Faith – Fresh Inspiration

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He said, “Neither. I’m commander of GOD’s army. I’ve just arrived.” Joshua fell, face to the ground, and worshiped. He asked, “What orders does my Master have for his servant?” Joshua 5:14 MSG

God knows ahead of time how he is going to deliver you, and so all He asks of us is to believe. God told the Israelites He would give them the land of Canaan, some believed Him, but most did not. Those who did not believe couldn’t because all they saw were the obstacles, the hindrances, the things that looked insurmountable in the eyes of men and in their eyes. They could not see God bigger, mightier, and stronger, and as a result they all died in the wilderness.

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“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach” Romans 10:8 KJV

I have a beautiful dog, his name is Tyson, and he likes food so much. In his younger days he would sometimes go around sniffing especially on his walks picking up all kinds of things. So, I have to ask from time to time, ‘what is in your mouth?’

God wants His word to be in our mouth, everything else is unhelpful, unfruitful, and unproductive. In Romans 10:8, talking about being right with God by faith, Paul says, the word should always be near you, in your mouth and in your heart. I like the message translation which says, ‘the word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest. It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us.’

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“For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are [all answered] “Yes.” So through Him we say our “Amen” to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 1:20 AMP

As you look through the Bible you will discover that each period of time had a promise. A promise given to them by God and in which they lived, God fully expecting them to enjoy His promise to the fullest. However, there was also a looking forward to a better one, a better promise from God which did not diminish the goodness of the existing one but created hope and excitement for something even better to come.

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“Toward night-time many people who were possessed by demons were brought to Jesus, and He said one word of command and drove the demons out, healing everyone who was sick.” Matthew 8:16

Sometimes you feel like something is going to happen, a sense of dread that something may go wrong, from missing a deadline to not having enough money for later or just a sense that you will not achieve your dreams and end up living a life without purpose. None of these things have happened yet but there is this dread, this apprehension in your heart about something that could happen, and it feels so real.

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GOD spoke to Moses: “Speak to the People of Israel. Tell them that from now on they are to make tassels on the corners of their garments and to mark each corner tassel with a blue thread. When you look at these tassels you’ll remember and keep all the commandments of GOD, and not get distracted by everything you feel or see that seduces you into infidelities. The tassels will signal remembrance and observance of all my commandments, to live a holy life to GOD. I am your GOD who rescued you from the land of Egypt to be your personal God. Yes, I am GOD, your God.” Numbers 15:37-41 MSG

In life there are so many things we do and as a result we forget to do some other things. I can sometimes be so busy that I forget to have lunch until it is too late. People forget birthdays, anniversaries and phone numbers. However, God wants us to remember all things, things He has said to us, things He has done for us and things He is asking us to do.

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“ ²⁰teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 NKJV

All believers should get so much comfort from knowing God is with them!

Those five words, I am with you always, which Jesus spoke to his followers when He was leaving the earth and instructing them on what to do, changed them and all they later came to do in His name. I am with you always is a promise that can only be made by someone who loves you dearly, someone who sees you as an important part of Himself, someone committed to your good and your victory in all situations, someone putting themselves on the line and willing to sacrifice everything to be at your side – only someone like this could make the promise, I am with you always through thick and thin.

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”…I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will favor you with blessings and multiply your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham.” Genesis 26:24 NIV

In Genesis 26 AMPC, the Lord spoke to Isaac two times (Genesis 26:3, 24) saying to him, ‘I will favour you with blessings” and in verse 12 we see one of the ways in which he was favoured, “Isaac sowed seed in that land and received in the same year a hundred times as much as he had planted, and the Lord favoured him with blessings. And the man became great and gained more and more until he became very wealthy and distinguished. He owned flocks, herds, and a great supply of servants, and the Philistines envied him.”

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“Who so offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.” Psalm 50:23 KJVS

I was speaking to my mum this morning. As usual she had woken me up early on Saturday morning to tell me about the joy of her experience with God in the night and very early hours of the morning. She shared her testimony with me, how over the last two months she had been struggling to remember the word of God she had stored in her heart, the scriptures she had memorised, and which rolls off her lips effortlessly in all conversations. She was missing it so much in her conversations and kept praying asking God for His help. As she prayed last night, she felt a release inside of her and all the scriptures (chapter and verse) all came rolling out of her mouth. Her joy was palpable as she talked effortlessly for over one hour with me, scripture after scripture, revelation after revelation, exalting her God! Pure joy!

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“….as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” 2 Peter 1:3 NKJV

I have a Bible version I am reading this year which has been an absolute blessing, and it is the Richard Francis Weymouth translation of the New Testament in modern speech. In it verse 3 of 2nd Peter 1 says, “seeing that His divine power has given us all things that are needful for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and perfection.” As I read it, I remember thanking God that I do not depend on the world for my needs but as I increase in my knowledge of God, I realise all the wonderful things He has given me that are needful for this life and godliness.

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But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; 1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)

I have never liked dark tunnels and caves! I remember when I was working in London, and I had to drive to work through a dark, narrow, single lane and dripping wet tunnel. I did not like it at all and as I approached the tunnel every day, I would sense myself getting more nervous and not looking forward to the experience. Once in the tunnel, I could not wait to see the light ahead indicating to me freedom, life and out of darkness. I can resonate with Isaiah when he says, “the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined (Is.9:2).”

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He rescued us from so great a threat of death, and will continue to rescue us. On Him we have set our hope. And He will again rescue us [from danger and draw us near]. 2 Corinthians 1:10 (AMP)

On May 25, 2006, climber Lincoln Hall was left for dead by his guides on the side of Mount Everest. The next day, his crew released a statement announcing his death. Little did they know that Hall was very much alive, but in dire circumstances. He was suffering from altitude sickness, which had caused him to become disoriented. He was left alone on the mountain with no hat, gloves or oxygen bottles. A day later, Daniel Mazur and his climbing group came across Hall. Mazur, who was just two hours away from the peak, abandoned his Everest quest and left his party to carry Hall down to the camp at the base of the mountain, which was a 4-hour trek. Just days before, another climber, David Sharp, died 1,000 feet (304 meters) from the summit when dozens of people passed him by because they didn’t want to risk their own Everest glory.

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For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3 (KJVS)

Self-doubt is something many Christians experience where they know what God says, maybe even believe what God says but doubt in themselves that it is happening for them. Some people doubt everything they do – they prayed, they asked and still doubt if they got it right – are they where God wants them to be or are they are doing what God wants them to do. As a result, they don’t experience the peace or joy God gives as they constantly pray the same anxious prayers repeatedly. They want to see a sign, an experience or something tangible they can hold on to in order to believe and be at peace, that place of total trust and confidence knowing God is doing in them His good will.

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The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly. Proverbs 20:27 KJVS

I remember growing up in Nigeria and in my boarding school we would occasionally experience a power cut, and with some frustration we would all exclaim, ‘NEPA has taken the light again (lol).’ NEPA being the Nigerian Electric Power Authority. It was not too bad if the light went out during the day but at night it was much more challenging. So we would use candles to get around and even sometimes to read. It was the only way we could bring some light to guide and direct us in the darkness.

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And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?'” And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. Mark 5:30-32 (NKJV)

I was at a meeting recently where we were having a general discussion about supporting different groups of people. It was an enlightening discussion and as it went on, I could not help thinking about how we could potentially lose the individual person in a crowd and easily stop seeing their unique needs and the yearnings of their heart. Other people feel more comfortable in the crowd where they blend in and are not noticed. However, I believe Jesus would challenge us not to be in the crowd and also to see each another in the crowd. Using words like everyone and every person, whilst understandable in some situations, could stop us really seeing each other, reaching out to one another and trying to understand one another.

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God’s whole nature is living in Christ in human form. Colossians 2:9 (NIRV)

People are known by their name and their nature. Sometimes I go out and someone will ask me if I know a certain person. I don’t always recognise their name and then they start describing their nature – the kind of person they are and the kind of things they do. As they describe their nature, I suddenly start to recognise who they are talking about even though I may not have known their name. God’s whole nature is everything that God is, the sum total of His attributes or qualities, His character, His person and His very essence. Can you now imagine the whole nature of God, not a part of God but everything, living in Christ in human form? Christ was the complete human expression of God. His nature was Gods nature and as a result everything He did was what God would do. Hebrews 1:3 says, “Christ is the dazzling radiance of God’s glory and splendor, the exact expression of God’s true nature-his mirror image!”

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But the firm foundation of (laid by) God stands, sure and unshaken, bearing this seal (inscription): The Lord knows those who are His, and, Let everyone who names [himself by] the name of the Lord give up all iniquity and stand aloof from it. 2 Timothy 2:19 (AMPC)

Before each of our children were born, my husband and I spent so much time praying and considering what name they should be named, even though we had not seen them physically we knew their name would matter, it would shape their identity and people would know them by their name. God helped us to choose their names and as they have grown we are so incredibly amazed as we see their character, their behaviours and their identity in their names.

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It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63 (NKJV)

In business we look for ways to make profit. Profit is good and sustainable so we choose to engage in activities that bring profit and not loss. In Gods kingdom business there are things clearly laid out for us that bring profit. For example, Jesus says, “It is the Spirit Who gives life, He is the Life-giver; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever [there is no profit in it]. The words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit (spirit birthed) and life (life giving) (John 6:63 AMPC).” He says clearly that the flesh or the way of the flesh does not profit, it conveys no benefit and leads to death which is the opposite of life. Profit is gained when you follow the Spirit and when you follow His words because in them you find the abundant expression of the quality of life that God is.

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Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Revelation 2:4 (NKJV)

You may be old enough to remember the song, Endless Love by Diana Ross. One of the lines in the song says. “My first love, You’re every breath that I take, You’re every step I make.” I am sure she was not thinking about God when she sang the song, however, whilst secular rather than spiritual it describes an all encompassing first love that dominates everything that is thought and done. Consider also two people who first realise they are in love – oh the excitement, the joy, the deep desire to spend every second of the day together, the constant conversation, laughter and wanting to tell everybody about the love they have found. No matter how strong, human love sometimes will fail but Gods love never fails, never changes and never grows cold with time. God should be your first love every single day and you should be so excited, so desirous of Him, so passionate and so conscious of Him in everything you think, everything you say and yes, every step you take.

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O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Isaiah 40:9 (NKJV)

I was praying this week and I found myself repeating the words ‘ I Behold my God.’ ‘I behold my God in my life, my children, my husband, my ministry, my partners, my church, my finances and all that concerns me.’ The Holy Spirit filled my heart and all I could see was God’s glory, God’s beauty, God’s magnificence, God’s power and God’s grace. I remembered Isaiah saying, “I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and the skirts of His train filled the temple (Isaiah 6:1)”To behold means to observe, to perceive, to gaze upon and to take note of. It is more than a casual look but something or someone you hold your gaze upon for long enough that it starts to change you.

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Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. Luke 24:49 (NKJV)

In the Bible we see two distinct experiences of the Holy Spirit. The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit when we get born again (John 3:5-8) and the infilling presence of the Holy Spirit when we receive the baptism of the Spirit mentioned by Jesus with the evidence of speaking in tongues (Acts 1,2). However people sometimes sit on extremes on the baptism of the Holy Spirit and both are not helpful. As believers we should always find the balance, driving down the middle of the road and not in the ditches on either side.

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But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 12:31 (NKJV)

Believers are encouraged to earnestly or seriously desire the best gifts, referring to the spiritual gifts given to the church which is the body of Christ. All the gifts are equally important and the best gifts are the one most suited to the given situation. So for example if someone is sick the best gifts in that situation could be the gifts of healings and of faith.

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God also testifying with them [confirming the message of salvation], both by signs and wonders and by various miracles [carried out by Jesus and the apostles] and by [granting to believers the] gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. Hebrews 2:4 (AMP)

I ask myself as I read this scripture, how does God confirm His word today?

He confirmed the message He gave to Moses in the Old Testament when He delivered the Israelites from Egypt through many signs and wonders. In Exodus 3:20 he said to Moses, “So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he (Pharoah) will let you go.” He did so many wonders and at the end of it all when Pharoah had let them go, Moses and the people of Israel sang “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? (Exodus 15:11)

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The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step]. Psalm 37:23 AMPC

I ask myself as we read this verse of scripture, why is it so important that our steps are ordered, directed, prepared and established by God? I particularly like the use of the word established, because something that is established endures forever as it has been set up on a firm and permanent basis. Jeremiah said, “He (God) made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.” (Jeremiah 51:15). When God establishes something or someone, it has a sense of firm footing, being unshakeable, secure and permanency around it. For example God said to David when He established him as king over Israel that his house, his kingdom and his throne shall be established for ever (2 Samuel 7:16).

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God is glorified when we are healed! He is magnified, exalted and praised. I love the definition of glorified which says, “to cause the dignity and worth of some person to become manifest and acknowledged.” It is exactly what happens when we are healed, God’s dignity and worth or value is seen, acknowledged and praised. It happened as people got healed throughout the ministry of Jesus.

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“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” John 14:1 KJVS

It is usually easy to say I believe in Jesus, and we do. However as you read this verse of scripture you cannot help but be drawn by the depth of emotions in the words of Jesus to His disciples. He had told them to love one another and explained why He had to go and He wanted them to believe His promise to them when He said in John 13:36 that ‘you are not able to follow Me now where I am going, but you shall follow Me afterwards.’

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“No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends.” John 15:13

On this Easter weekend we remember with the deepest of appreciation and thanks the love of our Lord and Saviour Jesus. He died for us, He was led like a lamb to the slaughter for us and it was the greatest exchange in history. Jesus loves you so much, today and forever, that He took upon Himself all the penalty and punishment you deserved and gave you freedom, abundant life, righteousness, peace, joy and all of Him. It was God’s excellent plan to save you.

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“Then Jesus answered and said to her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” Matthew 15:28 NKJV

Healing belongs to me! I want you to say that over and over again to yourself until your whole system starts to believe it because Jesus said so. In Matthew 15:21-28 Jesus was speaking to a woman who was not Jewish which meant she was not covered by the covenant God had made with the descendants of Abraham in the Old Testament. It was such an important covenant that at one point in Jesus’ ministry He comes across a woman who had been bent over for eighteen years and who could not straighten up at all. In healing her in Luke 13:16 he said, “And this woman, a daughter (descendant) of Abraham whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?”

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“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: “ Ephesians 1:3 KJVS

God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm in Christ Jesus! In recent times during the pandemic, the song ‘The Blessing’ was released, sang in so many languages, and it was a great source of strength and encouragement for so many. In our house it has become our declaration after each home fellowship prayerfully reminding us of the blessing of God in our lives. Numbers 6:24-26 says, ‘The LORD bless you, and keep you [protect you, sustain you, and guard you]; The LORD make His face shine upon you [with favor], And be gracious to you [surrounding you with lovingkindness]; The LORD lift up His countenance (face) upon you [with divine approval], And give you peace [a tranquil heart and life].’ Amen.

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“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 KJVS

It is said that when lions hunt, they look for weak, young, isolated, unguarded animals. They are the ones marked out for attack. Believers have an enemy, an adversary called the devil and his ultimate agenda is to destroy us, not merely to hurt, maim, or discourage, but to devour and destroy us. He goes around like a roaring lion making a lot of noise, threatening to bring upon believers things that God has delivered us from. One translation says he goes around like a fiercely hungry lion seeking someone to devour. He does that when he gets us to bow to circumstances, pressures, or forces of his evil design, hoping to make us yield to him.

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“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” Deuteronomy 30:19 KJVS

I was pondering on the power of the choices we make intentionally and those we make unintentionally by not making a choice. I will give you an example to illustrate. In thinking about a healthy lifestyle, a person who chooses to have a healthy lifestyle will most likely be intentional about regular exercise, their diet, medical check-ups and maybe daily vitamins. They do this not necessarily because they are unwell but because they know these activities promote daily healthy living and long life. On the other hand, another person may not do anything. Now this person who does nothing may not have intentionally chosen an unhealthy lifestyle (I don’t think most people will, given the choice) however their inactivity in some ways is pointing in that direction.

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“But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all” Matthew 12:15 KJVS

I like the word ‘all’ – a simple three letter word using only two letters of the alphabet. A simple small word that means so much. I am thinking of the game charades which we play and when trying to guess the movie, book or song there is a sign you make for a small tiny word with your two fingers. All is a small tiny word used over 4500 times in the bible and 994 times in the New Testament, and every time it is used it means the same thing. All means every, everything and everyone in that group. According to the Oxford dictionary ‘all’ is used to refer to the whole quantity or extent of a particular group or thing, for example all the people.

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The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear? Proverbs 18:14 AMPC YES

“A strong spirit as one that is confident, established, unmovable and ready for anything. It is steady under pressure, full of joy and peace and it never quits. It went on to say a strong spirit will get you through anything – physical attacks, financial problems, relational difficulties, career setbacks and whatever else the devil throws at you.”

I believe that this is good news for the Christian to know that it is the strength of their spirit that determines the outcomes they have in life. It is not the external circumstances, it is not the devil, it is not other people’s expectations, but the strength of your spirit, and guess what, you have control and can do something to strengthen your spirit.

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Your healing today is secured by Gods covenant with you! In the bible, especially in the old testament (or covenant), we read about a number of covenants that were cut between two people, two nations and between God and man. However, the most significant old testament covenant, also referred to in the new covenant, is the one God made with Abraham promising him that he would have a child of his own, as many descendants as the stars in the sky and also inherit the land. Abraham asked God, “how shall I know that I will inherit it?” and in response God cut covenant with him.

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My son, pay attention to my words and be willing to learn; Open your ears to my sayings. Do not let them escape from your sight; Keep them in the centre of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, And healing and health to all their flesh. Proverbs 4:20-22 AMP

In a time when many are looking for cures to different medical situations including the current pandemic, it is good for us as believers to always remember that God’s word is healing and health to all our flesh. One version of the bible actually says, “For they are life unto those that find them and medicine to all their flesh.”

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No soldier in active service gets entangled in the [ordinary business] affairs of civilian life; [he avoids them] so that he may please the one who enlisted him to serve. 2 Timothy 2:4 AMP

Have you been in a position where you want to send an especially important message to someone, and you want the message delivered precisely and exactly as you sent it? So you look around for someone you can trust, someone you know will not get distracted along the way, someone you know will complete the assignment in the way you want it done.

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By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:8 (NKJV)

I honestly believe that a farmer’s greatest joy is when harvest time comes, and he sees that his trees or seeds have produced much fruit or crop in that year. So much so that farmers will define a year better than the last based on more fruit produced. I can only imagine the joy, delight and gladness our Heavenly Father gets when he looks upon His children and see them producing much fruit every year and year after year.

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In the day when I cried out, You answered me. And made me bold with strength in my soul. Psalms 138:3 (NKJV)

Dwight L Moody said “When we find a man meditating on the words of God my friends, that man is full of boldness and successful”

I have been studying the Book of Acts and found Paul a very fascinating character. This was a guy that was bold and zealous. I never appreciated how bold he was until I read Acts chapters 20 -22 and there I camped for a few days. This was about Paul wanting to go to Jerusalem where he would be bound, beaten and put in prison. In Acts 20:22, he said “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there”. The first time I read this scripture and then read Acts 21 where he was warned again by some disciples, I wondered why Paul didn’t heed the warnings of the disciples and everyone. As I studied Acts 20:23-24, I realised that Paul understood very well what the Holy Spirit was saying and what was required of him by the same Holy Spirit working in tune with his spirit. ²³“except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.” ²⁴But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Where others might have had an excuse or even say that the Holy Spirit warned them not go, rather than the truth which was the Holy Spirit advising what would happen, Paul saw it as an opportunity for the gospel because of what he felt compelled to do.

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And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Colossians 1:17 (KJVS)

In a world where there is sometimes pressure to always want more, more and more of everything it is important for you to know that God is enough. If you have God you have everything you need and there is nothing else, nothing more beyond God. God is enough, He is actually more than enough!

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I was pushed hard so that I was falling but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song. He has become my salvation. Psalm 118:13-14 (ESV)

I love the song by Donnie McClurkin ”..we fall down …but we get up”. The other day, my family and I were studying Luke 8 as we are currently doing the New Christmas Tradition which is studying the book of Luke from December 1st and by Christmas Eve one would have read the entire account of Jesus’s life. We intend to do this every Christmas and it is not too late for you to start either. So, we came to the Parable of the Sower where Chris and I asked the children a few questions as usual.

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Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 (NLT)

In my attempt to stay fit and svelte (lol!), I decided to upgrade my daily power walk to a run every few km, walk, then run again. Okay, it could be 1 or 2km……..or even half a km at a time J but that is not the point. The point is that I have graduated to running, yay! Now any sports person or sports shop will tell you that you need to wear proper running shoes for jogging or even power walking. On this particular day, I absentmindedly put on my trainers and went jogging, sorry running. I was absolutely proud of myself that I had run several km without stopping. Very proud indeed! However, I noticed whilst running my second stint that my feet were aching in a funny way. I thought maybe it was due to my running style and tried to adjust. Along my route is a hill and when I know I am struggling, I tend not to look up when jogging up the hill. So, I didn’t and then noticed I HAD THE WRONG SHOES ON! I was not wearing the right running shoes and even though I could run, it was with so much discomfort and pain.

Uzo Nwuga

“You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied. And praise the name of the Lord your God who has dealt wondrously with you. And My people shall never be put to shame”. Joel 2:26 (NKJV)

The other evening, Chris and I came home with slices of chocolate, red velvet and carrot cake from an event we attended. Our kind and gracious hostess had insisted we take some cake and so I did for our children. They saw a plate covered with foil and asked if I had brought them something. Oge asked, “Is it red velvet cake?” and I replied yes. Kanye my youngest asked, “is there carrot cake?” and I said yes again. Oluchi, his older sister not usually a cake person also asked, “is there chocolate?” and there was another yes yet again. I chuckled at all three questions which I had kinda expected. All three children were excited. They completed their chores happily and everything else they needed to do that evening without a fuss. Wow, see what unexpected cake can help accomplish, lol!

Fola Komolafe

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36 (KJV)

Freedom is something that is so valued and appreciated by anyone who has been held bondage, captive and in a position where their will, opinion and thoughts did not matter. They were under the rule of one who exercised power, dominance over them and subjected them sometimes in the most inhuman way to their bidding. It is such a terrible place to be that we see the Israelites crying out to God in the old testament to be set free from the bondage in which the Egyptians held them. Jesus died to set us free and the bible says, “So if the Son liberates you (makes you free men), then you are really and unquestionably free.”

Fola Komolafe

But when he saw the strong wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Matthew 14:30 (MEV)

As you walk or drive around everyday you see so many things, and some you pay more attention to more than others. Some things you see determine your actions and what you do, for example if you see a red light, you know you have to stop because that is what the law says. In a similar manner what you see and pay attention to in your faith walk matters because it determines how far you go. Those very simple words, BUT WHEN HE SAW…made a whole difference to a journey that had started confidently and boldly in faith, walking only on the words of Jesus. Peter was doing the impossible, he was walking on water but he saw the strong wind and he was afraid. I sort of wonder, what did the wind, which had been turbulent before he started walking have to do with him walking on water? Absolutely Nothing! He walked on water because he asked, Jesus said, ‘come’ and he obeyed.

Kay Komolafe

[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living! Psalm 27:13 (AMPC)

It was a bright sunny Sunday afternoon in 1987, lying on the hospital bed was this lean underweight young man with no strength in him, to enjoy the best life has to offer. He had been in hospital in and out for 6 months suffering from ulcerative colitis which was deemed untreatable. This bright afternoon, his aunties and sibling came to see him in hospital, they stood around his bed and watched in despair, what will become of him, he will not survive, they seem to whisper to one another. Watching them huddle together outside and whispering to one another, fear came upon him and he thought to himself, “this is the end, death is upon me“. Tears rolled down his face as he laid on the bed. This was a dark moment, the last moments perhaps. Then, a man walked in to visit him, it was his father’s handyman, plumber, he saw the tears running down the man’s face, the handyman chasticed him, “where is your faith?“ he asked, “if you believe, read the bible and pray, there is nothing impossible for God“

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Uzo Nwuga

For surely there is a latter end (a future and a reward), and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off. Proverbs 23:18 (AMPC)

A few weeks ago, I went to pick up my son from school with my daughters. His teacher came with a giggling daughter to the car and informed me that my son was very upset because his tooth that had fallen out. It had gone down the sink into the drain as he tried to wash it! As a result, he feared that the tooth fairy might not visit him and so his teacher told him to write a letter. His teacher playfully admonished the girls for chuckling because my son is 10 years old, yet still believes in the tooth fairy and …Santa. His sisters encouraged him when he came into the car by telling him it had happened to them, but he still felt that without the tooth there was a good chance the tooth fairy wouldn’t come. That evening, he moaned about such a bad day he had – losing his tooth down the drain and accidentally butting heads during football practice. I tried to cheer him up to no avail.

Fola Komolafe

For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89 (KJV)

God’s word is always sure, always steadfast and always settled! It does not change, and it does exactly what God sends it to do. And we need to know that the same steadiness and assurance of the word of God remains today when we declare it boldly, confidently and in faith believing that it will accomplish its purpose in our lives.

As I looked at the skies this morning I was overwhelmed by the fact that the sky under which I sat has been there just like this since the foundation of the world when God created it. It has not changed, it is where God said it should be, settled in its place! Ever before civilisation came, before the place where I stood was discovered and inhabited, ever before I was born and after I am gone the skies will remain because God said so. No power, no force, no devil and nothing seen or unseen across all ages has been able to stop the sky from being right here because God said so. The sky will always be right here for as long as this earth remains because God said so.

Fola Komolafe

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12 (NKJV)

God is a God of First Times! As you read through the bible you will see some things that when they happened it was the first time ever. When Abraham and Sarah had Isaac, it was the first time such a thing had happened when you consider their ages and the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. When Moses stretched out the rod to part the red sea, it was the first time such a thing had ever happened in history. When the children of Israel received manna from heaven for food, that was definitely the first time. God is a God of first times and He is not limited only to things He has done before in your life or in the life of somebody you know. As long as you have the word of God you can believe God for the extraordinary, the things that are impossible for men, the exceedingly abundantly above and greater works.

Fola Komolafe

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13-14 (NKJV)

Most people like a good deal! It could be a shopping deal, or a deal involved in negotiating for something big. It does not really matter how small or big the deal is, the sense of knowing you just struck a deal or achieved a good bargain makes us feel good. I am not a bargain hunter, although I like a good deal, but I know people who would wake up early and travel miles just to get a good deal. The joy in their faces and the excitement in their voices about the deal they struck is just awesome to see.

Fola Komolafe

Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? Isaiah 53:1 (NKJV)

I want to emphasise the importance of believing God’s word, and before you say, “of course I believe,” I want you to really think about whether you do believe or whether you merely agree in your mind quite casually with who God is and His word / report. You will remember when the Bible said in Gen 15:6 that Abraham believed in the Lord, and He (the Lord) counted it to him (Abraham) as righteousness. You see all the promises of God belong to the righteous and so the original translation of the conversation with Abraham gives the impression that God considered, thought about and added up everything that Abraham’s belief meant – and then determined that it was equal to righteousness, that is right standing with God.

Kayode Komolafe

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world…our faith 1 John 5:4

Have you ever taken thought of what success or victory means to you? Some of us gauge our daily joy meter with results and achievements, how much of our “To Do List” is ticked off and how close are we to our strategic goals. Whether it is in our work life, our home life, or our Christian walk, it’s easy to become overly interested in results, goals and performance. We can become caught up in measuring success by cultural standards. We turn to gimmicks and fads to get “results” when living the Christian life seems difficult or when the gospel seems to fail us in the here and now. We easily forget how Christ measures success in this life.