PLEASED 👍

So, I am pleased with myself right now!

Not because of what I'm doing -- well, sometimes I think they are cool -- but because God is pleased with me. Christ's sacrifice ensures this and if it's enough for God, then it's enough for me (Romans 5:1-2; 1 John 5:13; Romans 8:1,31-34)! My actions however, are also pleasing to God, done in faith. I believe God loves my actions too (when they are done in the spirit) but they never affect what He thinks about me (Galatians 1 & 2). I couldn't please God before, but now, having His faith, I am pleasing to Him (Romans 8:8-9; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 11:6)!

So, no matter what, I am pleased with anyone God is pleased with, starting from myself, and I am pleased with them every time God is (which is everytime) because I am a son of God, with God's own nature.

The world doesn't know God's children because the world doesn't know Him; I love God's children because I love Him (1 John 3:1; then 1 John 5:1), and I am God's child!!! I LOVE HIM (because He first loved me (1 John 4:19)), therefore I love me (5:1)!

But my actions too:

They should please God, because I have His nature. I have been created in Christ Jesus, not just for fun, but unto good works, planned for me to do sinnnce (Ephesians 2:10)!!! I have been called out of darkness into His marvellous light, not for nothing, but to show forth the praises of the One who did this (1 Peter 2:9).

So from now on, I am not to live for myself, but for the One in whom I have been made alive. He took my death, that I may live for Him (Romans 14:6-8; 2 Corinthians 5:15)!

And the consciousness of Him, of His sacrifice, is important: I am in Him, I am a partaker of His body and blood and, as He says, I do it all "in remembrance of Me" (1 Corinthians 11:23-32). Looking unto Jesus makes it possible for me to run the race aright, for I see all that He did and I can keep running with patience. I will never suffer as He did anyway, and even if so: there's a greater joy before me (Hebrews 12:1-5; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Romans 8:18; 1 Peter 5:9; Revelation 2:10).

Ultimately, I am conscious of Him and of His body -- the church -- of His leading and of His will, that my actions may be a sweet smelling sacrifice unto Him (1 Peter 2:5), this is the only right -- and sensible -- thing to do anyway, considering what He has done: Romans 12:1.

Citizen Me

Hebrews 12:22-29

... 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”

This is not supposed to be scary in any way, the point is this: I am now in a new kingdom, and I have a new identity and citizenship. I do not operate as I did before I was saved and so, I should not work for this world but for the next, which is my true world. Why? Well, my works will be tested; they'll pass through fire and some things will be burned up: those considered unprofitable, but those of eternal value will remain! See 1 Corinthians 3; 1 Corinthians 13; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Galatians 6:7-10; 1 Timothy 4:6-10; 2 Peter 3:10-13 for more details.

So, why do things that do not matter eternally, when I am now able to do things of eternal importance?

why would I do things of importance in a world to which I do not belong, when I can "invest", (lay up treasures) in heaven, of which I am a citizen (Philippians 3:20-21)?

The way forward?

I'll renew my mind by the word (Romans 12:2). I'll let the mind which was in Christ Jesus be in me (Philippians 2:1-18). This is what I need to do so I can express the new man which I now am in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:22-24).

And how do I do this? I simply keep my mind on Christ; I keep beholding Him, His image, which is mine too (Ephesians 4:24)! I look into the perfect law of liberty continually and thereby begin to do what is written in it (James 1:25). As I come into knowledge of all that is in us who are in Christ, my participation in my faith becomes effectual (Philemon 1:6) and I am assured that as I keep looking at this image of God, His spirit will transform me into that very image.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

This image is beautiful, and as I keep seeing it, knowing that it is my true image: I still am, and always will be, pleased with myself!

BELIEVE ON

So I was discussing with a brother on Sunday & we got talking about what it means to "believe on" the name of Jesus. Really, it seems it's only the King James Version of the Bible that uses the preposition "on" in verses like Acts 16:33 & 1 John 5:13; so it can be said to be archaic English.

Still, those words communicate something that we rarely pay close attention to. The Amplified version consistently describes faith as the "leaning of the entire human personality on God". Believing on Jesus, then, means I rest my faith entirely on Him as the only way to the Father, my only hope of salvation, the only Saviour.

Increasingly, some Christians want to capitulate, avoid conflict, sound less bigoted & more progressive by saying that there are many ways to God or that a good Moslem or a "good" person may enter heaven or be recognised by God. My question to them is: do you even believe the Bible to be true?

Jesus claimed to be THE WAY in John 14:6 and went so far as to say that no man can approach the Father except by Him. Either He lied or such people are deluded. Let God be true & every man a liar. If we even begin to think otherwise, then there's no point sharing the gospel, no point begging men to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). They can just believe anything they want as long as they are "good". No! Jesus, Jesus, Jesus only!

There's another category of Christians who believe that the ticket to heaven is a combination of Jesus & good works. The Bible does say that those of us who believe should be careful to maintain good works (Titus 3:8&14), but nowhere did the Holy Spirit indicate them as a condition for eternal salvation or damnation. In fact, Jesus said clearly that the one who believes on Him does not come into condemnation & the reason the unbeliever is condemned is because he has not believed (not his works) (John 3:18).

This is the gospel to preach to the unbeliever, not good works! Some of them have good works, God sees them as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), but then we preach repentance from sin rather than Jesus the life-giver, the sanctifier; we can't reach them. They see no need for Jesus. On the other hand, for those that are deep in the actions of sin, they feel too dirty to come to Jesus. What satanic deceit! Oh, but when we tell them the good news: Jesus the life-giver, Jesus the arms-wide-open Saviour, they see Him, they come!

Someone may ask: what about the sinning saint? Indeed, walking in sin has many dangers listed all through the new testament, but the only sin that puts men in hell today is NOT BELIEVING on Jesus (John 3:18, John 16:9, Hebrews 3:12). Can a Christian stop believing in Jesus? Evidently so. That's why 1 John 5:13, Hebrews 3:12&13 and a host of other letters were written to Christians in different places at different times. That is why I have written this to you: "that you may continue to believe on the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:13 AMP). In other words, you believe on His name alone, BELIEVE ON (keep believing)!

On Christ the solid rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

ALL other ground is sinking sand!

SEXUAL PURITY CONFESSIONS

SEXUAL PURITY CONFESSIONS

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful to me. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. My body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for my body. God both raised up the Lord and will also raise me up by His power.

My body is a member of Christ. Shall I then prostitute the body of Christ? Certainly not! I become one flesh with anyone and everyone I play the harlot with, therefore, I do not give of myself indiscriminately. I am joined with the Lord and I am one spirit with Him. Therefore, I flee sexual immorality because sexual immorality is a sin against my own body. I most certainly know that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in me, whom I have from God. I AM NOT MY OWN! I WAS BOUGHT AT A PRICE, THEREFORE I GLORIFY GOD IN MY BODY AND IN MY SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD'S.

True worship is absolute consecration. All of me is all God's.

I am unmarried, therefore I care for the things of God - how I may please my Lord. I am an unmarried (wo)man, therefore I care about the things of the Lord, that I may be holy both in body and in spirit. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. God is holy, therefore, I am holy. My spirit is holy, my body is holy and my mind is renewed to these realities. I am free to serve the Lord without distraction. I am happy as I am. Therefore, I do not run with uncertainty. I do not fight as one who beats the air. I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. I run the good race in such a way that I shall obtain an imperishable crown.

I do not provoke the Lord to jealousy by playing the harlot with men and idols. I cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. I cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons. All things are lawful for me but not all things edify. By one Spirit, I have been baptised into one body - the body of Christ. I discern the Lord's body so I consider not my own body. I have been crucified with Christ: it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

So help me God, by grace. Amen.

Seun Osoniyi

SHALOM NIGERIA!

FORGIVEN

I feel so free
I am so free

Even when I felt heavy
Felt like I was under a thick dark cloud
Seemed like the Father's smile had faded
I had messed up; nothing seemed to make sense
Even then Your hand was there

Your face was shining on me
I just didn't know it
Even then Your arms were wide open
Your gaze was fixed on me

Then when I fixed my gaze on you
Everything else faded away
I looked into Your Word
Light dawned!

When I turned my attention to Your love
When in You I rediscovered my reason for being
When in You I found succour
When in Your warm embrace I found grace
Better still, grace found me.....

Then I knew I was free all the while
Then I felt the freedom that was mine
Then the day dawned , the Daystar arose
I am a son, never stopped being one
I am an heir, all things are still mine
Celebration time, jubilation galore
I'll be rejoicing all the day, I'll still be singing when the evening comes

Your grace has found me just as I am

HOMO SAPIENS DIVINUS NOW!

I was meditating on God's Word, that's when I saw Homo sapiens divinus (the best scientific name for the new creation in my estimation). Alas, when I decided to write on it & I was going to check google for pictures that might portray the concept; I discovered something I'd never known or imagined; that's why I'm writing this follow-up post.

There is actually an entire subculture in relation to Homo sapiens divinus. Ranging from fiction to science to new age/human consciousness religions; there are different lines of thought about either Homo sapiens divinus or Homo divinus. Now, all of them have a right to believe what they choose to believe. Some believe that Homo divinus is the progenitor of Homo sapiens. Some believe that is what Adam & Eve were; that they were given God-consciousness and, after the fall, produced Homo sapiens. Some cults believe man will evolve (in consciousness) to become Homo divinus, albeit a different kind from the original. The only actual reference to the term "Homo sapiens divinus" is fictional.

Now, what does that have to do with you, my friend? If you're reading this, and you are a child of God by virtue of believing in Jesus Christ; hear what the bible says about you:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are OF GOD.....(2Corinthians 5:17 & 18)

He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have ETERNAL LIFE.....(1John 5:12 & 13)

You're a new creature, a new species, a new kind of being. All things in you have become new, and all these new things are of God! You have a new kind of life that Homo sapiens sapiens does not have because it is only available in the Son of God (Jesus). This life makes you a son of God, just like Jesus. Now He has it & you have it; it's eternal life, the God-kind of life, the nature of God, the DIVINE life. That is why you're no longer Homo sapiens sapiens like Joe next door; you are Homo sapiens divinus now. Mark it: DIVINUS.

I write to you who believe in Jesus, that you may know that you have a higher life, and that you may truly live this higher life here on earth. It's not an existence that ended with Adam & Eve or that will begin after death alone. No, my friend! It's a present tense reality!

I write to announce to the entire world: Homo sapiens divinus is not just the fictional group of humans in the Assassin's Creed game; Homo sapiens divinus is real!

I write to announce to the scientific world; to evolutionists, creationists & creation-evolutionists alike: Homo divinus may or may not be a progenitor of Homo sapiens; but greater than Homo divinus is here. Homo sapiens divinus has come into being! It happened 2,000 years ago when the Galilean Jew named Jesus died for you & rose again. Everyone who believes in Him today becomes Homo sapiens divinus, not by virtue of anatomical or physiological change; but by the power of a superior (spirit) life! You can too, yes you can!

I write to announce to all the new age, human consciousness & transcendental meditation religions & groups: there may or may not be a Homo divinus coming, but Homo sapiens divinus is already here! He is not merely a future concept, a unifying of minds or a fully self-aware human. No sir! He is a present day being that possesses the nature of God, is indwelt by divinity & has the mind of Christ! We are Homo sapiens divinus. Join us, you can; yes you can!

I write to remind you, my fellow Homo sapiens divinus, of who you are. When the world & the surrounding circumstances threaten your existence & challenge everything you hold dear; when the storm comes & the rain beats down hard on you, let the soul of an overcomer rise within you; remind yourself who you are. You are a human born of God (Homo sapiens divinus); you have overcome the world!!! There aren't enough exclamation marks in the world to shout-write it!

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

YOU'RE ADVANTAGED!

I've got a message for the body of Christ: STOP WISHING YOU HAD WALKED WITH JESUS WHEN HE WAS ON EARTH. You are walking with the Holy Spirit! Stop thinking like the early disciples had some advantage over you. If you must compare yourself at all with the generation that walked with Jesus in the flesh, compare based on these simple & absolute truths:

1. They walked with the physical/incarnated Jesus; you walk with the glorified Jesus. He is much more now than He was when they walked with Him. Even John who laid his head on the bosom of the incarnated Jesus, when he saw the resurrected & glorified Jesus, "fell at His feet as dead"! (Revelations 1:17)

2. You know & walk with Jesus by His Spirit. They knew & walked with Jesus in the flesh. Sense knowledge (knowledge gained by the fleshly/physical senses) isn't always accurate & adequate. Revelation knowledge (gained by your spirit from His Spirit) is always adequate & accurate, in-depth (1 Corinthians 2:10 & 11; John 6:63). You can know Jesus more accurately than those who walked with Him in the physical.

3. Jesus Himself said that it was better for His disciples that He should go to the Father & the Holy Spirit should come (John 16:7). There has to be one or more of the following logical reasons for that:

a. He was going to do something at the Father's right hand for their benefit that He couldn't do on earth. He had to go to receive from the right hand of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit & then pour Him out (Acts 2:33). Also, He is today our high priest & intercessor, among other things (Hebrews 4:14; Romans 8:34)

b. The Holy Spirit would be all He had been to the disciples (Comforter, Helper etc.) (John 14:16) and then more (in quality & in quantity).

i. Quality: He could do those things better (by virtue of indwelling).

ii. Quantity: He could do more things than those e.g. giving life to our mortal bodies from within (Romans 8:11) & becoming God's power in us & on us (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:20)

4. If the book of Acts, the authorship & content of the epistles are anything to go by; Paul had more in revelation, results & manifestations than most, if not all, of the twelve apostles who actually walked with Jesus in the physical.

If you hold at least two of the above to be true, then you have to agree that you stand no disadvantage compared to the twelve disciples or anyone else who lived in the days of Jesus on earth. If there must be any comparison, you are better off. You have the bible they didn't have, you have the Holy Ghost some never had; you have the benefit of all the experience of all the Christians of the last two milleniums; you have modern technology, you can do more & do it faster, better, farther.

Stop wishing, stop wondering, stop whining; start living in the fullness of His grace. In case you were thinking before now that it's the reason you can't work miracles yet; hear the word of the Lord, "you can work miracles NOW, TODAY"!

Light dawns!

Dr Jesutola (Ayanfe) Adewumi
27/8/2016

HOMO SAPIENS DIVINUS

There is a new race of men on this earth, a new species; a new type if you will.

These look just like all other men; they walk, talk, breathe, eat & drink just like others.

They are in the same schools, offices, societies & associations; the same business places.

They wear what others wear, they live where others live; they drive what others drive.

To look at them, you couldn’t guess.

In life, their physiology is essentially the same as that of Homo sapiens sapiens.

In death, take their bodies apart and all you can see is the anatomy you have become used to.

That tells you it’s not a matter of evolution.

Scientists, for ages, have disproved the existence of spirit & spiritual substance based on their own inability to appreciate them through the same channels as all other forms of matter & life.

This seems to me not only unfair but grossly inaccurate. The most powerful electron microscope can’t make spirit known because it is not an issue of magnification. The issue is that a different kind of light is required (Ephesians 5:13b).

Being unable to appreciate spirit, no natural study can then show the difference between Homo sapiens sapiens & this new species.

The difference is spirit. The first Adam had God’s life in him, but he could never really be said to be indwelt by God. His spirit was alive alright, having the very nature of God (Genesis 2:7).

That Adam died in the garden. His body died hundreds of years later. Everyone born for 4,000 years was born dead; born with the nature of Satan - man’s new lord & father. (Genesis 2:17; 5:5; Romans 5:12 & Ephesians 2:1-3)

In the midst of that thick darkness, a light shone. The Word was God and became flesh. His life was the light of men. (John 1:1, 4, 5 & 14)

The second Man to be born alive. First to live in perfect obedience to the Father-God. First to die two deaths, go to hell and come back alive & victorious! (2 Corinthians 5:21; Matthew 27:46&50; Acts 2:31 & Revelations 1:18)

He was & is the first of this new species. The first to live after being twice dead. The first to conquer Satan, hell & death. The first Man to go to heaven & sit enthroned at God’s right hand. (Romans 8:29&34; 1 Timothy 2:5)

Now there are more of this species. No, they did not increase by sexual multiplication. Rather, a Homo sapiens sapiens, by choosing to believe in the first of the new creation; becomes a new creation (Romans 10:9).

Cut open the new man & you won’t see anything different; but he’s different. He has the divine nature in his spirit. He has eternal life. He is indwelt by God. God lives in Him. Literally, He does! (Acts 17:28; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:17 & 1 John 5:12)

I present to you Homo sapiens divinus.

God in man. Man in God.

Divinity in humanity. Humanity joined to divinity.

We are men from another world. Call us aliens if you will. (John 17:16)

We are gods, but not like those beggarly Greek, Roman & African idols (Psalm 82:6).

We are sons of the Sun, sons of the Most High (Malachi 4:2; Psalm 84:11).

Heaven is walking down your street. He’s dressed in jeans & a T-shirt; she’s dressed in a regular gown. But he’s no regular Joe; she’s no regular Jane. She carries divinity, he carries the divine gene.

We were not born of blood, not of the will of the flesh or of man; we were born of God. We ARE born of God; born from above! (John 1:13 & 8:23)

Are you one of us? If you’re not, you can be today. We are born of the Word, you can be born of the Word too.

Do you believe that Jesus died & was raised from the dead for you? Then say “Lord Jesus, I believe in you; save me”. Now say “I’m saved!”

You are a new creation, a new species; you are Homo sapiens divinus (2 Corinthians 5:17).

God lives in you now and you have His life.

Think like God.

Talk like God.

Live like God.

Rejoice!

DANIEL'S SWORD (ACADEMIC CONFESSIONS)

EXCELLENCE

I am God-kind. God is my Father and He is excellent. I am like my Father, I am excellent. (2 Pet. 1:4; Psa. 76:4; Pro. 12:26)

DISCIPLINE

I am walking in self-control, I am disciplined in all things. I do not eat, sleep or play too much. I am at the right place at the right time doing the right things in the right way with the right people. I do not laze around or waste time. I do not leave my work undone till the last minute. I complete assignments, projects & tasks early & excellently. I do excellent things & get excellent results. (2 Tim. 1:7; Gal. 5:22, 1 Cor. 6:20; Pro. 12:26 & 22:29)

WISDOM

The words of my mouth are as deep waters & the wellspring of wisdom in me is as a flowing brook. Wisdom is flowing in me & through me. Christ in me is my wisdom. Wisdom is working in me all the time. My mind & mouth are wisdom-directed. I think wisdom, I speak wisdom and I do wisdom. Folly is far from me. The Spirit of wisdom is strong upon me. By the wisdom of God, I always know what to do & how to do it. By wisdom, I build great grades & fill my records with outstanding results. I have that “wow” factor; it’s called the wisdom of God! It’s working in me now! (Pro. 18:4; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2:7; Isa. 11:2 & Pro. 23:3&4)

FAVOUR

Great grace is on me, speaking so loud it can’t be ignored! The favour of God is preparing me for every test & exam. By favour, I come into contact with all the right people & materials I need ahead of time. By favour, decisions are made, questions are set & things are arranged to my advantage. In every exam hall, favour makes all things work for my good. All grading decisions & circumstances are aligned for my favour. The eye that sees me blesses me & the ear that hears me approves of me; everything I write, say or do provokes a favour response. Men, women, nations, governments & organizations are mandated to favour me. Scholarships & grants flow towards me under the influence of favour. (Acts 4:33; Psa. 5:12; Job 29:11; Isa. 60:16)

THE BLESSING

I am blessed, therefore I am rich in grades. The blessing has empowered me to prosper in my academics; I prosper. The blessing is making everything work for my good. The blessing is my unfair advantage! Everything responds to me, everything submits to the blessing. I am blessed, therefore I am healthy, strong, wise, rich, intelligent, preferred! I am far too blessed to fail or be average! (Pro. 10:22; Rom. 8:28; Phil. 2:9-11 & 3 John 2)

THE SPIRIT OF MIGHT

The Spirit of might is strong upon me; I have supernatural strength & speed. My natural ability is super-charged by the Spirit of might. I can be more, I learn more, retain more & do more in less time by His ability. By the Spirit of might, I go beyond natural limits; I break academic barriers; I perform academic exploits, break old records & set new ones. By my God, I leap over academic obstacles & run through academic oppositions. I am unstoppable! (Isa. 11:2; 1 Kings 18:46; Judges 14:6; Psa. 18:29 & Dan. 11:32)

THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is my Comforter, I can never be stressed. He is my Helper, I am never without help. He is my Advocate, he speaks for me in boardrooms & other places where I can’t speak for myself. He is my Strengthener; I can’t be weak or sick before, during or after exams. He is my Intercessor, he helps me to pray with precision & power. He is my Standby, I am never alone. He is my Teacher, He teaches me ahead of exams. He brings things to my remembrance; He even reveals things I absolutely do not know! (John 15:26; Romans 8:26&27; 1 John 2:20&27 & John 14:16&26)

LIFE

He who raised Jesus from the dead quickens my brain by His Spirit who lives in me. My brain is quickened, my mental faculties are vitalised by the anointing of the Holy Ghost. Eternal life is working in my brain. This life is working in my memory; I capture, retain & reproduce information by the light of ZOE. This life is working in my intellect; there’s nothing I can’t grasp or understand. I reason at the frequency of divinity; I understand all things! This life is creative; it’s working in me now. Creativity, imagination & innovation come easily to me. My creative faculties are a wonder to my generation. I command dead grades to live, dead academics to flourish again! Everything lives where the river of life flows. Rivers of living water flow out of me, my academics are submerged in life; nothing dies, everything lives! I experience life today, I experience life always! (Rom. 8:11; Isa. 11:2&3; Pro. 28:5; John 1:3; Psa. 71:7; Ezek. 37:10; 47:9; John 7:38; Pro. 18:21)

HOLOKLERIA CONFESSION (FOR HEALING & HEALTH)

This is my reality; God is my Father and it is His will for me to be whole. He gave the Son to be the ultimate sacrifice for my sin & sickness. The price has been paid, now I enjoy wholeness. Jesus Himself took my infirmities, carried my diseases, bore my sicknesses. He took them on Himself & away from me completely. Jesus took them, I no longer have them!

(3 John 2; Matthew 8:17; Exodus 15:26; Leviticus 16:10)

Nothing is more real than this; by the stripes that broke His body and shed His blood, I was healed so that I might be in health. I live in health in the name of Jesus! The punishment required for my wholeness was laid on Him and He bore it, now I’m whole! I have perfect soundness (holokleria)! Every laceration was my sickness being permanently bonded to His body, as irreversible as the scars. Nothing can take the scars off Jesus, nothing can take the sicknesses off Jesus & put them on me; I can’t be sick anymore; I’m the healed of God in Christ Jesus! (Isaiah 53:4&5; Acts 3:16)

This is the truth I believe; Jesus disposed of my sicknesses, then He sent His Spirit to live in me & make my wholeness a reality. The same Spirit that resurrected Jesus now lives in tme; He is constantly flowing life, vitality, health & strength into my flesh, blood & bones. The divine life is constantly flowing in my veins! Every disease, germ, virus or toxin that touches my body contacts the life of God; it dies & loses potency instantly in the name of Jesus! Poisons are neutralised by the life of God in me; no harm comes to me! (Romans 8:11; Mark 16:18)

This is my decision: by wisdom & self-control, I live healthy. I do not misuse food, sleep, sex or leisure. I use them the right way, at the right time & get right results in the name of Jesus. My body is the temple of the Holy Ghost; I do not abuse it. I gain knowledge from the right sources, use it the right way & get right results in the name of Jesus. Ultimately, my safety is in the Name of Jesus!

(Proverbs 18:10; 1 Corinthians 3:16&17; Daniel 1:8-15)

This is my decree to every cell, every tissue, every organ, every system & every substance in my body: you function perfectly, you function by eternal life in the name of Jesus! Liver, kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, pancreas, reproductive organs & all; you function well in the name of Jesus! From the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, everything is working in the name of Jesus! Body, I forbid you to be sick; I permit you to be strong & sound in the name of Jesus! (James 3:2; Matthew 18:18; Proverbs 18:20&21)

Using the name of Jesus (as His representative, on His authority & for His glory), I heal the sick, open blind eyes & cast out disease-causing demons. Through the touch of my hands, the words of my mouth, the breath of my lips, the sight of my eyes & the passing of my shadow; the healing anointing is communicated. The Holy Ghost, the Source of all power, dwells in me now. I am a walking miracle dispenser, I’m a mobile power-house!

(Mark 16:17&18; Acts 5:15 & 10:38; John 20:22; Proverbs 15:30)

Thank You Father for these things are already so in the name of Jesus! (Psalm 107:2)

CHILD OF GOD; GIVE YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST

Christians need to give their lives to Christ.

It is a strange affirmation, but absolutely true.

One may ask: but isn't a child of God one who has given his/her life to Christ? Not necessarily. A person is a child of God because they have believed in/on Jesus & confessed Him as Lord; received the Word of God; received the gospel and turned to the Lord. These are the words the bible actually uses to describe what we call "giving one's life to Christ" (Romans 10:9; Acts 8:12-14; 9:35 & 1 Corinthians 15:1). For most, the bible says simply "they believed". On getting born again, what actually happens is that Jesus gives the believer His life (the divine, eternal God-life/nature).

Now, having received the life of Christ, I beseech you: give your life to Him. Give your life (time) to Christ; give command/control/lordship of your life to the Lord. Let Him be number one; make Him first place. Let Him be your priority.

This is what Paul was saying to the Romans: "I beseech you.....to present your bodies as a living sacrifice.....this is your true worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove the.....will of God" (Romans 12:1&2)

This is what James was saying to the Jews scattered abroad: "submit to God" (James 4:7).

It is what the Holy Spirit is saying to us today: give your life to Christ. Let Him be Lord, let Him rule & reign. Let Him be first, let Him be all.

The new creation is meant to be led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14). We're not meant to be led by our appetites, wants, emotions, desires or ambitions.

In our conduct & lifestyle, He ought to be enthroned as Lord, not our bodies; because even those bodies belong to Him (1 Corinthians 6:20). Abstaining from sexual immorality, possessing our bodies in sanctification; we honour Him, for that is His will (1 Thessalonians 4:4). Reining in our appetites for food, sleep, leisure & sex, we put our bodies under & worship Him with them. We offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy & acceptable to Him (1 Corinthians 9:27; Romans 12:1). We refuse to think, emote & will like the world; we think, emote & will according to the Word, our souls are subject to His lordship (Romans 12:2).

In making decisions, life choices & plans; His will ought to be priority, His Word the determining factor. We are open & consecrated to His will. We're yielded to the His Spirit (the Spirit of the Lord) (Isaiah 11:2). We are like He was when He walked on the earth, His life & will were totally given over to His Father (John 4:34 & 8:29). His willed to do His Father's will. He was obedient even to a shameful death on a Roman cross (Philippians 2:5&8). Our heart-posture is like His: "I come to...do your will" (Hebrews 10:7).

Christ gave His life for you & to you; now give your life to Him & for Him (Matthew 10:39 & 2 Corinthians 4:11). You have received His life; now give Him yours.

Babies don't understand this; sons do.

Babies go, "give me, give me, give me". Sons know, "all that the Father has is mine" (Luke 15:31; John 16:15 & 1 Corinthians 3:21). So sons cry, "I am yours, make me, mold me, use me; I'll go where you say, do what you say; I'll even think what you say".

Babies love to say, "I am a free moral agent, I can think for myself". Both are true. But sons choose to submit to the Word & the Spirit.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the church.

We can no longer live for self, for survival or even for earthly significance in & of itself. We live for the One who died for us.

ABSOLUTE SAFETY IS IN THE NAME!

Safety involves not picking your phone while driving, right? Wrong, apparently, because it may be an urgent or life-saving matter. I remember seeing a WhatsApp broadcast about someone who lost his life because he didn’t pick his friend’s warning phone call about highway bandits. Like me, you have probably seen a bunch of other messages about various dangers and how to stay safe from them. Some are very valid, some are conflicting/contradictory, some are far-fetched; some are simply baseless. There’s so much information going around about safety from criminals; traffic, fire & home accidents; diseases ranging from infections to cancers; natural elements & disasters; dangerous foods, parasites, animals & plants.

Is that bad? Not necessarily. In fact, having knowledge and using it right is good. However, there’s only so much knowledge you can be conscious of and also use. There are only so many safety rules you can keep. Safety rules are fast becoming like the Law of Moses (impossible to keep). In the midst of all that, there are new discoveries every single day that sometimes contradict the previous information; demanding a shift in thinking & practice where health & safety are concerned. There are certain foods & drugs that are recommended for certain purposes and are later "un-endorsed" based on new discoveries. A classic example: wheat-based meals for diabetics. The drug examples are too numerous to count.

There’s another category of dangers: the ones an individual can do absolutely nothing about. You’ve heard of stray bullets, planes crashing into homes, freak accidents, road traffic accidents where passers-by die, idiopathic diseases & random acts of violence. That’s not to mention the activities of demons where sickness, accidents & natural disasters & other evils are concerned.

Behold, I show you a mystery…..

There is no such thing as absolute safety in the natural world. It’s a world fraught with dangers; everything is a potential harm. That’s because the world system lies under the influence of the wicked one (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19). Absolute safety, then, can only be found in living above the currently prevailing influence in this realm; living in a different realm that is untouchable by death. The good news is: you are already in that realm, child of God! We are seated with God in heavenly places in Christ, FAR ABOVE (Ephesians 1:20&21; 2:6).

One secret of the believer’s safety is to live in the name of Jesus. The name of the Lord, for us, is not just a strong tower that we run into (Proverbs 18:10); it’s our dwelling place (Psalm 91:1). We are dead and our life is hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). David said it this way: because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your habitation; there shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling (Psalm 91:9&10). For us, the name of the Lord is no longer just a refuge we run into; it’s a habitation, a dwelling place. We live there! And in His name, no evil befalls us, no plague comes near there!

The name of Jesus is a location. We live in it. Our realm is different. Live in the name and death can’t touch you. Walk in the name and your feet will never slip. Eat & drink in the name, nothing deadly will harm you. Drive in the name, no accident will touch you. Commute in the name. Travel in the name and you will return in peace. Sleep in the name and you will wake up refreshed & whole. Go in the name and your goings will be made sure. Even if you use drugs, use the drugs in the name! There’s absolute safety in the name & only in the name!

By all means, eat a balanced diet, avoid harmful foods & food quantities; exercise, follow general safety rules; be aware of your environment, do all you can to live healthy & safe; but always be conscious of this; live by this truth: after all said & done, your safety, your absolute safety is in the name of Jesus. Live in the name!

NIGERIAN CHRISTIANS, LEST WE FORGET

First, let me state unequivocally that I neither voted for PMB nor agreed with those who did. I thought an entirely different person was what Nigeria needed & neither GEJ nor PMB fit that bill. However, having voted him in, I am astounded at how a number of Nigerians have so quickly turned around to berate “change”, all because of economic difficulties. Some have even gone so far as to say that Nigeria was better off under the previous administration. What?! Have we so soon forgotten what we suffered in Egypt? Are we now, like Israel in the wilderness, so eager to go back to Egypt; to cucumbers & onions (Exodus 11:5)? Are we going to murmur and grumble all through the wilderness journey?

PMB may not be a Christian, but like Cyrus, I believe he has been raised by God to fulfill His counsel (Isaiah 45:4); raised as a Moses to bring this nation out of bondage. After his victory at the polls, these words kept ringing in my heart: calling…..the man that executes my counsel from a far country (Isaiah 46:11). God was saying to Israel that His counsel would stand, one way or another, even through unexpected channels. Though human beings voted him in, I believe he is God’s minister for our good (Romans 13:4). This attitude of bad-mouthing & criticizing the government from a distance has not, is not & will never do us any good.

There is a place for constructive criticism, but it is not in the confines of our homes, offices, churches & places of business. We need platforms. There is a place for positive action. There is also a place for prayer & for blessing our nation. This is a reminder, a call to arms. God needs men in this country who will use their mouths to call in the answers to prayer. We prayed for this country when elections approached. We rejoiced at the elections & the results of it. Have we so soon returned to the old GMC (grumbling, murmuring & complaining)? Blessing this nation goes against our culture, training & conditioning; but we can retrain ourselves & recondition ourselves. We can be established in the kingdom culture by the renewing of our minds with God’s Word (Romans 12:2).

Do not be like the average Nigerian who knows how to grumble, murmur & complain. Do not be like the average Nigerian Christian who prays for Nigeria (when he remembers) and then turns around and curses Nigeria by his daily conversations. There is a greater call, a higher responsibility. We are righteousness, we exalt Nigeria (Proverbs 14:34). It is exalted by our blessing (Proverbs 11:11). My message here is NOT “give PMB time”. Make no mistake about it, we can find ourselves in worse condition in 2019 than we were last year. It’s not a function of PMB per se. It’s a function of the body of Christ. God holds us responsible (1Timothy 2:1&2).

The message is and will always remain three-fold: prayer, prophecy & politics (PPP). It’s time to take our place in prayer and in blessing Nigeria with our words continually. It’s also time to take action. I believe God is bringing the Nigerian church into economic power as a prelude to political power. If we don’t see it, we’ll just keep bad-mouthing the prophets God has sent to usher His people into higher realms of prosperity (2Chronicles 20:20). Financial prosperity as an end in itself makes neither natural nor spiritual sense; but as a tool for propagating the gospel & taking political power, it makes strategic God-sense. God is raising Daniels, Josephs; you take your place in your assignment.

I see a Nigerian church that is as powerful in the Senate as it is in the mission field. I see anointed politicians, as conscious of their heavenly calling as the bishops are. I see Aso Rock being taken as Caleb took the mountain. I see state houses occupied by Spirit-led sons of God, visionary men & women; well-groomed leaders operating under the influence of the Spirit of wisdom. That is the future, but there’s something we’ve got to do in the now: stop the GMC, start the PPP.

Shalom!

ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY

Absolute power corrupts absolutely; so they say.

I know one person who has absolute power and is not corrupted…..pardon me, incorruptible.

His name is Jesus and He has absolute authority in three realms: heaven, earth & hell. He didn’t always have it though; He earned it.

Remember when the Pharisees asked Jesus where He got His authority from? He replied with a question they dared not answer, though they knew the answer: God. Heaven. This was the same authority Moses, Gideon, David, Elijah and others like them had. It was this same authority God the Son had & used to full capacity when He was on earth. By it, He dominated darkness & nature (Matthew 21:24-27).

When He walked the earth, Jesus had only heavenly authority. Satan held earthly and hellish authority (John 16:11). He got the earthly authority from Adam. It was man’s authority, but as long as man was in Satan’s grip, the earth was in Satan’s grip (Genesis 1:28; Romans 5:12&21; 1 John 5:19). He offered Jesus earthly authority on one condition: worship me. It was a trap. He wanted to get heavenly authority from Jesus the way he got earthly authority from Adam (Matthew 4:8-10). Jesus would have gained temporary earthly authority & Satan would have ultimately ended up with authority in all three realms (Romans 6:16). Jesus saw right through it: I’m still gonna get earthly authority, but not this way!

When Jesus died on that cross & went to hell, carrying man’s sin, Satan thought he’d gotten his malicious desire. The bells sounded, there was a festival in hell: we finally got him! Demons swarmed Him, terrible principalities and powers; floods of them (Luke 22:53; Psalm 18:4). Bow to the master! Bow and worship him!

A light shined in hell. The Holy Spirit invaded the deepest, darkest regions of hell (Romans 6:4 & 8:11). Power surged through the Son; He came alive, He shined again. He threw off principalities and powers & made an open show of their utter nothingness & wretchedness (Colossians 2:15). Satan cowered in the corner, never had he beheld such power; such glory, such majesty! Jesus turned to Him: give Me the keys, earth & hell are Mine now!

Satan is a homeless wretch, beloved! That’s why he wanders about like a roaring lion, seeking whom to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Even the place he thought was his to rule is now under the authority of the Son (Revelations 1:18). Hell is no longer his kingdom, it’s the eternal prison waiting for him (Matthew 25:41).

Jesus returned to His body, walked out of the tomb and said to His followers, “all authority in heaven & on earth has been given to Me, therefore go…..” (Matthew 28:18&19). He wasn’t kidding. Paul, speaking by the Spirit to the Philippian Christians, said that the name of Jesus is the highest authority in heaven, on earth & under the earth (Philippians 2:9-11). That’s absolute authority sir! Jesus confirmed it in Revelations 1:18: I have the keys of hell and death.

Every name & every being/creature in heaven, on earth & in hell is subject to the name of Jesus. As God is sovereign, yet has chosen to give man free will; so Jesus’ authority does not bend the will of man; but one day soon, every knee will bow to Him (Romans 14:11). They will have no choice, for He will come as earth’s King. Even now, everything else responds to the name of Jesus, so use the name!

Use the name, for it is yours to use
Use the name, for all that is required
Use the name, for the name is supreme
Use the name, for all authority resides in it
Use the name, and everything will submit to you

All powerful, all glorious; there’s nothing like the name of Jesus!
Every knee will bow, every tongue will confess to the mighty awesome name of Jesus!
There is no one like You Lord, none can compare to You; there’s nothing like Your name, oh Jesus!

SPEAK TO IT

Good morning friend. What’s the first thing that came to your mind when you woke up? For me, I woke today with one clear & dominant thought: GOD IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF SPEAKING TO YOUR SITUATION. The thought hit my mind even before my feet hit the floor.

As I considered it, I came up with these four truths:

God is not in the business of speaking to your situation, but speaking ABOUT it

God is not in the business of speaking to your situation, but speaking to YOU

God is not in the business of speaking to your situation, but YOU ARE

God is not in the business of speaking to your situation, but DOING your words (the words you speak to your situation)

Simply put, God is not in the business of speaking to your situation, but He is in the business of speaking TO YOU ABOUT IT and PERFORMING the words that YOU SPEAK to it.

Also note, it is not mainly about the words you speak to Him about it but the words you speak TO IT. Do less of talking to God about your situation, do more of speaking to your situation, speaking the Word that God has spoken in the bible & in your heart, telling that situation what to do (disappear, be removed, be resolved, be turned around etc.)

I strongly believe this is the Word of the Lord to me this year, but He would also have me share it with you: SPEAK TO YOUR SITUATION.

When was the last time you spoke to a mountain? It’s time to take Mark 11:23 literally once again: whosoever shall say unto this mountain, “be removed and be cast into the sea” and shall not doubt in his heart but shall believe that those things he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he says.

Finally, Jesus said: if you will ask anything in my name, I will do it (John 14:14). He wasn’t talking about prayer here, because He said in John 16:23 that we should not ask Him anything as the disciples did when He was on earth; but ask the Father in His name and He said “the Father will give you” (John 16:23 paraphrased). In John 14:14 then, Jesus was talking about a Christian asking/calling for/desiring something to happen in the earth. The Holy Spirit is the PERFORMER where the Godhead is concerned. The angels of God are the messengers/sent ones; the enforcers/executors. When in the name of Jesus I demand/command that thing to be, Jesus says He Himself will do it. Jesus doesn’t come down from His throne; but by His Spirit and by the ministry of His angels, every word I speak to my situation or my mountain is PERFORMED.

Speak to your situation. Give God what He needs to work in your situation, to PERFORM His Word. Don’t moan, cry or complain about it. Praying about it is good, as long as you come away from prayer with an active Word to SPEAK or clear direction on what to DO. When you’ve got that, you’ve got all you need brother!

Enjoy your year. Live full! No more emptiness, no more barrenness, it’s the year of HIS FULLNESS!