“When I fed the five loaves to the five thousand…
When I fed the seven loaves to the four thousand…
…were there not left-overs?”
Jesus had demonstrated his ability to more than supply human needs on these two different occasions in the presence of His disciples. Yet, they (the disciples) were worried about not having bread for their trip and worse still, they misinterpreted Jesus warning about the teaching of the Pharisees to be a rebuke for their forgetfulness to take bread along for the trip!
The master of the universe, El-shaddai, the multi-breasted one- God who is more than enough was saying to them here- “remember the occasions of old when I made provisions for human needs out of nothing?”
The baskets of left-overs which Jesus instructed them to collect after the miracles of feeding so many was considered insignificantly small by the disciples though they were meant to serve as monuments; reminders of God’s mighty power. They were never supposed to doubt His ability to meet their needs; yet, here they were like many of us being very anxious and worried over bread. They had the fountain, the bread of life with them and they were worrying about the supply of bread, while Jesus wanted their hearts on more spiritual things. How could they have taught that He whose meat was to do the will of the Father was rebuking them for bread? However, we all fall into this error many times, rather than trust God to supply our physical needs while we learn spiritual truths at His feet; we beg and plead for crumbs forgetting that we are children and ALL that our Father has is ours! At moments, when we forget the works of God, and distrust the ability of our King, displaying no faith, we ought to chide ourselves like Jesus did his disciples.
This year, stay in the place of trust in God for your needs and that of your family as a whole; do not waste useful time debating whose fault it is that there is just one loaf of bread when you have the chief-multiplier who has proved himself more than sufficient on your side. Instead, take the spiritual lessons He’ll have you learn and stop being so physical in your reasoning. Think more than enough at all times, because our God is more than able to take care of you and any deficiency you may perceive in your life and he’ll rather have you in the place of worship and receptivity to his voice than hearing your groaning for what He’s already provided. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees who care more for physical appearances than what is on the inside, take time to get rooted and built up in the grace that’s for you in Christ so you can be a greater blessing to all around you.
Scripture references: Matthew 16:5-12, Mark 8:14-21, 1Timothy 6:17-19, Romans 8:32, Colossians 2:6,7
-Dr ifelayo ojo
When I spoke on access sometime and I wanted to just quickly remind us that the access you and I have to God does not presuppose that we may at other times not be in union with God.
In simple terms you and I are not accessing God. Rather we have been given access. There is a whole lot of difference between I am entering occasionally into a place and when I have entered or rather I am in a place.
Therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God by whom also we have access by faith into this Grace that we now stand in. Rom 5:1
This brings me also to a very important fact. Do you realize you are a carrier of the presence God? I know God may have been designated to various locations or coordinates and you may have even been taught various means of trying to get to God. But scriptures reveal that the man who is born again is the dwelling place of God.
Consider for a moment 1st Corinthians 2:11 – 12: For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God, except God’s Spirit.
But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.
Sometime ago I rushed to get to church. I couldn’t wait to get inside those four walls and start praying. I was rushing to leave my house and get off to church where I could start praying till it struck me. God does not dwell in temples made by human hands (Acts 7:48, Acts 17:24). I am the carrier of the presence of God.
Till it struck me how could I not have realized that I am the temple of God and God’s spirit indwells me? (1st Cor. 3:16, 1st Cor. 6:19)
Till it struck me … neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, will you worship the Father. But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshippers. And I am that circumcision that worships God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh. (John 4:22 – 24, Phil 3:3)
Till it struck me, it is in God that I live move and have my being. Acts 17:28
Till it struck me, His spirit is not here for a while but is abiding forever in me. John 14:16 – 18
Friends, the man born again who is you and I if you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ have been sealed with the Spirit of God (Eph 1:13). God’s spirit indwells us now. We have all been made to drink into this same spirit of God.
When I hear people refer to a national carrier as the plane or ship that is of the official vessel country (Bearing the countries logo, etc). I marvel at the awesome wonder of God in making the Christian a carrier; not of a logo, but of the presence of God.
And in the last day of the great feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, if anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, “Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (But He spoke this about the Spirit, which they who believed on Him should receive……) John 7:37 – 39b
Have you believed? You have received this spirit.
Dr bolaji akanni
Spread the message Bible Reading: Hebrews 3:12-19
Dearly beloved, for the past five months, we have been sharing on the topic ‘recognizing the will of God’. We were joyous to receive mails and calls from some of you who testified of how the Lord has enriched you via this message. Also, two gentlemen gave similar testimonies which we would like to share with you; they said they decided to read the whole series again and the understanding they got was marvelous.
We were not surprised to hear this because it was a singular message that came in different sections and reading them together will foster a better understanding. We would like you to emulate the attitude of these two gentlemen and read the message at a time, most especially our new subscribers.
To read a complete series of ‘Recognizing the will of God’, just scroll down.
Romans 15:14 (GW) reads “I’m convinced, brothers and sisters, that you, too, are filled with goodness. I’m also convinced that you have all the knowledge you need and that you are able to instruct each other”. In God’s perspective, you do not need to be a Pastor or Bishop before you can enlighten others. Every Christian should be found in the business of encouraging one another. You will come across many believers who are ignorant about ‘knowing God’s will’ and we admonish you to teach them. Spread the message. You have what it takes.
Lastly, the Bible says in James 2:17 “God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense” (MSG). So, practice what you’ve learnt. Let your life display excellence at all times because nothing less than that is expected from you.
We love you and we are always willing to help …
tope aladenusi
Have you ever wished you were born rich with the silver spoon? I use to wish that. I felt my rich friends had an easier start in life and were exposed to better opportunities and had a certain future. I wished I had that kind of life.
But God made me see things differently and today I am always glad to have been born without the so-called silver spoon. Most great men in all sectors of life were born lowly. Tomorrow’s great men and women will be those with little beginning.
That’s how God operates. 1 Cor 1; 26-27 “for consider your calling brethren that there are not many mighty, not many noble; but God HAS CHOSEN the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and the weak things of the world to shame the strong and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen the things that are not to nullify the things that are”. God gave that passage life to me. Right from the beginning mighty men were born weak, rich men were born poor, wise men considered foolish. Those that became were those that were not. That’s God way, higher than ours. Samuel overlooked David for he was youngest, God made him king. Great kings should be born in the palace; Jesus was born in the manger. He was from Nazareth where no good thing could come out. God showed differently. Moses was taken from the river. Joseph was the youngest and had more troubles, and he became a prime minister in a country where he wasn’t a national.
I am sure you remember Samson, but do you remember his parents. They were lowly people. How about Elijah, Elisah, Job who was the richest man in his time…do you know where they came from? How about Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Mandela, Ford, …just name them. Where did they start form, where did they come from? How about President Obasanjo?
It’s Gods way. A little one shall become a thousand (Isa. 60.22) and beggars will be taken from the dung hill and made to sit with the best of princes. When men are weak and lowly, Gods strength is made perfect.
Are you poor today, you will be made to confound the rich tomorrow. I tell you it is more certain that the poor child will be wealthy than it is that a rich one will still be wealthy tomorrow.
Despise not the days of little beginning. Glory in it. God moulds great men out of trying situations. Your poor background is not a disadvantage. It is your great advantage. Put your trust in God. Though men will trust in chariots and others in horses let your boast be in the lord for the race is not to the swift and the battle not to the warrior neither bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability. God makes the difference. Nothing else. God in you, the hope of Glory.
You can become wealthy from where you are.
-emmanuel aladenusi
Seek ye first … relationship with Him …
Bible Reading: Acts 27:9-44
One of the Pastors who have been very influential in my spiritual growth is Rev. Ade Adebayo. He is popularly known as Revo. If you do not love God’s word or you are nonchalant about the miraculous, a meeting with him will challenge your position. I use to attend the Church he oversees i.e. Mercy World Outreach, Ilorin, Nigeria. During those times, I saw him gave copious and accurate words of knowledge.
The most fascinating of them was when Revo gave ‘a word’ concerning me on a subject I had never discussed with anyone. It was a common thing to hear Revo make a statement like ‘there is someone here, ABC thing is going on in your life, and the Lord is saying you should do XYZ thing’. One day, I summoned courage and went to Revo to inquire how he is able to swiftly discern things by the Spirit. His explanation was insightful. One of the striking things he said was ‘when I see it or hear it, I just know that it is God’.
I love that statement. Do you know why? It’s because many other matured believers I have discussed with made similar statements. They may not normally give words of knowledge like Revo, but they just know when God is leading.
One characteristic of intimate couples is that they are able to communicate effectively without speaking; a wink of the eye can pass across a message. Sometimes by just looking at the face of your spouse, you can tell that (s)he is implying ‘it is time to go home’. If someone asks you how you were able to know that, I will not be surprised if you say – “I just know”. How are couples able to decode their body language easily? Did they attend a kind of ‘communicate-without-speeches lecture’? Not really. That is just an attribute of a close relationship.
We are about closing this series and my advice to you is that you ‘seek first to cultivate a good relationship with God, and after that, ‘recognizing His will’ will be added unto you. As you grow in grace and in the knowledge of God, you bask in an atmosphere where you just get to know that … ‘this is God’s leading’.
– tope aladenusi
When the time is right
Bible Reading: Acts 19:8-13
There is a right time for everything. When we fail to act at the right time, we make what is right to appear wrong. When we are convinced God wants us to embark on particular course, it is wise we make sure that we step out at the right time. Visions are always for an appointed time.
I’m sure Moses was not familiar with this when he killed an Egyptian (Exodus 2). God revealed His will to him by placing it as a desire in his heart. Moses hated discrimination. He was also going to be an instrument in the deliverance of Israelfrom Egypt. So when he saw an Egyptian hurting an Israelite, he did not wait for the right time. He murdered the Egyptian. But when the right time came, he led the entire Israelites out of Egypt without hurting a fly. When we want to use underhanded means in order to fulfill God’s will, it may be an indication that our timing is wrong.
Conversely, I’m convinced Apostle Paul understood this concept. God had told him to preach the gospel to the gentiles. One day he attempted to fulfill this mandate inAsia, but the Holy Spirit prevented him from going there (Acts 16:6). Paul exercised patience and went somewhere else. However, when the time was right, Paul went toAsia to fulfill his mandate. Guess what happened? Bible says “all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. God worked unusual miracles through Paul. People would take handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched Paul’s skin to those who were sick. Their sicknesses would be cured, and evil spirits would leave them” Acts 19:10-12(GW).
God’s timing is never too early or too late. It is perfect. Sometimes it may not be according to how men expect it. The whole world may be saying that age is not on your side and you are yet to be in a relationship, but you will experience an unusual miracle at the right time. It may be difficult to break even in your business and you are on the verge of doubting God’s leading. But relax, after you have undergone this training period, your returns will be surplus to the point that thousands of people will be benefiting from it. Dearly beloved, press on in the right direction because when the time is right, you will experience an unusual miracle.
– tope aladenusi
Years back when I was a jobless graduate, God taught me concerning wealth. The revelations were tremendous. I like to share two with you.
MY LIFE DOES NOT DEPEND ON WHAT I AM PAID AND WHAT I AM PAID CANNOT MEET MY NEEDS.
It’s funny the way deceit is sown in cycles. Economists discovered and teach that man’s needs/wants are insatiable and that there have to be a formula for allocating the little/scarce resources between our needs. The economy however suggests to us that there is a level of income you attain where you will be free from want and have just anything you want. Another theory advocates that wants/needs grow to meet up with income.
The question is just how much is enough to satisfy you? For me in my jobless state, fifty thousand bucks monthly was more than enough to satisfy my dreams. Today that’s very insufficient. Rockefeller a famous philanthropist who gave out millions annually to charity was asked, “just how much money is enough” he replied “just a little more”. Whole nations make budgets worth trillions and still record a deficit. Men and women that have amassed millions still can’t sleep for fear of making more money. The most ferocious businessmen are still the richest men. More money did not bring rest. Many of the world richest men and women are broke today.
A mans worth is not his bank account. A mans dreams is not achieved nor hindered by his net physical worth. What we chase and get monetary wise will never meet our needs. Never! Jesus taught the rich not to trust in UNCERTAIN riches but to put their trust in God who gives us all things richly to enjoy. Money has wings and will surely fly. Praying and working all your life in other to meet your wants/needs will end in frustration.
There is a higher level. At that level God supplies all our needs not according to our income, but according to his infinite riches in glory. At that level God is our own shepherd and is responsible directly for our provision. At that level we cast all our cares upon Him for He cares for us. Earn millions but never forget that God is the supplier of your needs. God in your little is having abundance and without God in your abundance, you have nothing. Hallelujah. Why is that a better level?
Which will you choose? I give you a billion now and that’s all or I give you nothing but allow you access to an account that has enough to supply whatever you need, whenever you need it and wherever you need it all the days of your life. I will choose the regular supply. That means if I am trapped in the desert like Haggai, a well will be dug for me; that means if I am in the cave like Elijah, ravens will be sent to me; that means if I find myself in the wilderness for as long as forty years, manna will come directly from heaven; that means every rock can produce water for me if I get thirsty; that means instead of looking at my oil (salary) like the widow of Zeraphat, I can keep pouring (spending) on His instruction and fill as many jars as I have (meet as many needs as may arise). That means whatever I get is protected and shielded from devourers. That’s my greatest confidence in finances. The understanding that at every point in time my needs have being known and prepared for beforehand by the most high.
It is the blessings of God that makes rich and added no sorrow. Glory! I can do all things. Equal to any task because God supplies my needs directly.
-emmanuel aladenusi
Choosing the means of confirmation
Bible Reading: Judges 6:25-40
One of the challenges faced by many Christians is that they want to be sure they are led by God before they make a move. This is good. In our previous messages, we highlighted some ways of getting confirmation to a perceived ‘leading of God’, e.g. agreement with God’s word, inner peace, prophecies of other believers etc. However, there is a way some Christians like to get confirmation that may not be too appropriate. This style was copied from Gideon. Let’s read about his story:
“Gideon said to God, “If this is right, if you are using me to save Israel as you’ve said,
then look: I’m placing a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If dew is on the fleece only, but the floor is dry, then I know that you will use me to save Israel, as you said.”
That’s what happened. When he got up early the next morning, he wrung out the fleece–enough dew to fill a bowl with water!” Judges 6:37-38 (MSG)
So it is not surprising to see some brothers say “Lord, if you want me to marry that sister, let her say “hi” to me after church”. Some business men will say “Lord, if you really want me to enter into that business, let that investor visit me again in my office”. Do you know how these sound to me? It’s like Judas Iscariot saying “Lord, if you really want me to betray Jesus, let the High Priest accept the deal of paying me a huge sum after the betrayal”.
What Gideon did may be appropriate in his time because of the level of knowledge they operated in. Moreover, God was not leading them by default like we enjoy today. Something you should also note is that the Bible says the devil is the ‘god of this world’ and so he is able to quickly arrange the circumstances you desire to see as a confirmation. Imagine that when Jesus was fasting in the wilderness, he said ‘Lord, if it is your will that I break this fast, let there appear a loaf of bread’. Of course, the devil will appear and say ‘Since thou hast the son of God, command this stone to be made bread’.
Although we may have used such methods before and it worked, we need to exercise caution as it is highly susceptible to the devil’s exploitation.
– tope aladenusi
| Greater than my Achievements and Ailments
Greater than my Beauty and Bitterness Greater than my Crowns and Cry Greater than my Diamonds and Dirt Greater than my Excellence and Emptiness Greater than my Fortunes and Failures Greater than my Glory and Grass Greater than my Honor and Heaviness Greater than my Ingenuity and Inadequacies Greater than my Jewel and Junk Greater than my Knowledge and Knots Greater than my Loftiness and Lack Greater than my Medal and Mountains Greater than my Nobelity and Nothingness Greater than my Opportunities and Obstacles Greater than my Pearls and Problems Greater than my Quest and Queries Greater than my Riches and Rage Greater than my Success and Sorrows Greater than my Trophies and Troubles Greater than my Understanding and Undermining Greater than my Victories and Vileness Greater than my Worth and Worries Greater than my Yearnings and Yelp Greater than my Zenith and Zeros
God indeed is Greater There is nothing I desire compared to Him All that bothers me I lay at His feet God forbid that I glory in anything other than Christ. In all things I see Him as my Priceless Possession and Sufficiency My Present Help in time of Trouble and Difficulty. God indeed is Greater.
– funmi aina |
Exercising the virtues of faith and obedience
Bible Reading: Acts 8:26-40
In June 2005, God gave me an instruction concerning something he wanted me to do in 2007. By my own projections, I felt it would be too early to make that move and I tried to express my fears. But He said, first obey what I’ve said and after that you will see why it is necessary and you will get to know the next step to take.
Sometimes the way God leads us is similar to driving a car in the dark with your headlamp on. You are able to see only about 100 meters clearly. It is after you’ve moved further that you can then see the next 100 meters. However, some believers do not like it that way. They want to know every tiny detail of what will happen to them from now till they leave this world. But God will always give us the privilege of acting by faith, believing in his ever-present support even when we have no definite word about the end result.
Sometimes God reveals something that will happen in the far future and it is left for you to take steps of faith daily in order to get there. When He led the Israelites out ofEgypt, the best they knew was that they were heading to a promise land. They were not aware of the red sea, the drought, or how they would react when they meet other nations on their way.
Other times, God tells you the next step to take to a destination you may not be fully aware about. A typical example is shown in the verses below (Acts 8:26-30 – MSG)
“… God’s angel spoke to Philip: “At noon today I want you to walk over to that desolate road that goes from Jerusalem down to Gaza.” He got up and went. He met an Ethiopian eunuch coming down the road … He was riding in a chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah. The Spirit told Philip, “Climb into the chariot.” Running up alongside, Philip heard the eunuch reading Isaiah and asked, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”
Phillip had to pass through a series of obeying God’s leading till he got to the point where he knew exactly what God wanted him to do. Verse 35 says “Philip grabbed his chance. Using this passage as his text, he preached Jesus to him”. God will always present us with the privilege of exercising the virtues of faith and obedience even as we desire to recognize the will of God.
– tope aladenusi