“And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.” So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” (Gen 41:15, 16)

Please read again the wonderful story of Joseph. In Genesis chapter 41 Pharaoh has two dreams and wakes up troubled in his mind. He does not understand their meaning. He now needs a man to interpret his dreams. His court magicians are not able to do it. This is now a great opportunity for any man to be promoted and rewarded by Pharaoh. Who is the ‘lucky’ man? Suddenly, the cup bearer remembers ‘his faults’. He recommends a Hebrew prisoner called Joseph who previously correctly interpreted his dream. Joseph is hurriedly brought from his prison cell and he now stands before the greatest man in the world at that time.

Joseph listens to Pharaoh telling him his strange dreams. By the power of the Holy Spirit he correctly interprets them. He even suggests a plan of action that will save Egypt from destruction because of famine. Pharaoh and his royal aids are all impressed. Pharaoh then asks his ministers if there is any Egyptian better qualified than Joseph to become his special assistant. None was found better than him. That is how Joseph became the Prime Minister of Egypt.

The word ‘interpret’ appears seven times in this chapter. In Hebrew it means to open up something that is closed or mysterious. It means to bring light into darkness, to make clear to others something that appears difficult, so that other may understand the true hidden meaning.

From this story we see that ‘interpretation’ of mysteries is the ‘pass word’ to greatness. Interpretation of mysterious words opens doors of wealth and promotion that no man can shut. This is true in all cultures and generations.  In the New Testament it is called the ‘word of wisdom’. It is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Divine wisdom is the well where all great treasures are found. In the presence of divine wisdom, poverty, sickness and trouble bow down and cannot rise. Do you need money? Do you need healing? Do you need freedom from bondage? Then pray and pay the price to receive the gift of divine wisdom which comes from the Holy Spirit. May my words find favor with your spirit today!

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

Our prayer meeting this evening was very good. All glory to God! We praised Jehovah God who is ‘fearful in praises and always doing wonders’.  We prayed and worshipped God in English, Tongues and Nigerian languages. We prayed against the evil spirit of homosexuality, foolishness and religion. We declared that God is on our side and that nothing is impossible for Him to do! We sand: ‘Lord, You are able, more than able, to accomplish what concerns me today…You are able, more than able, to do much more than I can ever dream… You are able, more than able, to make me what You want me to be”. Then the word of God came: The sermon was from the Book of Joshua 8 and it was called “How to ambush your Ai” or “Don’t forget your matches”.

The children of God won a great victory of faith against Jericho. But they failed to defeat the small town called Ai, whose name means ‘a heap of ruins’. The defeat was because of sin in the camp. Once the sin was dealt with, the victory is sure. The Holy Spirit is redirecting our attention and memory to the past, to revisit the place of failure. We need to confront that failure again. This time, lead and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we shall prevail.

In the place of past failure God says: “Do not be afraid and do not be discouraged”. There is fear in the valley of failure. But God says fear not to go there are conquer it.  A man’s character is not defined by how he behaves when he is promoted. His value as a man is defined by the way he behaves when he is demoted. The devil wants you to withdraw, to backslide when you are fallen. Do not give up when you are down. In Christ, there is hope for you even in the valley of sin, shame and failure. God says: ‘I have given you the city…’  When you depend on God, His plan, strategy and timing, the victory is sure!

The root of failure: unconfessed sin! Failure means you live day by day for years, in a cloud of defeat, hopelessness, depression and shame! No fruits and no testimonies! Your attitude to sin determines your future prosperity. You can have victory over your failure! If you do not confess your secret sins you can never have victory! Your past does not have to determine your future!

God said that you should attack Ai with an ambush. This is God’s strategy. An ambush is a form of attack that takes advantage of secrecy. You need a word of wisdom from God. In the military textbooks, an ambush is described as a complex battle. It requires a particular timing and a particular place. The soldiers divide themselves into two groups. All the soldiers must know their job very well. All must be coordinated. The unity of the Spirit must be established between the group that attacks and the one behind that provides ‘cover fire’. A successful ambush can take over the resources of the enemy. Husband and wife can pray ‘ambush’ prayers and arrest the resources of the enemy passing thru their marriage. It requires the unity of the Spirit. They need to trust each other with their lives. But the gains are great. You do not need to work hard to have a financial breakthrough. Do successful spiritual warfare and the millions will come. If what I say sounds phony to you, I am not talking to you. But for the rest who humble themselves and desire to stand for the Lord, may God grant you that grace, in Jesus name, amen!

“And He (Jesus) got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm” (Mk 4:39)

This is a word for a child of God who is troubled this morning! Be strong and courageous! Pray! From this moment on you must feel better! The devil has seen your breakthrough and he is trying to distract you with attacks. He is a liar! You need to believe the opposite! For example, if the devil tells you that you shall be poor, rejoice for surely you shall be rich!

Sister Onos went to be with the Lord. She was 29. She was married with two little daughters. It is a painful and untimely death. She died following a domestic accident. She was a committed believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and a member of the choir in our church.

Last week brother Prince asked her when is she coming back to sing with the choir full time. She said that her second baby is still little. But he insisted: ‘When?’ She said ‘Soon’. He said ‘How soon?‘ Then she smiled and answered singing: “Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King…” Looking back, her answer was prophetic. The Holy Spirit prepared her to join the heavenly choir. Great is Thy faithfulness Oh, Lord…

“You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob” (Ps 44:4; NIV)

As children of God, we should never be afraid of defeat, disgrace or failure! Never! We do spiritual warfare from the sure position of decreed victory! On the Cross, Christ totally defeated and destroyed the power of the devil. Knowing this, in Christ, I am not afraid to go to battle under His banner and in His name. Each trial, each conflict, it is a fresh opportunity to prove that I am a soldier in the army that can never fail, a soldier under the Captain who can never lose! This is my confession of faith based on the eternal Word of God!

You need to identify with this scripture until it becomes part of you. The word ‘God’ here is Elohim, the creator of the heavens and the earth. Don’t forget, it is God who also created hell, where the devil shall go at last and be tormented forever and ever. You need to know, especially during the battle, that in Christ, your victory is sure. You do not depend on your strength or on your wisdom. You totally depend on the Lord who called you in His army. Jesus can never lose. Therefore you can never lose. You don’t bargain with the devil! It has been decreed that all your trials and temptations, sooner or later, shall end in victories. Please observe that the word is plural; it means that there are many victories. These are not debatable. They are ‘decreed’ by the Lord. They must happen! A Presidential Decree is a formal and authoritative order that has the force of law and none can appeal against it. It is the same here.

I declare that in Christ God has ordained my victory! It has been decreed in heaven, appointed and ordained on earth that I shall win these battles against me! By faith in His Word and by the grace of God, I decree victory over sickness, poverty, oppression, bareness and all other occult attacks against me coming from the enemy. My victories are not accidental. They are decreed from the foundation of the world! These victories belong to the eternal purposes of God, by which events are foreordained. Heaven has spoken! The earth shall accept the decree! The Lamb upon the Throne, the King of kings and the Lord of lords has proclaimed that I am an overcomer! None can change this decree! My enemies are defeated. Hallelujah! Glory to God!

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

The prayer meeting was very good. Because we are in a season of spiritual warfare we need a higher level of anointing than ‘usual’. It is like preparing for surgery. For example, if the operation is just skin deep, you sterilize the instruments a little. But if it is abdominal surgery, the instruments have to be 100% sterile. If not, trying to help the patient, infection will kill him later. Thank God the Holy Spirit was there with us. We praised God. We worshipped God. We were seeking God’s face and strength. There was no rush. Patiently we were praying for fire. Then the fire came. Holy Ghost, we thank You!

We then prepared for attack. We exposed the lies of the devil thru the Word of God. All our prayer meetings are based on direct revelations coming from the Word of God. We need to know the truth about the enemy so that we can be free. These are some revelations about the devil:

*satan is a liar! He never speaks the truth. Lies are chains to keep souls in bondage! Truth sets free!   (Jn 8:44)

*satan is a blinder! He blinds the minds of the unbelievers. They do not see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (2Cor 4:4)

*satan is a deceiver! He uses false signs, lying wonders and fading miracles to impress the unbelievers (2Thess 2:9-12)

*satan is a tempter! He tempts men to sin or to backslide (Lk 22:3-6; 2Cor 11:3)

*satan is a thief! He steals the word of God from the religious unbeliever’s heart. He is very busy inside the churches (Mk 4:3-20). He steals peace and joy from the believers (Jn 10:10)

*satan is an oppressor! He terrorizes people. He inflicts sickness (physical or mental) (Lk 13:16; Ac 10:38)

*satan is a very good actor! He is very religious! He pretends to be the ‘holy spirit’ (2Cor 11:13-15)

*satan is a slanderer! He accuses the children of God! (Rev 12:10)

WHAT DO WE DO?

Take your position in Christ! We belong to the army that knows no defeat!  Pray spiritual warfare!

“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you!” (James 4:7).

“They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” (Rev 12:11).

Say No to the devil and his temptations! Pray in human language and in the Spirit (in tongues). We reject the demons of Jezebel, doubt, fear, confusion, religion, lying, blinding, stealing, deception, oppression, hypocrisy, slander, sickness (diabetes, hypertension, bareness, chronic malaria, typhoid fever, anemia, sickle cell anemia, stomach ulcer, arthritis, depression, backsliding, poverty, divorce) In the name of Jesus!!!  Speak the truth in faith and in love! Share the testimony of your salvation and sanctification! Do not fear death! Do not fear failure! In Christ our victory is sure! Jesus died on the Cross for our sins. Jesus is the ‘Stronger Man’ who binds the evil ‘strong man’. The Blood of Jesus ministers entrance before the throne of mercy and grace! Jesus sets the prisoners free. Jesus gives sight to the blind and hope to the hopeless. He binds the devil. Jesus has destroyed the works of the devil! Jesus is Lord! Give your life to Christ! Jesus makes you free indeed! One day, there shall be no more war. In heaven, the victory is final and permanent! The devil shall be judged eternally with torment in hell. The devil has no hope. These words should encourage you!  In Christ, our victory is sure!   JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!!!!

“But the LORD said to Samuel: “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1Sam 16:7)

This is a note from a young man who attends our church for a while. He is a born again committed believer. He came to my office earlier this year for counselling and prayers. He is successful as a business man. But he had some negative experiences as he was planning to marry. He told me that he has found a lady during his NYSC and that he proposed marriage to her. She agreed to his proposal. He wanted me to pray about it. I told him that the first thing he should do is to bring his plans to marry this particular lady on the altar of God. The altar speaks! Only God knows the people’s hearts. We prayed that if this lady is his ‘rib’ then let God bless them and help them marry in peace. But if this lady is not his destiny then let God (and not the devil) separate them. This is a ‘standard spiritual procedure’ with all young men and women who come for prayer as they prepare for marriage. God has to speak into the matter. It is not our emotions that should rule in a serious decision as marriage. As a Christian, you must be ready to say: let God’s will be done! We prayed and he went home. I did not see him since then. This is his letter. God answered his prayer. Not in a way he wanted it, but he accepted God’s will for his life. He is now recovered from the pain of disappointment and life goes on. If you have any word of counsel or prayer for him, please write as comment. He will read it and learn from you. Let’s help one another. God bless you dear brethren!

“Good morning Malia, I came to you for counsel in the month of April. I couldn’t return much earlier since you weren’t around for a while. It turned out that the answers to your prayers for me came instantaneously. I did as you counselled, I told my fiancée that my Pastor would like to see her and that she could come over to Warri to spend sometime. She gave me some excuses and said she was going to think about it. There was a sudden breach in our communication thereafter until she called me one day to tell me that her former crush was coming back and that she is confused and it seem he has a stronger hold on her.  To cut a long story short, she is presently married. She got married in the month of July. I would have been heartbroken but for the prayers we made. God suddenly intervened. It became clear that I was previously on the wrong track. I am now waiting on God for direction.

I greatly appreciate your counsel and prayers ma. God has been gracious to me in my business and in pursuing His call on me. My life has been much easier since after the prayers, the burden of fear and isolation has left me. Your ministry has blessed me, and that of TaLeigh. I’ll ever be grateful to God for making me a part of His family in Fathers House Bible Church. To God be the glory! Your son…”

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

We just ended our women’s fellowship. It was very good. Glory to God! We praised God and shared testimonies. They all gave God alone all the glory! Then the Word of God was shared. We talked about how to be women of God. In particular we talked about the strategy of being a godly wife to a difficult husband (1Pet 3:1-6)

MY TESTIMONY AS A WIFE
I shall now boast in the Lord! My husband and I are married for 42 years. In Christ and by the grace of God, I declare that I am quiet, gentle, precious and beautiful! The Word of God says so! My husband says so! What others say it does not matter. I have learned over the years to speak less than my husband, especially when we are in public. For example, if he speaks 10 words, I speak maybe 3. If he is not around I can speak 8. You may joke about it, but this is the truth. I mentally count the times I open my mouth. If I do not have something good and godly to say, I am not ashamed to keep quiet. I do not have to prove that I am intelligent by talking.

But when I talk, I make sure that I am on my husband’s ‘side’. I do not come from the opposite side. I do not stand against him spiritually speaking. I do not threaten him positionally. I am never on the side of them who argue with him, even if jokingly. If I do not understand something he says I make a mental note to ask him at home. I do not want to ask him any question while others listen to us talking. If it is an ‘emergency’ I ask him in Romanian. Thank God, most people do not understand this language. I do this because I do not want to be seen as his boss, teacher or mentor. I gladly submit to him because of God’s command. I also do not ask other men questions in my husband’s presence. I do not want to be seen as a foolish ignorant wife. That attitude will place the blame on him implying that he did not teach me well at home.

You may ask… What is my ‘gain’ in all this? My gain is God’s pleasure over our home! The Holy Spirit is free to move, and work in us from inside out. Both my husband and I are ‘work in progress’ but if I obey God’s Word, the progress is faster. I love that!

The devil loves to ask questions causing division, doubts, fears and confusion. I pray before I talk. I choose when to answer or when not to answer a question that is ‘thrown’ at me. My husband is the only one who has the right to demand answers from me. No other person has the same right. I do not regret talking too little but I regret talking too much. This strategy of keeping quiet (well… most of the time) is not legalistic or religious. It is the result of the leading of the Holy Spirit who gives me the power to choose silence when silence is the winner. To God be all the glory!

Let’s close with words from the same letter of Peter. May this be your portion, in Jesus name, amen! “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1Pet 5:10, 11)

This is a letter I received from one of the young men in our church. I told him to share with me about his life… He was one of the ‘men of valor’ who built the building of the church. He is a simple man in the natural but beloved of God in the spiritual. He is spiritual, humble, faithful and very hard working. He is a blessing to us and to the Body of Christ. He is one of our ‘staff’. He is one of the seven ‘security and gate men’. Recently, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, he became the youth pastor in the church. All the glory to God for his conversion, sanctified life and ministry! Please pray and bless him with counsel! The best is yet to come!

“About… Ma, what can I say? My life is a complicated story because I am not used to keeping dates of events and I can’t rightly say when my conversion story begins, and I also can’t say I heard the voice of God clearly in the past, whether directly from him or spoken through someone or in a vision or night sleep. The numerous times I have answered altar call can attest to that. But I know that right when I was tender I have somewhat like apathy for the things of this world. Because I have never felt satisfied with anything I do in this world. I always feel there’s something better that I can’t explain. Among my friends I was seen as a ruthless person because of the way I walk and talk, but in my heart there’s a river of tears, cos I feel trapped, crying always for freedom. So I guess I was portraying a ruthless outward attitude to protect the inward feeble heart of mine, knowing if men see the real me, that would be the end of me.

When I was growing up I have reached death’s gate countless times. In some cases I thought I was dead but somehow I came out alive. I remember then I use to say to myself that I am a strong boy to have survived, only now I realized that it was Jesus all along, making sure His promises must be fulfilled in my life. I came to Father’s House Bible Church one Sunday in 2008, Its like u and Tali traveled, I believe it was another pastor that preached that Sunday, so I left and returned months later to become a member. I would say the presence of God arrested me, held me down and did not to leave again. I would have joined the choir, but there’s a dread of God in my heart that I can’t do the things of God and the world. At that time I wasn’t ready to leave the world so I waited. I was working in the church site, I became close to Tali and I felt a kind of bond that I could talk to him in a way that I can’t talk to any other… I have confessed Christ a long time ago but the growth in the spirit started through this bond with Tali, not only in the pulpit but in the site as well, apparently his presence always minister to me.

The month of May this year, for the first time in my life I declared a seven day fast with just water and fruits (Daniel’s type when they refuse to eat from their kings table) and my prayer is “Lord speak to me” the fourth day into the fast, Tali called me to say that God loves me, that I should work for God, to be the youth pastor… I said ‘Sir that was a mountainous task’. He said he knows but I have to do it. I went home, broke down in tears, wept like a baby… lost and found… thanking God for mercy and grace. I did not understand… I mean, I am just a gate man which is my first paid job in the 30 years of my entire life… This is the first time a man of God called me and prayed for me, to serve God… Ma, I fear God! There’s no end to the knowledge of God. God is infinite in wisdom. I can say much more but some things cannot be uttered with words. God bless Tali and you, my spiritual parents! To God be all the glory!”

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (Jam 4:8)

This is God’s command and conditional promise. It is such a wonderful promise! It says that if you draw nearer to God, He will respond to your spirit move and come closer to you. You need to start this mysterious dance of holy love. The angels can never learn the steps. But you, child of God, you can do it…. You need to come closer to your First Love, Jesus Christ, Your Lord… You need to declare your need of God. Do not be discouraged! Even if your desire for God is little, even if your prayer is just a whisper, God in heaven will acknowledge that and encourage you by coming closer. You shall sense a new deposit of peace, joy, wisdom and strength. It is called personal revival. That is what you need…

 
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that plants any thing, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase. Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are laborers together with God” (1Cor 3:6-9)

The church at Corinth was gifted but worldly. The brethren quarreled, got jealous on one another and divided the Body. These are the marks of carnal baby Christians. The cure for such a spiritual sickness is to become mature believers. God saves us and ‘hires’ us as laborers for Him and with Him. If you are saved by Christ and refuse to work for Him, you shall remain spiritually immature. You will be jealous on others, on their blessings and you shall quarrel every day. But if you chose to obey God’s call for service, He will reward you. The greater the labor the greater the reward. The more you are faithful to God, giving Him all the glory, the greater shall be your reward. Then quarrels die.

“Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been a shelter for me,
Strong tower from the enemy!
I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;
I will trust in the shelter of Your wings…
So I will sing praise to Your name forever…” (Psalm 61)

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance” (Ps 33:12)

Today is Nigeria’s ‘birthday’. I shall not bake a cake for the visitors but I can share in the joy of celebration. Most people complain that Nigeria is bad and is getting worst. I surely understand why they say so. There are so many things that do not ‘work’ in Nigeria. I will not list them for others can do that better than me. I will only tell you why I love Nigeria. I do not like it, but I love it! I may be a lonely voice but I am not afraid to be different (I am the only oyinbo in our church… Smile…)

Why do I speak like this? I see things thru God’s eyes. What I see always gives me joy. I am a foreigner (an oyinbo). I do not have a Nigerian passport. But I am happily married to a wonderful Nigerian man. When my husband, Dr. Richmond Leigh came to my country to study medicine, he was a young man. We met in the anatomy class, over a cadaver. We fell in love there, between dead men. We married in Timisoara, Romania 42 years ago. Against all odds, our love lasted and became fruitful. We a son and two daughters: John (Toju), Alina (Yemi) and Jemine. They are all successful and happily married with children.

This is my story: I came to Nigeria in 1980. I came as a confirmed atheist as most my country people were at that time. I did not believe that God exists. I never prayed any prayer before stepping on the soil of Nigeria. My husband and I worked as medical doctors for almost 20 years. We made money and fame. But in March 1986 I had a crises conversion and became a child of God. My life was never the same. My husband got converted too. In 2000 we started a church called Father’s House Bible Church here in Warri/ Effurun, Nigeria.

We are now in full time ministry. The Holy Spirit pours His grace on us. Each church service is unique, fresh, powerful and exciting. The Gospel is preached. Souls come into the Kingdom. We worship God freely, in Spirit and in Truth. God is faithful. We pray for revival here in Nigeria. The darkness is pushed back. The light of God is shining! Glory to God! The truth is that I did not choose to marry a Nigerian. I did not choose to live in Nigeria. I did not choose to be a child of God. These are all God’s grace choices for my life. God is good to us here in Nigeria. We live in the center of God’s will.

So, why will I not love Nigeria? What is my excuse?  I have absolutely no reason to complain. Nigeria gave me God and husband. I have many spiritual sons and daughters here. They are God’s gifts to me.  What more do I want? I am grateful more than words can say.  So, my dear Nigerians, I rejoice with you today! Be encouraged! The future belongs to God! Trust in God! He can change any situation! God bless you! God bless Nigeria!

I AM QUIET, GENTLE, PRECIOUS AND BEAUTIFUL
“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God” (1Pet 3:1-4)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A question is a sentence used to find out information. In an exam, a question is a problem that tests a person’s knowledge or ability: A question produces doubt about the truth of something, creating confusion in the minds. The devil was the one who asked the first question in the Bible. “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (Gen 3:1).

According to the definition of the word ‘question’ these are the motives in the devil’s mind when he talked to Eve: he wanted that she should open her heart to him. The devil wanted that Eve should give him more information about her relationship with God, about her marriage and her life in general. As you can see, a question provokes an answer. This is an invitation to intimacy, to close friendship.

This is a spiritual lesson: When the devil is asking you a question, you should totally refuse to answer him. You rebuke him and not cooperate with him. You should not give the devil any information about your life. Secondly, when the devil is asking you a question, he wants to test your knowledge about God and His Word. If you fail the test, the devil will be more confident to attack you further. For example, when Eve replied that God said they should not eat or touch the forbidden fruit, the devil immediately attacked tempting her to disobey God’s command. This is because Eve misquoted God’s command. God did not say that if they touch the fruit they will die. Eve failed the test of the devil’s question. As a teacher, the devil ‘punished’ his student called Eve.

Finally, the devil’s question was designed to create doubt and confusion about God’s character and love towards men. This doubt is a poisonous arrow creating anxiety and inferiority complex. Eve started thinking that she is too foolish and she needs more wisdom so that next time she can ‘impress Teacher devil’ with her intelligent answers. She forgot that God created her perfect and she needed nothing more than an intimate relationship with her Maker. Looking for that wisdom, she eats the forbidden fruit and convinces her husband to do the same. Sin and death entered their spirits and bodies that very moment. This is the story of the fall. The deadly effects of sin can only be destroyed in Christ alone. Remember, he who asks questions may be a teacher or may be a student. The devil pretend to be the teacher who asks his students questions. If you submit to this criminal teacher, the devil becomes your master. God forbid!

Since Eve’s deception, women in particular have struggled with questions and answers ever since. Many are still confused about who to ask and when to ask questions. They still struggle with doubts and confusion more than the men. They still have inferiority complexes about their intelligence and wisdom. That is why in the Bible there is a restrain upon women, not to ask questions in public. This is so that they will not reinforce their inferiority complexes and expose their foolishness to outsiders. “If they (the wives) have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings” (1Cor 14:35). Asking questions and giving answers is to be done at home, in a quiet, safe and loving atmosphere. The Holy Spirit is their Teacher.

A MOTHER’S PRAYER
I pray for you, my daughters! I love you very much! I pray that God will deliver you from any fears, doubts, confusions and inferiority complexes about your mind, memory or intelligence! You have the mind of Christ! You are fearfully and wonderfully made by God! You can pass any exam. With hard work and God’s blessings, you can graduate from any school! You can take any job! You can do any business! You can do all things thru Christ who strengthens you! You are not in any way less than your brothers or your male colleagues! Your destiny is to be women of God, mothers in Zion! Joyfully embrace that! Worship the Lord! Serve God!I pray that you find peace with God and with yourselves! In Jesus name, amen!

I received a beautiful letter from a sister in Christ who lives in teh US. She was a missionary in Nigeria for 7 years. We became friends during her stay here, when she needed a medical doctor. Many people who call themselves Christians go to church. But very few know and understand the powerful royal way of the Cross. She is one of these very few… Please read and pray about these words…

“Good Afternoon Lia,
You are on my mind today so I thought to take a moment to write you. First of all, I hope you and Richmond are doing very well. It must feel amazing to see that the work you began on Father’s House, has come to completion. What a joy to see what Father has done through His people. I’m sure you rehearse the past years of walking through what must have seemed difficult and without end. Look what God has done.

I’ve thought many thoughts about your injuries when you fell, and your healing and the time spent in humility before the Lord as you healed. Isn’t it something that many times God uses what seems to be something negative, to bring forth so much of HIs glory. He delights to show His faithfulness and bring forth fruit from our situation. I so enjoyed your reports of what the Lord did in you during your time spent away from people and the festivities of church life, or as we know it is really “life in the body”. I think you know that I love to garden, whether it is with fruits and vegetables, or flowers. I find the most amazing truths in the garden, and I have the most amazing times with the Father while gardening. Gardening is hard backbreaking work sometimes, but the fruits that come from all our work, is the reward in the end. I have come to realize that in order to bring forth real beauty from many plants that flower, many times I have to break off limbs, leaves, flowers, etc., in order to get a future plant that will be profusely beautiful in the future. In fact, I was just outside on the deck looking at the flowers who have endured after a long hot summer. They have become quite parched and dry in places, though still producing.

Now that the cooler weather is beginning to set in, they are starting to “green up” and the production of new flowers and new growth is setting in. I have noticed that many of the lower stalks of the plants have many flowers on them, but the stalks look dry and burned. I had thought a few days ago that I would leave them on the plant so I could enjoy their flowers, but as I was looking this morning, I began to realize that for the health of the whole plant, I need to break off those flowering stalks that hang down so beautifully, so they can come back with new growth, new health, and new beauty. In fact, the whole plant was hoping I would cut off the lower branches because it was taking much nutrients to keep them alive and blooming.!! 🙂 So, I finally gave in and cut the stalks off that made the lower flowers hang down the pot.

In thinking of how the Lord pulls us back sometimes from what looks fruitful, and what looks like it needs our help, I have come to realize that the master gardener truly knows much much better than we do how to bring forth the most beautiful, most fragrant , and most useful parts of the plant. So my friend, I rejoice with you that your time of rest ( or dormancy as in the case of all things that grow) has ended and you are in a new fruit bearing season. One time the Lord spoke so clearly to me as I was driving in the countryside about all of the trees that were missing their leaves in the winter. They look so dry and so ugly during the winter, but the Father said that without the winter dormant period, we are unable to see the true structure and state of the tree. In the winter, we can take stock of all parts of the branches, we can see if there is disease, see if there are places that need special attention, or limbs that need to be lopped off due to disease, or parts of the tree that need something to kill the bugs that are attacking it. So winter is so important in God’s plan. Your description of what the Lord had done in you during your recovery, was so very precious. You will always cherish those amazing times you had with the Lord.

I will never forget when the Lord began to slowly let us know that He would be bringing us back here, we could hardly believe it, or bear the thought of leaving there, because that year was the most fruitful of all our years spent. My thought was…”why would the Lord remove us during our most fruitful season”? Little did we know we would face a long winter winter of purging and pruning with periods of fruitfulness mixed with amazing times of seeing the Lord move. It was there we begin to see that all the pain we went through here was pruning so God could get the most glory out of us. It really take s a lifetime of a very patient and loving Lord who so willingly takes all the time needed to bring us into His glory and fruitfulness. So, I am rejoicing with you Lia that you are being made ready for greater fruitfulness, greater understanding and revelation, and greater love than ever before.

Your sister and friend,
C…”

“The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD” (PV 21:31)

Last night I watched the debate between Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump. I am not a politician; not in Romania, not in Nigeria and not in the US. I am not a Democrat or a Republican. I am a child of God. I chose to watch the debate looking for spiritual lessons .I can now say this: I enjoyed the debate. I gained something by looking at these two people arguing their case. I enjoyed the debate for personal reasons. I can identify with her much more than with him. Of course, she is a woman and I am a woman, but that is not the only reason.

To me, his spirit is not right. He is a bully and an oppressor. He takes pleasure in rising up by putting others down. He looks like a man who made money by making others poor. There is curse upon such a style of becoming wealthy. “Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty” (PV 22:16).

He is too proud of himself. This pride is an ugly pride. He praises himself too much. He takes the glory for his achievements. But this is God’s advice: “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips” (PV 27:2). He looks very selfish. He looks like a hunter with the reflexes of a hunter. He is aggressive and rough. It is true that sometimes you need to be rough, but that is only occasionally. But in his case, he lives in a stronghold of boastful oppression. It is his life style and spiritual identity. He mocks weak people. God hates that! “Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished” (PV 17:5)

Then there is another issue: It looks to me that he came to the debate unprepared. He was happy with his ignorance of the protocol. This was his downfall. He thought that just his ‘charisma’ was enough to pass the exam. He was wrong. As a mother, as a teacher, I tell my children that they have to pay the price for success, for any good thing in life. It is true that we pray, but we also need to prepare for the exams of life. God Himself paid the price for our salvation. We must do the same. “You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (1Cor 6:20).

If you go to an exam that you did not prepare for and you expect success, then you deceive yourself. You are a fool. If you need to pass an exam, do not trust your common sense or your ignorant memory. You need to look for the best books on the subject and you need to study them. To read is not easy. I observe that people who are proud of their looks, or their achievements, or their ‘connections’, do not like to pay the price for success. They live mostly in past glory. But the people who are weak, poor or plain looking (not what you call beautiful) they do not expect any special favors in the exam hall. They prepare themselves and that is how they pass the exams. Of course, success comes from God. But you need to train yourself to be the best soldier that you can be and do not be presumptuous assuming that God will help you even when you do not prepare yourself.

I also observed that she was thinking before answering, but he was not. Most of the time he spoke before thinking. That makes him a fool and a fool cannot be a mentor or a leader. “Whoever answers before listening is both foolish and shameful” (PV 18:13). It is shameful when the mouth is more active than the brain.

He takes pride in being different than the ‘establishment’. He is confident that people are so disappointed with the present administration that they will vote for him just because he is different. Let me say this, it is good to be different than the others who have failed. But being different is not enough. You need to be different and better, not just different. To me, he does not look better than what is presently offered in leadership. He presents to the people a spirit of adultery as a different option, an alternative to a failing marriage. I am a married woman. I value marriage too much to be entertained by adulterous funny spirits. As a pastor I tell people that a marriage can still be repaired and prayed for before you can think of an alternative, a ‘better boyfriend’. A good affair is always worse than a weak marriage.

Physically she looked weaker than him. But she compensated well by being spiritually stronger, sure of her knowledge, trusting her experience and confident of her stand. She kept her cool and her smile thru the bulldozing attitude and words of a wild bully. He drank water more than 10 times. She did not drink at all. He looked like an overheated engine ready to explode. She sounded like a designer car ready for the long trip. At the end I can say this: ‘I am with her!’ Well done Hilary Clinton! You have impressed me as a woman, as a leader! Just give God all the glory for your victory last night! I pray that you are the next president! God bless you!

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

“These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance… Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet” (Rev 2:18-20)

The prayer meeting was very good. What made it good was the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst, leading and strengthening us to pray. The spiritual ‘network’ was free. We took advantage of that and we prayed with all our hearts. We entered the courts of God with thanksgiving and praise. The message was from Revelation 2 and exposed the evil spirit of Jezebel. Read 1Kg 16-21; 2Kg 9; Rev 2. The meaning of the name Jezebel: “like a virgin”, “without dwelling” or ‘Baal’s wife”. Other names for it (especially in this area) are these: Mammy water, Water spirit, Spirit wife (husband), Ogbanje, Potiphar’s wife, Athalia, Herodias, Delilah, Queen of heaven, Sugar mummy, Sugar daddy, Iron Lady…

She was a wicked pagan queen from Sidon who married Ahab, a king of Israel. She was very religious and a false prophetess. She never accepted the worship of Jehovah, the God of her husband. She remained faithful to the religion of her ancestors, the worship of Baal. Jezebel spirit is not ‘an ordinary’ demon. She is a high rank principality who corrupts homes, marriages, churches and nations. The Lord praised the church of Thyatira for their labor, faith, patience and love. These are the elements needed to seek and serve God. But Jezebel is also attracted to these wonderful blessings and comes to corrupt God’s people. Love without discipline becomes sexual immorality. Loving one another and tolerating Jezebel will end in disaster. For example, if a husband decides to love his wife with the love of Christ, Jezebel will attack that man until he withdraws from such a godly commitment. In this way the husband will stop being passionate towards God and his wife. Another example: if a man decides to work harder, or to have a better business, or to serve God more, Jezebel will attack until the man becomes lazy, confused or passive. In this way he will chose poverty than to stand against this demon. He will tolerate Jezebel and then backslide.

Jezebel is a proud queen and she loves to seat on her throne. She loves to be worshipped and to be in control. Many marriages and churches fail because of the influence of this demon. But remember this: the wicked Jezebel died a tragic untimely death which was prophesied by the Prophet Elijah. Her own servants, the eunuchs (the men she has deeply hurt) pushed her to death. The wicked may prosper thru wickedness for a time but they never end well.

One word that Jezebel hates is “NO!” She hates to be refused. This is God’s promise that if you resist the devil, he will flee from you. You must see not only the ‘face’ of Jezebel, but her back too, running away from you in disgrace! Until you see that, the battle continues! When the evil comes like a flood, the Spirit of God will raise a standard against it. On that standard it is written: “NO!” By the Blood of Jesus we say No to Jezebel! We say No to poverty! We say No to fear! We say No to divorce! We say No to backsliding! We say No to barrenness, miscarriages, sicknesses, accidents and untimely death! No! No! No! But we say Yes to God! We say Yes to Jesus! We say Yes to the Holy Spirit! Jesus is Lord!!!