Focusing On The Big Picture (8 days of spiritual vitality).

Day 1
Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times! Kicked around in public, targets of every kind of abuse—some days it was you, other days your friends. If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing they couldn’t touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back. So don’t throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It’s still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion. It won’t be long now, he’s on the way; he’ll show up most any minute. But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won’t be very happy. But we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.

Day 2
Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.

Day 3
“When a woman gives birth, she has a hard time, there’s no getting around it. But when the baby is born, there is joy in the birth. This new life in the world wipes out memory of the pain. The sadness you have right now is similar to that pain, but the coming joy is also similar. When I see you again, you’ll be full of joy, and it will be a joy no one can rob from you. You’ll no longer be so full of questions. “This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I’ve revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he’ll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!

Day 4
And then God answered: “Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.

Day 5
A bystander said, “Master, will only a few be saved?” He said, “Whether few or many is none of your business. Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires your total attention. A lot of you are going to assume that you’ll sit down to God’s salvation banquet just because you’ve been hanging around the neighborhood all your lives. Well, one day you’re going to be banging on the door, wanting to get in, but you’ll find the door locked and the Master saying, ‘Sorry, you’re not on my guest list.’

Day 6
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God ’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God ! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don’t, dear friend, resent God ’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this.

Day 7
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus , who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how He did it. Because He never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—He could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now He is there , in the place of honor, right alongside God.

Day 8
Then He said, “Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend traveling through just showed up, and I don’t have a thing on hand.’ “The friend answers from his bed, ‘Don’t bother me. The door’s locked; my children are all down for the night; I can’t get up to give you anything.’ “But let me tell you, even if he won’t get up because he’s a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbors, he’ll finally get up and get you whatever you need. “Here’s what I’m saying: Ask and you’ll get; Seek and you’ll find; Knock and the door will open.

By Pastor Victor Olumakin
www.prayerliberation.org

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Our Testimony.

“And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death”.- Rev 12:11

Satan is the common enemy that believers have. He is determined to frustrate the lives of believers, to cause them to be in perpetual bondage and to eventually drag them into hell with him.
The bible refers to him as our adversary (1 Peter 5:8) and his primary goal is to kill, to steal and to destroy (John 10:10).

The good news is that we have already overcome satan. How have we overcome him ? By the BLOOD OF THE LAMB. We also continuously overcome and maintain our victory especially when he tries to attack again and again by the WORD OF OUR TESTIMONY.

The authority of the cross’ victory by the blood of the lamb and steadfastness to the promise and authority of God’s word is the key to our overcoming.
In other words, we overcome satan when we continually testify of the victory we have through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

Through the blood of Jesus Christ:
– We have redemption (Eph 1:7).
– We have been sanctified (Heb 10:10).
– We have been justified (Rom 5:9)
– We are protected.
– We have life (Heb 9:14, Rom 6:23).
– We have constant intercession from Him who is our high priest (Heb 8:1).
– We have access to Him (Heb 4:16, Eph 3:12).

The benefits of this victory is for the committed believer. Those that have embraced Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour. They are the ones who did not love their lives to the death, who are prepared to go to any length for Jesus Christ (Rev 12:11b).

As we come to the end of this year, let us look back into our lives, count our blessings and see the victory we have through the finished work of Christ despite several attacks from satan.

If you have never shared your testimony before, this is the year to share it. Look for someone to share your testimony with. Remember, this is your key to continous victory.

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God bless you.

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Your Kingdom Come.

In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus Christ taught us how to pray. Matt 6:10 “your kingdom come….” Jesus Christ wants us to pray for the establishment of God’s rule or kingdom on earth.

What is the kingdom of God?
The kingdom of God is as it is in heaven. The kingdom is the realm of heaven. When the characteristics and attributes of heaven is displayed on earth, we have a glimpse of His kingdom.

God desires that the lifestyle and relationships of Christians would give unbelievers a taste of what heaven should look like.
In Luke 17:21- Jesus Christ talking to the pharisees, said the kingdom of God is within you. This could mean the kingdom of God in the person of Jesus Christ with all His attributes is amongst them. It could also signify the life of God that should be within us as believers.

It is the responsibility of the church to model the kingdom.
The church modelling God’s kingdom:

– Should be a centre for deliverance, healing and love Matt 12:28, Rom 14:15.
– A centre for righteousness.
– A centre for peace and joy in the Holy Ghost
Rom 14: 17 “The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost”.

Without true righteousness, there can never be true peace. Any attempt to achieve peace without righteousness is doom to frustration. There is no peace to the wicked.
That is why when the anti-christ starts to rule he would promise peace but suddenly destruction would come.

The church cannot physically meet the need of the whole world. The only practical solution to human need is establishing His kingdom on earth. This is the essential plan of God and His first priority (Matt 6:33).

Until we make His kingdom priority, we are not aligning ourselves with His primary purpose.

What are the other ways by which the church can model the kingdom?

Please share your points on this blog by clicking reply at the bottom now! God bless you.

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The Anointing Upon.

This topic came to me in a dream on 28 Oct 2013 and i will like to share it with you.

To anoint – Meaning to rub or pour oil on, to consecrate or set apart. Holy things, priests and kings in the bible were anointed for their purpose.

Let’s look at the anointing upon king David, the anointed of God and the sweet psalmist of Israel.
God testified concerning him in Acts 13:22, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse a man after my own heart who will do all my will’.
For God to ‘have found’ means he must have been searching. He needed someone who would do all His will and He found this in David.

He had seen the heart of David (1 Sam 16:7) that:
He was a humble man who would depend on His ability (2 Sam 5:19,25)
He would wait for His timing and not seize the throne from Saul
He would always give Him the glory (2 Sam 5:20).

So God chose him and he was anointed first by Samuel the prophet in 1 Sam 16:13, as king over Judah (2 Sam 2:4) and over all Israel (2 Sam 5:3). The spirit of the Lord came upon David from the first time he was anointed by Samuel. He went on and became great and the Lord of host was with him.
God began to equip David and direct the details of his life even though he hadn’t ascended the throne.

The anointing upon David was for the sake of his people Israel. (2 Sam 5:12). This was his primary assignment and the Lord was with him in fulfilling it. His life could not be terminated despite several attempts from Saul to kill him.

Jesus Christ the anointed one had a primary assignment which He passed on to as many as have received Him as Lord and saviour and have received the Holy Spirit. This assignment is in Isaiah 61:1-4
‘The spirit of the Lord God is upon me…………And they shall repair the ruined cities. The desolation of many generations’.

Jesus, in His search for someone who would do the will of the father just like in the case of David has chosen you (the spirit-filled Christian) and has anointed you to fulfill your assignment:

(1) As a healer.
(2) As a messenger of freedom and comfort.(Isa. 61:1-3)
(3) To share the message of abundant life and eliminate discouragement. (Isa 61:3)
(4) To set nations free by your continued prayers and evangelism (Isa 61:4-5).

Just like in the case of David, a spirit-filled christian has been equipped to do all these and much more as a result of the anointing upon.

God has found and chosen you, therefore arise and shine forth for your light has come and the glory of God is risen upon you. Fulfill your call and assignment and glorify Him.

Please share your experience and testimonies. Also add to this blog by clicking reply at the end.

God bless you.

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Warring but Victorious.

Have you ever found yourself:
Sometimes doing or saying things you did not plan to do or say?
Going where you did not plan to go?
Thinking what you never planned to think?

Paul the apostle in Rom 7:15 was not an exception to this.
According to the bible, there are two laws within man and these two are at war with one another (Rom 7:20-23).

They are:
1. The law of sin and death: manifested in all fleshly desires, actions and thoughts.
2. The law of spirit of life in Christ Jesus: manifested through us by righteous living and display of the fruit of the Spirit.

Rom 7:5 says when we are in the flesh, sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death The law of Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has however set us free from the law of sin and death (Rom 8:2).

The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (The Holy Spirit) is there to convict us of sins and enables us to accept Christ as our personal saviour.

The Holy spirit assures us of salvation and helps us to live a victorious life.
He helps us to understand the bible.
He helps us to pray according to God’s will.
He helps us to share Christ with others.

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and saviour and we receive the Holy Spirit, we have been delivered from the law having died to what we were held by so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit (Rom 7:6).

Due to the existence of evil, there is no escape from human inclinations, except through the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:4).
The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus is a higher law that assures victory but we need to be determined and willing to overcome fleshly frictions.

Our willingness to overcome as we pursue Christ coupled with the indwelling and abiding presence of the Holy Spirit makes us victorious.

Practically speaking, we need to:
– Cleanse our minds regularly with the word of God.
– Pray more often in the Holy Ghost.
– Avoid every appearance of evil.
– Pray as Jesus thought us against evil (deliver us from evil).

Beloved you already have victory over that persistent bad habit
or thoughts that keeps coming to rub you of the power, presence of God and effective evangelism.
Be persistent in your pursuit of Godliness and consciously deal with this by taking the practical steps discussed above.
Therein lies your victory.

Please share your experience, testimonies or add on to this blog by clicking ‘reply’ now.

God bless you.

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Effective Ministry Of Reconciliation.

Reconciliation is re-establishing of cordial relations. It also means to settle, resolve or make peace.

Reconciliation is the process by which God and man are brought together again. As believers in Christ Jesus, we have been reconciled to God through the blood of His son Jesus.
God has also committed unto us, the assignment of reconciling people to Himself through Christ.

2 Cor 5 :18-19 says “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation”.

We are being charged to reconcile people to God by actively sharing the deliverance, peace and freedom we have received through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and leading them to Christ.

To effectively minister reconciliation:

1. We must learn it.
We learn reconciliation by living in the freedom that we already have through Christ. We are not to allow ourselves to be bond again by slavery through un-forgiveness.
God has refused to reckon our trespasses against us, in like-manner we must forgive anyone who offends us.

2. We must live it by our love for one another.
This is portrayed in our relationship with one another and by our inter dependence on one another for the work of God.

3. We must speak the word of God.
This is the key to reconciliation not our eloquence.
Heb 4: 12 says “For the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”.

Speak or quote the word of God to unbelievers. His word is potent. It carries the power to penetrate through even, the hardest heart.

Do you know any other points to effective ministry of reconciliation?
Please share them on this blog by clicking reply now.

God bless you.

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Discovering And Releasing The Glory

Text: Jeremiah 9:23-24
Thus says the Lord:
“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might let not the rich man glory in his riches;
But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the Lord, exercising loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight”, says the Lord.

By the standard of men, three attributes can make a successful man. His wisdom, his might and his riches. By his wisdom he becomes mighty and powerful then he dominates, rules over people and acquires his riches through them.
A man can boast in all of these attributes that led to his success but by biblical standards true success is to discover and understand God.

A spiritual man can release the glory by actively sharing his knowledge of God as the source of the glory.
When Jeremiah discovered the source of glory in Jer 10:6-7, he exclaimed that God is great in might and that there is no wisdom but by Him.

The discovery and understanding of God transcends all human wisdom, riches, might and understanding. The prophet Jeremiah, by his discovery of God saw Him in His glory and shared what he saw.
Jer 10:12-13 “He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion.
When He utters His voice, There is a multitude of waters in the heavens:
And He causes the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning for the rain, He brings the wind out of His treasuries”.

On 8th March 2013, in a revelation of the night God allowed me to partake in a worship service. I did not know any of the people I was worshipping with in the revelation but I saw beyond their faces. I could see through their hearts. We were praising and worshipping God in one accord.

I cannot fully explain the state of the hearts of everyone of us involved in that worship service but in my own little way I can describe the state of the hearts of all of us as being full of inexplicable joy and a desire to continue.

The worship experience I had was very different from any that I have ever had. Also, everyone was willingly worshipping God with so much joy. No one had to persuade any of us and yet we were not bored or tired. The songs did not dictate our worship, it didn’t matter whether they were fast or slow songs. We just worshipped and enjoyed it. It seemed like a very long period of time but I did not want it to end. As soon as the experience was over, I woke up wishing it would continue.

God expects us to share our experience of a glimpse of His glory with people. A genuine encounter and true revelation of Him can bring hope to the hopeless. His breath is upon every revelation or word that He gives and it is potent enough to convert souls.
Your glimpse of His glory or revelation of who He is will release the glory into other people’s lifes.
Don’t ever think it is irrelevant.

Share your experience with someone today by clicking reply at the end of this blog.
God bless you.

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The Wilderness Experience.

Text: Isaiah 32:15-17
“Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, And the fruitful field is counted as a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, And righteousness remain in the fruitful field. The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever”.

A wilderness is a desolate waste of any kind – a pathless
A place in which the spirit feels desolate
A place where a person can be forgotten
In the wilderness, a person is not remembered even after playing a leading role.
A person going through the wilderness experience can be perpetually sad.
There can be tears, broken spirit, mourning and unfruitfulness.
When everyone around them is promoted, they are by-passed or unnoticed.
The wilderness experience may sometimes feel like chasing the wind.

Believers can also sometimes go through the wilderness experience when all attempts for a breakthrough seems to have failed.
When they have sown their time and resources into kingdom work and the physical fruits haven’t manifested. They may feel like they have failed, forgetting that there is a reward awaiting them for obedience and for the seed sown.

The good news is in Isa 43:19, God’s promise that He will make a way in the wilderness.

In Isa 32:15-17 (the text above), the Holy Spirit is poured upon us from on high. He is the source of all end time blessings.
Let us look at what the bible says would happen when a believer is filled (outpouring, empowered, fullness) with the Holy Spirit.

1. God will bring justice to every situation that seems impossible or immovable. “Justice will dwell in the wilderness”- Is 32:16

2. He will give directions, confusion will flee and He will make a way for the pathless Isa 43:19

3. The Holy spirit is not only involved in the ministry of judgement, He is also the source of peace. He will give you peace even in troubled waters -Isa 32:17

4. The wilderness becomes a fruitful field. Isa 32:15

5. There will be physical results. Seed sown in prayers, fasting, evangelism and kingdom work will produce a harvest.

6. Where there had been fruits already, there will be a bountiful harvest. “fruitful field is counted as a forest”.- Isa 32:15(b)

Beloved, this is the time for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It will take a passionate heart who is willing to serve God genuinely. Let us tap into more of Him and watch Him bring justice to every wilderness experience that we may be going through.
This is also paramount for effectiveness in soul winning.

In conclusion, 1 cor 15:58 “stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain”.

God bless you.

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Living A Victorious Christian Life

A little boy once found a precious stone that shone when he raised it up in the sunlight and because he had lived in a tiny hut with little room to keep toys, he decided to hide this treasure in the ground.
The next day, he dug his treasure up to find it was covered in mud and took it to the river for a good clean.
Every day the little boy would run to dig up his treasure disappointed that he had to wash it again. Then whilst washing the stone at the stream one day, he saw a little space between two rocks with water running over them and decided to hide his treasure in this cleft and allow the running water to cleanse the stone all the time. This way, the stone shone more brightly and was never dirty again.

This is a picture of what Christ has done and the implication of His finished work in our lives. When we receive him, we should receive him with reckless abandon knowing that we cannot help ourselves but need the continuous cleansing that His blood provides; not just in some aspects of our lives but in everything and in every way.

Unfortunately, many of us still struggle to let go and let Him take charge. We go through life like every other person, we make decisions like the world, and we chase after things in the way of the world.
As long as we continue to wrestle in our strength, there is very little our Saviour can do. When a lifeguard attempts to save someone that is drowning, there is nothing he can do until the person lets go, in the same vein when we come to terms with the fact that our righteousness is not by works or struggle, (undeserved) but because of what Christ suffered on the cross, when we have exhausted all options and come to the end of ourselves, only then can we really let go and let God.

Have you noticed how no matter how the world tries to find solutions or breakthroughs in medicine there always seems to be a question unanswered? This morning, two pain killers have been discovered to increase the chances of heart problems. This only shows the futility of man’s effort.

When are YOU going to GIVE UP and GIVE IN completely to JESUS? He has all the answers in HIS finished work.

How wonderful to know that God loves us so much! We are cleansed daily from sin and made righteous. Isn’t this beautiful? But this also means that we have to abide in him daily. We have to focus on His finished work.

The Bible says we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. The Bible says if you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will done for you. John 15:7. Can it be any simpler than that? Let’s abide in Him, let’s soak ourselves in the word that daily cleanses, and let’s get totally and completely submerged in the totality of the finished work of Christ and the beauty that exudes from suffering. START LIVING VICTORIOUSLY IN JESUS NAME!

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By Enitan Modupe

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Commanding The Miracle.

God desires to speak with us and He is always speaking. God speaks with us in ways that He knows we would understand. When we know without any doubt that He has spoken, this stirs up faith in us and we usually expect an instant miracle.

What do you do…
– When you know that you have heard God about a situation and nothing seems to be happening?
-When you have heard Him clearly that you would be a parent, yet nothing seems to have manifested?
-When He woke you up to say that He has just healed you, yet the doctor’s report says something contrary?
-When a prophetic word has been given about your promotion and you are still in the same job?
-When He has told you that you will pass your examination and you have repeatedly failed?
-When you heard him clearly about the choice of your spouse before marriage but the marriage seems to be heading towards a divorce?
-When He told you that you will get married this year and you are not even in a relationship yet?

Elijah, one of the great prophets of the old testament was in this situation in his walk with God. The bible describes Him as a man with a nature like ours (James 5:17).
How did Elijah survive under similar situations without renouncing his faith?

In 1 Kings 17:9, God commanded him to go and He promised him food. He said He had instructed the widow to provide for him. In this situation, Elijah might have expected the widow’s house to already be full of enough food.
1 Kings 17:12 – the widow did not have enough food. Not even for her family. This might have been very disappointing. Elijah, however refused to be disappointed. He chose to believe what God had said about the widow providing for him. This must have stirred up faith in him regardless of what he saw in the physical.
He took the next step in 1 king 17:13-16. Elijah commanded the miracle. He knew that if God has promised then He is true to His word.

If you are sure you have heard Him, stand on His words and refuse to be disappointed by the delays you may be facing. Rather, command the miracle. You can command the miracle by your persistent prayers, obedience, positive confession and unwavering faith.
God wants you to command Him concerning the works of His hands (Isaiah 45:11). Also remember that He is not slack concerning His promise (2 Peter 3:9(a)).
Be encouraged.

Please leave a comment or add to this blog by clicking reply now. God bless you.

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