’ God’s provision to His people or destroy their peace. They shall be jealous but forced to express admiration for what God does for His people.

This is the covenant responsibility of God’s people:

God expects obedience from His people. It is their responsibility to study the Bible and obey God’s Word to the best of their understanding. Ignorance and rebellion shall be punished accordingly even among God’s people. They have a responsibility to stay separate from the other nations. They shall not make friends with the unbelievers even if these are friendly neighboring nations. They shall not open their hearts to them, become intimate with them or marry them. There shall be no business partnership with unbelievers. For the miracles to continue in the camp of God’s people, this separation must be preserved. God shall deal differently with the unbelievers. He shall ‘drive them out before you’. The word means to trouble marriages and relationships until they end in divorce and they go away. Friendship with unbelievers shall only end in much sorrow and loss. No prayer will help.

No matter how beautiful Vashti is, no matter how long she has been on the throne, she will eventually go away and be replaced with Queen Hadassah Esther. No matter how wise and rich Haman is, in spite of his manipulation to become the prime minister of Persia, he and his sons shall die and will be replaced by Mordecai. Be careful dear Esther; do not make friends with Vashti and her friends! Be careful dear Mordecai; do not make friends with Haman and his family! This is God’s Covenant! Concerning God’s enemies: you cannot save them! Trying to help them you shall fall into a snare and you shall suffer because of it! By breaking the covenant you will grieve the Spirit of God who ‘works wonders’ for you! Thru rebellion you quench the Holy Spirit and the promised miracles shall fade away! Stay faithful and humble to the end!

God’s enemies shall fall for your sake! Did you know that? This is the God of the Bible! This is His warning against disobedience! This is His Word! According to the covenant, God’s blessing is on you, the faithful, humble and obedient child! Amen!

In Christ I declare:

I shall obey God all the days of my life!

I shall remain faithful and humble to the end!

I reject and divorce all evil spirits!

I destroy any false covenants I made with evil spirits and their human agents!

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

Miracles of provision and protection shall be our portion!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Ex 33:14)

Moses leads the Children of God to the Promise Land. The journey is not easy mostly because the people prove to be so difficult. God calls them ‘stiff necked’. They are rude, rough, rebellious, proud, stubborn, ungrateful and impatient. Then God gives them ‘bad’ news. He will not go with them anymore but He will send an Angel to lead them. This is a great disappointment especially for Moses.

What do you do when nothing works the way you imagined it?

What do you do when all things crash down and dreams scatter at your feet?

What do you do when the children reject your ministry?

What did Moses do?

Moses asks to see God’s glory. He did not ask for provisions or for money. He did not ask for friends or medicine. He asked for that which no man can give and none can take away. That is when our gracious God promises Moses His Presence and His Rest.

Do you pray like Moses?

When God blesses you with His presence, are you completely satisfied, or do you wait for something more?

Is God’s rest better than a job promotion to you?

Are you grateful for His presence in your life?

God promises Moses that even in this sinful world, in the midst of evil people, backsliders and hypocrites, His presence will be constant. God will prove to be His faithful friend. If all men are liars, God will forever be true! His presence means His pleasure, His favor, His face, His purpose and His Will. These are sure signposts on the royal road leading to rest. God will grant His servant rest from toil, from too much work that weakens and dries the soul. This is the secret key to revival.

The manifested presence and fellowship of the Person of God the Holy Spirit that is all that you need. If you worship God and follow Him you shall be free from anxiety and unnecessary sorrow.

There are two types of rest. There is a rest coming at the end of the day, after many hours of work. That is the rest of the laborer and it is ‘sweet’ (Ecc 5:12). But there is another rest, the supernatural rest, which is constant during the day. The amount of labor does not affect this rest. It manifests as peace and joy in the midst of labor. This is the rest promised to Moses. This is the rest promised to the worshipper, to the servant and the friend of God.

If God has granted you this rest, your work, your ministry will never make you bored, tired or discouraged. You will be free from all anxieties connected with your labor on earth. You will never worry again if men shall promote or reward you. You will never fear joblessness, inflation, recession or poverty. Your boss will never be able to intimidate or manipulate you.  Did I say ‘never’? Yes! That is the power of God’s Presence and Promised Rest. This is His Word:

Jehovah loves you! He has decreed rest for you, settled your heart and sealed your destiny!

May your body soul and spirit answer ‘Amen!’

In Christ I declare:

God’s presence is with me and my family!

Jesus Christ has given me rest in the midst of all labor!

I am free from all fears!

I have peace in the midst of the storm!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

“Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall camp before it by the sea” (Ex 14:1, 2)

The children of God left Egypt in a hurry. After more than four hundred years of slavery they are now out of the land of bondage. Under the leadership of Moses, they are going towards the Promised Land. Long ago, God promised Abraham that he and his descendants shall possess the land of Canaan. The easiest and closest way from Egypt to Canaan is going North East, along the Mediterranean Sea. But God did not allow them to take that road. He knew that if they have to fight they will be quickly discouraged and return to Egypt. So he directed them to go south, in the opposite direction, towards the desert and the Red Sea.

God directs Moses to go to a particular place called Pi Hahiroth. The name of this place means ‘a mouth of water’. Next to it there is a hill called Migdol which means ‘A Watchtower’. It was a high place that the Egyptians used to monitor the children of God. Opposite there is a place called Baal Zephon. Its name means the ‘god of thunder and of stormy seas’. There was a pagan altar were sacrifices were offered for the protection of travelers especially the sea men. Today it is called Mount Tiran. It’s an island in the Red Sea in between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. God wanted His miracle to be displayed in front of the shrine of the pagan god of the seas, to disgrace him and his followers.

There are arguments, where was the exact place that the Red Sea was divided. It is not very clear where all these places with strange names are. But the most plausible place is on the right extension of the Red Sea, called the Gulf of Aqaba. There is a particular place that has a big beach. That is the only place where two million people could have camped. The distance between that beach and the opposite side is only 19 Km and the water is 200 meters deep. Studies show that all other places are much deeper than that. It took a whole night for two million people to cross over to freedom. That is a mighty miracle in itself…

What are the lessons for us?

The first lesson is that God is in charge of our salvation, deliverance and breakthrough. The easiest way, the common sense way may not be the best for us. “An inheritance claimed too soon will not be blessed at the end” (PV 20:21). We cannot afford to be impatient in life, marriage or ministry He may direct us in the opposite direction that makes no sense at all. We have to learn to trust God and His ways even in darkness. God is more interested in the journey and in the fellowship we develop along the way than just in the destination. It is easy for God to give you a miracle, but He wants you to be His friend long before your ‘dream’ comes true.

God has a particular place for His deliverance. It may be far from your plans but it is a sure place. It may be a strange place that you have never heard of, but it is a sure place. The enemy may send spies and false brethren to monitor your movements. Sometimes you may look confused, like going zigzag. But God is in control! This is a snare for your enemies. He knows the place, he knows the hour. His ways are mysterious but the victory is sure!

The road may be long and hard. It takes many prayers and much weeping. But when the trumpet sounds, the miracle takes place immediately. All your tears shall be wiped away in just one night. The Angel of the Lord will help you and your family, both young and old to cross over to the place of destiny and peace. Nobody can stop it. The enemy shall try to steal your miracle and to attack you. But this time, your miracle is not ‘for sale’. You are no longer his slave. He shall fall for your sake! He shall perish in the midst of your grateful praises! For God has done it!

In Christ I declare:

God is on my side!

My miracle is sure!

My victory is sure!

My enemy has disappeared from the face of the earth!

All the glory to God!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

“You shall not follow a crowd to do evil…” (Ex 23:2, AMP)

A crowd can be evil Stay away from them! This is God’s command! The word ‘follow’ in Hebrew also means to be committed, to entrust your will to others, to expect fulfillment from serving another. The word evil means to hurt, to trouble or to be wicked. Crowds can do good things or they can do evil. This is the question: Why do people follow crowds? Why do they choose to be members of internet groups, clubs or organizations? Why do they open their hearts to strange men?  Why are they attracted by secret societies? Why do men join cults?

One simple reason is loneliness. People feel lonely at home but do not have the courage to make personal friends. So they join a group with similar values. But they soon discover that now they have many ‘friends’ but no one to truly trust. Another reason why men join a club is because it provides security in case of danger. Men follow crowds because they are cowards; they are afraid to stand up for themselves. Some groups are considered ‘elite’ so joining them provide a greater social status. Lastly, they join clubs because most men doubt themselves. A man who has an inferiority complex but still wants to achieve something in life will join a club of friends. He is not sure that he can achieve his dreams alone. He feels the need of a support, of a group; to be accountable and to depend on others who have a similar purpose.

Once you join a crowd, you lose your will to it. You don’t have to decide everything; you can rely on the crowd to make choices and act. You just follow. Hidden in the crowd, like Adam behind the trees, you can avoid being seen and charged as an individual (Gen 3:8). Crowds can be a powerful force of destruction like fighting on the streets, doing damage or even kill. But going home you feel less guilty than if you did the crime alone. Another reason may be pride. Alone at home you feel so small.  But once you are in a crowd, you feel powerful. It is easier to fight for your rights as a group. If the crowd wins, you share in the benefits without fighting directly or personally. You can cheat the crowd and still win the crown.

But there are also disadvantages of being a man of the crowd. The major one is that you learn the skill to deceive yourself and others. In the middle of that crowd you are not yourself!  You act differently; you are more aggressive, more reckless than your normal way of life. Pushed by an invisible power that carries all along, you make mistakes that you shall regret. You become confused about the action and the direction of the crowd and you cannot stop it once you are in.

Crowds are strongholds of gossip, slander and violence. Even so, it is no easy to come out from a group that you belonged to, where you shared your dreams with others. You fear that if you leave, you shall miss the action and the friends. Sometimes you feel bad about the time you wasted when you could have followed your own path in life. You regret missed opportunities, giving up the control of your life to others.

What is God’s will in regard to all this?

Crowds followed Jesus just to receive superficial things, earthly blessings. They wanted food, healing of sicknesses and entertainment. But Jesus ‘dismissed the crowds’ to go away so that He can be alone with His disciples, to teach them the secrets of the Kingdom of God. (Mt 14:22). The word ‘dismiss’ means to divorce, to loose, to send away. You will not like to be in a group that Jesus will divorce. Whatever advantages you may find there, without Jesus all your dreams will fade away. As a member of the crowd, you may receive bread to eat but you will become spiritually passive. Faith cannot grow in such a heart.

God wants you to leave that crowd! He wants you to be separated unto Him, to know and to serve Him! God has a wonderful plan for you alone. Following that crowd will only bring sorrow! God wants that you should fulfill your destiny! God desires that you learn to be alone with Him. Most crowds are noisy and worldly. They are the opposite of what is called ‘the secret place of the Most High God’. Crowds may look impressive but most of the time they move and act by the leading of evil spirits. As part of a crowd, you share in the sins of others. That will bring unnecessary guilt to your soul. Learn to stand alone. If God gives you friends, blessed be His name. But if not, accept loneliness as your portion for this season of your life. When lonely, read the Bible and pray. And find a good living church. Join the Body of Christ. Not a crowd but the Living Body of Christ. Do not surrender your will to the crowd. Do not become a slave to men! Give your will to God! Do not trust the crowd to fulfill your dreams, to fight for your rights or to satisfy your needs. Trust God who created you to do all these things, and so much more.

Lastly, this is God’s word to you:

“Come out from them and be separate -says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you” (2Cor 6:17)

In Christ I declare:

One with God is majority!

I am on God’s side!

In Jesus name

Amen!