What's 2011 saying?

Text- Matthew 10:38 (AMPLIFIED), Romans 13:14, 1Corinthians 6:19-20
Message- Let's all make up or minds to have an unshakable relationship with God in 2011. Let's make it all about HIM.

Happy 2011!

God's special breed

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” John 1:12

The above bible verse is a very powerful one. What it means is that the day we received Him into our lives, at that very moment, our levels changed. We moved up from the lowest point we could ever be, to the highest point (sons of God, children of God). The creator of this world and all that’s in it is our Father, and we, His children. Romans 8:15-17 goes on to explain this relationship, talking about how through adoption we are now children of God and therefore, we become heirs of God and joint heirs together with Christ.

Going back to John 1:12, if we know that we are His children, then we also know that we have His nature. You can only be like the one who made you. A puppy would never be like a snail, that’s not its nature. Likewise us, we are God’s children, hence we are like God. In Genesis 2:26-27, the bible says we are made in His likeness and image. So once you have given your life to Christ, automatically, you have a new nature (the nature God).

In 2^nd Timothy 1:7, we are made to understand that God has given us the spirit of love, power and a sound mind. This is power to change negative circumstances, power to heal the sick, raise the dead, power to live above sin, power over principalities, power to evangelise and on and on. Recently, I was walking down the road which was quite slippery because of the snow and I fell. Initially, I laughed it off but it wasn’t until I got home that I started to feel pains in my shoulder and they hurt really bad. I must have mumbled something like ‘Ah God, I don’t like this’ and he seemed to say ‘then change it’. In obedience, I said a really simple prayer and believe me, the pain disappeared. As children of God, we have the power of God operating in us. He’s also given us the spirit of love. We are able to love like He does. With His love, when we see people, we see perfection in them. This love makes us incapable of lusting and hating others. It’s the love that made a Man (Jesus) die for people who were crucifying Him. He’s also given us the spirit of a sound mind. Success is belongs to us. Success was made for us God’s children, so that we can shine as lights that we are (Matthew 5:14), because shinning is our nature.

The fact that you do not know or do not believe that you have something doesn’t mean you do not have it. It’s only your lack of believe (faithlessness) that will hinder you from living in that reality. Therefore we need to find out our inheritance in Christ by searching the scriptures to find out what God says concerning us and believe it.

                                                 

Be steadfast!

According to the dictionary, to be steadfast means to be firm, not shakable, fixed, unchanging, firmly loyal, and unswerving.

In the book of Acts 10:1-4 (by the way, I implore you to read the whole chapter), we read the story of a man known as Cornelius, the bible records that he gave much alms to the poor and prayed to God ALWAYS (verse 2). If you go on to read verse 3-4, it talks about how his alms and prayers were remembered by God, and subsequently, many people, including Cornelius were filled with the Holyspirit (verse 44, 46).

As a result of one man’s CONTINUOUS prayers and charity works, many people became filled with the Holyspirit. That was a new beginning for all those people that day. I’m pretty certain that all those people must have gone on to impact their world and make a difference. But all this was possible because of one man (Cornelius) who was steadfast in his walk with God, his prayers and charity works. Note that, Cornelius continued to do this good works, but it wasn’t until that certain day that the angel of the Lord visited him.

Are you getting weary of praying, giving generously, evangelizing, helping and serving others, or whatever good it may be that you are doing? DON’T give up now! Keep at it. Hebrews 6:10 says ‘For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of^[a] love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister’. Again’ always remember that you are serving God and he’s the one to reward you, not man, though, He could do it through man.

Recently, I got weary about this blogging, I was tired. I wasn’t even sure if it was blessing anyone or making any impact, but thank God for good friends He’s given me. Now, I’ve made up my mind to press on and move on. I’m not going to give up; not now, not ever! As it says in Ecclesiastes 3:1, there’s a season to everything.  Galatians 6:9 ‘And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. It says in DUE season, we shall reap, but if and only if we do not lose heart. In other words, if we do not quit or give up. Don’t get tired, if you need strength to carry on, draw up from the Word. Confess Zechariah 4:6, Philippians 4:13 and many others into your life and the situation.

Press on!

Cast your cares.

Hi all,

I hope everyone’s doing great? If you aren’t, learn to cast your cares and burdens on your Father in heaven, because He cares. At the same time, you can talk to someone, to your true friends about it, possibly someone who is more spiritually mature than you are (a problem shared is half-solved). When you open up to people, you’ll be surprised by how many people have actually gone through that situation or are even still going through it.

I know how hard or how sensitive some things are, but stop worrying and start trusting God. You’ve been trying so hard to sort things out, but it’s just not working, commit it to Him and watch Him take charge (Proverbs 3:6). It’s time for you to let go and let God. Find like-minded believers who can pray along with you (Matthew 18:19).  

Take a look at Galatians 6:2 “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

Also, Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

If there’s anything you are going through right now, and you would like me to pray along with you, feel free to email me, inbox me on facebook or simply leave your prayer points as comments below this (you can do so anonymously,  that’s if you wish to).

How He loves us!

Jessica, my very good friend moved out of her father’s mansion (literally a mansion) immediately she turned 18. According to her, she wanted her freedom, she wanted to explore the world, and she wanted to grow without the influence of her family. Having turned 18, she was legally allowed to do that.  That day, as she rolled out her suit case, her father couldn’t look at her, to say the least, he was hurt. He loved Jessica deeply, even though she’s not his biological child, she was adopted when she was only three. 

While exploring the world and her new found ‘freedom’, she and her friends decided to go on a vacation to South Africa. She was delighted because she had never been to Africa before, even though she is African. Thank God for facebook, her only sibling Tade, was able to keep track of her and got to find out she was in South Africa.

One fateful Saturday evening as her father and brother Tade sat by the TV watching X-factor, Tade got a call from one of his friends that a riot broke out in South Africa. He needed Tade’s prayers. According to Tade’s friend, he had lost all his material possessions and his chances of coming out of South Africa alive were very slim.

‘Tade, I need your prayers, a riot has broken out in Johannesburg, I doubt if I can make it out of this place alive. Pray for me Tade, pray’.  He said amidst sobs. Immediately, Tade remembered his sister, she was in Johannesburg as well. He told their father and for the first time, he saw his dad cry. 

On Monday, Tade set out to go to work as usual. He was now in charge of His Father’s empire in London. Just as he was about setting out, his father called out to him,

‘You won’t be going to work today, I’m sending you to South Africa first thing tomorrow morning to get your sister’. Tade was speechless. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard. He was his father’s only biological child.

‘I’m in charge of your empire, what happens when I don’t return?’ asked Tade.

‘Son, you have to go, you are her only hope now, save her!’

All through that night, Tade couldn’t sleep; this was the hardest thing he ever had to do. But he loved Jessica dearly, and made up his mind to go. In the morning, as he bade his father goodbye, he noticed his father couldn’t look him in the eyes; it was just as hard for his father as it was for him.

On getting to South Africa, he faced a lot of trials and all attempts to locate Jessica had failed. One day, as he walked through the desolate streets of Johannesburg, he saw Jessica, sitting right there on the floor, in rags. Just as he ran to meet her, he was hit by a bullet. He died…instantly. She sat by his body weeping, she couldn’t believe what had just happened. She decided to search through his clothes and found letter he had written. He had detailed everything summarized in this story and hoped to give it to anyone who knew her whereabouts. Somehow, that day she was able to leave South Africa by the help of a good Samaritan, and went back to her father. He welcomed her back with open arms and even threw a party for her.

* * *

That’s just how much God loves you. He is so desperate to have you that He sent His only begotten Son to die for you, to bring you back home. This is His Son whom He loves so much, but thinking of you, He gave up this son Jesus as propitiation for your sins. Romans 8:32 ‘He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?’ Stop wandering; come back home, Daddy wants you! The beautiful thing is that although Jesus did die, He rose again on the third day

*P.S- this is purely fictional, any similarities with real life situations is purely coincidental.

Guarding our hearts and mind.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Philippians 4:8 above talks about the kind of things we should think and meditate upon. Proverbs 4:23 also says that we should guard our hearts with all diligence because out of it are the issues of life. Not forgetting Romans 12:2 that says we should be transformed by the renewing of our mind and shouldn’t be conformed to this world.

All these, just tells us the kind of things we should occupy our minds with. Recently, I was reading a book titled ‘Hey God, why is it taking so long’ by Lynette Hagin (great book by the way, I suggest you read it too). In it, she talked about staying in the Word of God. Now, this does not mean praying for 24hrs or reading your bible all day. It just means surrounding yourself with the things of God. It could be by playing gospel music while commuting (again, be careful with the kind of so called gospel music you’re listening to. Always make sure the lyrics are in line with the Word), listening to messages while driving, reading books, communicating with God and so on. All of these just help to renew, minds and focus our minds on the things of God and ensure that our gaze is permanently fixed on Him.

Also, I found that as I read that book on my way to and from school, I noticed my mind was always focused on God. While on other days when I watched programs that I thought of as ‘entertaining’, somehow, my mind started roaming and thinking thoughts that I really did not want to be thinking. But it was as a result of what I had taken in. Hence, we need to guard our hearts.

 It may seem easy to do for some of us, but I did not find it so easy. There are so many distractions in the world. But then I realize that serving God is a conscious effort and it’s a choice, we work at it. I remember writing on a piece of paper ‘Lord, I want to have a more intimate relationship with You’ but then the time I spent in His presence seemed to reduce when it was supposed to increase. It’s not magic, how was I supposed to hear Him when I was focused on the cares of this world, I did not take time to listen to Him and follow His leading, but I was rushing about taking care of my daily business, which technically should be His business. Even in the natural, our relationships with people become more intimate when we spend more time with them. It’s just the same with God.

If you’re like me and you’ve found yourself time and time again desiring a more intimate relationship with God but never really see it become a reality; the solution to this is in James 4:8. ‘Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…’. Draw near, move closer, spend more time in His presence. If you’ve been spending 30mins in your daily quiet time, increase it.  You’ve been spending countless hours watching TV, start reading your bible in that time. I know it might not sound so easy and there’s a tendency to going back to our old ways after sometime, but remember the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:27, he constantly disciplined His body and brought it under subjection.

Dear brother and sister in Christ, I have no doubt that there would be testimonies as we spend time thinking the things of God and spending more time in His presence. I’m still in the process of implementing these truths, so please pray for me as I would be praying for you also. God bless you!

Give thanks!

No one chose where to be born, whom to be born to, how many siblings we should have and so on. These are decisions made by God because He is the creator of all things. The bible says that there was nothing made without Him (John 1:3), this is inclusive of you and I.

In view of this, we should learn to say thank you. It is so easy to forget the things that He’s done and how far He’s brought us. Instead, we focus on what we don’t have, the things He hasn’t done. We look around at others and crave what they have. Learn to say thank you for all those things that seem ‘normal’. The food we eat, the covering over our ahead, being alive up until now, the beautiful people He has placed in our lives. These are really great miracles that God does daily for us, don’t be an ingrate, say thank you. You go to school (even if you say it’s the worst school around), some are not even in the right frame of mind to be taught. You wake up each morning, God kept you through the night; remember, you did not pay Him to watch over you. He does it because of His unconditional love, grace and mercies. Say thank you. Don’t fall into the category of those that don’t appreciate what they have until they loose it.

You say you’re going through so much right now and you don’t know where help is going to come from, but yet you call Him a mighty God. What does mighty mean? Hebrews 11:6 ‘But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.’ The Bible says you must believe that He is, don’t just say it, mean it. Is it possible for the challenge to be mightier than God? No! He hasn’t brought you into this world to leave you. The moment you submit yourself totally to Him, you become His own. He would NEVER leave you. You are the only one that can decide to leave! He is able to do exceedingly above ALL you can ask or think according to the power that works in you (Ephesians 3:20). In 2 Timothy 1:7, the bible says He has given us the Spirit of power of love and of a sound mind. This power is the same power that Jesus had while He was on earth. The same power that raised p the dead, the power that healed the sick, the power that cast out demons, the same power is at work in us. It’s now left for us to decide whether or not to use it. We need to understand that in doing these things, it is through Him because without Him, we can do nothing. The question is not whether or not God is able, the question is can we receive it? You would only go as far as your faith would take you. When faith stops working, fear steps in and in that state, it is impossible to please God.

The summary of these is just to learn to see and seek God in everything (Matthew 6:33 ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you’) Say thank you for your past, say thank you for present and say thank you for the beautiful future ahead. Yes, the future indeed is beautiful (not saying this to console you, but because I’m certain that He’s planned a great future for us. We are His own, His children, the lights of the world, the salt of the earth!)

Meditate on Ephesians 2:10 and ask the Holyspirit to explain and interpret it to you .He is your teacher!

I love you! xxx

The express image of the Father

Text- Genesis 1:27,31; Matthew 5:48, Ephesians 2:10 (AMP), Habakkuk 2:3, Romans 12:2

Be blessed as you listen and share!

Keeping our eyes on the prize

There is so much to do in such little time. Therefore, we need to prioritize. We need to keep our eyes on the goal and focus on what really matters. Our gaze needs to be permanently fixed on Jesus. We haven’t reached our peak yet. In fact, for many of us, we are not even close. We haven’t fully utilized our talents for the furtherance of His kingdom. We may be doing well now and men may be applauding us, but don’t be fooled; that’s not your peak, there is more. The work may seem cumbersome and challenging, but it’s doable. More importantly, we are ABLE to do it, that’s why He has given it to us. We need to press on and move faster in this race. You know, live everyday like it’s our last. Let everything we do, touch lives.

There is no time to play around with sin and continue to rely on His grace. Though His grace is sufficient, we definitely do not want to take it for granted (Romans 6:1-7). We need to have a picture of our future and plan to towards it. Our destination is Jesus, we have to walk and work towards His direction. We need to make a conscious effort to make heaven. It’s not going to be a case of ‘oh I don’t know, I guess I just accidently landed in heaven’. Deep down within you, you know where you lifestyle is leading you to. Don’t say you love Jesus with your mouth and serve satan in your heart. You can’t serve two masters at the same time.

Be ready for the day of the Lord is at hand. You don’t want to be caught unawares. Even in doing the work of the Lord, don’t get carried away, forgetting about your own salvation (Philippians 2:12). Be ready at all times, be consistent. Make yourself available 100% of the time. The whole essence of our existence is God. Every other thing is ‘by the way’. Just like soldiers are always ready for war, we need to be ready for the second coming of Jesus. DON’T waste time on irrelevant things, things that satisfy momentarily, things that we can see now, earthly things. They will surely fade away. Instead, focus on the most important thing; which is making heaven. Matthew 6:19-21 says, we should we should lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, because where our treasures are, that’s where our hearts are too. We need to lose taste for this world and the things in it. Spend your precious time on things that will nourish you spiritually, knowing well that that the spiritual controls the physical.

Just view the world as a market-place with so many side attractions and time wasters, but we being the focused and disciplined breed that we are, will not be carried away by all those irrelevant activities. We know what we want and we go all out to get it. We are Christians, that’s what we do!

Further reading- Philippians 3:1-15

Being aware of whom we are!

Text- Romans 8:14-17, John 1:12, Romans 8:28, Isaiah 60;1, Psalm 23, Ephesians 5:1

P.S- It’s my first video, so please bear with me in terms of the mistakes, video quality and so on. I’m getting better. Be blessed as you listen!

My testimony

OMG, its 13:00pm, need to get some breakfast/lunch, wait a minute I haven’t read my open heavens and Bible today. I better get that out of the way before going downstairs….ok, done!


Two hours later…

So what did I learn from the Bible today? Wow, I can’t even remember. Anyway Lord, you know I’m trying, it’s just that I don’t seem to understand what I read. That’s not my fault, is it?

Sunday morning…

Oh my, I’m really enjoying this sleep, wish I could continue. Oh no, I can’t, I need to go to church. That’s what Christians do on Sunday morning, right? Hang on, I should read my Bible and pray before going, no, it doesn’t really matter, that’s what I’ll be doing in church anyway.

During the sermon…

‘You can’t say you are in love with God and go clubbing/raving’- good for me, I don’t club. ‘You can’t say you’re a Christian and you are an adulterer or fornicator’-cool, cool, I don’t do that either. ‘You can’t say you are a Christian and you don’t have a personal relationship with God’- well, *clears throat*, Lord, you know I’m really trying here. I’m not saying You don’t want me or You don’t love me, after all, my pastor says you love me, but things are just not the way they ought to be between us. Ok, this time around, something has got to change. I’ve got to make a move, have got to do something. Yes, a change is coming. This time, I’m for real!

Monday ‘morning devotion’…

I still don’t understand these things. I’m really trying to be good now, but some things are just not clicking. I need help!

On the internet…

Oh look, Claire has added new pictures; it’s probably the ones from her birthday. Hey, I’ve got a message facebook, hope it’s a good one…*hiss* I think I’m going to leave this group, they keep sending me messages about reading new posts on their blog. I’m not interested!

On facebook again…

It’s already 1.30am and I’m still not sleeping. This facebook is so addictive. Whooo, new message…Again, I better leave this group right now. Erm, on second thoughts, let me have a look at the blog… reading, reading, reading, *slowly, I’m breaking down into tears*, wow, God you actually speak, you speak to all of these people, they have a personal relationship with you. *weeping more profusely* God I want this, I want this so badly, fill me with your Holyspirit. Lord please, slowly but surely I begin to say some things. I have no understanding of what they are, and it’s not fluent like I thought it would be. Maybe, I was just saying things on my own. Anyway, I’m sending a message to the blogger, I’m telling her about my experience.

In the evening…

I’m reading her response now “I jumped in thanksgiving to God when I read the few lines”. How can she be so excited when I’m not even sure about what I’m saying. I read on, “don’t let doubts get in your way, just keep speaking. There’s nothing wrong. The thing is your mind doesn’t understand it, so it tells you that you are saying rubbish”. Ok, this is getting clearer.

And from then on…

I just love reading the bible; I understand everything so much better now. Holyspirit, you make everything so easy. I feel like a veil has been taken off my face. I can see everything more clearly now. I hear You through Your word more clearly now. Though, that bit was hard for me to understand. I found it difficult to personalize the Bible; after all, everyone was reading the same thing too. That reminds me, I remember reading Matthew chapter 7 to Matthew chapter 11 one night and there was this verse that caught my attention. By the time I finished reading, I had absolutely no idea where it was. I mean, I was looking for one verse out of the 173 verses I had just read. I asked the Holyspirit, and He told me the EXACT verse. Need I say I was gobsmacked! Unknown to me at that time, that particular verse was the answer to a question I had been asking God for a while. So, He actually does speak through His word, because He is the Word (John 1:1)

God is so awesome in every way, and there is no limit to what can be known about Him. I leave you with this verse Jeremiah 9:23-24

"Thus says the LORD:
“ Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
Let not the mighty man glory in his might,
Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
24 But let him who glories glory in this,
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
For in these I delight,” says the LORD."