150 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Prayer Points For May 2012 RCCG “Operating Under Divine Favour” Holy GhostService

Thank God for His infinite mercies.

Father! Don’t let me ever annoy You again.

Father! Please arise for me, for my family, for Your Church and Your country.

Father! Don’t let me die before my time.

Father! Don’t let my dreams of greatness die, help me fulfil them.

Father! Let me shine at home, abroad and everywhere.

Father! Whatever I touch, please make it prosper.

Father! Please accelerate my promotion now.

Father! Take me to the very top soon!

Father! Let me forever operate under divine favour.

Private prayer request.

May the LORD bless Nigeria, American and Israel and take care of us; May the LORD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus…

Jesus Works in Community

Culled from: Max Lucado Daily

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8”

None of us can do what all of us can do—Jesus works in community!

In 1976, an earthquake devastated the highlands of Guatemala. Thousands were killed and even more left homeless. Twelve of us from our college volunteered to help out during spring break. Most of us were ministry students. All of us loved to discuss theology. I can’t remember the list. But by the time we reached Guatemala, I’d discerned the faithful from the infidels. I knew who was in and who was out!

But our task turned rivals into partners. We were a team. We began to sing…

The Unpardonable Sin. Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost

MATTHEW 12:31,

“Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shalt be forgiven unto men: but blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.”

LUKE 12:10; MATTHEW 12:24-31; MARK 3:22-30

The word “blaspheme” means “to speak evil of; defame; or revile.” In context, Jesus is saying that blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is attributing the working of the Holy Spirit to the devil. Many people in the Bible did this, including Saul, who became the Apostle Paul. However, we see in 1 Timothy 1:13, that Paul said he received mercy concerning his blasphemy because he had done it “ignorantly in unbelief.” Therefore, the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost Jesus is warning against must be willfully reviling the Holy Ghost with knowledge of what is being done.

This…

Resurrection of Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Be Ready! Jesus Is Coming Soon!

READ:Luke 12:35-40

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. —Luke 12:40

Through the years, quite a few people have predicted the return of Jesus at a specific time. Just last year an American radio preacher stirred up the interest of the mainstream media with his prediction that Jesus would return on May 21, 2011.

Anyone who knows Scripture well knew that this advance warning wasn’t accurate, because Jesus Himself said His return would be “at an hour you do not expect” (Luke 12:40). But I do have to admit that this prediction captured my attention. Often I get so caught up in the busyness of life that I live as though Jesus’ return is some distant reality. I forget that Jesus could come…

Let Your Light So Shine Before Men

READ:Matthew 5:13-16

Let your light so shine before men. —Matthew 5:16

It was just a routine baggage inspection, but there was nothing ordinary about the contents of the suitcase. The Swiss customs agent who examined it discovered 14 original drawings by Pablo Picasso. The artwork, which was contained in a sketchbook, was estimated to be worth as much as $1.5 million, yet the passenger indicated “nothing to declare” to customs authorities.

It’s hard to imagine anyone packing Picasso’s sketchbook between sweaters, trotting off to the airport, and hoping it would remain a secret. The man was obviously smuggling it.

We as Christians have something far more valuable than a Picasso to declare! Yet we sometimes keep the treasure of our faith in Christ locked in our hearts instead of sharing it with those around us. Jesus reminded us, “You…

Can GodCount on You?

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept
my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of
the synagogue of satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do
lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet,
and to know that I have loved thee.
Revelation 3:8-9

The church at Philadelphia is going to have manifestations of God. Man
cannot stop what God is going to do. Those going the wrong way, those
going the false way, are going to come, see and know that God’s hand is
on them. God said, “I am going to put them right at your feet.” This is
an Overcoming Church. This is…

To whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

Luke 12:48, NKJV

Accountable Before God

When Annas the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching (John 18:19), Jesus answered directly, “I have spoken openly to the world . . . I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said” (John 18:20-21, NIV).

Jesus confronted Annas with the awesome principle that God holds people accountable, not just for what they have heard or know, but for what they have had opportunity to hear and know, with churches on every corner, with religious radio broadcasts, with Christian television programming, with evangelistic crusades and festivals and services…

Culture of Envy

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant, or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Exodus 20:17

Everything about our culture entices us to want more and to want better things than we already have.

We live in the most affluent yet the most unhappy nation in the world. This is the result of removing gratitude from our value system and writing a “more, more, more” attitude in. If we don’t want more and strive for more, we’re told we somehow don’t measure up.

The cure for envy and covetousness is found in gratitude and praise to God. Colossians 3:16 tells us that we should “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns…

Jesus Came to Serve! SO Should We!

Don’t focus so much on what you love to do that you neglect what needs to be done. A 3:00 AM diaper change fits in very few sweet spots! Visiting your sick neighbour might not come naturally to you. Still, the sick need to be encouraged, garages need sweeping, and diapers need changing.

The world needs servants. People like Jesus, who “did not come to be served, but to serve.” Jesus chose remote Nazareth over center-stage Jerusalem, his dad’s carpentry shop over a marble-columned palace, and three decades of anonymity over a life of popularity. Jesus selected prayer over sleep, the wilderness over the Jordan.

I’d have gone with angels. I’d have built my apostle team out of Gabriel and Michael. Not Jesus. He picked people! When they feared the storm, he stilled it.
When they had no food…

4 days of Evangelism Training in Southern California provided by LivingWaters Ministry. Obeying the great commission of Jesus Christ. “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone” Mark 16:15 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Let us unite under the name of Christ and find fresh unity among all believers

Deep connection

2 Corinthians 2:5

“I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me.”
NLT

The church of Jesus Christ is a family. In fact, I would say it can be an even deeper relationship than those found in a family. As believers, we weep together over heartaches, rejoice together in victories and share our lives with each other. This is not odd; this is the way God intended it to be.

Romans 12:5 “so it…

When God moves

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going – John 3:8 (NIV)

March is the windy month. And when I see the evidence of the wind in the bending trees and rippling lake water, I’m reminded of the example Jesus used in John 3:8 to describe God’s movement in a person’s life. He said, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going” (NIV).

Have you ever prayed for the Wind to blow? “God, would You please move in this situation? Do something! Make Yourself known!” And have you assumed that His movement would be wrapped in glory and blessing? That if only God would move in your family, in your marriage, in your church…

4 days of Evangelism Training in Southern California provided by LivingWaters Ministry. Obeying the great commission of Jesus Christ. “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone” Mark 16:15 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Be strong and of good courage! For the Lord Your God Is With You

Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Has the Lord asked you to do something that is bigger than you? Are you facing something and you just don’t think you can do it? Be encouraged by this scripture today and be strong and of good courage…God is with you wherever you go!

May the LORD bless Nigeria, American and Israel and take care of us; May the LORD make His face shine…

4 days of Evangelism Training in Southern California provided by LivingWaters Ministry. Obeying the great commission of Jesus Christ. “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone” Mark 16:15 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Where is God asking you to help relieve suffering in the world?

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Micah 6:8

It was Edmund Burke who said, “All that’s necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing.” Sadly, this is all too true today, as many good people—yes, even Christians—sit on the sideline and do nothing about the injustice and pain that so pervade this world.

I sometimes wonder if the church has…

Get Behind Me Satan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Satan is already defeated

We need to remember that the Lord has already defeated Satan at the cross. We should quit magnifying Satan and giving him so much credit. Instead, we should focus on the wonder-working God Who fights our battles for us. Then we would see with our own eyes the victories we long for!

If the devil has been bombarding you with temptations, tests, and trials, remember—the battle is not yours. It’s God’s. You don’t have to try to “fight” Satan. Just stand your ground with the Word of God. And begin to praise Him for performing for you what He promised in His Word (Rom. 4:21; Heb. 10:23).

Some circumstances will look impossible to you. But if you are to stand firm and immovable on God’s Word, believing Him to fight every battle for you, you will…

Planted in the Word Of God

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that
bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not
wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper
Psalm 1:3

If you are living according to the Word, abiding and delighting in the
Word, you are like a healthy tree planted by rivers of water. God has
fruit He expects you to bring forth in season. There are people He
expects you to help get saved and filled with the Holy Ghost. There are
lives He expects you to touch.

A tree has several parts: roots, trunk, branches, and leaves that keep
it alive, firm, and steady. The roots represent your spirit, and the
branches represent your body. If you are like a tree planted by rivers
of water, you are not going to have a problem spiritually…

Get UP! And Claim Your Miracle!

But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” -Matthew
17:7

Today, Jesus is walking through a crowd. Suddenly He stops, turns, and picks you
out of the crowd. He looks you in the eye and asks you: Do You Want to be made Whole?
Do You Want a Miracle?

If your answer is “Yes, I want to be made whole, I want a miracle,” here is Christ‘s prescription to get well: Get UP! Get up and claim your miracle!

For example, men and women come to our Hope Center on Mondays and get a free meal,
free haircuts, and free clothing. In addition, the head of our ministry’s HR department
has been helping men and women with their resumes at the Hope Center. They bring
their resumes to Eileen, who reviews them, makes notes on them…

God wants to bless us

Deuteronomy 7:13 says:

“He will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: He will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy wine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which He sware unto thy fathers to give thee.”

In this verse we see God’s will for Israel. They were redeemed by the blood of the Passover lamb, and as a result God wanted to bless them. We have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ who was without spot and without blemish. We have an even better covenant than Israel had back then. The covenant we have entered into is a covenant based on the promise of God, not by works, but by faith. God wanted to bring them in, and…

Making the Best Choice

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain
village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her
house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’
feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much
serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my
sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help
me.
Luke 10:38-40

In Luke, you see the attitude that causes religion. Jesus and His
disciples, and maybe even more of His travelling companions, are all in
the house and Martha is running around asking, “Do you have enough
drinks? Can I get you anything to eat?” While she is doing all this,
she comes to Jesus and says, “Lord, don’t you care that I’m doing this

A Slave Of Christ Jesus

“This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus….” (Romans 1:1)

When I proposed to Vonette, I said we would travel the world and that we would live in prestigious Bel Air, California. I promised her everything her heart could desire before we were married.

But within a couple of years our desires and our interests had changed. We had both fallen in love with Jesus. We came to the conclusion that knowing and serving Jesus was more important than anything else.

It was in that spring of 1951, one memorable afternoon, that Vonette and I, in our home in the Hollywood Hills, got on our knees and prayed, “Lord, we surrender our lives irrevocably to You. We want to do Your will. We want to love and serve You with all of our hearts for the rest of our lives.”

We…

God Is Holy (Holiness requires separation from sin)

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.” (Hebrews 10:19)

In Old Testament times the Israelites worshipped God in a tabernacle, which pictured God’s holiness and His separation from sinful mankind. Any priest who entered God’s tabernacle first had to sacrifice an animal on the Brazen Altar to atone for sin. Next was the Laver in which the priest washed his hands and feet before he appeared before the Lord—once again a symbol of our need for cleansing from sin.

The tabernacle had three sections: the large area of service, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies.

The Holy of Holies was the place where God’s presence resided. It was hidden from view by a curtain so heavy that it took four men to move it…