“Wisdom is too high for a fool; he opens not his mouth in the gate [where the city’s rulers sit in judgment]” (PV 24:7)

Can you identify a foolish man? Your life, health, peace and prosperity depend on your answer to this question, because foolishness is infectious. “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed”

The word ‘wisdom’ means the skill to daily apply the knowledge of the scriptures in practical living. It also means to be a teacher. In other words, the wisdom from above is never ‘just enough’. It is an overflow of prudence and discernment until the believer becomes a teacher to others who are in need. Divine wisdom is the reward of the fellowship between your soul and the Wonderful Counselor, who is Jesus, our Lord. This wisdom is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. The opposite of wisdom is foolishness, manifested as works of the flesh, impurity, polluted mind, quarrels, selfish ambition, rebellion, pride, wickedness, spiritual bareness; pride, partiality and hypocrisy (James 3)

The word ‘high’ in the above scripture means promotion. For a fool, his promotion is a curse and it ends in disgrace. His private mistakes become public. Most of the time a fool talks too much; his tongue has no restrain. ‘A chattering fool comes to ruin…Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool…’ (PV 3:35; 10:10; 13:20; 17:7). To chatter means to speak non-stop about non-sense. A ‘promoted’ fool becomes a busy-body, interested in nonessentials, while neglecting his own home. A fool is talkative but he becomes dumb when serious spiritual matters are discussed, things of destiny and strategy of life! There is a particular spiritual place where a fool suddenly becomes silent and that is ‘the gate of the city’. If you are tired of the non-stop chatter of a fool, then bring him to ‘the gate’ and you will have peace. The change is dramatic. He has nothing important to add to the discussion. He looks lost, afraid and confused. Suddenly the fool looks like a fool and he cannot hide it.

In The Old Testament the gate was a very important place of the city. It was connected with the public square were the court was held. A judge was someone known as ‘standing in the gate’. The elders and the council of the judges gather to examine and try all legal cases. The most important matters concerning the city were discussed publicly at the gate. For example, Lot was ‘sitting at the gateway’ possibly serving as a judge in Sodom. That is how he met the Angels of the Lord coming for judgment. Boaz settled his marriage to Ruth at the city gate .David was at the city gate when he gave the last instructions to the army about Absalom. That is the same place where he was told that his son died. Mordecai was at the city gate when he discovered the plot against the king.

A woman of God should not marry an unbeliever or a fool. If need be, her prayers will change a frog into a prince. A virtuous woman’s husband ‘is respected at the city gate where he takes his seat among the elders of the land’ (PV 31:23).

In Christ I declare:

I move on from ‘the gossip- gutter’ of foolishness unto the wisdom of the gate!

I possess the gate of my enemies! (Gen 24:60).

My life, marriage and testimony glorify the One who says: ‘I am the Gate for the Sheep!’ (Jn 10:7).

All glory to God!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

“Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying: ‘It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace” (Gen 41:16. KJ)

Joseph now stands before the most powerful man on earth at that time. Pharaoh explains his problem. He needs a wise man, an interpreter of dreams. No one in his palace could help him. Someone ‘highly recommended him for the job’. Can he perform? Then Joseph speaks.

Please listen to the first words coming from the mouth of a man who was to be instantly promoted:

‘It is not in me…I cannot do it’!

Then, as the anointing of the Holy Spirit fills the throne room, Joseph quietly says: ‘But God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace’.  The word ‘Shalom’ is one of the names of God. In Hebrew it is the greeting and blessing of Jehovah. It also means prosperity, peace, wealth, health, friends and total fulfillment of destiny. That offer could never be refused by any man. Pharaoh believes the words of Joseph. He promotes him instantly to be in charge over his palace and the whole land of Egypt. Somebody said that when Joseph got promoted he received back all he had lost: a ring, a robe, a reputation, a ride and a romance. Of course, Joseph stands for Jesus, the Savior of the world.

What was Joseph’s work as a prime minister? His work was to represent the grace, wisdom, power and glory of Jehovah to the whole world. His office, his ministry was to daily, practically, by words and deeds, overcome evil with good. Is that your vision of promotion? Are you still ready to be promoted?

What are the lessons?  If God wants to bless a man, he will humble him at the beginning. But at the end of his suffering, when he is finally dead to self and to any desire of self-promotion, God will intervene. God blesses a humble, patient and faithful man! Pay the price and God will surely reward you! The Holy Spirit shall be ‘poured on all flesh and old men shall dream dreams’. Men in authority who can help you shall dream and God will trouble them; for their dreams will cry for fulfillment. Men like the butler who forget your name shall remember you for good, to bless you. God will give you the privilege to serve before kings and rulers. You shall stand before them and speak by the Spirit of God. A man who God desires to promote has no need to promote himself. You shall be elevated; blessings and prosperity shall come to you. You will represent Jesus Christ to a hungry and self-destructive world. Many shall feed on your words of wisdom. You will have many opportunities to overcome evil with good. The true Gospel shall be preached and many souls shall be saved. This is the time of your favor! God will make people to remember you, to repent of their neglect and wickedness of the past towards you. An open door is before you; no man or devil can shut it. Your faithfulness and humility is finally producing fruits to the glory of God!

In Nigeria, people say: ‘When you are promoted, remember me!’

But I say to you, on that day of destiny interview, on that day of favor, on that day when dreams finally come true…REMEMBER GOD!

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

God is my exceedingly high reward!

My future is better than my past!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“For promotion and power come from nowhere on earth, but only from God. He promotes one and deposes another. In Jehovah’s hand there is a cup of pale and sparkling wine. It is his judgment, poured out upon the wicked of the earth. They must drain that cup to the dregs.
But as for me, I shall forever declare the praises of the God of Jacob.
“I will cut off the strength of evil men -says the Lord- and increase the power of good men in their place!” (Ps 75:6-10, LB)

In Christ I declare:
God is sovereign!
I am a child of God!
My power to live right shall increase!
I am holy for God is holy!
I rejoice for I am unjustly persecuted!
Joy comes in the morning!
I shall be promoted!
My enemies shall be demoted!
I shall take over their area of influence!
I shall overcome evil with good!
All for the glory of God Almighty!
In Jesus name
Amen!

“Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying: ‘It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace” (Gen 41:16. KJ)

We all know the story of Joseph, his betrayal, pains and lastly, his promotion. Let’s go back in time and like a little lizard, hide in the palace of the king of Egypt. Let’s witness the events of the day when suddenly, Joseph was promoted from prison to palace.

This day started as ‘an ordinary day’.  Few men knew that Pharaoh could not sleep well in the night. He had two dreams, both of them puzzling, confusing and mysterious. Somehow he knew that these are not ordinary dreams but they are a message from the spirit realm. In the first, he was standing by the river Nile, the source of all the riches of Egypt. His people worshiped the water spirit of Nile.  Seven fat cows came out from the river and happily grazed on the grass. Then seven other cows came from the same river. These were thin and mean looking. They came and swallowed the fat cows, but still remained unchanged, thin and ugly. The second dream was similar to this.

Pharaoh was troubled.  The dreams made no sense; they only brought anxiety with them for no solution was revealed. He was to look for a man who could interpret their message.  He called his magicians, but they could not help. His anxiety became panic. A king’s anger means death…It was then, in the midst of this feverish confusion that his butler remembered Joseph. He confessed to Pharaoh his sin of ungratefulness, of forgetting a good man in prison for the past two years. He did not remember his name. All he knew was that Joseph was a Jew, a servant of Jehovah. But that was enough! Pharaoh sends for Joseph. He has just few minutes to look presentable; to shave, take a bath and change his prison clothes.

Joseph now stands before the most powerful man on earth at that time. Pharaoh explains his problem. He needs a wise man, an interpreter of dreams. No one in his palace could help him. Someone ‘highly recommended him for the job’. Can he perform? Then Joseph speaks.

Please listen to the first words coming from the mouth of a man who was to be instantly promoted:

‘It is not in me…I cannot do it’!

Here we see the humility of wisdom. Joseph could have taken advantage of this opportunity to ask for the favor of freedom or vengeance against his enemies. This is the hour he has been praying for…or is it not? But standing there, this noble prince of Jehovah and ambassador of Christ, a royal priest, a true servant of God, he is magnificently dead to self. He has no personal ambition of worldly gain and speaks the truth: ‘In my flesh, dwells no good thing’. Even the water spirit of Nile cannot help. He disappoints any false hope of idolatry or flattery in Pharaoh. Then gently and firmly, he directs the attention of Pharaoh and all present to the God of Israel who is the only true and ever present Helper in time of need! Joseph is a ripe fruit, ready for promotion! What faithfulness! What humility! What wisdom!

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

I shall be faithful and patient in all my trials, trusting God for the glory!

The time of my favor has arrived!

I shall surely be promoted!

To the glory of God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake” (1Pet 1:18-20)

Do you ask yourself, what happened at the Cross? Why did Jesus die? Why was Jesus crucified? The answer, the understanding of this revelation is not just information, but life out from death.
The doctrine of justification is basic to our understanding of salvation. There are some very important words that appear difficult, especially in the King James Version of the Bible. But it does not have to be so. This is the Gospel of God, a simple way to understand what happened at the Cross:
We are born sinners. God’s law says that sin has to be punished by death. We cannot save ourselves. We need a Savior. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, especially for them who believe in Him. Jesus Christ is God. He became a man to identify with us. He became our substitute. He died for our sin so that we can be free. By His death, Jesus removed the impossible obstacles to bring us back to God.
Expiation: Jesus removed our sin, the judgment of sin, and made us right with God.
Propitiation: Jesus removed the wrath of God and replaced it with the favor of God.
Reconciliation: Jesus removed the distance, the separation and brought us close to God.
Redemption: Jesus removed the burden, the slavery of sin and made us free citizen of the Kingdom
The weapon of the devil was sin. Jesus became sin and died for us. The devil was left powerless to accuse us as enemies of God. The forces of darkness were exposed as evil and their power over us destroyed.
Let me make it more personal: I was a lost sinner going to hell. God was angry with me. I was far away from God and I was His enemy. I was a slave of sin; even if I wanted to be free, I could not do it. I ignored my need of a Savior. I was foolishly self-confident and proud. I was dead while walking. Then one blessed day I accepted Jesus into my heart. He changed me and made me a new person. I became a child of God! God’s Spirit filled me. I am now right with God. I can stand in His presence without fear, guilt or shame. I am sure that God loves me. His favor is upon me. I am close to God. I am one with God. I am free to fulfill my destiny. I am saved forever. I am dead to sin and to the devil. He has lost his power over me. I now follow Christ daily, obeying the Word of God. I have peace and joy in my heart!
This is my testimony!
If you are an unbeliever, you cannot understand these words. You may understand ‘the English’ but not their power. Except you are saved, born again by the Spirit of God, you cannot understand the magnitude of such an exchange. None but God could save the souls of men. Salvation is of God alone! All the glory goes to Jesus Christ, the Lamb upon the Throne! He died on the Cross the set me free! I owe Him my life, my all! Forever and ever! Amen!

In Christ I declare:
I am a child of God!
By the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of my testimony, the devil is defeated in my life!
I am eternally saved, redeemed and set free by the Blood of the Lamb!
The favor of God is upon me!
I worship God forever!
In Jesus name
Amen!

Dear Friend,
Take a moment from your busy life and look at your heart. It takes no effort to be a loser… You say you admire the champion, then be one! The passion is still there, you say ‘stored for the future’…but the future is here…
You have mingled for too long with people who have no vision, no purpose, no spiritual understanding…leave your comfort zone, come out from among them, and pursue your dream…no one else can do it, except you!
Love in Christ alone
Malia.

‘Therefore come out from them and be separate. Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you and you will be my sons and daughters- says the Lord Almighty’ (2Cor 6:17)

In Christ I declare:
I am a child of God!
I reject the orphan- bastard – rebellious -familiar spirit!
From this very moment, I shall pursue my God’s given dream!
I am a winner and not a loser!
To the glory of God!
In Jesus name
Amen!

Dear friend,
! see that there is still much secret desire and dream in your heart, to do something great for God, in this life time…I pray for the power to change regrets into actions and to accomplish your dreams!
In Jesus name
Amen!

“Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think (infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams)
To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it)”
(Eph 3:20, 21)

In Christ I declare:
I am a child of God!
I shall fulfill the purpose of God for my life!
In Jesus name
Amen!

“You my brothers were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’. If you keep on biting and devouring each other watch out or you will be destroyed by each other…live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Gal 5:13-16)

Freedom is one of the greatest gifts God has given to His children. Freedom means to be independent from the oppression of another; it means to be a citizen and not a slave, to enjoy all the privileges given by the Government without paying for them; It means to be able to choose, to walk unrestricted; to be outspoken; to be pure (not united or mixed with something else); to be a king, sovereign in your own domain. The opposite of freedom is sin, bondage, slavery, inability to make a decision; it also means to be caged, dumb, blind, weak, corrupted and adulterated.

Jesus died to set us free from the bondage of sin and the penalty of the law. In the passage above the believers are warned not to take the Christian freedom for granted and not to misuse it. That is sin and it will defeat the purpose of liberty. In Christ we are free but there are conditions for freedom to be maintained. Salvation is an eternal gift, but freedom can be lost, at least partially, by falling into sin.
Christian freedom means not ‘indulging in the sinful nature’. Once you are born again, sin is dethroned and the Spirit takes over. But in the body, there is some remnant sin that has to be killed daily by the same Spirit of God. This sin does not reign anymore, but it can cause damage to your testimony of a free soul. This sin has its own voice, and wants to manifest. The freedom we have in Christ is to make the right decisions so that sin dies and the Spirit lives. Freedom is not a gift given to the flesh. We are not free to the extent that we shall continue to enjoy sin. Many believers take the gift of freedom for granted and refuse to mature spiritually. We are free from sin and not to sin! Selah!

Another way to manifest true Christian freedom is to obey God’s law and love others. Agape love is sacrificial. We are to ‘serve one another’ selflessly. Your freedom should not be the reason why you hurt others, why you are careless with their feelings. Flesh has to die! There is no power on earth that is able to kill the flesh except the Holy Spirit. That is why we read the Bible, pray and walk lead by the Spirit. This holy combination is poison to the flesh and food for the spirit. Freedom then is revealed as worship to God and service to the brethren. Within its holy boundaries true freedom is spiritual passion, mature love and purity of heart in the power of the Holy Ghost.

In Christ I declare:
I am free from the burden and punishment of sin!
I love God with all my heart!
I love, encourage and serve the brethren!
I put no stumbling block in another’s path!
I do not trespass the holy boundaries of freedom in Christ!
I am grateful for the gift of freedom!
I die to self and to the world!
I live and walk lead by the Holy Spirit!
In Jesus name,
Amen!

Today was a busy day for our church. We had a wedding in the morning. Before 10am we had the compulsory ‘sanitation day’. By law, everybody has to stay at home and clean the neighborhood. Then the news came that most of the roads are closed because a ‘big’ Government official came to town. Because of the traffic, not even the bride and the bridegroom could come to church before noon. After the ceremony most people went to the reception venue. Our prophetic prayer meeting starts by five. Few came and most of them were tired. How do we go on? What do I do with a tired congregation who feels too guilty to miss the service but has too little expectation of any blessing to come?
The answer is simple: invite the Holy Spirit to come and take over the tired joints and dry faces.
I made up my mind that if nobody wants to follow me into the Holy of Holies I shall go alone. I still had some ‘jetlag’ from the travel but that was not enough to stop me ‘redeeming the time’ tonight. I relaxed into the embrace of the Beloved. I reminded myself that the service is not unto my reputation (for I lost mine at the Cross). The gathering of the people is unto the Lamb who seats upon the Throne.
We prayed then we started singing an old much beloved song:
‘You don’t have to worry…and don’t you be afraid…joy comes in the morning…troubles they don’t last always…for there is a Friend called Jesus who will wash your tears away…and if your heart is broken…just lift your hands and say…I know that I can make it…I know that I can stand…No matter what may come my way…MY LIFE IS IN YOUR HANDS!’
Suddenly the Holy Spirit came to take over the evening offering. The feeling of tiredness and boredom disappeared. One after another the souls looked up over the hills…the Helper came galloping on the clouds of glory… Then I knew instantly that all is well, for in His presence there is fullness of joy…even the crumbs can heal…the crickets played the guitar…the children danced…and none could stop the injection of hope and power coming from afar…Revival has a peculiar fragrance and it was all over the building…
Yes, this is the secret of true ministry, the majestic Person of God the Holy Spirit taking over a hopeless situation than none wants to redeem.
He directed our spirits to Jesus Christ, the Lord. Such of good reminder we needed; that there is none like Him…each encounter with the Lord reveals His loveliness and precious face…you can never be the same once you gaze at the Strength of Israel! Beyond words to express the grace of our Lord, the One who calls us up unto the Mountain laden with spices, rivers of wine flowing to the thirsty…life abundant and free…this is my Beloved, this is my Lord, you daughters of Jerusalem!
‘Thank You Lord, for Your presence this evening. My soul has found rest. My life and all is in Your hands. You said that none can pluck me away from Your resources and power, from your sense of direction and love. Lord, I believe!’
Good lesson tonight: no matter how tired you are, come to church! It is better than anywhere else!

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand” (Jn 10:27, 28, KJ)

In Christ I declare:
I am a child of God!
I follow Jesus!
I have eternal life!
I can never perish!
I am un-pluck-able!
My life is in God’s hands!
I am forever safe!
In Jesus name
Amen!

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (Jn 12:24, 25)

The Cross is not just a historical event. It is also a practical revelation for the Believer. Jesus died and He rose again. That is my destiny too. I do not have to wait eighty years for ‘my death’ to come. By faith, in Christ, I can ‘die’ now…to sin, to my fleshly desires and to the world. This death is not just a doctrine. It is also a sacred experience. Many claim they obeyed this command. But the proof of obedience is only seen in the future. It is the supernatural, unexplained, abundant, spiritual and always surprising fruitfulness of a soul who lives in the power of resurrection and to the glory of God.

Disobedience to this command means deep, incurable loneliness. Any area of your life that is still ‘in your power’ shall have no mate, no child, no friend and no disciple. In spite of many prayers and much labor, there are many lonely lives, barren marriages and isolated ministries all over the world.

The solution is simple in theory but not easy in practice. It is the application of the Cross, with its shame, weakness and glory. You have to let go of your life and surrender it to God. This is not just an event in the past. The Holy Spirit shall reveal areas of your life that are yet to be planted in the vineyard of God. Even with your marriage, this surrendering rarely happens on your weeding day. You may pray about it but in practice it takes some years before you are ready to let go, so that ‘the falling and dying’ of it produce abiding results of maturity and fruitfulness.

Practically, how do you know that you have not yet surrendered a particular area of your life and ministry to God?

The answer is this: self is still active there! You still love it; you still defend it; you are still very jealous and possessive of it. When men criticize that area of your life, you feel grieved and angry and you quarrel to defend it. Once you give it to God (where it belongs) immediately you have peace and miraculously you start enjoying your new free life. Much pain can be avoided in marriage once the surrender is complete. This is the secret of true godly success in the Kingdom of God. This is the only prescription for healing and happiness in this world and in the one to come. Nothing else works quite the same. Your pain should not be in vain! Your tears should not wet your pillow for too long! These should direct you to the feet of Jesus who died and rose again. He is the only way to truth and life everlasting! May your heart receive ‘the injection’ of truth today! And finally, be free indeed!

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

I die to self and to the world!

I am hid in Christ!

When He appears, I shall appear with Him in Glory!

I am a fruitful vine!

To the glory of God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“He who is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live” (PV 15:27; AMP)

Marriage is God’s idea. Because of that, it should be a blessing. God should be at the center of all decisions made in the family. The unity of the Spirit, peace and joy should rule the home.

‘The love of money is the root of all evil’ (1Tim 6:10). Much sorrow can be avoided if God is in charge of your bank account. Greed destroys marriages and relationships. Mammon is the author of ‘home trouble’. For the sake of money men betray best friends and divorce increases in the land.

In the scripture above the word ‘greedy’ describes a man who is ready to bribe, steal and kill for the sake of wealth.  This man hates to have a legitimate job. He does not want to obey God’s Word so that the work of his hands will be blessed. He may be religious but he does not pay his tithe and is not faithful with his offerings in the house of God. What excites him is ‘unjust gain’. He oppresses the weak and attacks the vulnerable. He gains money from fraud and extortion. His profit is stained with the tears of many. The whole family revolves around his financial plans. Their joy is connected to his wealth.

Like a horse trained for battle, he ‘smells’ blood and is ready to attack. Each contract is a battle field. He does not just want money; he needs to feel like a champion. He needs the conquest and the victory. He is merciless with the losers. He plunders them and rejoices in their defeat. He needs to feel the power of control. He hears the cry of his victims, powerless at his feet. His favorite song is ‘The winner takes it all’. He rejoices in emptying the pockets and the hearts, money and joy is finally in his pocket…

People fear him and abandon their property running away…Like Ahab in the field of Naboth he rejoices at the blood purchase and is finally happy! This man is a troubler to his own family and a spiritual liability to the community. His wife and children suffer under the anger of such a tyrant, never able to enjoy the wealth that drained the life of many souls.

May God forbid that I should be close to any man like that! May I never envy the riches of greedy men! May I be satisfied with God’s portion for my life! Father God, have mercy on the families of greedy men!

In Christ I declare:

I am God’s property!

My property belongs to God!

All my gifts and wealth are from God!

I pay my tithes and I am faithful with my offerings to God!

I hate bribes and I will never use my money to manipulate men!

I plead the Blood of Jesus over my home!

My home is blessed, filled with peace and joy!

I reject greed and the love of money!

I reject the worship of Mammon!

I love God! I worship God!

I am a child of God and I shall live forever!

In Jesus name

Amen!

‘In the beginning was the Word…’ (Jn 1:1)

The Bible is the Word of God. We often take it for granted. Even the devil believes in God but he does not believe in what God says. The devil hates the Bible and I used to hate it too. Thank God for salvation!

For a moment, I want to imagine that I do not have a Bible. What will that mean to me?

Without the Bible, I will never know God as He really is. I will not know that He created all things, that He loves the world, that He has a Son who was willing to sacrifice Himself for me. I will not know that there is a Holy Spirit of life eternal.

I will not understand that I am not a good person, but a sinner, reckless, ungrateful, wicked and selfish to the core. I will not know that I need a Savior and a Master. I will be a self-sufficient fool.

I will not know that there is another realm, that there is a heaven and a hell. I will be so consumed with my life here on earth that I will be ready to kill just to be famous or rich. I will have no one to talk to when all men forsake me. Alcohol, drugs or sex, these could have been my only ‘friends’.

I will not know that my future is designed to be glorious. I will not be interested to sing for my voice is not perfect. I will not be interested to write books for my English is not perfect. I will be too self-conscious to shine before men, too shy to encourage them, too much a coward to rebuke them.

I will be afraid and have no comfort, just pretend that all is well. I will deceive others just for fun and never feel bad about it. My imagination will be wild, thinking of a possible romance and poems of other worlds. But I will not have the faith to believe that these can be true or possible to attain. I will not know that above beauty and riches, I can be holy and blessed. These words will be missing from my vocabulary. I will be dry, proud, confused and afraid. I will talk to myself daily, trying to encourage myself with empty words, knowing deep down that my ‘religion’ is useless, but having no other.

Ignorant and lonely, I will live and die without a purpose and without a name. I will be just another speck of dust, grey sand on the shore, no dream and no song. I will never know that I am loved unconditionally and passionately by a great King. I will not know that I am a princess and a darling, chosen as a bride before the mountains were formed from the sea. I will not know that marriage is a gift from heaven and that children are a reward.  I will never know that a Man called Jesus Christ loved me and died for me to make me new. I will never know the power of life that never ends. I will never know that death is defeated and the grave is now a garden. I will never know what true love is…

What can be worse than this?

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

The Bible is the Word of God!

I shall study the Word of God daily and pray always!

Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so!

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen!

“For the Lord is good and His love endures forever…” (Ps 100:5)
This is the story of a group of people called by the Lord to go up the mountain of His presence. Some pilgrims are already at home resting and enjoying the bounty of the Lord’s house. There are many rooms in the house of God, each has a different type of furniture, a different type of carpet…there are many wonderful gifts inside…look for your own..do not try to open another, it will not work…look for your own and you shall be so happy…are you not surprised that God has spelled your name correctly? Joy…Joy…Joy…God is good! All the time!
But there are still many travelers down the slopes, slowly moving up the hill. They struggle with obedience to simple commands. They have difficulty in believing the truth. What is truth? –asked Pilate?
The truth is this: GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME!
The rich young ruler called Jesus ‘Good Teacher…’ He was rebuked for speaking words without understanding. Jesus said to him: ‘No one is good-except God alone!’ (Lk 18:18-19)
Such a simple revelation…But it is still so hard to believe it… Each step up the mountain requires total trust that God is indeed a good Person. We have to believe that He who called us to a higher place is faithful.
But when things get hard, doubt resident in the flesh starts grumbling. In the wilderness the people of God complained again and again doubting the goodness of God. .Even Jeremiah thought that God has ‘deceived’ him into ministry.
Why do we struggle so much in believing that God is indeed good?
The first reason is that we are not yet mature spiritually. The Bible raises our expectations concerning our blessings from God. As sinners we had no hope of any inheritance from heaven. But now, we are told that we are kings and priests. We start to imagine golden palaces and exotic temples. This is the result of fleshly, wild, un-sanctified imagination. For a long time we do not know how to control that. So we dream and claim all the gold from the streets of heaven and the pearls at the gates. Then I look around and see myself in the cheap apartment I call my home on earth, I feel disappointed and blame God…
The lesson is to have the mind of Christ, to understand all things thru His Word. Flesh and Spirit war against each other. Each has a different explanation of the things of life. I should always keep my eyes on heavenly things and then ‘I will see the goodness of God in the land of the living’.
‘Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord, FOREVER!’

This is my eternal testimony and free confession:
“God is good to me and my family!
In Jesus name,
Amen!”

In Christ I declare:

“If I finish without my family, I do not finish…
Most pastors quit right before harvest…
God is all about fulfilling HIS vision…”
(Pastor Shawn Lovejoy, at a church conference, 2012)

Press on to the fullness of Christ!!!

“He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward” (Mt 10:41)

The Lord Jesus says that anyone who receives a prophet recognizing the prophetic mantle upon him, that person shall receive a prophet’s reward. The word ‘receive’ is not a superficial word. People can receive a gift and throw it in the trash-can a minute later. That receiving is only temporary. Here we are told about receiving a prophet, not as an ordinary man in need of shelter, not as a poor visitor or as a stranger, but as the messenger of your God. It is said that the greatest honor you can give to any man is to receive his words, to obey his teaching. The Lord Jesus was training His disciples to go and preach the Gospel. He warned them that most people will refuse to listen to them. They should be prepared to continue to preach even in the face of many rejections. A prophet is not received by his natural family. Rejection from parents, siblings or children is one of the highest forms of grief. These are trials of faith to humble us in preparation for ministry. Success, especially if it comes too early, is a dangerous snare. But the Lord encourages us by saying that along the lonely way of life and ministry there shall always be people who will welcome us as we carry the prophetic mantle to the nations.Even when all hope seems lost, we shall meet people who will receive us for who we really are. They shall also accept the Gospel we preach. They will not argue or resist the truth.

Receiving a true prophet means receiving His Lord. If any man says he is a believer in Jesus and refuses to accept His messengers, that man may still be deceived and in bondage to empty religion. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Rev). Each time I see Jesus in someone’s eyes, each time I hear the voice of many waters during the new song of worship, each time I hold a hand and touch the stars and the scars…Boldly, I receive the words from lips of clay and tongues of fire…And I have peace…

In Christ I declare:

I trust in God and in His prophets!

I receive God’s messengers!

I love to give water to God’s prophets!

My reward is increasing daily!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

“Flee sexual immorality! “Every sin that a man does is outside the body,” but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body” (1Cor 6:18)

The story of Joseph is full of wonderful lessons of life. He successfully resisted the seducing spirits in Potiphar’s wife. It is possible to overcome trials, especially sexual temptations. The unbelievers accept defeat even before the attack comes. They do not believe that God has provided a way of escape for them in the mist of trials. In the wild, most animals do not fight back when the lion attacks them. His size and roar paralyzes them and they faint with fear. That is how unbelievers behave. But it is not so with Joseph and with the true believers.

First of all we see that it was not his choice to be in a place where he can be tempted. Joseph is not like the foolish youth who ‘lacks judgment’ and goes down the street, in the evening, towards a place where prostitutes sell their bodies. That street goes downwards to hell. Many men have perished in its dark spirals of sin and death (PV 7). As for Joseph, it was not his choice to live in Egypt, in the house of the powerful Potiphar. He was betrayed and sold as a slave by his own brothers. Potiphar liked him and bought him with money. Joseph could have been like any slave, no freedom, no future and no joy. But in the house of his master he proved to be a unique man of godly character, faithful, humble and wise. God was with him and He gave him success in all things. Soon, Potiphar gave him responsibility over the entire household. Then the lion attacked. He obeyed the command to ‘flee fornication’. That landed him in prison for the life. Joseph was not yet a free man when he was promoted to the highest position any man, slave or free, could have. After many nights of silent tears, he came to a place of authority, honor, comfort and peace. What was his secret? He cultivated the presence of God! God was with him thru all the trials of life. ‘The anointing will teach you all things…’ that is the promise of God (1Jn 2:27). His faith in God gave him wisdom much above his years.

This is a great lesson for all: A wise man is a strong man! A strong man is a successful man! Selah!

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

I obey God’s commandments!

God shall reward me according to His promise!

I flee fornication!

I serve the only Living God!

I daily pray for wisdom from God!

I am strong and successful!

My life is a testimony of God’s grace!

To God be all the glory!

In Jesus name, Amen!