Redeem the time


REDEEM TIME

Ephesians 5:15-16-“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

One of the profound lessons of a lockdown is that it reminds us of the value of TIME. Truly, time is life. When we waste time, we waste life. That is why, even during this lockdown, we must resist the temptation to waste time. Many will come out of the lockdown gaining only physical weight. But the wise will gain more than physical weight, because they would have put the time to more beneficial use.

In the above scripture, Apostle Paul was admonishing the Ephesian Christians to spend their time on valuable rather than mundane things. To ‘redeem’ means to recover or compensate for. While it may be naturally and physically impossible to recover lost time, we can compensate for, or ameliorate the impact, by utilizing our remaining time in the best possible optimal way.

How can we do this?

1. By avoiding the mistakes of the past. Isaiah 43:18 says:”forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” Philippians 3:13-14 too. Whatever we did yesterday that did not work out, may appear as a lost opportunity, but by identifying the mistakes, learning from, and avoiding them in the future, we will be able to use our time more profitably. When you avoid past mistakes, you move faster and achieve more with less time.

2. By avoiding time-wasters. Just imagine those things you thought were vital to your existence, but which you have not been able to do in the last four weeks, yet you survived. There are many things we merely do out of habit rather than need. They are avoidable time-wasters. Whatever or Whoever will not add value to you, will de-value you, by wasting your time. Abraham’s life improved after he parted with Lot. You have no business in the company of those who don’t share your vision and passion in life. They will only steal your time. The Bible says you should ‘come out’ from them, 2 Corinthians 6:14-17.

3. By forsaking sin. Sin costs you more than you can afford and takes you farther than you intended. If you’ve been engaged in fornication or adultery before, or still do now, you will honestly admit the enormous time it cost you, apart from the financial and emotional drain. Satan’s trick is to gradually steal your time through the indulgence of sin, until he steals your whole life, John 10:10. That’s what happened to Samson. He wasted his time on Delilah’s Laps and eventually wasted his life in the hands of the philistines, Judges 16. When you stop sinning, you will gain enormous amount of time which you can invest in more profitable ventures. If you can forsake sin for four weeks, you can forsake it for life.

4. By prioritizing. In Mathew 6:33, Jesus commanded us to prioritize the Kingdom of heaven and its righteousness above all else. In Acts 6:1-7, the Apostles realized the need to prioritize preaching over serving of food, so they appointed deacons to serve tables while they concentrated their time and effort on preparing and preaching of sermons. Don’t be a jack of all trades and master of none. Spreading yourself too thin, will leave you with little or no impact. Learn to differentiate between the urgent and the important issues of life. What is urgent may not necessarily be important. Apply wisdom in deciding what to spend your time on. Don’t also forget that procrastination is a thief of time.

5. By maximizing your chances. Ecclesiastes 9:10 says: “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, wither thou goest.” In life, you must think and act like a top footfall striker. Have an eye for goals. Be ready to score from the narrowest of chances. Maximize every opportunity that comes your way, for it may be the last. Remember, the clock is ticking, and there are others on the substitute bench, waiting to take your place, if you keep missing your chances.

6. By being constantly heavenly conscious. Colossians 3:2 says to set our minds constantly on things above rather than on things here on earth. If we do, we are likely going to invest our time more in the things of the Kingdom, for as Jesus Christ said in Mathew 6:21, where a man’s treasure is, there his heart will always be.

In conclusion, as Jesus warned in John 9:4, always remember that night is coming, when no man can work. Spend your time now while it is day, on things of enduring value, so that you can have rest at night. Your family, your health, helping others, right standing with God, drawing men to God, saving for the rainy day, and a legacy of integrity-are things worthy of your time. ‘Night’ is not necessarily just death. It could be retirement. It could be old age. It could be unexpected ill-health. It could be loss of a dear one. But ultimately it is the day we shut our eyes for the last time.

How we spend our time now, will determine how cold or warm, bitter or sweet, glorious or inglorious our night will be. May your night be exceedingly much better than your day, in Jesus name. Amen.

Shalom!

Fear not


Isaiah 54 vs 4 says “Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, & shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.”

The Holy Spirit this morning is smiling on someone out there that has been in a pit, shame, reproach, ridicule & discouragement etc. You were brought down & reduced to zero; & you’re asking: God where are You?

I am led this morning praying for you, God’s mercy can provoke HIM to override your doubts & trigger off your season of laughter in Jesus Christ name, Amen!

Beloveth, HE knows the magnitude of the situation, this day God had overruled your doubts because is your season of laughter. As God is laughing, HE will laugh over your doubts & cause you to laugh.

Dear child of God, if the challenges of life have stopped you from laughing, get ready for a New season of unstoppable laughter! Weeping is over, & you will not remember your tears anymore: Henceforth in righteousness, be giving God quality Praises, Thanksgiving, Worship & let the Holy Spirit takes you to another realm in Jesus Christ name, Amen.

SHALOM.

It is time to believe


Internal Rock of Ages we adore you this morning, for the privilege to see another day, thank you for the gift of life. Thank you for provisions. Thank you for being there even at this critical moment. Accept our thanks in Jesus Name. Amen!

We commit today into your able hands please don’t take away your Presence from us in Jesus Name. This morning speak to us and accept our supplications in Jesus Name. Let Your mercy speaks for us. In Jesus Name we pray.

Proverb 29:18

No good thing will God withhold to those who walk uprightly.

When we have heart to please God and when we live a life of excellence and integrity, doing our best each day, living with purpose and passion and with a desire to help others, God’s promise is that He will not withhold what you and I need to become, or what He has created us to be. God will not withhold wisdom, creativity, good breaks, the right connections, strength, joy or victory.

Many may have been through challenging times. The economic downturn may have affected people and every income. Millions more have seen their savings depleted. Many have lost one thing or the other. Relationships have been strained.

Many may feel that they don’t have all that it takes to emerge stronger, but He does. With God in our heart, we will persevere and prevail.

At this critical point, it is time to believe because tough times require strong faith. Also this moment will pass because big challenges precede bigger things

In conclusion

Let keep hope alive. NCDC may be giving there reports as part of there work, don’t let us be scared with the daily figures. On the other hand we believe the Reports of the Lord. So whatever we jointly agreed on, the Lord will grant it. Jeremiah 33:3

PRAYER POINTS

1. Let’s thank God for being a good Father to us. For not neglecting us despite the situation

2. Let us pray that God will strengthen our faith in Him even at this critical moment and we will not draw back

3. Let us pray that the Solutions He has designed to uproot this Corona Virus, that by His mercy He should please release it.

4. Oh Lord fight our battles and grant us victory in Jesus Name

5. Let us pray that there will be great Revival in the body of Christ and there will plenty harvest of souls

6. Please let read Jeremiah 30:3 and pray with it. God promised to deliver the captive, return them to their land and also help them to possess it.

7. Our personal prayer requests

May the Lord answer our prayers and give us testimonies in Jesus Matchless Name.

I love to praying by Pastor E A Adeboye


I love praying. I can pray for several hours, especially when I am on a prayer walk, but this wasn’t always so. When I became born again, I could hardly pray beyond 5 minutes, whereas the other people in Church will keep going on and on.

One day, I decided to eaves drop on a brother while he prayed. I discovered that for a 1 hour prayer for example, this brother would worship God for the first 50 minutes and then make his request in the last 10 minutes.

I adopted this same method, but little did I know that I had adopted an important principle to getting my prayers answered. As I went on in my prayer life, I started to discover other principles that not only assure me of answered prayers but also help speed up the answers.

By God’s grace and Hisgrace alone, today , I enjoy speedy answers to my prayers.

What I learnt from that brother was priceless, now I am paying it forward with this book. I want you to learn from me how to pray and get speedy answers to your prayers.
Henceforth, God will answer all your prayers by fire in Jesus’ name.

https://www.openheavensplus.com

Restoration


Jeremiah 30:16 -19

Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.

For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.

And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.

Our Father in Heaven, we bless your Holy Name. We exalt thee. Thank You for the gift of life.

Thank you for the miracle of sleeping and waking. We thank You for help you have send to all Nations of the World which soon will yield to Testimonies. Please accept our thanks in Jesus Name.

Anywhere we have wronged You please forgive us and let our prayers (individual and as a group) be accepted in Jesus Name. (Amen)

RESTORATION

This morning brethren, I just want to encourage us with some scripture verses which we shall also use to pray.

God sent His Word to the Israelites through Jeremiah to encourage them that all that devour them (whatever they have loss or miss) he will restore and also deal with the devourer.(I pray for someone this morning reading and have faith, whatever you have loss or miss God will restore unto you In Jesus Name)

God promised restoration of health to His people. According to Gen 1:26 we are God’s children created in His image. Therefore wherever, whatever, whoever requires Healing now (Ps 107:20) receive it in Jesus Name

Further, God promised His children Mercy and Thanksgiving. In all happening now, God will show all Nations mercy and the sound of rejoicing will spring up again.

1. Let us thank God for everything he has done, he is doing and will still do

2. God please destroy every devourers affecting lives and Nation’s and please restore all losses in Jesus Name

3. Please Lord show Mercy to all and let there be sound Of joy and rejoicing in Jesus Name

Look up


Numbers 21:8 “And the Lord said to Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole, and it shall come to pass, that everyone that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, he shall live.”

In a time of trouble, the way out, is to LOOK UP TO GOD. When the children of Isreal were being bitten to death by serpents in the wilderness, the anti-dote was looking up to God. All those who looked up to God, survived.

In Hebrews 12:2, we are admonished to constantly look up to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. An Author writes a story and knows all the plots, intrigues and suspenses, better than anyone else.

A Finisher decides the fate of a game. He knows when and how a thing will end. So, Jesus, having written the story of our lives, knows everything that is happening to us right now, how and when it will end, and it’s aftermath. That is why He is Alpha and Omega-the beginning and the end, Revelations 1:8.
Jesus Himself told us what to do at a time like this: “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.-Mathew 11:28.

Nothing catches God by surprise.

There is no unforeseen contingency with Him. Therefore, notwithstanding covid-19, and the accompanying economic realities, we can rest assure that God is fully aware and has already accommodated everything in His recovery plan for His children. His deliverance is always total rather than half-way.

He will not preserve you from the plague, only to let you be consumed by its economic aftermath. If He spares you from the pandemic, as He will, it is surely for a glorious aftermath. Those He preserves, He sustains.

In Luke 5:1-7, Peter had labored in vain all night, while relying on his own experience and wisdom. But the moment he looked up to Jesus, his story changed. How? Jesus gave him divine instruction which led him to finding where the fishes were. Same boat, same net, same Peter, but a different result!

In the midst of other empty boats on Lake Genessareth, Peter’s boat suddenly became full of fish to breaking point and he had to call for help. That will be your story too, if you start to look up to God, instead of getting fixated on Bloomberg.

Those who look up to God receive heavenly guidance. Their feet are ordered during famine to where the oasis is. They find Brook Cherith. Ravens bring them food. They stumble upon Syrian Camps empty of soldiers but full of provisions. They are sustained by the Zarephath Widow until the famine is over!

In 2 Kings 6:26-27, a woman looked up to the King for help during severe crisis, but the King in turn told her to look up only to God. At a time like this, only God can help you. He can use men, but He alone will decide where your help will come from, Psalm 121:1-2.

In conclusion, please note that a time of crisis is always a time of the miraculous for those who decide to look up to God. As you continue to look up to God in the time ahead, may you experience miracles, signs and wonders, in Jesus name. Amen.

Shalom.

Let us watch & be sober


“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”_ 1 Thessalonians 5:6

Beloved, wake up! Christians cannot afford to lose focus for a moment; our heart must be kept with all diligence. We must watch the crafty attempts of the enemy to attack the authority of Scripture.

Watch against worldliness and the quest for ungodly pleasures. Every believer must protect the sanctity of the church against false prophets, sexual immorality and all sinful practices.

Father, please help me to be sober and watchful in all things, in the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen!

Alone with God


TEXT: Acts 13:2

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

HYMN

Jesus calls us o’er the tumult
Of our life’s wild, restless sea;
Day by day His sweet voice soundeth,
Saying, “Christian, follow me”.

INTRODUCTION

We are usually very busy that we often don’t hear God when He speaks to us. We also don’t have time for quality communion with Him even though He is yearning for it.

One of the methods He employs when it is important that He speaks to us or pass a message across is to separate us from our busy schedules.

I remember two occasions when God needed my attention, He took me away from my busy daily routine. The experiences and impacts remain unforgettable for me.

The current lockdown arising from the covid-19 pandemic may be God’s way of calling our attention to Him. The difference between this one and my personal experiences is that He locked down the whole world at once. That tells me that whatever message He needs to pass across must be extremely important and time bound.

WHY SHOULD WE SPEND TIME ALONE WITH GOD?

1. God desires alone time with us. Gen.3:8-9; Acts 13:2

2. We need to develop intimacy with God to rely on Him as our vine. Jn.15:1-8

3. Spending time alone with God rids our minds of distractions so that we can focus on Him and hear His word.

4.We draw closer God and get to know Him in a different way than we do in group settings. Ps. 42:7; Jam. 4:8

5. To follow biblical examples. 1 Cor. 10:11

EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE WHO SPENT TIME ALONE WITH GOD

1. Adam – The first man to have a quiet time with God. He received the vision/purpose for his life in one of those sessions with God. Gen. 2:15-16

2. Abraham – He left his country, kindred and family to be alone with God. Gen. 12:1-4 God changed his name from Abram to Abraham, the father of nations. All the nations of the world can be traced to him.

3. Samuel – As a young boy, he was separated from his father, mother and immediate family. He was separated unto God. At a tender age, God trained him to hear His voice and prepared him to be a Prophet. 1 Sam. 3:1-14. He was one of the greatest Prophets in the bible.

4. David – While his brothers were enjoying the comfort of their father’s house, God separated young David unto Himself in the bush. There, He taught his hands to war and his fingers to fight. Little does one wonder that he defeated Goliath the giant. 1 Sam. 16:10-13; 17:34-51; Ps.144:1.

5. Elijah – God separated Elijah unto Himself at the brook Cherith. There He gave him the blueprint for survival during a period of famine. 1 Kings 17:2-9

6. The disciples – After the death of their master, the disciples of Jesus Christ heeded His instruction for them to be alone with God until they received the power. In no time, they were filled with the Holy Ghost. Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4

7. Paul – He encountered God on one of his missions to persecute Christians. God locked him down and equipped him. Since then, he never looked back until he died. He wrote 13 out of the 27 books in the New Testament. Acts 9:1-22

8. Jesus – He went away from the crowd to be alone with God many times in His earthly ministry. He recharged and refined His mission on earth during these lock down sessions. Mt. 14:13; Mk. 1:35; 6:45-46; 14:32-34; Lk. 4:42; 5:16; 6:12; 9:18; Jn.6:15

9. John – He was on exile on the Island of Patmos when God opened His eyes to see the edn time events as recorded in the book of Revelation. Rev. 1:9

10. Moses – Moses had a personal encountered with God while he was a fugitive in Median. He was equipped to deliver God’s precious people from bondage in Egypt. Of all the prophets, there was none who spoke with God mouth to mouth like Moses. Ex. 2:11-25; 3:1-10; 33:11-15; Num.12:8

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SPEND TIME ALONE WITH GOD?

1. We will understand God’s purpose for our lives when we spend time alone with Him. Consequently, we can live meaningful and purposeful lives.

2. People develop intimacy with God in the process. Moses knows His ways, while other prophets see His acts.

3. God equips people to fulfil their destinies e.g Samuel, David, Paul.

4. Separation unto God is the place of Power. e.g the disciples in Acts 2

5. Spending time alone with God is a place of divine revelation e.g Abraham, Elijah, John etc

6. He injects energy, power and strength into our bodies when we are tired, weary and emotionally distraught e.g Jesus

7. Spending time with God puts everything else in perspective.

HOW TO SPEND TIME ALONE WITH GOD.

1. Meditation in prayer
2. Personal praise and worship
3. Personal Fasting
4. Separation from the crowd, in self isolation.

CONCLUSION

Anyone who is too busy to pray now, will be too busy to receive the power to fulfil destiny.

Anyone who wants to be used of God cannot afford to spend all of his/her time with people.

This time when the whole world is on lockdown presents a perfect opportunity to be alone with God.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Prayer of thanksgiving – to be alive, privilege to hear His word, salvation of your soul.

2. Prayer for mercy for the nations of the world, Nigeria, your family members and loved ones, yourself.

3. Prayer of healing for all those who have been infected by covid-19 and any other diseases in every nation of the world.

4. Pray for grace to take time out of your busy schedule and be separated unto God.

ACTION POINT

Separate yourself unto God and seek His face to discover your purpose on earth, ask for power to fulfil your destiny, seek divine revelation.
Seek to do exploits for Him. Dan.11:32

God bless you.

Power. Sermon & prayer points by pastor E A Adeboye


INTRODUCTION
After the resurrection, what next?

Ecclesiastes 7:8. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof.

Jesus told the disciples that He would send someone who will help them fulfill their destiny.

John 16:7. According to Jesus, the Holy Spirit would give the disciples power.

Power is the ability to do work and do it efficiently and at times extraordinarily.

There are different categories of power.

1. Political Power. Ecclesiastes 8:4

2. Financial power. Proverbs 10:15, Ecclesiastes 7:12

3. Spiritual power. 2 Kings 4:8-17.

4. Counterfeit Power. Acts 8:9-24
Power supersedes power. Exodus 7:8-12

Why do you need to have the power of the Holy Spirit?

1. To fulfill destiny. Luke 5:1-11, Acts 2:1-41.

Paul’s destiny was to preach the Gospel.

Galatians 1:15-16, Acts 9:10-20. Also, the greater the power, the easier it is to reach your goal.

For example, the power of God was manifested in great dimensions in the life of Peter. Acts 3:1-11, Acts 4:4. 1st sermon, he won 3000 souls. 2nd sermon, the power was greater; he won 5000 souls. His destiny was fulfilled at an amazing pace. Acts 5:1-16.

Don’t pay attention to those who mock you when you pray in the Holy Spirit. The Bible says you speak mysteries to God when you pray in the Holy Spirit. The end will justify the means so use it. If you don’t use the power, you will lose it! Pray more in the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:26. Use the Power so it can multiply.

For those who haven’t received the power of the Holy Spirit; Acts 2:37-39

1. Repent

2. Be baptized (by immersion)

3. Begin to use the power; join the workforce

And watch the Almighty God begin to move you closer to destiny.

In the Name that is above every other name, I pray for you today that the power to fulfill destiny will be released unto you and you will not leave this world regretting that you failed to fulfill destiny(Amen). Praise the Lord!

Rooted and built up in Christ Jesus


Colossians 2:7-“Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye has been taught, abiding therein with thanksgiving.”

Crisis can be either a curse or a blessing, depending on what you make of it. It can be a curse, if you allow it to lock down your life. On the other hand, it can be a great blessing if you turn it into an opportunity to grow and make your life richer. Joseph grew during adversity and was eventually able to tell his brothers: ‘what you intended for evil, God has turned to good’- Genesis 50:20. That can be your testimony too.

How can you use the present lockdown to better your life?

1. By utilizing the period to grow and turn your mind into a formidable intellectual powerhouse. By feeding your mind with scripture, literature, and other edifying materials, which are in abundant supply on the internet, you will become a stronger and more confident person to face the world, after the crisis. Proverbs 23:7 confirms that your life is a reflection of your mind. You have all the time you can ever desire, now. Use it to grow your inner being. It is your movement that is restricted, not your mind. Put your mind to work! The resources you need are all around you. If you search your house, you’ll also find old books you’ve never read. Read geography. History. Politics. Science. Nature. Anything to improve and keep your mind active and fresh. Those books and pamphlets that adorn your shelf, pick them up and read. This is the time to invest in the real you-your mind, so it can serve you better later. Your mind is your greatest asset, dont let it diminish, irrespective of your age. Gain knowledge in unfamiliar areas. If you fail to feed your mind in a healthy way, it will not grow healthily. The quality of your mind determines the quality of your life. Prov:4:23. “Guide your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life”.

2. By using this period to grow your imagination. Imagination is one of man’s greatest assets bequeathed by God. Your mind and your imagination are intertwined. The better the quality of your mind, the more creative your imagination will be. In Genesis 11:6, God said nothing can stop a man from accomplishing whatever he can imagine. In 1 Samuel 17: 46, David said to Goliath: “…I will kill you, cut off your head and feed your carcass to fowls and wild animals.” And he did. That was the power of imagination at work. Only an imaginative mind could have written the Psalms of David. If you can see it in your mind, you can achieve it. Imagination, which is the ability of the mind to be creative or resourceful, is the mother of ideas. Men and women of ideas rule the world. Those who profit from crisis, after the crisis, are people who, while others were busy watching television and engaging in social media and other frivolities, were busy growing their imagination, seeing beyond the visible, and hearing the inaudible. After crisis, they make things happen, while others wait for things to happen. Powerful imaginations are mostly created during physical hibernation by great minds.

3. You can grow your faith more. Jesus said in Mark 9:23 that nothing is impossible for those that believe. In Mark 5:28, the woman with the issue of blood grew her faith to the point that she believed that all she needed to do to receive her healing was to simply touch the hem of Jesus garment, whereas there were people pressing on Him, without any encounter. In Mathew 8:8, the Centurion told Jesus: ‘you don’t need to come to my house, just speak the word, and my servant shall be healed.’ That was how much he had grown his faith. By reading the scriptures, listening to sermons and testimonies, aided by deep meditation, during this period, you can grow and build up your faith to become a better believer. Romans 10:17 says faith comes by a continuous hearing of God’s Word. Many will have their faith seriously challenged after this crisis, and only the strong in faith and bold in imagination will survive. That is why you need to grow your faith in God now, in preparation for the future ahead. Faith turns you into a storm rider!

4. Grow your competence. Isaiah 54:2 says: “Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strength thy stakes.” This is a very powerful scripture for this season, speaking of growing. As a professional in your field, this is a time to grow your competence beyond the present level, despite physical restriction. Excellence has no limit. You must not stop the risk of success until your good becomes better, your better becomes best, and your best becomes glorious. So, even you are already big, you can strive to be bigger. Post-crisis periods always present new challenges even in the way professions are practiced. Only those with sharpened and enhanced skills and competencies, will be able to compete. Yesterday’s methods may not be enough in the post covid-19 era. You must accept and be ready to adapt to the reality that the world has changed. Now is the time to prepare for the new world by sharpening your skills and competences in isolation so as to remain relevant when the doors of the world re-open. Develop better skills, take online refresher courses, read up the latest developments in your field. Adaptability rather than experience, will most likely, determine relevancy, going forward. So, use this time to grow into it.
In conclusion, remember that to stop growing, is in essence, to die. Wake up every day determined to grow beyond yesterday. Only then will tomorrow meet you well-prepared. May your tomorrow be better than your today, in Jesus name. Amen.

Have a beautiful weekend and God bless you.

Shalom!

Joy divine


Jeremiah 15:16
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.”

Joy is divine and is rooted in the word of God.

Christians should search for joy through the word and not in the World.

This joy propels people to preach to sinners, help the poor, visit the widow and the fatherless, and spread the good news of the kingdom.

The highest honour anyone can receive. I pray that the joy of the Lord will overflow in you and become a source of joy to the whole world, in the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.

Father, please let joy like a river flow through me to the world, in the Mighty Name of Jesus.

Be calm and trust God


Philippians 4:6‬

Song;

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.

Your mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning,

new every morning:

great is your faithfulness, O Lord,

great is your faithfulness

We thank God for His faithfulness and return all glory to Him now and always.

This is a time to encourage one another. In 1918 when there was the Spanish Flu in which over 50 million of the world’s population died, the Christians in America did the following;

They did not allow themselves to be discouraged and give in to fear. Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 91: 5-6

They took care of each other, the community and the poor. Acts 4:32-34

Some Churches donated their buildings as makeshift hospitals to care for the sick.

They also had house to house gatherings of few people to worship the LORD like was done in the days of the Apostles. Acts ‪2:46‬

Because they did not have the benefit of internet, some pastors printed their sermons in local Newspapers and these were circulated in their locality.

We can learn from the above and do likewise and more to glorify God at this time.

As the Spanish Flu passed, this will also pass in Jesus Name. We should trust God.

We should also not be unduly fearful of the economic impact of COVID 19; remember, that when the children of Israel left Egypt after the plaque, they left with benefits.

By the grace of God, when others are saying there is a casting down, we will say there is a lifting up.

We should be anxious for nothing, because He owns our tomorrow.

Let us Pray
1.Father we thank you for your continuous protection over us, and our loved ones in Jesus Name.

2.Lord please have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring this plaque to an end in Jesus Name.

3.Lord, please heal the sick, both those suffering from COVID-19 and other ailments in Jesus Name.

4.Lord we pray that the Holy Spirit will comfort and strengthen all families that lost their loved ones at this time in Jesus Name.

5.Father, let everything work for our good according to Romans 8: 28 at the end of this COVID 19 in Jesus Name.

May the Lord hear and answer our prayers in Jesus Name. Amen.

Dearly Beloved


There is no doubt, things are tough in Nigeria and the world at large today.

To enjoy a healthy living and survival, it takes the Grace of God. Times like this, we need God for absolute peace of mind to live in peace and happiness. Be satisfied with the little you have.




Spend wisely and buy only what you really need to make you healthy.



Avoid Conflicts in any form, many people are angry, frustrated and ready to kill at any little provocation, patience is key, ignore trouble as much as possible, learn to say sorry.




Men should please control their anger, we know how hard it is to make ends meet, please don’t take it down on family, let your home be a peaceful place. Don’t Worry we will all smile again. Your own is better because you have good health. Hundred of millionaires are receiving treatment in hospitals. Don’t give yourself hypertension.




Women, endure with your family . Don’t complain. Show love. Be a good Mother, create fun to ease tension.



Our health should be very important, give it a priority. Eat moderately prepared healthy diet with varieties of fruits. Above all, thank God, you are not hospitalized.




Always count yourself blessed because you are healthy.
Smile, Laugh, Rejoice!!!




There are better days ahead. Once there’s life, there’s hope.




Health is wealth!!!



Nothing in life lasts for life. Only God and His words does. Choose to live by the infallible word of God. This is the way to true happiness in life




Remember to live before you leave.
Don’t spend your entire life making a living and forget to live.




There are only two ways to live, you’re either living or just existing. A balanced life is the best life.



In our jobs whoever is saying we’re irreplaceable is lying to us .But in our families and circles we are irreplaceable




Life is like exam questions. If you are having a problem understanding one question move to the next. Don’t get stuck in one chapter of your book of life.




Winners don’t quit but they surely take breaks. Don’t spend your entire life opening one door. If it refused to open forever means maybe it’s not your door. The fact that a certain aspect of your life is not working as planned doesn’t mean your whole life has to be on hold. Your time here is limited, spend it wisely. A wise hunter with just one bullet doesn’t shoot anyhow.




If you can change it, change it. If you can’t change it, stop worrying and complaining about it. Never give the management of your life to those who cannot manage their own life properly.



To be spiritually fooled is to be spiritually foolish. Be careful when someone who cannot hear his own voice tells you he’s hearing from GOD.




Happiness is a choice, not destiny. Happiness is not a destination, you must travel with it. A situation and a problem are two different things don’t mix both.



Happiness is a present tense, not a future tense. You can delay your gratification but your happiness should never be postponed.




Always do your best but never ever forget to take a rest. Whoever refused to rest will eventually be laid to rest and people will tell him to REST IN PEACE.





HEALTH IS WEALTH





START LIVING AND STOP EXISTING…!!!

Pray


“ Pray without ceasing”-1 Thess 5:17

Without prayer, God will not interfere in the affairs of man. This is because at creation, God gave the authority to determine what happens on earth to man, Genesis 1:28.

So, Man became the god of the earth, Psalm 82:6; John 10:34-36. Jesus re-affirmed man’s authority on the earth when He said in Mathew 18:18, “Verily I say unto you: whatsoever you shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” In other words, heaven only responds to what we do or ask it to do. If we ask or do nothing, heaven does nothing, and if we ask or do something, heaven follows suit.

Prayer is our means of asking God to do something on earth. Having handed the earth over to us to rule over, unless we invite Him to do something, God simply looks on, allowing us to run our show. The state of human affairs today is largely a reflection of Man’s managerial ability, save for occasions that he has allowed a partnership with God or permitted God to take over.

God will not forcibly take over what He has authorized man to rule over, unless man asks for His assistance through prayer. Matt:7:7.

For divine intervention that will put an end to a pandemic such as covid-19 therefore, we must invite Him into the matter through purposeful prayer.

It is one thing to pray, and quite another, to pray in the right way. James 4:3 says: “Ye ask, and receive not, because Ye ask amiss, that ye May consume it upon your lusts.”

One right way to pray at a time like this, is to ask God specifically, to give wisdom to the scientists and doctors who are working day and night all over the world, to quickly find a cure for this virus.

When the waters of Jericho became poisonous resulting in an epidemic, God answered the people’s prayers by sending Prophet Elisha and showing him the cause of the problem and the cure. Elisha then asked for salt in a new cruse, which he applied to the source of the water, immediately bringing the epidemic to an end, 2 Kings 2:18-22.

Medical Scientists are the people that God has put in charge of this aspect of human affairs. It is by His wisdom that they do what they have been called to do. That is their own mountain to take for God. Let’s pray that God opens their eyes and gives them grace and enablement to quickly and successfully take this mountain for the Lord, in the interest of humanity.

Scientific and medical discoveries are a result of God’s revealed wisdom-God acting through human vessels to reveal the means of subduing and exercising dominion over the earth, as commanded by God in Genesis 1:28. Deuteronomy 29:29 says: “The secret things belong unto the Lord, our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Doing ‘all the words of this law’, include fulfilling the Genesis 1:28 mandate.

Every scientific discovery is a divine revelation. If God can use animals, He can use anyone to accomplish His purpose, even an unbelieving scientist. So, the solution doesn’t even have to come through a Christian scientist. It can be an atheist. It doesn’t render it any less the handiwork of God. God can, and mostly uses unexpected vessels to accomplish His purposes.

As we remain in isolation therefore, in addition to our cry for mercy, the universal prayer of all Mankind to God should be: “Father, please reveal urgently to the medical scientists, the cure for coronavirus; help them to take their mountain quickly, so that the pandemic may come to an end shortly, in Jesus name. Amen.

Good morning and do have a lovely day.

Shalom!

Power to get wealth


Deuteronomy 8:18
“But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth,”

Having riches is not the problem, but having a wrong attitude towards it. Riches should be thankfully received, and Christians must value heavenly riches above earthly wealth.

Earthly riches are to be used in the service of the Creator and the true owner of all things.

God has the power to make anyone wealthy, therefore His children do not have to live in penury.

Father, please help me to wrestle in prayers until my breakthrough comes, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Enjoy A Blessed Wednesday

Don’t be over spiritual


Genesis 6:14

Spirituality is good in as much as one maintained and followed detail instructions from God

2 Timothy 3:16-17, To be over Spiritual is not a crime either, but the fact remains that many have missed out in following details all in the name of doing things in a way to suit them.

If we consider the scripture well, we will discovered that God said to Noah in GENESIS 6:14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

Noah followed details as given by God to him and at the end he was rewarded for his obedience. Genesis 9:1-2

Make your house the “ARK OF GOD” in this season building vibrant Family fellowship with God.

1 CORTH 3:16, Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

You are at home not because your love or passion for God has declined but God said in ECCLESIATES 3:1 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

There are times GOD does not require your effort in the battles field that is why He said in Exodus 14: 14 “The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”

All you need to do in a season like this is to hold your peace at home until the plague is rooted out.

PRAYERS
1. Thank God for His protection and provisions.

2. Thank God for answering our prayers

3. Ask God for Mercy wherever you have disobeyed Instructions

4. Talk to God to grant you grace to hearken diligently to instructions

5. Please pray that God will perfect everything concerning COVID-19 that God will reveal to the scientists the vaccine and His Name alone be glorified.

6. Personal Prayer request

A chosen generation


1 Peter 2:9
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;”_

Every child of God living holy and committed to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ is bound to experience greatness.

Seeking greatness anywhere apart from God is an exercise in futility. The power of God to make you great rest squarely on His personality as the Almighty and unlimited God.

If you desire to be great, do not waste your money, time and energy in pursuit of greatness outside God; it will end in disappointment and failure

Father, please let your great plans for my life become a reality very soon, in the mighty name of Jesus.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me


Isaiah 61:1 says:
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”

The Holy Spirit gives hope to the hopeless, healing to the sick and life to the spiritually dead persons. The anointing of the Holy Spirit that enabled Jesus to do all that He did. Hence, if we are to do the same and even greater works (John 14:12), then we must also be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Are you ready for service?

Father, please anoint and equip me for greater works, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Grow in grace


“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”_ – 2 Peter 3:18

Steadily growing in grace helps us avoid lust and worldliness. When a Christian allows such into his/her life, there will be a gradual spiritual decline which is very dangerous.

To avoid this decline, we must desire the sincere milk of the word (1 Peter 2:2). We must also strive to keep our salvation, working it out with fear and trembling

Father, give me a hunger for Your word. Cause me to grow in the grace of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Trust God


Psalm 11:1-“In the Lord I put my trust…”

David faced trouble upon trouble, crisis upon crisis, and on many occasions, could have died, but for God who rescued him. He therefore learned by personal experience, what it meant to trust God in trouble.

That’s why words like trust, rest, recline, shield, refuge, Shepherd, shelter, strong tower, rock, fortress, buckler, filled his vocabulary.

In the end, David was able to confidently testify: “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” -Psalm 37:25.

Apostle Paul too, faced many troubles. On one occasion he lamented: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed but not in despair.”- 2 Corinthians 4:18.

In the end, he testified: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, 2 Timothy 4:7.” He did, trusting God, all the way.

Crisis is an occasion for Practical Christianity. In isolation to avoid a dreaded disease, with food and other supplies gradually thinning out, and compounded by security concerns, we have a choice whether to look unto God, or seek help elsewhere. Fear and panic are exposed in their helplessness.

Worry and anxiety are deflated. The only sure anchor is Christ, the Solid Rock. All other grounds are proving to be sinking sand.

‘Trust’ means to have a firm belief in the reliability of God to see us through this crisis, no matter its dimensions or vagaries. Simply put, it is to have confidence in God.

Hear David’s bold affirmation: “They that trust in the Lord are as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever.” -Psalm 125:1.

In this time of trouble, God is our only refuge, Psalm 9:9, and strength, psalm 37:39; so we have no choice but to trust Him completely.

Trust in God is reflected in the words that we speak and in the actions that we take.

It also shows in how we pray. This is a wonderful opportunity to win unbelieving family members over to Christ, by the confidence in God that we display at this time.

Your children will be quietly observing to see whether you will show fear, with all your profession of faith.

Your spouse will observe to see whether indeed, your Jesus is worthy of trust, as you’ve always preached.

Jesus too, is watching to see whether you will trust Him in this storm, or panic like the disciples, while in the boat with Him.

God uses crisis times to test the faith of His children.

Will you and I pass this test? This is the time to go back to your sermon notes.

This is the time to soak yourself in the study of the scriptures. This is the time to sing hymns and psalms unto the Lord. This is the time to truly know who your helper is. This is the time to read and enjoy the beauty and truth of psalm 121.

Finally, as the scriptures show, those who trust God during crisis, usually experience uncommon miracles.

The widow of Zarephath survived the famine, 1 Kings 17:8-16. Elijah was fed by birds, 1 kings 17:6. The widow of the prophet discovered her pot of oil during crisis, 2 Kings 4:1-7.

These can become our own Elijah Days too, when our pots of soup will supernaturally increase.

They can be days when unsolicited help will come from unexpected quarters. They can indeed be days of divine protection and deliverance.

May this be your testimony, as you choose to trust God throughout this crisis, in Jesus name. Amen.

Shalom!