IDEAS ON REDEEMING TIME FOR THE HIGH FLYING BUSY OR FOCUSED REAL CHRISTIAN.

As a professional or expert consistently:
1.        Learn the Law of Delegation – Do Less

·        Delegate or give authority to another-a person of ability, character and approved by God

·        Never delegate to a person not trained

·        Delegate upward to your boss, if any – let him/her be your coach

·        Delegate side ways to your team mates – tap into their strength/resources. (Exodus 18:18-23)

2.        Learn to Say NO!

·        No does not mean impossible

·        No may hurt but does not kill

·        Sometimes NO is more beneficial than a YES.

3.        Learn to Work Smarter

·        Learn to filter out interruptions – switch or turn off every switchable and turn able

·        Use a diary or your phone organizer/scheduler to avoid a brain fag

4.        Learn to Listen to People

·        It is every beneficial to both or all parties

·        You know what? God is a fantastic listener

5.        Learn the Law of Devotion

·        It guarantees the flow of divine energy and inspiration into your system (Isaiah 40:31)

6.        Learn to Think

·        Have time to reflect and meditate

·        It infuses freshness and newness

7.        Learn to have your own Personal Prayer and Study Time
8.        Learn the Law of Rest (or Sabbath)

·        It is your time of rest; your time out, if you are to be refreshed. God rested on the 7^th day and was refreshed (Exo. 31:16-17)

·        Don’t over drive yourself or your staff so that you don’t give way to the devil

      9.        Learn to Plan Your Day and do it at least a day before

THE JUBILEE CALLED RAPTURE!

Rapture is the defining moment we all are awaiting – whether you are a Christian or not, whether you know it or not.
Rapture is the ultimate jubilee – the multiplied restoration of all that was lost.
Rapture is the last jubilee – the great liberty and rest.
Rapture is the jubilee of jubilees – the unprecedented redemptive magnanimity of all times.
Jesus informed us and urged us to look forward to this ultimate release: “…Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads because your redemption (or jubilee) is drawing near’’ (Luke 21:28).
The Jubilee philosophy or concept is an invention of God. Jehovah, the God of jubilee (Ex. 6:2-3, 6-8) sent us His son – Jesus to be our jubilee. “For God sent the SON into the world, not to condemn the world, but the world might be saved through Him’’ (John 3:17), “And this is eternal life, that they  know thee, the only true God, and JESUS CHRIST whom thou hast sent”( John 17:3).
Anyone who comes to Jesus is set free from every encumbrance known to and bedeviling man – whatever is the opposite of what jubilee represents; but it is only a prelude and a foretaste as far as our stay on earth is concerned.
This is the jubilee of jubilees every person in Christ should look forward to with so much zest and zeal.
Concerning those that will be partaking in the phenomenal “popping up” to the clouds to meet Christ, the scriptures says, “…Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the lamb… these are true words of God” (Rev. 19:9).
This Jubilee is the greatest blessing of God - for God is not just commanding His blessings on a nation but on His Church, a group purchased at a great expense – by the blood of Jesus – His (God) only begotten Son.
In the same manner the trumpet sounded on the “Day of Atonement” after every 50 years, declaring the jubilee throughout the land (Lev. 25).
There is and will be an “acceptable year (or hour) of the Lord” (Luke 4:19) – A year of God’s (finest) grace when the trumpet will also sound in a similar fashion – only this time not by men but by angels and not from the earthly sphere but from the heavenly realm. “…for the Lord HIMSELF will descend from heaven with a cry of command with the arch angels call, and with the sound of TRUMPET of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:16-17).
Without conceding, at rapture “we shall always be with the Lord; and without pontificating, the angel said, “These are true words of God.” So there is a coming final and permanent jubilee. It is the taking away of God’s people from the planet earth to the 3^rd heavenly realm – it is called RAPTURE (Matt. 24:40-42).
Maran’atha

THE DIVINE ASSIGNMENT OF “MEAT IN DUE SEASON” HAS COMMENCED.

There is a special message for the last days, so says the scripture: “In the last days a message will go forth which will be meat in due season to the people.”
This must be the warning concerning the Lord’s soon coming and the preparation necessary to meet Him: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing - Matt. 24:45-46.
What is this “meat (which is interpreted as warning or counsel or message) in due season’’?
Excerpts from American preacher Tommy Hicks’ “End time vision/ministry to the body of Christ” give us a clue.
Tommy Hicks received his vision 3 times with no significant changes. The first time was on July 25, 1961 and then the last in July 27, 1961, 2.30am at Winnipeg, Canada. I quote “…as they matched forth in everything they did as the ministry of Christ in the end times, these people were ministering to the multitudes over the face of the earth.  Tens of thousands, even millions seemed to come to the Lord Jesus Christ as these people stood forth and gave THE MESSAGE OF THE KINGDOM, OF THE COMING KINGDOM, IN THIS LAST HOUR. It was so glorious, but it seems as though there were those that rebelled, and they would become angry and they tried to attack those workers that were giving the message…’’ end of quote.
Ever since God gave Tommy Hicks that revelation, God has chosen several vessels all over the world and revealed to them what is to happen to the Church and the world just before the rapture or the taking away will occur. He (God) has also shown to them what is to happen to the world after the Church is taken away before the end finally comes.
There will be a great teaching and preaching explosion, miracles and deliverances will happen at unprecedented levels that will usher in many into the fold and family of God; with just one message – ‘‘The kingdom and coming kingdom of God’’ before the rapture occurs.
This will be the major activities or assignments of the Church at this auspicious moments, which Jesus calls “A time of the father’s grace” as He, Jesus, revealed to Chilean preacher Ricardo Cid in the end time vision he was given.
We are indeed in the time of God’s grace! The world is living in borrowed time.
At the culmination of the Church’s divine assignment/activity God will call for His Church and say as Tommy Hicks heard in his vision: “This is my beloved bride for whom I have waited. She will come forth even tried by fire. This is she that I have loved from the beginning of time.”
The poignant question is ‘‘how many anticipate these and have prepared or have taken steps to align with God’s plan, agenda or promise for the world, the Church and humanity’’? The final analysis, is that, it boils down to individuals – you. You owe yourself that duty. Every man must work out his or her salvation with fear and trembling and endure to the very end (Luke 21:19, Mt. 24: 13).
Hallelujah LORD- let it come!
Please study Matt. 20:6-8, Joel 2:23-29, Isaiah 44:3-5, Isaiah 58:1.
Maran’ atha

ANY MOMENT FROM NOW JESUS WILL RETURN.

“Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” - Jude 1:14, 15,

“In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD; we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” - Isaiah 25:9.

As the Angels lifted up into heaven, they said, “…any moment from now, Jesus will return.” It resound to our ears repeatedly “… any moment from now, Jesus will return” like a cracked record! This account was in the year 2005 in a vision experienced by a Nigerian preacher Luke Nnamdi.
The times are becoming more and more propitious as many more people across the world experience similar revelations everyday.
Do you understand the time in which you live? Unfortunately many do not: many do not understand the time in which they live.
Many do not care to understand the time in which we live; many do not walk in the time in which they live.
Do you recognize the activity of God in your generation and are you responding to it?
True Christians are: awaiting the final whistle of a tourney that is well over FULL TIME and is now in EXTRA TIME. The whistle will sound any moment!
The days of Noah and the days of Lot are here.
The end of those eras was destruction (of body and spirit)
Only eight (8) people were saved in the days of Noah and three (3) in the days of Lot.
This generation cannot escape another one
1.        This is the generation of the last days
2.        This is the generation of the end times
3.        This is the generation of the coming of Jesus, the Christ.
Ignore or dismiss this piece as gibberish, trash or cheap talk to your own peril. Heed and act on it to your own joy and blessings. The ball is in your court! Please study Luke 17:28-30; 21:34-35, Matt. 24:37-39, 1 Thess. 5:2-3.
Maran'atha

THE CHASTENING AND COMING JUDGMENT.

“Those whom I love I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent”- Rev. 3:19
There is a great chastening of the Church that is coming. It is a chastening that is geared toward reformation, restoration and re-awakening. Equally the gavel of judgments will soon come down heavily on the world.
God is permitting a great persecution to come upon the end time Church to make her rapturable.
God’s judgments are coming upon the nations to drive many to seek the true God and surrender to Him.
All that men have put their trust on; all that men have looked to for safety; all that men have relied on or looked to for back up, God will cause them to fail and disappoint men. People or nations that have relied on the arm of flesh will be so disappointed, disillusioned and left in the cold. The many that do not turn to God will be destroyed.
The purging and pruning of God will appear merciless, but it is a necessary measure or else many will not return back to God - they will be lost to hell. This is not God’s will and would not please Him in any way.
Salvation by compulsion through the mighty and outstretched hand of God is not alien to the scripture. The Bible records in Luke 14:23: “And the Lord said unto the servant, Go out into the high ways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”
Pestilences, economic disasters: wealth devaluation, unprecedented hardship and lack, natural disasters: earthquakes, land slides, flash floods, cyclone, tornadoes and hurricanes happening at such unseen proportions and devastations, bewilderment and confusion will drive many to seek the true God. Many will cry out for deliverance but only a remnant of them will be saved by the blood of Jesus.
God gave me a revelation in which I saw people practically diving into the kingdom and joining the family of God- It was a sort of “a dive for your life” in which survival is hinged on. This is God’s invitation by fire by force in order to save many from destruction.
It is certain many will become born again in such manner. It is written: “For thou, O God hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried, thou bringhtest us into the net; thou laids affliction upon our loins. Thou have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou bringhtest us into a wealthy place” (Psalms 66:10-12).
Ever since God sent out His invitation through His Son, His Prophets, His Apostles and Disciples and now us; men always spurn and ridicule His invitation.
The Church of God now depicts the Laodicea church. It is nauseating to God and makes God really sad. God by His Spirit has promised to cleanse His Church in a similar manner Jesus cleared the temple with a whip of heathen and pseudo – believers.
All sorts of merchandising now goes on in the Church in the name of “breakthrough” and “miracles”; all sorts of sermons are taught and preached in the name of “prosperity” and “blessings”; Christians do all sorts and go any lengths for ecclesiastical titles and positions; Christians give their leaders all sorts of “gifts” in order to curry favour and to remain in their good books. And the attitude of the leaders: Senior Pastors, Bishops, General Overseers and Superintendents etc are: for as long they are paying their “tithes” and giving their “offerings” and the church is “growing” we are satisfied and there is no problem. God says, “I will visit my Church and cleanse it.”
Jeremiah 7:8-15 says: “But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless. “Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! Declares the LORD. “Go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for my Name and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel. While you were doing all these things, declares the LORD, I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer. Therefore, what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears my Name, the temple you trust in, the place I gave to you and your ancestors. I will thrust you from my presence, just as I did all your fellow Israelites, the people of Ephraim”.
We have now entered a new phase in God’s agenda – a frightening one for that matter, therefore God in His mercy and righteous judgment will begin to save those he has foreknown. It will be hash and possibly brutal - a necessary whipping on the back.
I must say this now, you do not have to be compelled to be saved or join the family of God. Why don’t you walk into the hands of Jesus freely now. The chastening and judgments is coming!
Maran'atha

AM I SPIRIT LED OR IN THE SPIRIT?

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me - John 14:1

Many Christians are agitated, they want to know if they are really in the spirit or led by the Spirit of God. They are torn in between and wondering if being in the spirit or led by the Spirit means giving up the human body while still (alive) on earth. They believe since the Holy Spirit is a spirit and not physically seen or touched; to be one with Him, one ought to be invincible like him to really overcome the flesh and all the challenges a Christian undergoes while living on earth. To carry out such impressions or thoughts will entail dying physically or giving up the ghost and that is inimical and uncalled for. The human spirit while on earth needs the body for its housing and survival.
This notion has brought so much confusion amongst passionate believers and lovers of God and Jesus Christ. The impression is wrong and deceptive and I wouldn’t blame some Christians. I would rather blame some preachers and teachers of the word of God who quote the word of God out of context without really knowing the meaning and the true circumstances in which it was said (or written) or as prevailed then or now as the case may be, because the word of God is a living word.

Strong but Unfounded
If you are agitated by wanting to know if you are led by the spirit of God, and therefore a son or daughter of God according to Romans 8:14. The answer is found in Romans 8:9: “But you are not in the flesh, you are in the spirit, if in fact the spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the spirit of Christ does not belong to him”. (Please read 1Corinthians 3:16, 6:19).
And also if you have been enriched with the words of Christ in you and you keep them, you are truly in the spirit and being led by the Spirit. The Spirit of God dwells in you as the words of God stored up in you – John 6:63-64, John 1:12.

Any More Agitation?
But if you are still agitated by fear of or perhaps falling into sin (1John 1:8, 10); your mind should be calmed by the provision of an answer through this confirmation in Romans 8:15-16: “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear (In this regard, sin or torment, e.t.c), But you have received the spirit of son ship, when you cry “Abba! Father!” (In this regard, remorse, repentance, cries of deliverance, thankfulness, worship, e.t.c.). It is the spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God’’. (That is, being in the spirit or led by the Spirit). Please read 1Jn 4:15; 5:1, 3; 4:2, 6; 3:24, 1 Corinthians 12:3.

Outright Mistakes
In any likelihood you fall into sin or old ways, we know the spirit of son ship in us impels us to walk in light and in fellowship with one another by confessing our sins or acknowledging our erring to Jesus Christ for his forgiveness and cleansing by his blood – 1Jn 1:7, 9.

Abba! Father!
In the Hebrew language “Abba! Father!’’ means my daddy, my father; signifying intimacy between a father and a son when uttered. Crying Abba! Father! By he or she who utters it, indicates a continuous unquenchable deep yearning or desire for God and His love. This is the hallmark of a true Christian. God himself said he will make it to be so by the reason of His intervention when He spoke through His prophet Jeremiah, “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each man teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying ‘know the Lord’, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more’’.
Again Apostle Paul in the new testament succinctly expresses the mind of God, “...and you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but an tablets of human hearts”. Please read Ezekiel 11:19-20; 18:31.
Finally, brethren, being in the spirit or being led by the Spirit of God are a function of the word of God in you and upon you (Galatians 5:25, Romans 8:5); that is,

1.      Has your human spirit been regenerated by the Spirit of God – in other words, are you a born again Christian.

2.      Has the word of God dwelt richly in you – in other words, is your faith growing by the hearing of the word of God.

If you can truly attest to the above, then you are truly in the spirit and led by the Spirit of God.
Maran’atha.

EXERCISING YOUR FAITH RIGHTLY-The Tool for Manifestations

Behold…but the just shall live by his faith - Habakkuk 2:4

Brethren in Jesus Christ, do you want a clear cut sense of direction now and beyond? Then have a clear cut goal. Let your clear cut goal be your “FAITH”. ‘The substance of things hoped for’ – Hebrew 11:1
Having done this; let it become your focus or vision – Proverbs 29:18. Your focus, which is your vision, will motivate you, guide you and attract all of your attention: your time, your energy, your money, your intelligence and even your prayer and or fasting to it. Do all of these and watch patiently but surely your focus or vision explode into reality. Now after your focus explodes into reality, what will you call that? A miracle, a wonder isn’t it!
I should have you know that a miracle is first orchestrated in the spirit realm before the Holy Spirit berths it for you in the physical realm; this is not without the application of a fundamental ingredient, your: FAITH in God’s ability to do it.
Remember faith is what pleases God. An absence of it does not only displease God but it restrains Him also – Hebrew 11:6. Perhaps you didn’t know this before: zero faith is gross sin before God – Romans 14: 23b. You need not to be told again that sin is the only thing that displease and restrain God – Isaiah 59:2, 2 Chronicles 7:14.
Brethren, there is a ‘‘How” to it. I mean how to berth your miracles.

1.     The first thing is to rejoice in the era you are in. We are in the era of the Lord Holy Spirit. He alone holds sway now – John 16:7, 8-11.

2.     Thereafter I strongly urge you to delve into the realm of the Holy spirit, that is the dimension  where space and time is not a limitation (it is called fourth Dimension) and then go spiritual sightseeing in order to properly visualize your focus or vision which I call “FAITH GOALS” – Joel 2:28, Habakkuk 2:2.

3.     Afterward begin to call future thing, that is, your “Faith Goals” into your present situation as though they are already here. For example you may normally say “By God’s grace I will have a car next year”. Of course God’s grace will do anything good and lovely for you, but as far as the Holy Spirit is concerned, He is saying “No, you already have a car”. Think like the Holy Spirit - Romans 4:17, Hebrew 11:3.

In your minds eye, perceive (Visualize) them, that is your, “Faith Goals”. Believe you are pregnant for them- Habakkuk 2: 1-3, Genesis 15: 1-6. Let me illustrate to you. It is like a woman in her early pregnancy months, though she feels and knows it even when it is not obvious with a bulging stomach but yet she is pregnant.

4.    Thereafter call or confess or declare them into existence as you go about acting on your “Faith Goals” – Ezekiel 37: 4-7, Romans 10:10.

Having done all these, mixed and churned in your faith in God’s ability to do it, watch yourself graduate from perception to possession.
Brethren, the truth, is that for you to have a good grasp of these insights as revealed by God’s Spirit, a total overhaul of your mindset on this pattern will make you think and be like God – Genesis 1:3, John 11: 43-44. When you do these, you will truly have the mind of Christ. Didn’t He (God) say you are gods and sons of the most high – Psalm 82:6? In the verse 7 of the Psalm 82, God says because we are not conscious of this truth (our being gods and sons of the most high) we all ignorantly live our lives and die like mere mortals. We are princes behaving like slaves in a Kings Palace. What a pity – John 10:34.
Finally like Jesus will always say in His popular refrain, I too say unto you “Be it unto you according to your faith” or if you like ”Go your Faith has made whole and well”.
Maran'atha.

GUTS! GOD’S KIND OF FAITH

¹But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.    ²When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
   ³For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
   ⁴Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
   ⁵Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
   ⁶I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
   ⁷Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
   ⁸Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
   ⁹Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.
   ¹⁰Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
   ¹¹I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
   ¹²I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.
   ¹³Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
   ¹⁴Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.
   ¹⁵I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
   ¹⁶Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;
   ¹⁷Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.
   ¹⁸Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
   ¹⁹Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
   ²⁰The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
   ²¹This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
   ²²But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.
   ²³Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.
   ²⁴Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.
   ²⁵I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
   ²⁶Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.
   ²⁷Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.
   ²⁸Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to
       reproaches.- Isiaiah 43: 1-28.

Think about it! How many times have you cringed in fear, when your courage was put to test? How many times have you chickened out when it was time for you to stand? How many times have you been lily livered and quickly sought the easier way out when the chips were down? Where were your guts? What happened to your boldness? Did they melt down, disappear into thin air or simply take flight? Perhaps you never even had guts in the first place, maybe you are an impostor.  Can you thrive in chaos? Or does anyone thrive in chaos? I make bold to say that God thrives in chaos. From time immemorial, it’s always been His style (Genesis 1: 1-2) - out of nothing comes forth something; out of the unseen comes forth the seen; out of mystification berths orderliness; out of disarray berths pleasantness (Genesis 1: 1-31). There is no gain saying that He is the epitome of guts – another word for unwavering or unshakable faith. It is the only reason you need it (i.e. faith) to please Him. You must at least have an iota of his nature to partake of Him. It is not negotiable. It is either you have it or not (Habakkuk 2:4, Hebrew 11:6).  Faith is the only precious article a man really owns on planet earth (Luke 17: 5-6). It gives birth to other articles and brings about unprecedented changes in the life of a man or people (1 John 5:4). Your enemy and God’s adversary, the devil knows this truth and that is why he unrelentlessly seeks to steal your faith or out rightly exchange it with the counterfeit called “DOUBT” (James 1: 6-8).  When and if the devil succeeds, he prevents you from receiving the articles faith gives birth to (i.e. your desires, aspirations, dreams, visions, goals e.t.c, 1 John 5: 14-15) and denies you of the change of life in the spirit (i.e. the salvation of your soul, a guaranteed heavenly home-1John 5:11-12) and an upgrade of your earthly life –physically, materially and character wise that only faith produces. This is what counts most. (John 3:3, 5, 12, 15).  So I ask you one more time: can you thrive in chaos? Chaos, disarray, circumstances, difficulties, and adversity is what the devil presents to you to cause doubt, but actually they only serve the purpose of shaking and testing your faith to determine its substance and grounding.  Like raw gold or silver that goes through the refiners fire before emerging as the beautiful ornament you appreciate and may want to have or acquire (James 1:2-4, Psalms 116:10). Your faith must undergo a fire of sort through the devil’s “Blast Furnace”. And when you finally emerge from the crucible of life, lo and behold! You have the full nature of God. You become a master of situations and circumstances. Your unbelief and doubt is permanently confined to the trash bin; and your arch enemy the devil is put to shame and an endless flight. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, John 16:33).  Really, child of God, it takes GUTS to take a stand for and walk with God.  Have guts: faith turned inside out. It is God’s kind of faith.  With the WORD set yourself free and like an Eagle soar high! You will get there! Maranatha.

THE CHURCH, THE NATION, THE LEADERS, THE CITIZENRY – Part 2

Jesus, the Christ spoke against the leaders and politicians of His time, when on earth, because they were wicked and unrepentant. He didn’t pray for them and of course did not hobnob with them neither did his disciples and Apostles. Rather, Jesus warned His people of them ‘...be wary off the leaven of the Pharisees, Sadducees and Herodias” These were the politicians and pseudo believers in God of that time. (Mark 8:13-21, Mathew 16: 4-12).
The scriptures say emphatically that “when the righteous are in power and authority and the leaders love Justice, the people will rejoice and the land will know stability” (Paraphrased, Proverbs 29:2, 4).
Therefore in the light of the above scriptures I submit unequivocally that, the righteous will never be in government, Justice will not reign, the land will know no stability, and the people will not rejoice, when we wouldn’t change our ways and subsequently take practical and bold steps to effecting it (Nehemiah 9:34-37).
God is no magician, and He wouldn’t perform any magic. God only performs wonders as the wonderful counselor, prince of peace and everlasting Father; He will do wonders, only when we activate the process rightly.
We know God has not stopped revealing to His children both prominent and oblivious, that Nigeria will be great and flourish again; but not until Men begin to call on God rightly, and act accordingly. Our leaders’ honor God with their lips, but their heart is far from God. Some worship God in vain, while some worship false gods. They know what is good but wouldn’t do it, which is a sin to God (James 4:17).
They oppress and suppress the people through their actions and inactions. In the days of Jesus’ sojourn on earth, He openly rebuked the leaders of that time. Jesus was constantly on a collision course with the leaders and political class who pretended to know God and His laws expertly.
These people (Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes) hated Jesus with a passion for his boldness, courage and purity. It is not different now. If Jesus were to be in Nigeria now physically, I am certain, He would do same, again and again.
It is worthy to note that, but for King Jehoshaphat of Judah, Elisha, the prophet didn’t want to have anything to do with wicked and heathen kings (2 Kings 3:13-15). This same King Jehoshaphat incurred the wrath of God for doing business with a heathen King (2nd Kings3:13-15).
God hates and warns against fraternizing with wicked rulers or leaders. Nigeria is sick and the corridors of power in all tiers of government are under the stronghold of wicked forces (Proverbs 25:5). Nigerians are groaning under the yoke of bondage and retrogression. These have hampered the natural leadership and model role that God destined Nigeria to provide for the dark skinned people, Africa and the world.
Satan their father, that is, our false and pretentious leaders and their cronies, allies, collaborators and alibi is a retrogressive being. He has always been anti-progressive, because it is his nature (John 10:10; 8:43-44, 47).
These leaders are unlike the mold of Jesus. All they keep doing is sowing evil and wickedness in the name of democracy and leadership. Jesus sowed well, He upturned all the works of the leaders he met and exposed them. In addition, he reformed and informed ignorant ordinary people. Jesus did good everywhere He went. Are children of God not supposed to emulate Jesus?
I must emphasis that Jesus taught that we should be law abiding and carry out our civic responsibilities to the latter. For example, paying taxes and being obedient to laws that do not contravene God’s words – Christians owe that to their country unreservedly. But, that we should pray for the well being of wicked and unrepentant leaders, I do not think so.
Dear readers, it’s your duty to know what God is saying (Proverbs 25:2). Almost all of our leaders are enemies of God because their hearts are far from God (James 4:4), and by their actions and in actions they tenuously harm God’s people – His creatures and creation (His earth) and God will deal with them for that at His own time and in His own way. You are to pray for your enemies: those who harm or try to harm you directly; that is, your human known enemies. I don’t mean your spirit enemies such as demons or Satan. Jesus taught us to pray for such enemies (Mathew 5: 43-48, Proverbs 24: 17-18; 25: 21-22).
An African adage says ‘when you know your enemy, then he or she cannot harm you any more’’. Even a person born blind, deaf and dumb, knows what has become of my country – Nigeria.
The Body of Christ listen to what the spirit is saying in 2 Samuel 23: 2-4, 6-7. Retrace your steps now. The ball is in your court.31/12//08.
Maranatha

GRACE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the Law; you have fallen away from grace – Galatians 5:4.
What are you, O Great Mountain? Before Zerubabel You shall become a plain, and he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of Grace, grace to it – Zachariah 4:7
From the scriptures above, two things are quite clear. One is that a Christian ought to walk all his life in grace and two, that one can fall or act out of grace that is, operating outside the confines of grace which is really not profitable.
Grace is indeed what makes the difference in the life of a Christian. It is what makes us beneficiary of what I call “Divine Rights” that is, the promises and privileges in Christ. It is what makes your joy full, boundless and unutterable because literally in the Greek word it is translated ‘Charis’ meaning pure joy.
Somebody said ‘grace is unmerited favour’, which is very true. Another said ‘favour plus mercy equal grace’, absolutely right. They are all correct. God’s word found in the Holy Scriptures says ‘Grace is a gift from God to man’ (Ephesians 2:8). The scripture also says ‘Jesus Christ is grace and the epitome of grace’ (John 1: 16-17).
Just, as we are told ‘God is love and the epitome of love (1John 4:8-10). Grace is the singular reason Christians or believing followers of Jesus are a forgiven, saved and sanctified bunch. Grace is God’s divine enablement, Gods divine lifting up, and God’s divine strength in everything you fathom or be engaged in, such as: worship, holiness, power over sin, anointing, righteousness, obedience, knowledge, wisdom, prayer, healing, teaching, preaching, patience, fasting, leadership, administering, hospitality, giving thanks, counseling, health, wealth, family, victory, progress, success, joy, giving e.t.c.
The scripture is correct and one cannot add to it. Let’s take two scriptures and put in perspective:

1.      Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and that in due time He will lift you up (1Peter 5:6).

2.      God resisted the proud but giveth grace to the humble (James 4:6).

One thing applies and is common to both scriptures, and it is the word HUMILITY. So we can deduce and conclude that grace is for the humble male or female. There is a truth about God and it is: God will never waste His gift – he gives to the deserving. He is the great appropriator.
Grace for life and Grace for race.
You will be working at cross purpose and against yourself to take grace lightly and unimportantly. You need grace for your eternal life and to run your race for earthly life.
Discarding your warped views and notions about God, what He is and what he is not, whether he exist or not, abandoning your egocentric, over confident and over bloated opinions or beliefs in yourself, theories, philosophies, and accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord, saviour, helper, teacher, comforter, counselor, provider and protector is the greatest act and show of humility by man as far as God is concerned. (John 3:5-6, 8:43, 45).While further acts of humility, will endear you the more to God.
Nicodemous was a Rabbi (teacher of no small repute) in his own right. As a teacher of the law, he realized that his impressive resume and understanding paled into insignificance under the scrutiny of Jesus teachings.
To tap into such excellent teachings he needed to swallow his pride, pocket his titles and achievements and come to Jesus by night for the knowledge of life. Now to fellow Pharisees Nicodemous acts were a humiliating task but to Jesus, Nicodemous actions were acts of great humility.
From afar, God knows the humble and the proud and from afar he gives to each accordingly. For the humble, it is grace. For the prideful, it is resistance all the way. The opposite of the act of humility of accepting Jesus in one’s life is to reject Jesus and sadly and truly it is the greatest sin. To reject Jesus is outright sin without which there is no remedy but doom.
Therefore if you are looking for enablement and strength please humble yourself under God. If you want to be advocated for on your behalf and promoted in all facet by Jesus, the Christ, then fall in line and walk in grace. It is yours for the taking. Maranatha.

LORDS LORDING IT OVER…Servitude is not servanthood

In the corridors of political and economic power of the present age, even as it were in time past. 

The great ones and lords (according to human definitions) in our society (and unfortunately now in the Church) always lord it over others (Mathew 20:25-26). 

In very big social words: it is referred to as the dichotomy between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. My focus in this piece is on the Church, which is my key constituency. In the Church you find them, that is, the Church's' version of bourgeoisie seating in an especially elevated space or place. You, the ordinary one dare not wander there or else the ushers will bundle you out, that is, if you hesitate a little longer than necessary.

They go by the nomenclature: District, Senior, Area, Regional, Provincial Priest, Overseers or Pastors  or Bishops e.t.c.
They have even reserved special (non plastic or metal) chairs or benches for traditional rulers, thus making the church an extension of the palaces of the monarchs; whom most times by design or otherwise saunter in their flowing gowns, followed by their “Olori(s)”, children and assistants well after the commencement of service or programme thereby attracting attention and causing distractions. During programmes in these churches and ministries, when all spaces have been taken, and there are still unoccupied spaces at the so called “glorified” and “elevated” places the “ordinary” members are never allowed to sit there.
Unwittingly by their actions, and traditions in reverencing men, they have gone contrary to the word of God they claim to preach and teach. Let’s remember, Jesus taught and said “...you are all brethren’’ (Mathew 23:8) that is, of the same womb in Hebrew language.
We have given ourselves titles, elevated them to the high heavens, and used them as a basis to cause division and segregation in the house of God; forgetting the very words of our master Jesus, '' But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted '' Mathew 23: 8-12.

They lose sight of the truth that designations or ecclesiastical appellations are not synonymous with the anointing or graces God bestows upon one nor are they the prerequisites or criteria for spending eternity with God in His kingdom. But unfortunately many equate their titles for a grand position or standing with God. Some have gone so far as to see themselves as demi - gods playing the alpha and omega in the affairs of men who necessarily have to deal or relate with them because of the office they occupy.
This behavior is replete in the Church and is a paradox that leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of many. Try paying them a visit in their offices for any reason their office or calling demands, by the time you are exhausted as a result of filling several forms or waiting endlessly, you will wonder if these men and women deserve being called ‘‘men /women of God’’.

You will wonder if the whole thing is after all not a giant hoax under the canopy of MINISTRY in the name of God.

The somber truth is that many of these church/ministry leaders are not greater than John the Baptist as enunciated in Luke 7 verse 28 (if you have understanding of that scripture).

In my study of the scriptures, I discovered that God’s basis for calling or seeing a man as great is as follows:

(1)   Humility and servant hood to God and fellow man (Mathew 20:26-28; 18:1-4; 19:13-15; 23:11-12)

(2)   Teaching or Preaching God’s word correctly and practicing them (Mathew 5:19).

Of course, there is a place for those whom God has anointed and made leaders who deserve “godly” and “simple” honor or appreciation. The people in the Church can still know their leaders without the overbearing attitude and misplaced zealousness of those concerned.
You are not a leader by position, title or office, and the paraphernalia or perks of office. You are a leader by simplicity, humility and love for God and humanity.

This is a snare (you need not be told that the devil is the author of snares), and those concerned and the Church better beware or else they may live to gnash their teeth in sorrow. You may be an “Oga” and recognized here, but not known in heaven. Come down from your high horse before God brings you down or even abandons you altogether (Luke 16:15). A word is enough for the wise. Listen to what the spirit is saying as you make your joy full.