What you hear and how you hear determines where you are and where you will be. The meditations of your heart, your deepest thoughts are clear indications of how much life will bring your way. To be successful in life you must make optimal use of what you hear. I am always blessed each time I read Mark chapter 4 and will always pause at Mark 4:24: “And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given”.
Another version has it this way “take heed what you hear and how you hear……”
The message:
- Take heed what you hear: Be careful with what you expose yourself to. Be selective in your hearing habits. Don’t entertain just anything. There are things to be heard and things not to hear.
- With what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you: The words we hear are like an orange fruit. Meditating on them is like squeezing out juice from it. The more we squeeze, the more we extract out. The word profits us to the level of attention we pay to it. Jesus describes the level of profit different people get from hearing the same words as thirty, sixty and a hundred fold. The level of profiting been directly proportional to the level of HEED we have paid to the word. Heb 2: 1 admonishes us to give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard lest they slip away. Don’t be hasty with Gods words when you hear them. Most especially those concerned with areas you are facing challenges. Meditate on them. The more you meditate, the more it gives to you.
- Unto you that hear shall more be given: Do we actually hear? Or words just seem as sounds to us. We have actually heard when the words we hear have an impact on our lives. Words are purposeFULL. Jesus is teaching that when we hear, the level of attention we give to what we hear determines what we get from it. Let’s put it in money terms. The rich gets richer because more is given to what they have. The poor gets poorer because what they have is taken away from them. The value and premium you place on things determine the yield they accord you. Life is spiritually programmed to do that. Give 10% heed to the doctrine of wealth. It will return 100% to you. Give 10% of love. Get 100% response. Have nothing to give…get nothing in return. Have more to give…get more in return.
Place yourself only in direct contact with words of prosperity. Meditate on words of prosperity. Think prosperity always and you are sure to be what you think. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word. That is the WHAT and HOW we hear. When you hear don’t let it depart (slip) from your heart, meditate on it day and night and you will make your way prosperous and have GOOD SUCCESS.
– emmanuel aladenusi
HE THAT COMETH FROM ABOVE IS ABOVE ALL AND WHAT HE HATH SEEN AND HEARD THAT HE TESTIFIETH; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. John3:31-33
A lot of us believers today do not fully appreciate the things that we have in common with the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. We often tend to think that though we are the Sons of God, we are not really Sons of God in the same sense in which Jesus is the Son of God.
The Bible however teaches to the contrary. The Bible teaches clearly that we are Sons of God in the same way and to the same degree to which Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 4:17) and it therefore follows that whatever applies to him equally applies to us.
Therefore, the above quoted portion of scripture applies both to Christ and tothe Christian for through the cross, the grave, the empty tomb and now the glorious throne, Christ and the Christian have become one (1 Cor6:17).
So not only is Christ from above, the Christian is from above as well and like Christ he testifies of the things he has seen and heard from above. Like Christ also, men do not receive his testimony, but the few who do declare plainly that God is true irrespective of what they may see, hear, smell, taste or feel in this earth realm.
What am I saying? He that is from above never talk’s sickness for there is no sickness above. He speaks of the things he has seen and heard above and all that can be seen and heard above is THE GLORY OF GOD. And though men do not receive his testimony, the more he testifies to that glory the more that glory begins to manifest in his earthly life. Hallelujah!
– Dr deji oyebamiji
| Using old principles to get new results
Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 17: 23-37
When you were baby, you ate food to grow. When you grew older, you did not begin to feed on stones. You are still stuck with food. But I have seen many Christians who fed on good food at a time, but they got to a point where they felt they have advanced in the things of life, and started feeding on stones. Their end result was visible – they are no longer consistent in every good thing they do. What do I mean?
Sometimes the principles and relationships that took you to the top are what you need to stay on top. If you climbed up being a good student of God’s word, you may not stay long there if you now throw away the Bible and read only management and motivational books; If many couples could treat each other like they did during courtship, many of the marriage problems will be solved; Is it not funny that some believers get to a new level and then they think they need a new wife that matches that level; Some Christians get to positions of influence via honesty and hard work, and they now want to use corrupt practices to remain there; Others get to leadership position by serving people diligently, but when it was just time to demonstrate a higher level of service, they became a semi-god.
Although we may change methods and approaches as we approach the top, we should remember that the fundamental principles of success as outlined in scriptures is applicable to every level we are. We do not outgrow them.
When Goliath threatened the Israelites, they were all in fear. Even though God had led them through many victories, they felt it won’t be applicable with a giant like Goliath. But David came and said – God who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. He did not have an experience of war like the other soldiers of Israel, but he sure had an experience of victory over wild animals, and he applied the same principle to defeat wild goliath.
Colossians 2:6-7 says – … as you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him. Rooted and built up in him, and established in faith, as ye have been taught. Hmn … Don’t expect to see a different formula in advancing as a Christian, it is the first formula you used that got you saved = hearing + believing + acting.
Divine principles are universal in application, potent in every generation and applicable in every position. You do not need to feed on stones as you grow. Just stick with good food.
tope aladenusi |
The environment that supports continuous success
Bible Reading: Psalm 1
Look around you and you will notice that the creator has created everything to function well when they are in a particular environment. You don’t grow a mahogany tree in your sitting room. You don’t see fishes swimming on the streets. Interestingly, man has also learnt from his creator and has unconsciously dictated the right environment for most of his inventions. That is why you do not drive your car on water and you don’t operate your computer inside a swimming pool. God places his creations where they can flourish and be their best and man is also doing the same. But have you ever wondered about the particular environment God has created for man – where he will flourish and be his best?
Friends, there is an environment that guarantees your continuous prosperity. If you leave that environment, you will realize that you keep increasing your efforts, but with little or no results. You may attend prayer conferences and deliverance services; you may visit the best counselors; but if you are not in that environment, you will find it very difficult to achieve your God-given goals. Take all the possession of a Christian and leave him in that environment, he will immediately start to blossom. But give him all the world’s riches and take him out of that environment, it will take only a few days for him to return to nothing. What is that environment? The Bible tells us —
Happy is the man who does not go in the company of sinners, or take his place in the way of evil-doers, or in the seat of those who do not give honour to the Lord.
But whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and whose mind is on his law day and night.
He will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, which gives its fruit at the right time, whose leaves will ever be green; and he will do well in all his undertakings. Psalm 1:1-3 (BBE)
Notice the Bible demands you leave one environment and get into another, only then will you continue to experience success in all you do. We have discussed about being in the environment of the Word in our previous messages. But if you do not leave the evil environment, you will not make good progress even though you meditate on God’s word day and night. It’s like attempting to drive with the two left tyres of your car on the ground and the other two tyres on water. It just cannot work. Bible says – do not be deceived, evil communication corrupts good manners. One of the mannerisms of a Christian is that (s)he will shine brighter and brighter everyday. But with bad friends and acquaintances, such manners get corrupted.
Remember, you can’t fly with the eagles if you scratch with the chickens. May be it is high time you examined your friends, especially those in your inner circle.
tope aladenusi
A relationship you should have …
Bible Reading: Galatians 2:1-14
When was the last time someone looked at you and said “I think you are wrong” OR “I do not believe you are heading in the right direction” OR “I don’t seem to agree with your decision or opinion”? Many Christians have given up on their deepest desires and dreams because there was no one around them who had the boldness to caution them when they were drifting apart.
We are most times satisfied with having people around us who would affix a CORRECT stamp to everything we say or do, even when we are heading in the wrong direction. This is common with those who have been Christians for long; who feel they now have a good grasp of the scriptures. Leaders, teachers and preachers, I believe you have experienced the feeling that comes to mind when someone tells you “oh, you are God-sent. Your words were just perfect for me”. But many of us cannot afford to ever hear anyone disapprove our words or actions even when they are wrong. We feel anyone who opposes us is our enemy. May be we should learn from Apostle Paul, the man who was blessed with abundance of revelations and wrote majority of the new testament books …
Paul claimed no one taught him the message he preached. He heard it directly from the Lord (Gal. 1:12). Notwithstanding, after some years in ministry, here is what he said he did – “I went to clarify with them (Peter, James & John) what had been revealed to me. At that time I placed before them exactly what I was preaching to the non-Jews. I did this in private with the leaders, those held in esteem by the church, so thatour concern would not become a controversial public issue, marred by ethnic tensions,exposing my years of work to denigration and endangering my present ministry” – Galatians 2:2 MSG. In other words, Paul was willing that the leaders evaluate his message and tell him if he was deviating from The Message.
Today, most of the principles that drive our lives were not due to a direct revelation from God. We have fed on books of preachers and philosophers, yet we sometimes feel we always know the right thing to do and no one can correct us. Even when we err or we need help, we feel so proud to share our problems with anyone. James 5:16 says “Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other”. A Christian should have elders and friends that they can share their deepest secrets, regrets and success together. If there is nobody in your life that you respect who will be bold to tell you when you are deviating from the right way, then you are running at a risk and endangering your present success. It is a sign of weakness and it requires your urgent attention.
tope aladenusi
The value and worth of an asset may not necessarily be well appreciated at first instance. Most time, the long term value and usefulness is considered and it engulfs ones mind to the point that no degree of present “low performance” affects our trust in its future relevance. For example, if we treasure an ability, strength or gift in ourselves, we keep exploring it; i.e. In all that we do we keep up the diligent work because of our confidence in the potentials and vast opportunities available. We do not give up even if we don’t seem to be reaping the benefits now. We don’t stop saying to ourselves that someday I will be there or I will achieve the desired result.
Likewise in our lives, we are not expected to give up praying just because we presently cannot lay hold on tangible evidences to justify such consistent labor. Better still, we should build a lifestyle of consistent loneliness with God in prayer like Jesus did. Although, bible might not have recorded all the periods Jesus spent praying alone with God (e.g. Mark 1: 35), but I have no doubt in my mind that He kept praying irrespective of the challenges that came His way. Jesus’ day to day confrontation with the Jewish elders and the outright rejection by people at certain times did not discourage Him either. At certain periods that He was supposed to question the worth of time spent praying due to unpleasant situations, He persistently committed himself to prayers. Perhaps Jesus kept at the back of His mind that His labor is not in vanities.
If in our academic pursuits or businesses for example, we do not mind peoples’ failures and business wind up, then it beholds us not to mind the present challenges that stares us in the face despite our persistent prayer. I have never heard anybody who says I won’t go to school again because people are failing or the graduates are not sound intellectually but rather I hear people say I know I can do better so they forge ahead.
Remember, it is when you are about to get to the end of the tunnel that it surely gets darker, the reason is because you are far from the entrance of the tunnel since you have come a long way and there’s no more ray of light; you are also getting close to the end where the ray of light is about to shine.
1Th 5:16-18 “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
adeyiga awomuti
Safe in the arms of Jesus
Safe on His gentle breast
There by His love o’ershaded
Sweetly my soul shall rest
The words of this hymn re-echoed in my mind a few weeks ago when I watched a little girl nestling so snugly on her Daddy’s arm, with her head sweetly on his chest. You could see that this little girl had no worries at all; she did not care what was happening around because she was with ‘Daddy’.
Think about the days when you were a toddler, running around, playing with everything you could lay your hands on, free of cares or worries. No anxieties about housing, transportation, feeding or even clothing. You were not bothered because those things had a way of getting ‘fixed’ by either Dad or Mum and you didn’t have to care who did it as long as you always had food at meal times and clothing on your back when you needed it.
Now that you’re all grown-up and raising a family of your own; it’s easy to feel ‘so responsible’ that you get irresponsibly anxious because you’re now the bread-winner or supporting provider. However, God’s word for you from Philippians chapter 4 and verse 6 &19 is:
6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
19 And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Loosen up and drop your cares with God, He loves you more than you love yourself. Why else do you think He gave Jesus before you thought to ask Him?
Romans 8:32 He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?
Enjoy life; sail through without cares or worries, leaning on His everlasting arms.
Dr ifelayo ojo
| Getting Inner Strength for Steady Success Bible Reading: Psalm 119:102-105
Every successful business today rarely has the proprietor functioning in all the departments. Though he has an idea of what he expects of the business, he chooses to employ professionals who will handle each aspect of his business well. If we take a closer look at what these professionals do, it will be discovered that the success of each one of them is in the depth of understanding they have on their areas of specialization. In essence, it shows they are well read and have discovered the secrets of their chosen profession; also they have a good command of what they do because they put to practice the theories of their job description.
Many of us have an idea of what success is but often neglect making effort to discover the depth of knowledge needed for it, not to talk of practicing the theories obtained afterwards. Paul described in Colossians 3: 3-4 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Your real life is Christ… I feel it is our duty to always desire to know the pattern our life in Christ should follow. If we must stay successful, we must crave for a deep understanding of how to live in Christ who is our life.
For us to continue on this success journey of becoming all that God wants us to become, we need to deeply understand God’s word. The bible contains information that can handle every aspect of our lives. God’s word propels the ability and strength within us to execute successful Christian living. We need God’s word to achieve the desires and goals he has placed within us. Just like a car without engine cannot move except it is towed, many believers are being towed through life because they do not understand God’s word. They just lack starting and staying power. Seminars, bible teachings and motivational books are not a substitute for our personal study of God’s word.
The ultimate step to continuing on the success journey is reading and practicing the word. Apostle Paul said “God revealed his secret plan and made it known to me. (I have written briefly about this, and if you will read what I have written, you can learn about my understanding of the secret of Christ.)” Ephesians 3: 3-4. It is only someone who has read and fully understands the mind of God for himself as revealed in the bible that stands the chance of practicing the theories. Colossians 2: 6-7 “Since you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, live in union with him. Keep your roots deep in him, build your lives on him, and become stronger in your faith, as you were taught. And be filled with thanksgiving”.
You might say in your mind that “this is what I have always done”, but may I be free to ask that have also been able to practice it well? If your answer is no, then you need to study well to make in part of your being and also make a conscious effort to always put your knowledge into practice.
– Tope S. Aladenusi |
Do you want to spoil a birthday party? Scream aloud “How many people are Saints here?” Music stops and were you to see the chaos you caused in the minds of those gathered you would wish for time to travel back.
But this tag which others have found so difficult to identify with is Paul’s opening address in a great deal of his letters even to a church as the Corinthian church. This lends credence to the fact that we ought to identify with the Word of God and not in the supposed meekness of our imagination.
1st Corinthians 1:1 bear record of Paul’s address under inspiration of the Holy Ghost. He addressed Ephesians (Eph. 1:1 – 2), Colossians (Col. 1:2), Philippians (Phil. 1:1), Corinthians (1st Cor. 1:1 – 2), Romans (Rom 1:7), as Saints. And it is really nothing to be amazed about because anyone born again is a Saint. 1st Corinthians 1:2 … ‘Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours’
This is because the man born gain has passed from death to life, from light to darkness. Once we were darkness but now are we children of light. The very core of our being radiates the very light of God.
Even the Corinthian church with their track record were reminded that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of God’s Spirit had washed them and made them holy and acceptable to God.
The exception to a saintly behavior should not becloud our vision or be taken as the norm outside the rule of God.
I personally loved to make various animal calls delighting in the puzzled looks of my puppy and the chickens. One of the animal calls I made with such ease was that of a cock crowing. So easily those unknowing cocks responded to one they thought was a brother in companion. But in spite of this “gifting” I did not deny my humanity. I didn’t suddenly view myself as a cock in the midst of chickens or humans alike.
So also you are; in spite of your shortcomings, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a HOLY NATION, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. No wonder Hebrews 3 and verse 1 says “wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;”
1st John 4:17b says “…as God is so are we upon the face of the earth”.
Principles from scriptures says it is from this view we should act and not the other way round i.e. not a sinner who should celebrate every good He does in Christ as some rare feat rather as a Saint who when He is told to bask a little in what he has done would hastily reply “what else did you expect?”
Finally let us remind ourselves of an admonition in Ephesians chapter 5 and verse 3. He said “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;” Consider verse 3 –He said fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named amongst you as becometh saints. Simply because you are a SAINT. Don’t let anyone mislead you into some false humility. This is who you are in Christ Jesus.
– Dr bolaji akanni
How Setting Deadlines can Change Your Life …
Bible Reading: Mark 8:26-31
Once I was working as a consultant to a company and I needed some documents to perform my work. The client staff did not provide the documents two days after I had made my requests. So angrily, I went to one of my client’s contact to inquire about the documents. He said – “please sir I’m very sorry, I have been busy doing other things but can you please give me a deadline on when you want to get them”. I replied … “okay, I want those documents by 1pm today”. Guess what? Before 1pm they were all ready.
This event really helped me make a discovery. I realized that most of our employers get results and remain in business by setting deadlines for their staff. Every day, week, month and year, there is a specific target we must hit at a specific time. In fact, deadline is the name of the game for some jobs. On the contrary, we rarely set time limit when we must deliver results in our lives. So in the process, we are busy doing other less important things and we slack out from our goal. Sometimes we even forget about it.
For so many years I have been saying … someday, I will know how to play the bass guitar. I had one or two coaching and that is all I can remember. Up till now, I can only organize noise with a guitar. But I know someone who said I want to be able to play like Bro. A. in one year time. Today, he receives many invitations to play in musical concerts. Sometimes assigning a timeframe to when you want to see a result can make all the difference.
When Jesus Christ was going to die, he gave himself a timeframe for resurrection. He said affirmatively that … ‘on the third day, I will rise’. I do not know how you see his statement but I see it as a deadline. He did not tell his disciples that … ‘guys, I am going to die and I assure you that one day, I will rise again’. He gave them a time limit for them to expect him to perform. And all power on heaven and earth were working together to meet the deadline. In like manner, when you set a deadline with the help of God’s spirit to achieve a target, all that is in you are concentrated to help you deliver the required results within that time.
Friends, don’t hate deadlines because they command performance. They help give focus and they constantly tell the mind that … “hey, you’ve got work to do and you have limited time”. If you say you want to produce a certain result someday, your mind rates it as “not urgent” and focuses on other things. But if you assign a time limit to it, your mind starts working tirelessly to get the result. This is because your mind has been configured for success and may interpret ‘inability to meet the deadline’ as a failure.
What time do you want to see the manifestations of those desires and goals? Is it …. One day? … OR … at a set time?
– tope aladenusi