POWER

POWER

"God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God." - Psalms  62:11

Power is essentially the ability to coerce, influence, affect or control a jurisdiction. It could also be used to describe the people in charge of legal or political power, the government. Power is also effectiveness, physical force or strength.

There is what we can refer to as the Power of men, a class which would include Connection Power (meaning the power to have connects with people that matter in the society, many who have this power use it to situate themselves or loved ones in preferred positions), Ability Power, (power to make things happen), Reasoning Power (which includes the ability to read and understand and even forging further to write books for others themselves) and Magical Powers (which involves conjuring the powers of darkness to work and deceive many in an aim to entertain them).

"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." - Luke  10:19. The enemy, our continual adversary, the devil also has some form of power which is entirely based upon his ability to deceive the people of GOD. Herein is the need why we always encourage a proper study and meditation of the word of GOD as that alone gives you proper knowledge of the power you have in GOD and you are then able to use it against the deceit of the devil, but if you don't know, you remain powerless.

The Holy Spirit is the energizer of the power of GOD in us. You can never operate the power of GOD if you don't know who you are or your identity in JESUS CHRIST.

One would immediately ask, how then do I stop loosing out on that which the Lord had made available for me. First things first is to be known by GOD, a feat which comes to pass only by you accepting the Lord JESUS as your Lord and saviour. Next you receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Go on to have a sound grounded knowledge of the word of GOD (Matt. 22:29).

Know who you are in Christ. Know that you are perfect in Christ (1Cor. 2:6), that you are a risen being and you are seated with Christ in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6-7), that you are a child loaded with Grace (Rom. 12:3), you are a child of GOD (Rom. 8:16), you are an heir of GOD and a joint heir with JESUS CHRIST (Rom. 8:17).

Pride and secret sins are a powerful hindrance to the operations of the power of GOD in a believer's life. Identify them early and stay away from it

GOD BLESS YOU.

TEPID

TEPID

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." - Revelation  3:14-16.

To be Tepid is another word meaning to be Lukewarm; neither warm nor cool; Uninterested; exhibiting little passion or eagerness.

The accusation of being lukewarm as used in the scriptures and compared to what obtains in Christianity today talks about when such individual is not really decided about the path of righteousness and he still has what we call one leg in and one leg out. False converts as they could be rightly described, all they do in the church is truly just for a show off, perhaps making them seem to belong but their hearts are not really there (Matt. 23:5-7).

People who get to tarry in the presence of GOD only when they have a need for Him to fix in their lives, making GOD more like a merchant man who you go to whenever there is the need for a merchandise. These guys don't see a need to honour the word of GOD but they preferably twist and turn the truth about GOD'S word just to fit their lives of sin.

Isaiah 29:13 does a good job of describing them, saying "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:"

Now, there is the need to differentiate a Tepid Christian with a weak Christian. For a weak Christian, his mind is made up about the path to take when we refer to righteousness, he only simply needs to grow deeper into the things made available for him by GOD, but for the tepid Christian, his mind isn't made up and he just remains in the church simply because of what he can get from the Lord and for such people as soon as that need tarries, they are off.

Much said about their high self-interests when approaching GOD as they wouldn't even consider carrying the cross of staying this path (Matt. 10:38; 16:24), once it becomes too tasking, they drop it not because it is difficult to bear but because they really do not have any interest.

The times when the tepid would fill the church is actually a fulfilment of prophecy as recorded in Paul's second letter to Timothy, chapter 4:3-5 - "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."

The following scriptures 2 Timothy 3:1-5 & 1 Corinthians 5:11 give us a heads up to identifying Tepid people in the church around us today and He warns against associating with them giving some characteristics that set them apart. They are lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying its power. They are sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler.

The Lord warns us sternly about pitching our tents with Tepid Christians as they would eventually hinder our journey through (2Cor. 6:14-18). He even calls them unbelievers as that is what they truly are.

For those who are Tepid, scriptures say that the Lord would spue them out of his mouth, meaning that they would not have any place with Him (Rev. 3:14-16). He says woe to them, who clean the outside of the cup but the inside is full of rottenness, such a deceitful bunch (Matt. 23:25-28). If there is a deliberate returning to sin even after the truth has been known, there remains no more sacrifice (Heb. 10:26). They forget that they make themselves enemies of GOD by the things they do and their friendship with the world (James. 4:4, 1John. 2:15-17).

Remember, not everyone who calls Him Lord Lord would enter into His kingdom but only those who do the will of the FATHER (Matt. 7:21).

GOD BLESS YOU.

FAMILIARITY

FAMILIARITY

Familiarity is the state of being extremely friendly, intimate, perhaps undue intimacy, inappropriate informality, impertinence, having an instance of familiar behaviour. Close or habitual acquaintance with someone or something, understanding or recognition acquired from experience.

Familiarity simply put is when you have a form of advantage in rapport with a particular person such that others do not have and many times crave for. Birth into a particular family makes you familiar with your parents and siblings and whatever seems to be a form of advantage in being in such a family, you easily be a partaker of. One of the benefits of familiarity is that it affords you easy access to the one whom you are familiar with. It is said that Familiarity breeds contempt and complacency. Hence one needs to know that Familiarity isn't equality.

Familiarity levels differ based on the instance of association. The familiarity level that I would share with my father would be different from that which his Secretary in the office would share with him or that which a neighbour would share with him. I have become familiar with him by the link of birth, his Secretary by the association of the workplace and the neighbours are familiar with him based on the rapport of seeing each other across the yard on a day to day basis.

As heavily guarded as the seat of the president of my country is, and many people wouldn't be able to access his room during his tenure, that isn't the same story for people like his wife, the first lady of the country, simply because she shares a higher level of familiarity with Mr. President than many other people do. His vice president is also familiar with him but his access isn't as highly elevated as that of the first lady.

Familiarity could either have a good or a bad effect on you, all depends in how you go about it. If as the son of the King of a town, the rightful heir to the throne, you decide to use your familiarity to the king to cheat and lord lawlessly over people of the town, instead of making sure that you use your familiarity to the highest placed individual to ensure the welfare of the occupants of the kingdom, that could have adverse effects on you.

Scriptures record of Peter (Luke. 4:38-39, Matt. 8:14-15) enjoying the benefits of being familiar with the Lord JESUS, as his mother in law got a house visit from JESUS even in the time when she was seriously sick. I'm to guess that HE must have been sometimes frequent to her place being the close relative to his disciple. So at the time she fell ill, she did enjoy immediate healing of her body and she got back up and ministered unto them.

Lazarus was a close friend of JESUS such that when He died and JESUS went over to his place, JESUS wept. But seeing that he enjoyed such close rapport with JESUS, he wasn't going to be left to be stinking in the grave but JESUS after giving thanks to GOD called him forth from the grave from death back unto life. (John. 11)

The people of Gadara suffered a huge torment in their city, a torment marked by the demon possession of a man on their shores, one who came into contact with JESUS and at this meeting got delivered of the legion which had possessed him. JESUS would have done many much more for that land but they refused Him stay and pleaded that he leaves their town, simply because they had seen what He was able to do and lost out on many other things they should have been able to gain from (Mark. 5:1-20, Luke. 8:26-39). This is a huge misuse of familiarity.

Do not be like the people in Jesus's town who because of their knowledge of where JESUS came from and their knowledge of who His earthly parents were and their occupation and social stand in the community loose out of greater miracles he would have wrought in their midst (Matt. 13:54-58, Mark. 6:1-6)

The children of the city saw Elisha coming back after he was disengaged from Elijah and instead of them to cling unto him in a bid to perhaps get some divine connect seeing that he had just received power, decided to instead make jest of him and they received their reward, as two she bears appeared from no where and smote them all, forty two their number (2Kings. 2:23-25).

Have you become too familiar with the people of GOD amongst you, such that whenever you receive the word of GOD from their lips, you ignore it all because of the rapport you share with them? Perhaps it's your main guy that suddenly receives the call of GOD to ministry and you don't seem to believe when he says "Thus says the Lord", simply because you have together gone into acts that would make him seem impossible for GOD to use. Or your husband is the minister and because of the way He carries out his role as a husband, you become too carried away whenever the word of GOD is declared upon his lips and you doubt it's efficacy?

Once again I say, do not let your close rapport with the people of GOD be the reason why you loose out on the word of GOD towards you. Why not instead, take advantage of that rapport and draw closer to GOD.

GOD BLESS YOU.

INCREASE

INCREASE
This coincidentally is my first post here this year and speaking on such a theme is surely prophetic. We all shall enjoy divine increase in all areas of our endeavours this year in JESUS name. No one makes an investment,  plants a seed that doesn't have the thought of an increase afterward, the difference in their expectations is just time bound and also dependent on the quality and quantity of their investments. Even when a child is given birth to, there is usually the expectation by the parent upon the child to increase in size, a default from this status quo begins to give the parents and many times the community at large, serious cause for concern.

Increase is the act or process of becoming larger, to wax stronger, to go up, to grow, to rise, to soar, to shoot up or raise up. If a farmer after planting comes back some weeks later to find out that the seed remains in the ground, no shoot or roots yet, he becomes disappointed. A man spends a lot of work hours in the gym in attempt to become stronger, and he finds himself growing weaker, his hopes are dashed. A student spends countless night hours trying to study for an exam and at the end of the day he doesn't get the required degree, it isnt just him that is demoralised but the sponsors of such student are.p Infact, everything we put an effort to or invest in, an increase is the expectation.

Now, increase is many times relative as earlier established that it depends on the prior investment and care/monitoring given to the investment. We all have experienced an increase, whether you want to be grateful for it or not, but we have all increased in age. Many would not truly see this as a form of increase but it is, just imagine if you were stuck in an hour, not being able to reach out to the next second, it is limiting as well as disheartening. As we increase in age, there is a tendency that you would also increase in knowledge, skill, wealth etc, hence your ability to do the unimaginable and achieve higher heights.

If the desire in the hearts of the parent is to see their new born grow optimally, then there would be a true devotion on their part to make it happen. Food in its right quantities, having the desired nutrients and in accurate timing would be given the child, coupled with conducive environmental factors, such a child would increase in a way that brings joy and fulfilment to the parents. As it is in many African settings, when a newly wedded couple arrives, within a period of the next year, the community would be expecting an increase in their number by the introduction of children from the union.

This same expectation is what the Lord desires of us as we become born into the family of GOD. As a born again child of GOD, He expects that you begin to increase in the things that you have been called into, that you increase in knowledge of what you now are and increase in understanding what He has concluded on the cross of Calvary on your behalf (Col. 1:10)

Matthew 25:14-30 gave a narrative of a king who went on a journey into a far country and as he went gave talents to his servants according to their individual capacities with the expectations for them to trade with and bear an increase. The one he gave five bore five more, the servant he gave two, added two more but the last servant whom he gave one talent did nothing with it but hid it in the ground and returned it the same way to the master at His return. An act that the master frowned at seriously and JESUS in narrating this parable said it is so with everyone who has been given much to deliver in the kingdom but does absolutely nothing about it and how their consequence would be to be cast out into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Why not make good use of what GOD has deposited in you and make good profit of it?

It's been a while since you gave your life to JESUS but where is the increase the Lord desires from you. Is it still just that one person you spoke to about JESUS that you were sent to? How about your knowledge base as touching the word of GOD, don't you see a need to get an increase in revelations? You started out praying once a day, when do you intend to increase this? Getting better, going deeper, growing wider is the plan of GOD for you. Work in it.


Crowds trooped just to hear Jesus's teachings (John. 6:1-13), such that they got to a place where they all got tired and hungry but there was no place neither was there a financial capacity to buy food, but as GOD would have it, there was a young boy who followed that had with Him his lunch for the day - just five loaves of bread and two fishes, who when he was presented to JESUS offered his lunch and JESUS gave thanks to GOD for that provision and the food small as it was increased greatly such that it fed comfortably not countung women or children, five thousand men as they got back twelve baskets full. This teaches me that increase of any category that would last and would even expand is found only in JESUS (Isa. 9:7), increase from anywhere else would simply fall like a pack of cards, shameful.

There is the possibility for an increase to cease and this happens whenever the Lord JESUS isn't involved. Wealth obtained through falsehood is a quick example (Prov. 13:11). Be warned, if you are today excited at the increase you are seemingly laying hold upon through fraudulent means, one day it would certainly gain wings and fly away (Prov. 23:5), meaning that within a short span of time, all the wealth would vanish, either it disappears to armed robbers, or it is spent on an incurable disease until it finishes.

In conclusion, it seems very much beneficial to decide to increase. But beyond an increase, how about increasing in works of righteousness, increasing a lifestyle that depends totally on GOD, increasing an interest in the things of GOD. These increases cannot and would not cease or fade away and like the kingdom of our GOD which is eternal, you can never go wrong.

GOD BLESS YOU.

THE LAST DAYS

THE LAST DAYS

It seems quite fitting for us to this day speak about the last days seeing that today is the last day of the year 2017. Grateful I'm sure we must all be for the wonderful privileges we have received to see such a day as this.

The last days as the phrase sounds could have a variety of meanings. First being the day that consumates a particular frame of time for instance, the day that precedes the beginning of a new year, such a day is the last day of the year. Another interpretation of the phrase would mean the day which identifies the coming to an of this humane world as we know it. This write up would premise on the latter which actually is trying to depict a set of days which would precede the end of the world. A time frame that we seem to be in at the moment.

Prophesies declare about the outpour of the gift of GOD upon all humanity in the last days, a time whereby the very Spirit of GOD would be poured out upon the entire world and there would be endless manifestations of the eternal power of GOD.  (Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:17-18)
The last days are also characterized by difficult times and situations in the sense that the love of many would wax cold, the interest for the things of GOD in the hearts of men would begin to fade and there would be a drawing in the hearts of men towards the love of the world and that which the world offers and seeing that friendship with the world is enmity with GOD, various forms of unrighteousness become the order of the day.

The church commissioned that should be the beacon of GOD's light directing men to the ways of GOD are by error enticed by the so called enjoyment in the world and they become unable to teach correctly because of the fear of loosing the financially and socially buoyant members  of the congregation who perhaps have gained their wealth through dubious means. Daughters hence become harlots and sons rogues and they yet lack caution as the ministers who should occupy the positions of watchmen are themselves fully involved. (1Timothy 4:1, 2Timothy 3:1).

Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." - John 11:24.

Jesus was friends with Lazarus who was the brother of Mary and Martha. These sisters sent message to Jesus that His friend wassick and they asked that He should come and heal him. Lazarus died and JESUS got to the place where they stayed. As Martha saw Him and cried to Him, Jesus then reassured her by saying that her brother would surely live. A statement she didn't even argue with but her knowledge on the matter was in error, because she said he would eventually rise on the last day at the end of the world, but Jesus being the resurrection and the life who is not bound by time and circumstance called Lazarus forth out of death back unto life.

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us." - 1 John 2:18-19.

It would certainly not be out of place to say that the antichrist, he whose sole purpose is to misdirect the elect of GOD has come and this signifying the end time. I would sincerely like to reorientate in this part that he who is called the antichrist is not in any way ugly or scary at the initial sight of, but is rather of a form that looks endearing such that the weak hearts of sons of GOD could be easily derailed. It could exhibit itself in various forms that may initially from the start look harmless and may even feel like wanting to achieve more in life.


Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. "But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." - John 6:35-40.

"So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous," - Matthew 13:49.

At the end of the age, when it all is said and done, the Lord JESUS would send forth His angels to do a final harvesting of souls and those who have spent their lives believing in the gift of Jesus on the cross of Calvary for them and were not led astray by the deceit of the antichrist would be saved. This spells the end of this wprld as we know it, those who are saved then live in eternity glorifying the Lord forever while those who didn't believe are sent to eternal damnation, a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up." - 2 Peter 3:10.

The last day is a day which should be much dreaded by those who are not living in Faith with JESUS CHRIST. The date of this great event remains unknown to us all, even the angels in heaven do not have the slightest clue as to when it would happen and as it is whenever a thief robs a building unannounced and catches everyone in surprise so it would be for those not living right but for those who live aright, it becomes a day of joy, a much anticipated day of eternal significance.

"He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day." - John 12:48.

At this point it becomes very important that one asks oneself the most cogent question ever, "Where do I spend eternity? Would I be able to reign eternally with JESUS or am I at the moment doomed to he'll fire?" If your state is that of the latter, the fact that you are reading this means it isn't late for you yet, get on your knees and say this prayer with all your heart, "Lord JESUS, I thank You for Your love for me, despite how far I have fallen, Your love still stretches deeper to draw me to Yourself. I believe that You died on the cross of Calvary for me and I today forsake the life of sin and henceforth receive eternal life that You alone can give. Thank You JESUS".

I want to heartily congratulate you for saying that short prayer, welcome to the family of GOD, do find a Bible based and believing church so that you can grow unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of CHRIST.

GOD BLESS YOU

WISHING YOU A TRULY GOD-LED, REWARDING AND FULFILLING NEW YEAR.

ALPHA AND OMEGA

ALPHA AND OMEGA

The word Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and is usually used to designate the first in an order of precedence while Omega is the twenty-fourth letter of the Classical and the Modern Greek alphabet, and the twenty-eighth letter of the Old and the Ancient Greek alphabet.

With this write up today I hope to be able to draw your attention to the sovereignty of GOD. How He was long before the creation of this world and how He would eternally continually exist even the world as we know it would have ceased to exist. I understand GOD to be the master of the universe and when one is a master of a thing it simply means that such a person has full control over another entity.

For instance, a professor of Organic Chemistry is known to be someone who has mastered all the forms full and topics contained in Organic Chemistry that there is pretty much nothing left that he doesn't have control of as touching the course. Now GOD is not in the same category of man, and even if this aforementioned professor could have a brainwave and forget whether integral or rudimentary parts of the course, GOD doesn't have brainwaves such that He could forget such things which He has mastery of. If I have a GOD whom is master of the universe and nothing really goes on in this world without His knowledge, what then should really be my fear in times of uncertainty.

Then He said to me, "It is done I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. - Revelation 21:6-7.

I would need you to become familiar with the fact that GOD wants very much to be involved in your life, He is the Beginning of your life, now due to circumstances or situations wherein one finds himself, you let go of the leadership of GOD over your life and follow other lesser gods as a means to supposedly reach an aim or a set standard for your life. He now isn't able anymore to be Omega unless you then make the most important decision of your life by turning it all over to JESUS, accepting the sacrifice on the cross of Calvary and living henceforth in the knowledge that the life you now live, you live it in trust to Him who saved you by His blood, then and only then can He become Omega.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." - Revelation 22:13

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." - Revelation 1:8

Scriptures point out that our GOD is the Alpha and Omega. Now simply put, as the Alpha, the entire world, entire creation, entire existence began in Him and as Omega, all things would be consummated in Him. This fact should truly make us understand fully our need for GOD because if everything consists in Him and there is nothing that He is not master over, wouldn't it be safe to commit it all to His lordship? Wouldn't it be wise for everyone to embrace the gift He gave us in His son, JESUS CHRIST whom He sent to be the propitiation for our sins, permitting us to have access back into the place of fellowship with the FATHER.

So dear friend I put it to you that there is no better place that you would rather be than to be in the shadow of the wings of the Lord JESUS. He knows the end of a thing even from its beginning and has carved out a proper niche wherein you are supposed to operate in to obtain optimal success through the journey of this life and receive proper placement in eternity. Your refusal to His leading would certainly cause you to deprive yourself of what you really were made to be and at best one would live at the devil's beck and call, honouring his every word until eternal damnation in hell fire.

I sincerely advice that you choose He who is ALPHA AND OMEGA, BEGINNING AND THE END, THE FIRST AND THE LAST, He who knows what exactly you should be and you would be glad you did.

You can say this prayer wholeheartedly to invite the ALPHA AND OMEGA into your life - "Lord JESUS, I thank You for Your love for me, despite how far I have fallen, Your love still stretches deeper to draw me to Yourself. I believe that You died on the cross of Calvary for me and I today forsake the life of sin and henceforth receive eternal life that You alone can give. Thank You JESUS".

I want to heartily congratulate you for saying that short prayer, welcome to the family of GOD, do find a Bible based and believing church so that you can grow unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of CHRIST.

GOD BLESS YOU

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

other gods

Other gods
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." - Exodus 20:3

The book of 1Kings 16 verse 28 begins the tale of the son of the King Omri who was supposed to take over from his father after he passed on. King Omri wasn't really able to pass unto his son godly leadership so as a result, Ahab also went the way of his father and served idols. As if the service of other gods as a king of the people of GOD wasn't enough offence, he also decided to take to wife Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and built an altar unto Baal, served and worshipped him (1 Kings  16:31).

Fast forward to chapter 17, there arose a "troublesome" prophet, Elijah who declared that there wouldn't be rain upon the land for a specified period of 42months (three & a half years) and so it was. This act really surely got king Ahab vexed because leadership in such times would have been very difficult hence a face off was inevitable.

Elijah became tired of how much king Ahab and his wife Jezebel had led the people of GOD astray from serving the true and living GOD so He requested of the people to refuse to any longer be deceived and make up their minds and choose who they would serve henceforth and should in case the decision was a difficult one for them to make, he aligned himself against all the prophets of Baal in mount Carmel.

Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.(1 Kings  18:23-24)

On this test, the prophets of Baal took to calling their god using several methods all to no avail, this they did until mid-day, giving Elijah a good chance to make jest of them. He said maybe your god has gone on a journey, perhaps he is asleep or on a vacation etc. They kept on asking, seeking and probing why their god wouldn't answer, cutting themselves thinking that maybe at the gushing of their blood, their god would reply but it didn't.

Elijah then withdrew the attention of the people away from the prophets of Baal and instructed that huge gallons of water be poured thrice in the groove made around the sacrifice, something that seemed entirely impossible because water would quench fire anyday anytime. So they turned in water and Elijah called upon the living GOD and fire came down, licked up the water around the groove and burnt up the sacrifice.

As soon as this happened, the people believed GOD, killed the prophets of Baal and turned to worship the one and only true GOD. The GOD who alone was able to do the impossible and turn things around miraculously,  HE definitely is GOD.

Having what we call other gods may sometimes not be the intention of the individuals as it was in the case of these people, they could always argue that they simply just went the way their king led them and were ignorant to know that they were been led astray until they saw the miracle at Mount Carmel. Many people hold unto beliefs and logics which many times they use to fill in the position of GOD in their lives, simply because they are fed wrong information from society or even the pulpit. This wrong information could cause a varying range of harm and misdirection for the individual if not promptly and properly corrected.

Imagine an individual who has convinced himself that his sinful lifestyle is permissible/pardonable simply because he is well able to pay his tithes and give handsome offerings in the church. How wrong.

Whatever it is that you today have made a god in your life that you follow diligently in error as a result of ignorance of the word of GOD, retrace your steps today and follow the one and only true living GOD. He alone is able to do far beyond what you could ask or think.
GOD. He alone is able to do far beyond what you could ask or think.

GOD BLESS YOU.

DISTRACTIONS

DISTRACTIONS

A distraction is something that distracts which in turn means to divert the attention of someone from one thing to another. There are good distractions as well as there are bad distractions. If someone is focusing on something good and the attention is shifted unto something bad, that is a bad distraction but if the individual's path was on the wrong and is distracted unto something good, that becomes a good distraction.

A driver along a highway can be easily distracted whenever he comes across something that catches his fancy, which could distract him so much that he looses his gaze on the road ahead and he crashes. A housewife cooking dinner and suddenly her favourite Indian show comes up and she becomes distracted and pays attention to the show and looses her focus on the assignment in her hands, she could have her food burnt and the family goes hungry that night or she has to face the wrath of a very offended husband.

Jesus spoke of a parable in Mark. 4 about a sower who went out to sow seeds and how the seeds fell on different locations and how these locations affected their growth process. He went on to explain that some of the seeds fell among thorns, such that when they began to grow, they became choked up by the thorns hence they being unable to survive. In verse 19, He explained those thorns to be majority distractions such as the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in which choke the word, and makes it becometh unfruitful.

Just after the feeding of the five thousand men in Matthew 14, the Lord JESUS asked that His disciples got into a ship before Him while He dispersed the crowd, after which He went up a mountain to pray. A little while into the sea, the disciples met with a storm and they surprisingly saw JESUS walking towards them on the sea.  As expected they got scared and claimed it must be a ghost because normally human beings shouldn't float on water.

After they were a bit convinced, Peter then asked to come join Him on the water, a request which JESUS obliged and Peter walked on the sea towards JESUS. But as soon as Peter got distracted by the waves, he lost his focus on JESUS and began to sink into the sea until JESUS stretched out His hand and pulled him back up.

Peter would have walked a great while on the sea, which was truly a huge attainment for a human being,  but he got distracted and quickly sank as any other human being would. Lesson learnt here is simply not to get distracted away from JESUS,  as it is only in full focus on Him that one's life can attain the seemingly unimaginable. Away from Him, one's life remains normal or even less than normal, but with Him, the extraordinary exists.

JESUS went to visit His friends, Mary and Martha in Luke. 10 and it would normally be amongst men whenever we have a very important guest coming around, Martha was quite busy trying to arrange something tangible for JESUS to eat and she became truly busy with this assignment such that it became stressful for her till she now remembered that she had a sister who wasn't getting involved with this preparation. So she quickly complained to JESUS that He should ask her sister, Mary to help her with the preparation. A request that JESUS replied to by saying in verse 42 that one thing alone is truly needful and Mary has taken to it which is to focus on JESUS, beyond every desires in the heart of man whether good or bad, not being distracted from the person of JESUS still remains paramount.

Truly it is the aim of the devil to distract us from focusing on JESUS, that is why the scriptures give us a heads up in James  4:7 instructing "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." He further reiterated this guide in 1Peter 5:8 by saying "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"


We should never be deceived into believing that there exists an adversary in anything else except the devil and his lifetime assignment is to seek out those he can devour by distractions. We would win always only by focusing on JESUS.

Matthew 6:19-21 & 31-33 warn us about how we can easily also get distracted by the cares and affairs of this world. We could even get caught up being engrossed in the work of GOD that we forget the GOD of the work (Rev. 2:3-4).

Distractions away from JESUS comes in various forms and skills of the devil. It remains very important for the child of GOD to pay attention to details and be careful to note whenever the focus/interest isn't anymore of honouring/obeying GOD. This is the point whereby one needs to diligently retrace his steps and like Mary pay attention to that which really matters - JESUS.

So how really does one get to maintain focusing on JESUS? Various scriptures help in answering this question (Joshua. 1:8, Mark. 6:31, 1John. 5:21, Eph. 5:15-16, Prov. 3:6, Mark. 1:35, Gal. 1:10). One of them remains having a set time, apart from every form of distractions whereby we pay full attention to GOD, appreciate His love for you, adore His majesty and acknowledge His sovereignty over all that concerns you. Study the word of GOD, Pray and Meditate.

In conclusion, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." - Eph. 6:11.

GOD BLESS YOU.

UNTIL SHILOH COMES

I would really just want us all to today share from the lyrics of a song which has really blessed me alot. Shiloh is the name of a city which means Peace, Abundance. Until you get to experience peace and an abundance as touching the word of the Lord for your life, wait for it, for it would surely come to pass, just wait.

Please read through. GOD BLESS YOU PASTOR. CHRIS DELVAN

UNTIL SHILOH COMES – by Chris Delvan

Listen to me oh ye heavens
Give me your ears oh ye earth
Let my words be like the rain and like the due
That falls upon the herb that grows in the field
Praise the LORD oh ye people
Come praise Him oh ye His wisdom
He has kept His praise always
With little children and sucklings of the earth
And His wisdom can only be found
With the low things of the earth
His race is firmly established
In the church of the living Christ
As He is now in the heavens
So He is right here on the earth
To rule the earth with a rod of iron
Until all His enemies bow
We have power over all the nations
Because we are riding on the eagles’ wings
Jesus, our Lord once was dead
But now He lives forever
Believe me when I say
We are the light of the world
We are the city that is set on a hill
We are the salt of the earth
Streams from the river of joy
But no man ever lights a candle
Only to keep it in a hidden place
We are here on earth for a plan and a reason
Dominion is our call
We are not rats that run in a hopeless race
You are lions in a winning race
We have power over all the power of the enemy
The devil is a defeated foe
Come unto me all ye who are weak and heavy laden
Come drink in the words of life
The word of the Lord is a weapon my friends
And of the increase of His kingdom there shall be no end
“THE WORD OF THE LORD SHALL NOT FAIL UNTIL SHILOH COMES”
JESUS, the light of the world
Is the hope of all creation
Redeemer and mighty Lord
King of kings, He is the Lord of lords
But now I see an evil under the sun
Something wrong with the house of the king
The sons of Zion are held down in captivity
But their servants ride upon the horse
But ye are gods all ye children of the most high
You’ll only prosper by the truth you know
If the foundations of the earth is destroyed
What can the righteous man do?
You put your hands to the plough but you look back
So you are not worthy for the price of the call
See the whole of creation is groaning
They are calling for the sons to show
But a man of honor who doesn’t understand
Surely would die like the beast in the fields
It was Moses the father himself showed us the way
He said a prophet would the most high raise
That unto Him shall the gathering of the people be
We seek a city whose foundations is the Lord
Come out from amongst them
Time to take command is come
You must follow JESUS the lamb of God
He is our example
Hold the Lamb, Hold Him till the end
Hold the Lamb, no matter the pressure
Hold Him till your change has come
Hold the Lamb and every word he says
Believe His every word
Hold Him till the end of time
“THE WORD OF THE LORD WOULD NOT FAIL UNTIL SHILOH COMES”

GOD BLESS YOU.