Tag Archives: Second Epistle to the Corinthians

We Do Not Lose Heart. Even Though Our Outward Man Is Perishing, Yet The Inward Man Is Being Renewed Day By Day. For Our Light Affliction, Which Is But For A Moment, Is Working For Us A Far More Exceeding And Eternal Weight Of Glory.

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We Do Not Lose Heart.  Even Though Our Outward Man Is Perishing, Yet The Inward Man Is Being Renewed Day By Day.  For Our Light Affliction, Which Is But For A Moment, Is Working For Us A Far More Exceeding … Continue reading →

Suffering And Success Go Together. If You Are Succeeding Without Suffering, It Is Because Others Before You Have Suffered; If You Are Suffering Without Succeeding, It Is That Others After You May Succeed. God’s Divine Artistry

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Suffering And Success Go Together. If You Are Succeeding Without Suffering, It Is Because Others Before You Have Suffered; If You Are Suffering Without Succeeding, It Is That Others After You May Succeed. God’s Divine Artistry   Yet Of Myself … Continue reading →

OH GOD, PLEASE SEND SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT. WHEN GOD PLACES HIS ANOINTING ON YOU HE USES WHATEVER LEVEL OF SKILL YOU HAVE TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSES IN YOUR LIFE.

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OH GOD, PLEASE SEND SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT. WHEN GOD PLACES HIS ANOINTING ON YOU HE USES WHATEVER LEVEL OF SKILL YOU HAVE TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSES IN YOUR LIFE.                   … Continue reading →

Suffering, Pain and Evil: Why Does God Allow them?

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Suffering, Pain and Evil: Why Does God Allow them? It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

God is still there despite any tragedy you may be experiencing. But why does God allow suffering?

The Bible says that Job suddenly lost all of his wealth and his children. The devil said to God, “If You take all those possessions away from him, he’ll curse You and turn from You.” But God replied, “You can do anything to him, except you can’t kill him, and then we’ll see” (Cf. Job 1:11-12).

Job never asked why those things were happening to him. The closest he ever came was when he said, “Show me why You contend with me” (Job 10:2). Job was sharing his agony of spirit with the very God he could not understand.

Suffering carries a message of mystery. The Bible says, “Great is the mystery of godliness” (1 Timothy 3:16).

For humans, there is a mystery as to why God created the earth. There is a mystery as to why He put people on this earth. But God has revealed answers through the Bible and through the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ. In the Bible you will find the answers to the questions and the problems of your life.

But man rebelled against God. Man said, “I don’t need You, God. I can build my world without You.” God said, “If you take that position, you will suffer and die.” Man took that position, and he began to suffer, and he has been dying ever since. Physical death is just the death of the body, but the spirit lives on. If your spirit is separated from God for eternity, it will be lost forever.

The Bible teaches that Satan is the author of sin. Sin is the reason that we have afflictions, including death. All of our problems and our suffering, including death itself, are a result of man’s rebellion against God. But God has provided a rescue in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ. That’s why Christ died on the cross. That’s why He rose from the dead.

MESSAGES THAT MOVE US TO ACTION

In suffering there is also a message of compassion. Jesus said, “for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me” (Matthew 25:35-36).

In suffering there is a message of unity. Jesus prayed “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You” (John 17:21). And that’s the way we ought to be as Christians, one in Christ. If you have been born into the family of God, you are a child of God. You are brothers and sisters.

Suffering holds a message of comfort. In Second Corinthians we read:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Because tragedy happened to you, it gives you a greater sense of oneness with others who experience tragedy. You can feel for them in that suffering situation. Because we have been comforted through the Word of God, we in turn may be able to comfort others.

What should be our attitude toward suffering?

First, it should be one of worship. We ought to say, “O God, I believe You are the great and mighty God. I don’t understand all the things that are happening in my life, but, O God, I trust in You.”

Second, we should ask God to teach us all He would have us learn about Him, about ourselves, about others and how we can minister to those who are suffering.

Third, our attitude in suffering should glorify God. People are going to watch us as Christians. They will ask, “How is it that Christ is so in control of his or her life that he or she was able to help others?”

Jesus suffered and died for us on the cross, but God raised Him from the dead. Jesus Christ now sits at the right hand of God the Father, and He sees our suffering. He sees our life every day and knows exactly where we stand.

The Bible teaches that we are to be patient in suffering. That’s the hardest thing of all, to be patient, to have songs in the night. Ask God to help you have a trusting, patient attitude, and flee from bitterness.

In suffering there is also, I believe, a message of warning. Are you prepared to meet God? What do you have to do to be ready? God took the initiative in giving His Son, Jesus Christ. God says, “I love you. I want to forgive you. I want you to go to heaven.” But you must respond to Him. Find hope, peace, and security today.

 

 

 

 

 

May GOD bless Nigeria, America and Israel and take care of us; May GOD 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 Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

 

 

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2 Corinthians 12. Paul’s visions and revelations. Paul’s love for the church

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2 Corinthians 12. Paul’s visions and revelations. Paul’s love for the church

1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. 12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. 13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. 14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. 16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. 17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? 18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps? 19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. 20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: 21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

May GOD bless Nigeria, America and Israel and take care of us; May GOD 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 Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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2 Corinthians 10. Paul’s warfare and authority

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2 Corinthians 10. Paul’s warfare and authority

1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: 2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s. 8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: 9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.

12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. 14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: 15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, 16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand. 17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

May GOD bless Nigeria, America and Israel and take care of us; May GOD 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 Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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2 Corinthians 9. The importance of giving cheerfully

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2 Corinthians 9. The importance of giving cheerfully

1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: 2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. 3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: 4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up before hand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.

6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

 

May GOD bless Nigeria, America and Israel and take care of us; May GOD 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 Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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2 Corinthians 8. Christian giving. Excel in giving

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2 Corinthians 8. Christian giving. Excel in giving

1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4 Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. 6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. 8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. 11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. 12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. 13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: 15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. 17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. 18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; 19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: 20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: 21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. 23 Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. 24 Wherefore show ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

May GOD bless Nigeria, America and Israel and take care of us; May GOD 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 Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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2 Corinthians 7. Paul’s joy. The Corinthians’ repentance

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2 Corinthians 7. Paul’s joy. The Corinthians’ repentance

1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. 3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. 6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more. 8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you. 13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. 14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. 15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. 16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

May GOD bless Nigeria, America and Israel and take care of us; May GOD 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 Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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2 Corinthians 2. Forgiveness

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2 Corinthians 2. Forgiveness

1 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. 2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? 3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

5 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. 6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. 7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, 13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. 14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

May GOD bless Nigeria, America and Israel and take care of us; May GOD 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 Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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Glorious Generation 2 (Sermon Note)

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Glorious Generation 2 (Sermon Note)

 

 

 

 

Text: 1 Peter 2:9

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

Our God is glorious, excellent, beautiful, superb, majestic Exodus 15:11. We are His offspring; His Chosen generation. We must be glorious like Him, in excellence, beauty, radiance, achievements. To achieve this, we must be a generation with vision. We must set goals and achieve them. Proverbs 29:18.

 

 

  1. 1.      What is your goal in life?

To answer this, we need to answer some other questions: – Who am I, what is my deepest dream in life. To fulfil my dream, what do I need to do? Why is it important to me? Does God approve of it? How and when should I embark on it? What is the ultimate picture I see in the future? When I attain that ultimate dream, what next? Judges 11:1-10, 1 Chronicles 4:9-10; Proverbs 14:12; Ecclesiastes 11:4.

Biblical example of goal setters are Nehemiah, Paul, Daniel, Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to mention but a few. Nehemiah 2:3-5, Daniel 6;3; Philippians 3:13-14; 2 Corinthians 11:23-33; Acts 20:24, 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Matthew 18:11; John 4:34; John 17:4

 

  1. 2.      Pitfalls in achieving our goals

Sin, laziness, wrong association and friendship, procrastination, slothfulness and mediocrity. Psalms 1:1-6; Proverbs 21:25; Proverbs 13:20; Romans 6:1; Hebrews 12:1-2.

 

  1. 3.      To achieve your goals you need valuable people

You need mentors, connectors, grounders, Godly counsellors. Above all you need God’s grace and mercies. Acts 9:26-27; Proverbs 11:14; Jeremiah 33:3; Ephesians 1:17-18.

 

  1. 4.      Success is not cheap

Success is not cheap neither is it easy. Don’t give up. If you fail, try again. Winners never quit. 2 Corinthians 11:23-33; Phil 4:13; Luke 1:37

Conclusion

We must shine in our generation. In our places of work, in school, in ministry, business, we must shine because we are chosen, we are royalty, we are peculiar, if we shine, then we bring glory to God Who has called us into His marvellous light.

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 Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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God operates according to the principle of seed, time, and harvest

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English: 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)

God operates according to the principle of seed, time, and harvest


But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly;
and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully
2 Corinthians 9:6

Paul had been talking about giving to the saints, and in this verse he
said, “he that soweth…” God looks at your giving as seed, and
He looks at you as if you are a farmer. That’s why we say, a seed will
meet any need.
God operates according to the principle of seed, time, and harvest. If
you want to have a harvest, you must first plant a seed.

Paul was telling this church that he who sows (gives) bountifully, will
reap bountifully. He who gives a little, will reap a little. The amount
you invest directly relates to the amount you receive.

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 Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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Are You a pillar of encouragement?

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Are You a pillar of encouragement

Encourage the Struggling

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4”

Encourage those who’re struggling? Don’t know what to say? Then, open your Bible.

To the grief-stricken: God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

To the jobless: “In all things God works for the good of those who love him.”

Are you a cancer survivor? Someone in the cancer ward needs to hear from you.

Have you buried a spouse and lived to smile again? Then find the recently widowed and walk with them.

Your experiences have deputized you! Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 that God is the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does He do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us!

 

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 Christ Name, we pray! 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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Give, and It Shall Be Given Unto You; Good Measure, Pressed Down, And Shaken togther, and Running Over Shall Men Give Into Your Bosom (Luke 6:38)

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GIVE, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU; GOOD MEASURE, PRESSED
DOWN, AND SHAKEN TOGETHER, AND RUNNING OVER, SHALL MEN GIVE INTO YOUR
BOSOM.(Luke 6:38).

And God is able to
make all grace abound towards; you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in
all things, may abound to every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8)

There’re different levels of prosperity at which God’s
people function. Some are in the first level, where they have just enough to
get by. Some, however, are on the next level where they have more than enough
to take care of themselves, their family and a few others. Then, there’re those
who are in the arena of abundance, where they can do so much for themselves and
for many others.

However, God’s desire for you is that you move from the
realm of abundance into the realm of super-abundance, where you’re financially
strong enough to do whatever you want to do that’s good for God and for people,
whenever you want to do it, however you want to do it! This is the level of
prosperity you should strive to function in, where you’re able to help other. Nigeria,
African and the world as a whole need more of such men and women today, who are
willing and able to bring succour and relief to the less privileged amongst us.

There’re many orphans, widows, and other needy people that
could benefit from your prosperity. The Bible says in Proverbs 19:17 “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth
unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again”. Also,
the Bible says the generous man is blessed for giving to the poor (Proverbs
22:9). Our opening scripture describes God’s commitment to you, when you
dedicate yourself to a lifestyle of giving; He (God)”…..is able to make all grace (every favour and earthly blessings) come
to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and
whatever the need, be self-sufficient (possessing enough to require no aid or
support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable
donation)” (2 Corinthians 8:9 AMP).

God’s resources are limitless; His wealth is infinite. As
His kids, we’re His heirs; all that He has belongs to us. Therefore, choose to
function at the level of super-abundance. The way to press into this realm of
prosperity is through giving: “Give, and
it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together,
and running over, shall men give into your bosom…” (Luke 6:38). Through giving,
you multiply riches and wealth. Keep looking out for opportunities to be a
blessing to others, and the Spirit of God, apart from helping you increase your
capacity to give more, will cause you to dwell in the realm of super-abundance,
where others will benefit from your prosperity.

CONFESSION:

Through my giving,
mighty harvests of financial blessings are coming to me, and my capacity to
give is increase today by the power of God’s Spirit. I’m a big-time sponsor of
the gospel!  The kingdom of God is moving
forward because of God’s grace upon my life in Jesus Christ. Amen!

www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

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Holy Spirit is With You Forever

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And I will pray the Father, and He
shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever (John
14:16).

Some Christians
think the Holy Spirit sometimes goes on a break, or takes a recess just because
at such times they didn’t “feel” His presence. You don’t have to “feel” God to
know that He’s with you. Rather, you ought to know that He’s with you always,
because the Word says so. Jesus said, “…….and,
lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew
28:20). He didn’t say, “I’m with you only
when you can “feel” that I am.” Many have reduced their experience of Christianity
to the carnal realm of feeling, and that’s so wrong, for we walk by faith and
not by sensory perceptions (2 Corinthians 5:7).

But you
might want to ask, “What if someone, having received the Holy Spirit at the New
Birth, backslides and feels that the Holy Spirit has left him or her, is this
just a feeling or was the Holy Spirit actually frustrated with all the sin in
such a person?” Well, God is not a man (Numbers 23:19), and He doesn’t act like
some earthly parents who wouldn’t relate with their kids for doing something
wrong. Sadly, this is the poor perception of God that some folks have.

That you did
something wrong won’t make the Holy Spirit leave you. Remember, you weren’t
made right with God because of your own righteousness; it came because God gave
you His righteousness. Thus, His presence with you isn’t dependent on what you
did right or wrong, or the way you feel. His presence is dependent on His
infallible Word; because of His love! That’s the reason He’ll never leave you
nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

Read again
the words of Jesus in our opening verse, He said”And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter,
that He may abide with you forever” (John 14:16). God the Father, through
the Holy Spirit abides with you forever, not sometimes. Don’t consider what
your feelings tell you. As long as you haven’t wilfully rejected Christ and His
sacrifice of salvation for you on the Cross, the Holy Spirit cannot and will
not leave you!

Even when
you err and start feeling as though the Holy Spirit has left you, it’s still
the Holy Spirit who guides you unto repentance, proving His presence with you
even at such times. If He left you, you could never return to Him! But He
wouldn’t, for He’s with you to fulfil His ministry in your life, till Jesus
comes. Hallelujah!

PRAYER

PRECIOUS LORD, I THANK
YOU FOR THE RICH FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHICH I ENJOY LAVISHLY TODAY,
AND FOREVER. WHAT JOY TO KNOW THAT I’M ORDAINED INTO THIS WONDERFUL UNION AND
FELLOWSHIP WITH YOU FOR ETERNITY! AMEN!

www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

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Teach Your Children To Give.

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Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverb 22:6). Every child is God’s gift of trust to the parents. Parents have been entrusted with an important … Continue reading →

Believe in prosperity

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You first
step to living in prosperity is to believe in prosperity. I’m greatly concerned
and feel really sorry for Christians who don’t believe in prosperity. Most
times they’re the same that condemn and criticize preachers who teach God’s
Word on prosperity, and that’s sad. Not to believe in prosperity or in the
message of prosperity is not believe in God, because when you study the Bible
carefully, you will discover that the prosperity of the Christian is God
ordained, God’s idea, and God’s greatest desire.

As a matter
of fact, if anyone must question, doubt or get sceptical about the message of
prosperity, it shouldn’t be the Christians. God’s idea is not even that the
Christian should try and become rich; for the Christian has already been made
rich. Moreover, the Christian should make the non-Christians rich by teaching
them how to prosper God’s way.

This is what
the Apostle Paul meant when he said, we make many rich (2 Corinthians 6:10). I
love the way Weymouth New Testament Translation puts it; it says “we bestow
wealth on many”. That’s our calling as Christians. There’s an anointing on us
to make people rich; to make their lives beautiful and prosperous. You’re
called to “bestow wealth on many!”

If you’re a
child of God, believe in prosperity and don’t be apologetic about it. Don’t
accept to be poor or average. You’ve been made rich (2 Corinthians 8:9);
therefore believe in prosperity and prove your faith by refusing to talk lack
and poverty. Instead, keep talking your way to financial abundance!

PRAYER

Thank You Heavenly Father for
ordaining me to be rich! I believe and acknowledge the grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ who though was rich, made Himself poor that I might be made rich. I
accept my prosperity as Your Will and idea for my life in Jesus Christ Name,
Amen!

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