Monthly Archives: December 2011

God has plans for our lives

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God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:27-28).

We exist for God; He does not exist for us. God loves doing things for His people, the reason we get up in the morning is to fulfil His purpose for our lives, not merely to ask Him to bless our purpose for our lives. God does not want to be our vending machine, where we put in a coin and He dispenses what we demand. Until we understand that we exist for Him, we will never know our purpose for being.

Purposelessness is everywhere. I would compare a purposeless existence with the life of a dog. Dogs bark a lot, and most of the time they are just making noise and not really telling you anything important. Purposeless people talk a lot just because they want to be heard.

Dogs also like to run in circles. They move, but they’re not really going anywhere. When they finish running in circles, they are right back where they started. Purposeless people live like this, running around trying to find fulfilment in activities, only to find themselves not really moving toward anything.

Dogs also function on the level of the external. They like to be petted and rubbed, feeling good for the moment on the outside, but no real impact is felt on the inside. Purposeless people “put on the dog” by getting dressed up to look good and make themselves feel better. If this describes your purposeless wanderings, God’s design and desire is to release you from that, but it must be on His terms.

God has a plan for our lives that will bring Him glory and bring us the greatest good.
May God Almighty prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend us from all their enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

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Eternity

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Eternity!It is better to   go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, because that is   the end of every man, and the living takes it to heart (Ecclesiastes 7:2)

Eternity is a long period of time! It’s hard to grasp   that eternity is never-ending. But let me give you a little illustration to   help you understand. Imagine that we could empty the largest body of water in   the world, the Pacific Ocean, and fill it up with sand as tall as the highest   mountain in the world, Mount Everest. Now imagine that a bird flies by and   takes one grain of sand off that sand pile once every 100 billion years. How   long will it take for that sand pile to disappear? We can consider that   amount of time to be equal to one second in eternity.

We weren’t just created for sixty or eighty years of life on earth. We   were created for eternity. Every baby born on earth is headed toward its   dying day; that’s just reality. But we were made for more than that. We are   meant to experience eternity in the fullness of life with the Father. Death   is simply the doorway we must pass through to transform into the realm of the   eternal.

Paul understood this and said: “We also have as our ambition,   whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear   before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for   his deeds in the body” (2 Corinthians 5:9-10). Paul said that because he   was a creature of eternity, he would live his earthly life for God. He would   live in time in a way that pleased God.

If you’re living in time and for time, you’re wasting time.

Live for eternity.
May God Almighty prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend us   from all their enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!
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Our churches should be a place of ministry, not merely a place of gathering

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Our churches should be a place of ministry, not merely a place of   gathering.For we are God’s handiwork, created   in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do   (Ephesians 2:10). Some people believe Christianity is self-service only, but we can’t   just take in the gospel and not share it with others. God wants to empty us   of ourselves so He can fill us with something new. Then we can give of what   He has given us. This is accomplished through ministry, or as the Bible calls   it, good works.

A good work is always done to benefit someone else so   that God publicly gets the glory. Matthew 5:16 says: “Let your light shine   before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your   Father who is in heaven.” Our good works give the world a glimpse of God.   Hebrews 10:24 says that the church should “stimulate one another to love and   good deeds.”

What constitutes a good deed? Jesus said that anyone who gives a cup   of cold water in His name will not be forgotten (Matthew 10:42). We do good   works in the name of Jesus to give Him the credit and the proper due.

Ministry is for the benefit of several groups of people. We are to   minister to those who minister to us, our preachers and congregational   leaders (Galatians 6:6). We are to minister to the poor. Deuteronomy 15:11   says: “Freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your   land.” And we are to minister to the unsaved by sharing the gospel and   fulfilling the Great Commission. Men can recover from earthly circumstances,   but there is no eternal solution outside of Jesus.

Our churches should be a place of ministry, not merely a place of   gathering.
May God Almighty prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend us   from all their enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

 
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Investing in People

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Investing in People

The day of the Lord will come like a thief . . . and the   earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be   destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct   and godliness (2 Peter3:10-12).In our economy today it is very important to start saving   for retirement early. Those who are present-day oriented will just spend   money, but those who are future-oriented will invest. That’s the difference   between immaturity and maturity: the immature spend, and the mature save for   tomorrow.Jesus’ parable in Luke 16 demonstrates that the sons of   darkness are often wiser than the children of light because they are   future-oriented. If men are willing to do that in finite time, how much more   should Christians “make friends for yourselves . . . [who] will receive   you into the eternal dwellings” (v. 9)? God tells us to wisely use our   stewardship in something that has eternal value: people.

When we stand before Christ, He is going to play a cosmic   video, reviewing our life from salvation to death. We will see how   responsibly we used the time, talents, and treasures God gave us, and how   good or bad our stewardship was for Him. We will see the impact we had on   other people and how much we invested in others for eternity.

In verse 9, Jesus told us to make friends. How do we do   this? We make friends by sharing the Gospel so that those we know have an   opportunity to hear it. We must see that people are important in God’s   economy. God measures our effect on people not by how many dollars we have in   the bank, but by how we have used our time, talents, and treasures to invest   in the eternal destiny of people.

Either God will reign over your time, talents, and   treasures, or you will make them your god.

May God Almighty prosper Nigeria   and Israel and defend them from all their enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!
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The hope of surrender

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The hope of   surrender

Luke writes, “Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in   favor with God and men.” (Luke 2:52) We know very little about the years   that Jesus spent growing into manhood. However, we can surmise that He grew   emotionally, mentally, and physically. Like us, God’s Son had to develop, and   we can imagine that while He was sinless, He learned how to live through the   circumstances of life.

There are many people today who are suffering – not because they have   sinned or resisted God, but because the Lord has chosen to develop their   lives through difficulty and hardship. In the first chapter of 2 Corinthians,   Paul does not gloss over the fact that he suffered. At one point, he believed   there was a strong possibility that he would die. However, God spared his life,   and Paul was able to write about the hardships he faced with such hope that   many who read his letters also declared faith in Jesus Christ.

God cannot mold and shape our lives unless we are willing to surrender   and to be transparent before Him. These are prerequisites to experiencing a   breakthrough in our trials and sufferings. We have no idea of the   difficulties that Christ faced as a young man – the Gospels do not record   them. Yet, we know that as an adult, He suffered and died on the cross for   our sins so that we might have eternal life. He was not ashamed of the   calling that God had given Him. Now, all glory is His, and He is seated at   the right hand of the Father interceding in prayer for us each day.

Stop looking at the trials of your life with thoughts of regret and   horror. Learn to rest in God’s care, and allow Him to work in your life to   the fullest. When you do, you will discover that He has a tremendous blessing   waiting for you. Not only will you grow to be like Him, you will be a   testimony of His grace and hope to a troubled world.

May God Almighty prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend them from all their enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

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The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding

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The Redeemed Christian Church of GOD.
HOLY GHOST CONGRESS!
Theme: A NEW THING.
Date: 12-17 Dec, 2011.
Venue: Redemption camp, KM 46, Lagos Ibadan expressway, Nigeria.
You are invited!

The Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding

Peace in crisis

Ted, one of the elders in our church, used to be a police officer. One day after responding to a report of violence, he said the situation turned life-threatening. A man had stabbed someone and then menacingly turned the blade towards Ted. A fellow officer had taken position and fired his weapon at the assailant as he attacked Ted. The criminal was subdued, but Ted was shot in the crossfire. As he was driven by ambulance to the hospital, he felt deep waves of peace flowing over his soul from the Holy Spirit. Ted felt so tranquil that he was able to offer words of comfort to the law enforcement officer who was emotionally distraught over the crisis.

The Lord Jesus Christ promised us peace in crisis. Just hours before His own crucifixion, Christ comforted His disciples with these words: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

What is your worst fear? If you should have to face it, Christ will be there with you. Trusting Him through prayer makes available “The Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,” and it “will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”

The secret of peace is to give every anxious care to God in prayers!

May Our God The Almighty prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend us from all our enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

 

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Cast all your care upon God for He cares for you

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The Redeemed Christian Church of GOD.
HOLY GHOST CONGRESS!
Theme: A NEW THING.
Date: 12-17 Dec, 2011.
Venue: Redemption camp, KM 46, Lagos Ibadan expressway, Nigeria.
You are invited!

Cast all your care upon God for He cares for you

GOD KNOWS ALL YOUR PROBLEMS!

“Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

God is able to carry our worries, stress, and daily struggles, if we trust Him fully with our lives

We need to recognise that God cares about our needs and to let others also help us.

The personal Ten Commandments, Helen steiner Rice developed that guided her through the wilderness of her own life, can also assist to pull us out of our despair.

  1. Thou shalt be happy.
  2. Thou shalt use thy talents to make others glad.
  3. Thou shalt rise above defeat and trouble.
  4. Thou shalt look upon each day as a new day.
  5. Thou shalt always do thy best and leave the rest to God.
  6. Thou shalt not waste thy time and energy in useless worry.
  7. Thou shalt look only on the bright side of life.
  8. Thou shalt not be afraid of tomorrow.
  9. Thou shalt have a kind word and a kind deed for everyone.
  10. Thou shalt say every morning, “I am a child of God and nothing can hurt me.”

A loving behaviour can be a part of everyday life, no matter the problems you are going through.

Don’t submit to your circumstances!

God controls all circumstances!

May Our God The Almighty prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend us from all our enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

 

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We are the clay and You are our Potter O Lord God

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The Redeemed Christian Church of GOD.
HOLY GHOST CONGRESS!
Theme: A NEW THING.
Date: 12-17 Dec, 2011.
Venue: Redemption camp, KM 46, Lagos Ibadan expressway, Nigeria.
You are invited!

We are the clay, and You are our Potter O Lord God

Imagine a beautiful china tea cup saying: “I wasn’t always like this. There was a time when I was just a cold, hard lump of clay. One day the potter picked me up and said, ‘I could do something with you’ Then he started to put pressure on me and change my shape. I said, ‘What are you doing? That hurts. Stop!’ but he said, ‘Not yet’. Then he put me on a wheel and began to spin me around and around until I shouted, ‘Let me off.’ He replied, ‘Not yet’. Then he shaped me into a cup and put me in a hot oven. I cried, ‘Let me out of here, I’m suffocating.’ But he looked at me and said, ‘Not yet.’ When he took me out, I thought his work on me was over, but then he started to paint me. I couldn’t believe what he did next. He put me back into the oven, and I said, ‘I can’t stand this, please let me out!’ but he said, ‘Not yet.’ Finally he took me out of the oven and set me on a shelf where I thought he had forgotten me. Then one day he took me off the self and held me up before a mirror. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I had become a beautiful teacup that everybody wants to buy.

There are things going on in your life today that you don’t understand. When you finally get to the place God wants you to be, you’ll realise that He has been making you into a vessel He can use, bless, and use to bless others. So, allow God to shape you today!

May Our God The Almighty prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend us from all our enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

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Our confessions create realities

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The Redeemed Christian Church of GOD.
HOLY GHOST CONGRESS!
Theme: A NEW THING.
Date: 12-17 Dec, 2011.
Venue: Redemption camp, KM 46, Lagos Ibadan expressway, Nigeria.
You are invited!

Our confessions create realities.

Christianity! The Great Confession!

…..for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say…… (Hebrews 13:5-6)

Some of the remarkable achievements in our ministry that we see today are the results of the confessions  we made many year ago, and we’re still talking. We’re still creating new realities for today and the future with the word of faith in our mouths. This is because we’ve come to understand Christianity as “The Great Confession”.

No one can live a successful Christian life by being a “quiet believer.” by that, I mean believing, but not confessing. You must translate your believing into faith by “confessing” what you believe.

Some even feel they can pray, sing or carry out spiritual activities by just thinking in their minds. No! the Christian life is lived by words; it’s for talkers. Now, this has nothing to do with being talkative or loquacious, I’m referring to talking the Word of God! It’s not enough to believe. Neither is it scriptural to pray in your mind. You must voice out, and speak the right words. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 12:37, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

In Mark 11:23, He again placed premium on words when He said “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith”.

The scripture’s insistence on declaration, confession, announcement or talking what you believe is futher amplified for us in Romans 10:9: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalth be saved.”

Your confessions create realities. When Jesus taught His disciples on faith, as we read in Mark 11:23 above, He laid much emphasis on “saying”, indicating the vital role of “speaking” in our lives as Christians. To live an effective Christian life, you have to put the Word of God on your lips; it’s God’s recipe for success as revealed in Joshua 1:8: “This book of law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt mediate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Every day, speak words that are consistent with God’s divine provisions, plans and purpose for your life. You talk your way out of any predicament, and talk yourself to the top! The power is in your mouth (Proverbs 18:21).

Confession

The Word of God is in my heart and in my mouth today, burning on my lips and prevailing as I speak it forth. My life is a testimony of Your grace, love and mercy because Your good and eternal Word is fulfilled in me always and forever, in Jesus Christ Name! Amen!

www.christembassy.org

May Our God The Almighty prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend us from all our enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

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Arise and shine for the light has come and the gloryof the Lord has risen upon you

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Image via Wikipedia

The Redeemed Christian Church of GOD.
HOLY GHOST CONGRESS!
Theme: A NEW THING.
Date: 12-17 Dec, 2011.
Venue: Redemption camp, KM 46, Lagos Ibadan expressway, Nigeria.
You are invited!

 

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee (Isaiah 60:1).

God has called you to the life of glory, which is beyond the earthly realm. That life is the manifestation of His glory: The perfections, beauty and excellence of divinity resident in your spirit! This therefore means that the glory of God is in you.

Our Lord Jesus Christ walked and lived in the glory of God everyday while He walked on earth. The people living in His day saw God’s grace mightily at work in Him and testified to it: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth” (John 1:14)

God wants you to shine in the beauty and excellence of His grace which He has bestowed on your life. He wants you to excel in your job, academics, projects, relationships and all that you do, until the world begins to wonder at you. The way to make this happen is to meditate continually on God’s Word, for the glory is in the Word. Before long, that glory will rise from your spirit and be evident in your life, through your words, deeds, and ideas.

Confession

My life is an expression of the glory of God within my Spirit. Today, I am moving from glory to glory and excelling in all that I do. Many are coming to the knowledge of Christ Jesus through the radiance of God’s beauty upon my life! Hallelujah! Amen!

www.christembassy.org

May Our God The Almighty prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend us from all our enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

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