I don’t know about you but I am deeply encouraged by the articles on prayer. You might want to check Prayers in the Lifeline Centre.
It keeps reminding me of the glorious heritage we have in Christ Jesus. That is access. Access; not to a representation of God as it was in the Old Testament, but access to God himself. You and I have been ushered into the very presence of God. I just love it. Think of this – It is in Him we live, we move and we have our being Acts 17:28. I love the last part – it is in God I have my very existence. Col 3:3 says our life is hid in Christ with God. There is no struggle here. I am not attempting to get in. I am in already.
Is this a feeling I should have only at the place of prayer? No!! It is not even a feeling it is the consciousness that anywhere, I am in constant communion, fellowship, bond with the father. It is in actual sense the reality of my being. Eph 2:6 says that you and I have been raised up together with Christ Jesus and have been made to sit together with him in heavenly places. Verse 22 says that we are being built a spiritual temple for the habitation of God through the Spirit. Friends, we are in.
Away with that beggarly mentality of trying always to get in somehow by hook or crook. Through songs and tears. But you don’t need to ‘tear’ your way in. Romans 5:1 says that since we have been made righteous by faith we have access by faith into this grace that we now stand in. This is the reality friends we have access like none other.
Heb 12:18 – 22 says it in a way I love. After comparing the events at Mount Sinai – unlike the children of Israel who were told expressly not to approach the mount, a phrase is used to describe us. He (the writer of Hebrews) says WE HAVE COME (toMount Zion, to the city of the living God). I am not coming, I shall not come, I will not be coming. I HAVE COME
This is our heritage friends. What an access. This would re-order your prayers. Relate with Him as a father. Don’t fear. You are not afar off. You have been brought near.
Remember, He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit together with Him. 1st Cor. 6:17
– Dr bolaji akanni
And ought not this woman, BEING A DAUGHTER OF ABRAHAM, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day? Luke13:16
Healing for a child of God is not a privilege, IT IS A RIGHT!Privileges are products of preference but Rights are based on position. The most dangerous men on the face of the earth today are the men who know their rights.
Privileges may be pleaded for but Rights are taken advantages of. You don’t beg for a Right, you exercise a Right. But one very important point is: you cannot exercise a right that you do not know you have. Until you realize that you are a Son and not a Servant, you will keep begging in your father’s house.
Jesus was teaching in the synagogue one day when a woman walked in bent over with a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. For eighteen years she couldn’t lift herself up. For eighteen years she was a slave of sickness and disease until the day she was told by Jesus that it was HER RIGHT to be healed.
She walked into the synagogue when Christ was teaching and Christ halted his message to make one point clear: ‘Ought not this woman being a daughter of Abraham be loosed from this infirmity?’ In other words, Jesus was saying: ‘If you are a daughter (or son) of Abraham, you have THE RIGHT to be loosed from your infirmity.’
That was a revelation to all that were in the synagogue that day because they didn’t know that before. If that woman had known that earlier at any time within that eighteen year period in which she suffered her infirmity she would have been healed. Why? What is your right is YOURS; it’s not about to be given to you. So when you know it’s your right, you simply TAKE IT. Like that woman, we are sons and daughters of Abraham (Gal3:6-7). It therefore follows that healing is our right. We don’t beg for it, WE TAKE IT.
– Dr deji oyebamiji
Know the price of success?
Bible Reading: Luke 14:25-34
Most times when I see people abandon good projects, I am eager to know the reasons. In many cases, the reason reminds me of Jesus’ question in Luke 14:28 (MSG) – “Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it?”
In other words, from the start of a good course, as much as possible we should have thought through the entire process, known the cost and estimated the challenges. By so doing we will know if we can release the power to stay long, remain strong and finish well.
You will agree most of us do not do that. We have relegated planning and thinking under the guise of faith. Our watchword is “when I get to the bridge, I will cross it”. Most times we say this out of mental laziness. We are implying indirectly that we have not estimated the size of the bridge; we do not even know where it is or what it takes to cross it. All we know is that the Bible says ‘I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me’.
Yes! I agree. But if you are persuaded you can do all things, then let that mentality start working from the start of anything you want to do and not only when you are in the middle of nowhere. Ability to do all things means you should be able to estimate the price of any venture. Every success has a price tag and before you even commence a journey, you should know the price and be prepared to settle it. Faith is not ‘failing to know the price’ but a conviction to pay the known price and cross the bridge when you encounter it.
Do you want to stay long and remain strong in your career, company, ministry and marriage? Do you want to experience steady success in your projects? Have you estimated the price? Do you have an idea of what you require to remain on top of it?
Let’s stop rushing into things because everyone is doing so. Even when you go to the Church and your Pastor has been able to charge you with the word, don’t just dive immediately into a project. When someone proposes something nice to you, it is not a sign of weakness to say “let me think about it”.
If you really want to stay long and remain strong in every good thing you do, then you should cultivate the habit of estimating the cost of an endeavor and deciding if you are wiling to make the sacrifice before executing it.
tope aladenusi
Some logical reasoning has crept into the church unaware, and our minds are so accustomed to these ideas that we accept them without asking questions. Just as it is commonly practiced in choosing a life partner, we have been told to watch while we pray to find the bone of our bone, and the flesh of our flesh. In fact it is also commonly reported that, if you pray without being on the look out you will most likely loose out on the right person i.e. you will not know when he or she pass by you. Much as “watch and pray” is directly attributed and linked to Jesus statement to His disciples at the garden of Gethsemane, it is obvious that there is serious misunderstanding, most likely due to the King James English translation of the bible.
Matthew 26: 41 in HSBC version states “stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”. What has been translated as “watch” by the King James translators and commonly used in churches today means to stay on guard, alert or be awake. This was because in verse 40 after Jesus prayed for a while, He found that His disciples were sleeping and did not join Him praying. So He had to tell them to stay awake and pray just as He was doing.
If you believe that what Jesus meant is that each time we pray specifically about a situation we should also rely on our senses to get the results, then it means we are no longer relying on Him to handle the situation we are praying about, then the question is why do we pray if our senses can do the job? It is possible that God communicates His will about what we are praying for through our senses but this will purely be as He wills, in essence, God has a way of working through us (For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure {Philippians 2: 13}). The best of what our senses produces is still referred to as our decisions, except God has worked through it; God’s will and workings is irrespective of our senses. Next time we pray, we should not be mindful of looking for what it will look like. We should pray with alertness of mind towards God not “pray-sleeping” or “pray-mind traveling”.
-adeyiga awomuti
Love is the seeds of all seeds. It is the coating that should be on every seed. Love is the manure that fertilizes all seeds and ensures a harvest. Love is the greatest. You become wealthy and prosperous by giving and the greatest giver and motive for giving is love.
To every problem love is the solution. Love satisfies every need. Don’t ignore love. Many do and make a shipwreck of their lives. When a man walks in love he has all his needs met. Love brings to reality biblical prosperity…having more than enough to meet the needs of others and yourself and having peace within and without.
In Romans 13:8 the bible commands us to “owe no man anything but to love one another”. 1Co: 13:2: And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing.
When you give love and give in love your labor and seeds become profitable.
Now love is the recipe and solution to the crises in your home. You believe money will win your wife’s respect and affection…. you are wrong. Do this instead. Eph: 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
That he might present it to himself a glorious church….” Giving is a proof of the sincerity of love 2Cor 8:8, 1 John 3:16. Love your wife and children, sacrifice time and give to them, listen to her foolishness, help her weaknesses, come down to her level, in love and with love take her to your level. Grow with your children. When you sow the seeds of love in your home your harvest is ensured. All hell cannot stop you from prospering. Nothing can overcome love. Poverty prevails because you are alone. Win your spouse and children and enjoy the strength of a threefold cord.
Ec: 4:12: And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. The discord in your home is the reason for your lack. Life and labor is unprofitable because you are not working in love. Spend time together as a family. Pray, smile, gist, correct, plan, give, help one another.
Finally, let us all labor in love ministering (giving, helping, attending) to the needs of the saints. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
– emmanuel aladenusi
Hello My Dear Reader,
I have a question for you, what kind of marriage do (or did) you plan to have? If you are married now let me ask, are you anywhere near what you planned for? If you are not married yet, does the future look like you would have your dream marriage?
Recently I was speaking to a friend who will be marrying soon, and I asked this question. The reply went like this – “a marriage where husband and wife are united and very much in love with one another and God. A beautiful family, Heaven on earth, living Happily Ever After! A home that exudes the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, goodness, gentleness, faith, Meekness, temperance). A home I can run to at the end of a bad day and feel relief the minute I walk in through the door”.
All these are beautiful things that we have a right to, but like every other thing in life there is a price for it.
We deserve a fulfilled marriage and more because of God’s word concerning marriage. We know the word of God is true and can never return void.
God looked at Adam saw a vacuum that needed to be filled, He created Eve and presented her to Adam as his companion for life.
Bible lets us know that
Two are better than one because the have good reward for their Labour
Ecc 4:9
Marriage is Honourable in all and the bed undefiled Heb 13:4
Whosoever finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favour from the Lord Prov18:22
… if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven Mat 18:19
Are you married and loosing hope on your marriage?
Are you yet to be married and wondering when it will be?
My word to you today is this, don’t loose hope, keep praying and working hard. God is faithful to His word, He will do that which He has promised. Keep doing your part of the bargain. God is faithful!
Remember the Scripture that says after you have received the promise you need patience. Keep at it, it will soon materialize before your eyes to the Glory of God.
Love
omolola ezeifeoma
Bible Reading: Proverbs 4:10-18
During courtship and the early years of marriage, they kept holding hands and painting the streets with love, but today, the couples who once imagined that they could never stay without each other cannot imagine continuing life with each other.
They start out their career and companies with the zeal and zest to reach the zenith, but after some time, they end up in the empire of mediocrity.
When they first got born-again, they were passionate about reading the bible, praying and reaching the unsaved, but the passion seemed to have a short expiry date. Today, their best experiences with God are always dated far into the past. No wonder they always say … ‘the good old days’.
At the start of their university education, I never saw any of them aiming at a third class grade, but many later settle for it against their desire and console themselves with the stories of some minorities who arrived well despite their grade.
They were known for serving God and ministering to others when they were in school; they planned to impact the outer world when they leave. But today, the outer world has taught them to be servants of money. Money dictates where they should be, what they should do, the number of hours to sleep etc. They alternate from one highest bidder to another. The dream to impact their generation is suddenly becoming a nightmare.
Most of these people are Christians and we see them everyday. I hope you are not one of them?
Is your life branded with abandoned projects?
Are you weak in areas where you used to be strong?
Did you start out well, but right now things don’t seem to be going well?
Are you concerned about ensuring consistency in every good thing you do?
Do you know others who are facing similar challenges?
Then rejoice, again I say rejoice because … in the next few weeks we will be teaching the series titled ‘Staying Power’. It will help you to be at par with the benchmark of God in Proverbs 4:18 “The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine” (MSG).
– tope aladenusi
| All as sheep are gone astrayEach one is gone in his own separate way
The light of the Gospel has cast its rays Hear the voice of the master; He calls today
It gladdens my heart to do your service To snatch the life of a man as from abyss To release the soul the devil often hardens The kingdom of God; surely it widens
The sacrifice of Christ has set us free But for His love, where would we be We once were blind but now we see For us He’s risen once slain on the tree
We with eyes yet were blind we grope in vanity hoping to find Something perhaps to satisfy the mind Alas from above, TRUE LOVE; none of its kind
Flesh of my flesh, Bone of my Bones Such intimacy desired but then I was alone Until for me the king left His throne To redeem my soul that we may be one
– funmi aina |
The reason you are not in Heaven after believing Jesus Christ is to carry out a work. This work otherwise called the ministry is to let every man understand what it is God has done in Christ Jesus.
It may come in various forms, through separate means but the aim is to get another person to partake of this glorious grace that we have been called into. The only means however is by preaching the Gospel to them. It has pleased God through the foolishness of preaching to save those that would believe.
How would they believe friends if they don’t hear? How would they hear if no one goes to tell them? All of us big, small, known, unknown, clergy, laity has been given this responsibility. This is work for the congregation and for the pastors, for leaders and for followers. No one is left out.
The aim here friends is not primarily to make a man a member of your church. While this may serve as a means to him hearing the truth of the lord and saviour Jesus Christ, the issue more importantly is for him to hear the message of salvation. This is of paramount importance. So much the more that barely after being told of who we have been made in Jesus we are immediately informed of this new responsibility.
Don’t wait for a congregation. Don’t wait for a pulpit. Tell that person beside you. Tell him about the glorious work of Jesus.
– Dr bolaji akanni
Getting sufficient starting momentum
Bible Reading: Acts 9:1-20
One of the challenges the Wright brothers had when they were trying to invent the air plane was that they needed to ensure that the planes had enough momentum to take off from the ground and remain stable in the sky. It was not easy for them to discover the forces and elements needed for this. Sometimes, we have similar experiences in our lives. We can see the height we want to attain, we have a sincere desire to attain it, but it is as though there is not enough energy in us to propel us there. What should we do at such times?
We can learn from Apostle Paul. He had one of the most fulfilling apostolic ministries in the world. Did you ever bother to know how he started? Many remember how he encountered God on his way to Damascus and how he became blind. Thereafter, Ananias placed his hands on him and he received his sight. Then “he went right to work, wasting no time, preaching in the meeting places that this Jesus was the Son of God” – Acts 9:20 (MSG).
Is this not surprising? How did he just start preaching? Who taught him? Where did he get the doctrine, the boldness, the momentum?
The answer lies in the message God gave Ananias about him in Acts 9:11 (MSG) saying – “Get up and go over to Straight Avenue. Ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus. His name is Saul. He’s there praying”. He prayed consistently for three days at the inception of his ministry.
When you are about to start realizing your God-given desires, do you also go for God-given strategies, drive and boldness?
Sometimes worshipping God amidst the initial confusion may just be all you need. Praying in the spirit while you ponder about the project is always effective. Your understanding is enlightened; your strength is renewed; God’s power at work in you is activated and sufficient momentum is generated.
– tope aladenusi