“Jesus is infinitely wise and immutably holy–therefore His love is a wise and holy love. He wisely manifests His love, so as to . . .discountenance sin,encourage holiness, and further His people in their heavenly way and work. He visits in trials, reproves for folly, smites for sin, and withholds the light of His countenance, to testify His disapprobation of our ways–and yet, all this is in love! He will not caress the believer–when he is indulging in pride, worldliness, and backsliding from Him. Those whom He loves–He wisely corrects! He never spares the rod–to the spoiling of the child–but says, “I will correct you in measure–but will not leave you wholly unpunished.”

His wisdom and holiness shine in every part of His works–but in none more than in His dealings with His people. Was He less wise, we might have more comfort–but it would injure us. Was He less holy, we might have fewer trials–but we would assuredly be losers. Divine love, wisdom, and holiness combined–drew the plan of the Christian’s lot; and the same divine love, wisdom, and holiness–executes that plan. All the wisdom of Deity, under the guidance of Almighty love–shines in our path, our portion, and our circumstances; and when we enjoy the clear light of eternity–we shall see that this was the case. O if we really believed this now–how different would be our feelings and our practices often! How quietly would we submit to every painful dispensation of divine providence; how cheerfully would we acquiesce in every intimation of our Father’s will; and how readily would we take the cup which He has prepared for us, and drink it saying, “The cup which my heavenly Father gives me–shall I not drink it?”

There is divine wisdom in every trial–and divine love in every cross.Holiness and wisdom in Jesus, demand that our way should at times be hedged up with thorns. The infinite love of Jesus, shines in every painful discipline. He is no indulgent parent, no foolish friend, no unholy companion; He will not tempt us to evil, nor with evil–neither will He indulge us to our injury. He would rather close His ears to our cries–than His heart to our best interests; and the day is coming when we shall see that all our trials were needful–and not a trial could have been omitted, consistently with the wisdom and holiness of His love. May His love shed abroad in my heart–lead me to love, seek, and pant for holiness!”

(James Smith  1676-1724)

“Ask, and it will be given to you…Don’t bargain with God. Be direct… Ask for what you need… Keep asking, and it will be given to you” (Mt 7:7)

This is the command of Jesus. To ask it means to pray to God. How long do you pray? Until the answer is given to you! In Greek, the word ‘given’ also means ‘to minister adventure to you’. Adventure is defined as an exciting experience involving some risk. Cowards will never desire adventure. Their lives are stale and boring. They can never inspire anybody. For fear of danger, they chose to die a slow death, without songs and without dances. But a believer in Christ has seen the end of the story, the glory ahead. So, for him, danger with God is just a training school. If God is with you, you can never lose! What an adventure to be born again and Spirit filled!!! Do you know what I am talking about?

These are some pictures our daughter Jemine Leigh Oakes sent us this evening. Her son Oliver was hungry waiting for grapes. Life is hard and waiting is hard even for a two year old. But Oh… The joy of that grape in his hand… Be encouraged today that waiting is not forever and God will put a smile on your face at last!!!

“And I will run to You
To Your words of truth
Not by might, not by power
But by the Spirit of God
Yes, I will run the race
‘Till I see Your face
Oh let me live in the glory of Your grace”

(Hillsong)

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

Out women’s fellowship was very good. We praised God. We prayed to God. We testified to the glory of God and to the shame of the devil. Sister Y said that two nights ago the armed police man guarding the estate shot in the air. She, her husband and children got scared. Her husband phoned to ask what the problem was. The mopol said that it was an intruder. Her husband, who is the landlord, said that they should shut ‘the thief’ in the leg, that they should not kill him. They phoned the police area commander who sent a group of mobile police men too. But they missed the address and went to the next compound. In the midst of this confusion, sister Y remembered God and she started praying in tongues. After some time she had peace. Later, the ‘intruder’ proved to be an old woman (above 70 years), the mother of one of the tenants. She came out from the back door and she was sleep walking in the estate. Thank God that the police men did not kill or injure her! Sister C said that her son was diagnosed with autism. She decided to pray for him and prophesy health and life to him. She also decided to enroll him in a regular school. He is doing very well now and there is no sign of autism anymore. To God be all the glory! Then the Word of God came: Midlife crisis in women!

There is a psychological phenomenon called ‘midlife crisis’. It is a time of increased anxiety concerning the future. It is more common with men but the women experience it too. Women go through it earlier than men, often between the ages of 35 and 40. There is a major difference between the way men and women react during this crisis. Men are anxious for provision and women are anxious for identity. Men hate that they are getting old. They look back and wish to be young again. That is why they experience greater levels of anxiety. But for women, midlife crisis manifests more as a time to ask questions about their identity and purpose in life. Most women dream to marry and have children. Some also desires to achieve success in their careers. For many years they try hard to be ‘super-women’. They combine taking care of their families with involvement in business. These dreams are good enough for them when they are young, when they go to university and fall in love with the man they have been praying for. These dreams are the source of most of their prayers from childhood until late thirties. But a time comes when they realize that God has already answered their ‘old’ prayers. By this time the children leave the home to go to the boarding house or to the university. Their husbands are more interested in making money than making love. The wine of romance is not bubbling again. In the office, the younger women are coming from behind and push them off from their pedestal of success. This creates a crisis in any middle age woman’s heart. Their youthful dreams are fading away and they awake to the reality that life is not easy and time is waiting for no one. As they reach menopause, most women become anxious, angry and depressed. They feel like losing control. They start putting on weight. They become careless with their appearance. To add to their problems, their husbands experience midlife crisis as well…

It is good for us to understand this phenomenon, not only to help ourselves and also our husbands. Most men between the ages of 40-50 start to feel more anxious and restless. For the first time in their lives they need to confront the unpleasant reality of old age and death. They try to fight that. They want to recapture their youth when they were careless and free. The truth is that old age comes with its peculiar health and social challenges. All men hate changes. No transition in life is easy. Your once handsome man starts to put on weight and his body slows down. The doctor says that he needs to monitor his Blood pressure and Blood sugar. He needs to diet. He fears that he is not sexy anymore. He fears that life is passing him by. He becomes afraid that his youthful dreams may never be fulfilled. He is worried that he will die a poor man and that his children will suffer the same fate. These negative thoughts bring much anxiety to your husband. During panic attacks, he may start making foolish decisions. Some dress like young men. Some resign their good jobs to pursue some unrealistic dreams. Others start having affairs with young women trying to recover the faded romance…

This is a difficult time for all. As wives, what should we do? The first thing to remember is that God is still in charge. Fear and anxiety are emotionally addictive and poisonous to the mind; these are demons and must be rejected. In particular, during midlife crisis, the wife must pray to understand the pain of her husband. She must be patient, compassionate, wise and emotionally stable to be able to help him. It is easy to mock him. It is easy to emotionally abandon him. The most difficult part is when the husband commits adultery just to prove that he is still a young man. This is a tragedy. Adultery is sin. It separates the man from God and from his wife. It is not easy for a wife to remain faithful to God and to her husband if he commits adultery. It is not easy but it is possible. How? By trusting God! By trusting Jesus Christ who understands your pain because Himself was betrayed by his friends! Speak the Word of God to yourself: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philip 4:13). You may not need extra strength to walk down the street. But you surely need supernatural strength during times of grief, loneliness, misunderstanding, abuse and betrayal. The Holy Spirit, the heavenly Comforter, is able to carry you on. (I read that most adulterous affairs do not last but good marriages survive even adultery).

One of the attributes of a virtuous godly woman is her present strength when facing the future. She has faith and she has hope! She is not afraid of old age. She trusts that God is with her now and forever. She is not worried about people’s opinions, about the falling of the economy or other negative news. She is a pillar of strength to her husband and children. She is free from the fear of death, going to hell or losing her salvation. She is free from the devil’s condemnation. She has no inferiority complexes. This faith in God is the secret of her strength and of her unfading beauty. “She is a woman clothed with strength and dignity and has no fear of old age… She always faces tomorrow with a smile… She laughs without fear of the future… she smiles at the future… she will rejoice in the last day” (PV 31:25) Dear sister in Christ, does this word describe you?

EACH BABY IS SPECIAL!
JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN!

“Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life” (PV 31:10-12)

This is our testimony: My husband and I are married for 43 years. All glory to God! One of our greatest achievements is trust in God and in one another. It is easier to trust in God. It is much more difficult to trust in one another. A good marriage foundation is made of hard work. Work comes first. Pleasure is the fruit. Successful marriage is one of the greatest blessings given to men on earth. For both marriage and ministry we need trust!

“Who is she coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? (SS 8:5). Trust to a relationship is like oxygen to the body. Without trust the relationship will suffocate and die. Here we see this couple coming out from the wilderness. The wilderness is a place of death. There is no water, no flowers and no colors. It stands for the world which is full of trials and temptations. This couple has endured many things in the desert. But they stayed together and they are coming out of it together. The Bride is ‘leaning’ upon her Beloved! This is a position of trust. The Lover is stronger than her. She needs his help. She trusts him to help her. They walk together, trusting each other. The wilderness experience was difficult and painful but it failed to separate the two of them. Divorce died in the heat of the desert of life. They are still together carrying a testimony of loving trust and resurrection power. Trust is a fighter and a survivor! Trust in God and in one another is not easy to achieve. But it is vital for the success of any relationship. Trust is defined as the unquestioning reliance on the character and strength of another. It is the confident expectation of hope; the assurance that the future of the relationship will be better than the present. Trust gives a feeling of security. Trust is built having faith in the Word of God and from past experiences you had together. When you trust your husband you believe that he will be sexually faithful in the marriage, understand your deepest needs and help you fulfil them. That is why mature trust is always connected with deep understanding and with total satisfaction at all levels, spiritual and physical. Trust is a royal crown to a successful marriage.

Once trust is broken, it is very hard to regain. Trust must be earned. It takes hard work and patience to re-build trust. The first reason for broken trust is money. You both need to build trust in the way you handle finances. If you cannot trust your spouse with your money, you will not be able to trust him (or her) with other things. The second reason is adultery. The opposite of trust is anxiety and doubt. These feelings appear when you think that your spouse exploits you and does not have your best interests at heart. How do you build trust? By first of all putting all your trust in God and His Word! Out of that faith you can invest your trust in one another. To build trust you need good communication and understanding. Learn how to say ‘yes’ and how to say ‘no’. Do not always say ‘yes’ just to avoid arguments. Be true to your conscience, your feelings and desires. Share your vision for life with your husband. Do not sacrifice your dreams for the sake of ‘peace’. You need to listen to the other’s perspective. Put yourself in ‘his shoes’. Try to understand his fears and pains. Help the other in his weaknesses. The desire to help will build trust. Pray that your marriage will grow, spiritually and emotionally. A stagnant relationship becomes a place where the weeds of doubt will grow. Building your marriage together creates excitement and trust. Try to do something new together, travel together; serve God together! Make new memories together. Have new things to talk about. Don’t overstretch the relationship. Do not provoke one another to jealousy. Don’t keep secrets. Be open and vulnerable with each other. Keeping secrets takes a lot of energy and destroys trust. If you are secretive you will become tired and sad. Be gentle and wise with each other. Each one has a different level of maturity. There are seasons in each relationship. Keep your eyes on Jesus as you grow together! Finally, remember that these are just guidelines. Building loving trust takes a life time. Trust is risky but very rewarding! May God help you to build a happy home! In Jesus’ name, amen!

“Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1Cor 5:6-8)

The Christians in Corinth were ‘glorying’ (rejoicing) over things they should weep about. A man who called himself a Christian was living in gross sexual immorality. The other Christians were to rebuke this man but they did not. Apostle Paul said that this man should be “delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus”. This sounds very ‘harsh’ to our ears. Why such a drastic measure? Was this not an ‘ordinary’ act of adultery?

To understand what Paul had in mind, we need to remind ourselves about the story of Exodus in the Old Testament. The people of God were in Egypt, in bondage, for 430 years. They tried everything they could to free themselves but they failed. Finally, God sends His servant Moses to confront and defeat Pharaoh, the King of Egypt. God’s judgment is upon Egypt. After experiencing many disasters, Pharaoh finally agrees to let God’s people go to worship Him in the desert. God commands Moses to tell the people that this particular night they will leave the house of bondage. Each family was to sacrifice a year old spotless lamb. The flesh was to be roasted in the fire and eaten with bitter herbs. This bitter meal symbolizes the suffering and sorrow of slavery. The fire is a symbol of God’s consuming sacrifice. This innocent lamb dying for their freedom is a picture of the Cross. They were commanded to eat this meal in a haste, standing, dressed up and with shoes on their feet. The bread was to be baked without yeast. It was called ‘the unleavened bread’. They should carry the remaining unleavened dough on their shoulders. They should destroy every remnant of yeast for the next seven days. Anybody who hides and keeps yeast for baking bread should be ‘cut off’ from Israel (should be killed). The reason for this strange terrible warning was so that they remember that night, the night of their freedom! It was called the Passover night! It was a feast to be celebrated every year!

The leaven or yeast is a small quantity taken from the old dough. It has the power to penetrate the new dough and ferment it. The little yeast works inside, silently and mysteriously until the whole dough is chemically changed. Once added to the dough, the yeast cannot be removed. The Lord told Moses that the reason why His people should eat bread without yeast is because their freedom was purchased quickly. There is no time to wait for the yeast to work and the dough to rise. Spiritually speaking, eating unleavened bread is a symbol of an instant miracle, an automatic deliverance, a quick healing! No time to wait! Once the people obeyed God’s command, they received great favor with the Egyptians who gave them silver and gold. Selah!!!

Apostle Paul says that Christ is our Passover. We too need to remove every form of leaven from our hearts and from our church. Spiritually, the leaven stands for malice, wickedness and religious hypocrisy. Every form of hypocrisy must be repented of and destroyed. If not, the miracle you have been praying for cannot come. Who is a hypocrite? If a man comes to church with two wives, that man is a sinner, an unbeliever or a baby Christian. But he is not a hypocrite. But a married man who calls himself a Christian, who prays, attends church, sings Christian songs and serves God, and has an adulterous affair, that man is a hypocrite. He is not only an adulterer. His sin is not only sexual. He is wicked, a deceiver, a hypocrite. Another example: a man who pays his tithes regularly but steals money in his office, that man is a hypocrite. A couple attends church regularly. But the husband and the wife quarrel on Sunday morning. But in the church they smile and sing choruses. They are hypocrites.

Hypocrisy therefore is the practice of claiming to have higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case. It is pretending to be better than you are in reality. You deceive others that you are a Christian but you are not. This hypocrisy is a poisonous leaven. Once allowed to grow it destroys the whole heart, the whole family or the whole church. Jesus cursed the barren fig tree. He also cursed hypocrisy and the hypocrites. The lesson: for as long as you practice hypocrisy, you are grieving the Spirit! God cannot answer your prayers. You have to choose between your hidden cherished sin of hypocrisy and a healing miracle, a deliverance miracle or a breakthrough miracle. Repent of hypocrisy! Purge that old leaven! Be a new lump, spiritually pure, honest and humble! Then God will prosper you!

As for me and my husband, we are children of God and pastors of a church. We have repented of every form hypocrisy, malice and wickedness. We have opened our hearts to God and to the Body of Christ. We take the risk to be hurt by brethren or by false brethren in our midst. But this risk taken for the sake of love is better than to allow the fermentation of bitterness, malice and occult in our hearts. I pray for you, dear child of God, that these words will stir your conscience! I pray that for Christ sake, you repent of hypocrisy and become free! Then you shall be healed and delivered! In Jesus name, amen!

(In the picture, you see roasted lamb, bitter herbs and unleavened bread. This is a portion served in a Jewish home at the Passover feast these days).

“Oh it is Jesus
Yes it is Jesus
It’s Jesus in my soul;
For I have touched the hem of His garment,
And His blood has made me whole…”
(by Andre Crouch)

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

The Women’s Fellowship was very good. We praised God with singing and dancing. We prayed and prophesied. We shared testimonies about the goodness of God. There was an altar call for prayer for the married women who pray to have children. The God of Abraham and Sarah will give you the desire of your hearts! Then the word of God came: THE NEED TO BE PATIENT

Genesis 16 is a painful chapter to read. We see Abraham and Sarah making mistakes. We see the consequences of their mistakes. We see the suffering of the maid Hagar and we cannot but sympathize with her pains. This is the basic story: God promised Abraham that he will be the father of many descendants. Many years have passed since that promise was made and Sarah was still unable to conceive a baby. Tired of waiting on God, Sarai becomes impatient and tells Abraham ‘to sleep’ with her Egyptian maid Hagar. According to the tradition at that time, the slave’s child will be hers. Abraham did not argue with her proposal. He slept with Hagar and she became pregnant immediately. Once pregnant, Hagar ‘despised’ her mistress. Her proud attitude brought major crisis in the home.

Sarah ‘dealt harshly’ with Hagar who runs away thru the desert, towards Egypt, her home. She stops at a place called Shur, about 150 miles away from the home of Abraham. The Angel of the Lord (who many believe is the Lord Jesus Christ) encounters her by a well, comforts her; shows her grace and mercy. This story reminds us of another Gentile woman who met the Lord Jesus Christ by the well (John 4). Does Jesus care for the oppressed, the slaves and sinners? The answer is yes! He cares! Oh, the ways of the Lord are so different than our ways. The Angel tells her to go back home to her mistress Sarah. She obeys! Pregnant, she treks back another 150 miles. Selah! That must have been difficult. It was not easy to go back to her slavery and submit to Sarah. But this time she had hope from God. She eventually has a son called ‘Ishmael’, meaning ‘God who hears me’.

Abraham and Sarah’s manipulation of God’s plan for their lives displeased God. For the next 13 years, God keeps silent. Abraham is 99 years old when Jehovah El Shaddai speaks again. He calls Abraham to a life of holiness and total surrender (Genesis 17). Abram’s name is changed from Abram to Abraham. Sarai’s name is also changed. Sarai means ‘Princess’. But now, as Sarah, she becomes ‘a royal princess’, God’s Princess! This is true blessed promotion in life (Gen 17:15, 16)

What are some of the lessons for us? The most important lesson is that we need faith and patience to inherit the promises of God (Heb 6:12). Many believers pray for greater faith. Few pray to be more patient. Faith matures thru testing. One of the most difficult tests to pass is the test of time. We need to learn to endure joyfully the trials of faith. This endurance is called patience or perseverance. God is patient and faithful. He desires that we should be like Him. Patience builds character and hope. It is only the patient believer who is ready to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to experience the comforting Love of God. Patience eliminates every disappointment in life (Rom 5:1-5). An impatient man or woman conceives trouble, will experience much pain and shame. Insisting to receive a blessing before God’s time will surely bring sorrow. It is not easy to wait on God. But waiting for God’s time is the best protection against disappointment. The waiting time connects the promise to the performance. It is hard to be patient. But it is the best way! Never use worldly means to accomplish God’s work. Wait upon the Lord! Impatience is sin! Repent! Go to the Cross. You have hurt yourself and many people close to you. As you walk by faith, in case of delays, pray for wisdom to understand the mind of God. Even as you trust God for a better future, be grateful for what you have right now, at this present moment. Don’t worry about tomorrow! Before the breakthrough comes, do the little good work you can today. Learn to slow down. Enjoy a quieter life. Take time to smell the roses… Continue to pray. Do not give up on prayer. Often, delay is not denial. Serve God the best way you can. Worship God and give Him thanks no matter what! Sooner or later, the testimony shall come! Amen!

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

“Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked” (1Jn 2:6)
The Saturday night prayer meeting was very good. The Holy Spirit helped us to pray, praise and prophesy. We prayed for our bodies. We dedicated our bodies to God as members of righteousness. Our feet shall go ONLY where the Holy Spirit shall direct. We shall not go towards the darkness of the world. We shall walk like Jesus walked. Our hands shall not touch evil things, fornication, stealing or needless violence. Our hands shall be used to praise God. We shall lift holy hands unto the Lord. We shall clap in harmony with the Holy Spirit. God will bless the work of our hands! Our eyes shall see only what the Holy Spirit reveals. Our eyes shall be like X-ray to see in the Spirit realm. The darkness around us shall become light and we shall see King Jesus enthroned in every situation. Our eyes shall not be interested in lustful, dirty or covetous things. We shall be blind to the pictures of the devil. Our ears shall be circumcised by the Holy Spirit. Every unholy blockage is removed. We shall hear only the voice of the Holy Spirit guiding us in the path of life. We shall be deaf to the voice of the evil spirits even if they use a trumpet to talk to us. We prayed for our hearts, minds and mouths. We shall be filled with the Holy Spirit and speak only the Word of God.

My husband and I have just arrived back to Nigeria after a very successful ministry trip. ‘Big people’ are welcomed back at the airport with flowers and greetings. But I prefer to be welcomed with fresh revelations and testimonies to the glory of God! This is one of them waiting for me. Read and be blessed. May your faith increase! In Jesus name!

“Dear Malia 
Greetings to you ma. Welcome back! I remember some years ago when you shared the testimony of my car, you referred to me as having 3 kids. When I came to see you in your office, while talking to me, you still mentioned my “3” kids. I drew your attention to this and reminded I have 2,not 3 kids. You did not take back your words, instead you said “maybe you’re meant to have 3″! I told you how my husband doesn’t want more than 2,and he’s very vehement about it. He wants to provide the best for our kids so 2 were just all he wanted, especially in this economy. You just smiled and told me” maybe the arrival of the 3rd will open more doors of blessings, because there must be a reason why I keep saying you have 3
kids”. When I got home, I repeated your words to my husband and he said “Malia does not speak empty words o! But I still think 2 are ok, so let’s be extra careful.”

“Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great… David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep… Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. So David inquired of the Lord, saying: “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all… So David recovered all…” (1 Sam 30:1-18)

This is one of the most interesting and practical passages in the Bible. David was at one of his lowest points in life. While David and his men were away, the Amalekites (who represent the demons) have captured their wives, children and all their property. The men wept for the loss until the tears failed to come. David’s friends were so grieved and angry that they wanted to stone their leader to death. In these terrible and tragic circumstances, we are told the ‘David encouraged himself in the Lord his God’. Once he received strength to stand, David asked for the lined ephod to be brought to him. This ephod is the most beautiful part of the dressing of the High Priest. By faith, David does the ministry of a priest. He boldly enters the presence of God and asks questions concerning the terrible situation. God gives him the strategy. He is to pursue the enemy, overcome it and he shall recover all that was lost. David obeys the Word of God and he recovers all.

What is the lesson? Child of God, when prayers fail, when tears are dry, when friends betray and money is gone, when you are all alone and completely misunderstood, then do what David did: ‘encourage yourself in the Lord your God!’ Be careful not to allow depression to set in. Depression is very addictive. Failure feelings become a nest of comfort zone. You feel like a loser and start hating the change for the better. Other believers, your pastors and friends are all good to help you when they can. But do not be over attached to human beings. No man is God! There shall be times when you are all alone and you need to learn the royal secret of self- encouragement in the Lord. You enter the presence of God with worship! You go to the Word of God, you remind yourself of His promises; you remember the testimonies of the past. Pray and stay focused. Strength and hope shall come! Jesus said: ‘You shall receive power once the Holy Ghost comes upon you!’ (Ac 1:8).

If you find yourself in an impossible situation then go to God and ask for wisdom. You are a priest and a king. Behave like one! Reject all inferiority complexes concerning your royal priesthood calling! A king is known by his heart and his mouth. Your father is the Lion of Judah! Roar like your Father! By the power of the Holy Spirit become bold and speak with authority. Pray to God! He hears you! Prophesy over your life and circumstances! In the name of Jesus, demons will run away. Why live with this sense of failure and loss when truly you can fight back and ‘recover all’? Things lost when you were young, opportunities missed in the past, mistakes and regrets of years gone by, these things can be changed; these can be reversed! At the name of Jesus every knee must bow! God can grant you total recovery! These are the secrets of encouraging yourself: Entering the presence of God, prayer, the promises of God, His provision and finally warfare praise. Be strong in the power of God’s might! Come back with a testimony! Let’s glorify God together! In Jesus name, amen!

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Is 53:3-5)

This is the description of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit revealed it to the Prophet Isaiah long before the first Christmas. Isaiah saw Him as a suffering servant set to do the will of God. He also saw Him in His glory that followed His sufferings. This is a word for all who are sick at heart, in their mind on in their body. ‘By His stripes we are healed!’ Please meditate upon these words! It is not saying that ‘we shall be healed’ in the future. We are healed now! If you believe that Jesus was punished and died on the Cross for your sins and that He carried away your sicknesses then you are healed NOW! The word ‘stripes’ means permanent marks on the body following severe beating with the whip or with the rod. It is a raised mark on the surface of the body produced by a grievous blow. The Lord acquired these stripes on the Cross. He took the punishment for our sins. In heaven He has a new body but the stripes are still there as a reminder. His hands are still punctured by the nails on earth. Oh, what a Savior…

This is my testimony: When I am sick, I pray and trust God for healing. I repeat these holy words with faith and courage: ‘By Your stripes I am healed!’ I repeat these words again and again; when I am in the kitchen and cooking; when I climb the stairs… I say these words when I take my shower… By the time my mouth is tired of saying them, the sickness is gone! The Word of God is a holy seed. Let it enter into your spirit! It will produce roots and fruits. One of the fruits is called faith! May your faith increase!  May your testimony be established! Glory to God!

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

The prayer meeting was very good. We chose to worship God, not because He answers our prayers, but just because of who He is. God is worthy of our highest praise. We brought down our crowns and placed them at the feet of Jesus. The Holy Spirit moved in our midst, reviving our hearts. The anointing brought a word: ‘Your labor was long and difficult… But this labor has a beginning and an end. It is not forever. It started with ‘why, God?’ and it will end with ‘Halleluiah’. This pain must become worship! God has given you a new beginning… Old things have passed away and everything becomes new…new…new’. People believed the word and confessed it to be true. We humbled ourselves under the mighty hand of God. We continued to worship God for who He is and not only for His miracles. Suddenly, God lifted us up, according to His promise. Our hearts were flooded with peace and joy. The truth is that if you are not born again, you will not understand these words. But if you are, the Holy Spirit will witness to your spirit that these words are true and powerful. Faith produces works of wonder.  The testimonies shall follow.

We have entered a season of peace (shalom). The word was taken from 2 Kings 5. It is the story of a rich and famous general called Naaman. His name means ‘pleasant’. People (his servants, soldiers and friends) like him. His wife loves him. But the same people cannot help him. His god and king cannot help him. He is a lonely sad man. Behind his army uniform, there is the stench of leprosy. The stinking general… In the midst of this tragedy, a Jewish servant girl brings a word of faith and hope: “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy” (2Kg 5:3). Listen to the sound of faith! May your faith increase and bless somebody in need!

A big man like Naaman can never listen to a slave girl. But leprosy does not discriminate: the rich and the pauper have it! The smell is the same… If Naaman was well, he will never listen to a slave girl. But this big man has no other hope and he has to cling to the only ray of sunshine available to him.  From the day the girl gives him hope, Naaman starts seeking Jehovah God, who alone can heal him. He carries silver, gold and ‘designer’ clothes to be given as a gift to whosoever will heal him. The total amount in today’s money is about $2, 6 million dollars. Why so much money? This is because the pagans believe that if you need something you must be able to buy it. But grace is not for sale, as Naaman will soon discover. Eventually, Naaman is healed. Not because he is a good man. Not because he merits to be healed. After all he is the general of the Syrian army who conquered the people of God. Then why is he healed? So that the world at that time knows that there is a true prophet in Israel. Syria could defeat Israel as a country but could not defeat the spirit of Prophet Elisha, whose allegiance is to God alone.

The command was a simple one. Even an ordinary soldier can understand. But the general has difficulties with this simple command. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be healed.” (2 Kg 5:10). That is all. No other explanation. No bill to be paid.  Naaman was furious. May anger and pride not make you lose your miracle! River Jordan was a dirty slow moving river. It stands for the Cross. Seven dips in the Jordan and he was healed! Oh, the simplicity of the Gospel. Obedience leads to healing, to the miracle you need. The grace of God is greater than any sin! May your faith increase! The reason you read the Bible is so that you apply the Word of God to yourself and believe! The same power that healed Naaman, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to you today! Be filled with the Holy Spirit! In Jesus’ name, amen!

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1Thess 5:11)

There are too many men and women around who discourage the true believers. They find (little) fault with everything. They grumble about life but they do not want to die. If you become successful, they make you feel guilty. If you do the right thing, they make you feel ashamed. If you want to move on in life, they remind you of your past and tie a rope at your back. They spread spiritual poison everywhere they go. Their greetings are warnings in disguise. They puncture your joy and quench your zeal. They minimize your peace and maximize your anxieties. They say that marriage is good but it can end in divorce… They say that work is good but the payment is too small… They say that church is nice but the music is too loud… They say that the sun shines, but it is not bright enough… Dear friend, look around yourself and see, who are your ‘friends’? Do not sponsor discouragement! It grieves the Holy Spirit and makes people sad when God has not made them sad. Look unto Jesus this morning! Rejoice without regret! May your joy be full and never ending! Child of God, from your heart, please encourage others with the encouragement you have freely received! In Jesus’ name, amen!

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (Jam 4:7)

This is a command for the believers in Christ: you must be engaged in spiritual warfare. You cannot gain new territories (for Christ) and new blessings (for you) without warfare against the devil. Fear not! The devil is a spiritual (therefore invisible) person. He works thru the flesh. He deceives and tempts you. But in Christ, the victory is sure!

The works of the flesh as described in a new translation of the Bible called ‘The Message’ are as follows:

“It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on… (Gal 5:19-21; TM)

The Lord Jesus Christ said that ‘the flesh profits nothing’ (Jn 6:63). The flesh is that part of the human body that it is not under the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit. In Greek, the word ‘profit’ means something that is useful, helpful, gives you an advantage so that you prevail against your opponents. The spiritual ‘profit’ makes your life better. The flesh is the opposite of this. Therefore, a man who lives in the flesh is a failure and a tragedy.  The unbeliever or the fleshly backslider is a useless spouse or friend. He (she) cannot help you, cannot impact your life for better, cannot pray or counsel you. No matter his level of education or the wealth he has, a man who lives only to please his flesh is an enemy to God and a liability to any relationship. Avoid such a man!

Read the command again! Memorize it! Your spirit must digest it! You are commanded to resist the devil as a person. This is a personal battle, as ‘man to man’. You cannot hide among the other soldiers. You have to do it yourself! You cannot delegate it to another person. Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit you must prepare and fight the good fight of faith yourself! The word ‘resist’ is a positional command given to a soldier. Your Officer in charge (the Lord Jesus Christ) commands you to stand in a clear, fearless and open resistance against the devil. This is a standing and not a falling. Practically it means that you should expose and reject all lies and all deceptions that ‘come to you’. You cannot reject all lies that ‘fly’ over your head, but it is your duty to instantly ‘kill’ any lie that comes to you directly thru people, being them friends or enemies. You need to be alert and strong! God will help you!

For you to be able to resist the Devil who is the Liar, the Deceiver, the Slanderer or the False Prophet, you must be in the right position, spiritually speaking. You must be born again, Spirit filled and walking in the Spirit.  You must be totally submitted to God, to His Word and to His Spirit. The word ‘submit’ means that you abide, that you dwell un-interrupted in Christ alone. You habitually obey the Word of God. You have repented of all known sin and you are ready and willing to repent of any other sin as revealed by the Holy Spirit. It means that you have found your identity and purpose in Christ alone. God’s perfect will is manifesting in your life with fruit to prove your identity as a child of God. You are a strong Christian, established in the doctrines of the faith. You chose to submit to God and to all the authorities God has given you as spiritual covering, to which you chose to be accountable. It means that you reject all forms of empty religion, rebellion and selfishness.  From this established in the faith position, you now detect and instantly resist your enemy, the devil. This resisting is done thru the power of the Holy Spirit, thru the proclamation of the Word of God, thru prayer and pleading the Blood of Jesus over you.

How long will you resist? Until the promise of God manifests: until the same devil that attacked you flees from you. The word ‘flee’ means to vanish, to disappear or to melt away. This is very important: you do not stop resisting the deceiver until he completely disappears from your spiritual radar, until the lies have been totally silenced and affect you no more. The resisting may be long. But the fleeing comes in an instant. The victory is always very clear and very sweet to your spirit. It manifests as sudden destruction of old standing bondages, as healing of the body, peace and joy in your soul. The victory brings a higher level of spiritual authority and confidence in your ministry. The Holy Spirit will witness to that. You shall see it and others shall see it. This victory cannot be hidden! The vision shall surely speak at last! Glory to God!  Glory to God!! Glory to God!!!