THE BLESSING OF WALKING IN DIVINE COUNSEL (PART 1).

TEXT: PROV 3:19-22. 

(19. The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. 20. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. 21. My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22. So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck)

Many people walk in all kinds of counsel, they go to their parents, friends and unfortunately sometimes these persons do not give them the counsel that lines up with the divine agenda for their lives. It’s only the word of God that you can find the counsel that lines up with the divine agenda for your life.

God did not put the earth together by chance, it was divinely crafted. This world cannot exist without a creator; the sequence and the rhyme, the sync in creation is just too awesome for it to be by some mere coincidence or some ‘big bang theories”. The Spirit of God is at work (Gen 1:2). Your life may be in serious chaos right now, you may be going through a lot that makes you look messed up; until the Spirit of God hovers upon your life and the release of the word of God into your situation, it may well remain the same. The word of God backed up by His Spirit, has the capacity to cause a turnaround in any situation just as it did in Gen 1:1-12.

ACTION POINT

The word of God has all the counsel you need to align with divine agenda and excel in any given situation. The Glory Realm Devotional by Rev. Igho Y; the Glorious Fountain Ministries. 

THE MANIFEST PRESENCE OF GOD IS REAL.

TEXT: John 1:5. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.NIV

             There was this brother that went out two by two witnessing with another sister, they went somewhere to preach. As they were speaking, the woman said please you people should leave, if my husband comes it won’t be nice. So they continued talking. Finally the man came, he was a juju priest, and said, did they not tell you to leave? And they continued, so he took his staff and hit the young man on his leg and said leave. Finally they left, but he didn’t walk up to a pole before he began to limp and half of his body was going paralyzed.

            After many days we heard of his predicament and they told us they’ve tried taking him to the hospital. There are things x-ray can see, and there are things x-ray can’t see. So a message came from home for him to come home, and you know what is going to happen when they say come over home, you know where they are going to. We heard of it and the Lord laid it in our hearts to send for him. They brought him to the church, once he came in we saw him in his terrible state, the weather was cold, he was shivering, he was on his blue t-shirt (thick blue t-shirt), shivering, confused. And then when we saw it holy anger rose up from within and we wanted to start binding (you know that’s the normal thing). As we wanted to do that, the Lord said He’s not fighting with the kingdom of darkness. So the Lord said just praise me, not in the sense of singing any song, just praise me. So we put him in the middle, held hands together and started calling the name of God, you are glorious, you are the mighty man in battle, you are Jehovah, we just kept doing that and the whole place became charged with the presence of God.  The place became charged, this young man that was shivering was sweating profusely, the clothe began to get soaked, whatsoever went in was coming out now. As we were doing that, he at a point sprang up on his feet, broke out of the circle, dashed into the road shouting “I am free, I am free, I am free”.   So that he would not create a scene we had to call him back, checked him and he was perfectly restored.

             Beloved, the manifest presence of God is real. No matter what you are going through, you may have been praying about it for years, it may look like you are not getting answers, just wait ( Isaiah 40:31). The presence of the Lord will make the difference in your life in Jesus name. 

PRACTICAL ISSUE

It is dangerous to just be doing church without the presence of God. The Glory Realm Devotional by Rev. Igho Y; the Glorious Fountain Ministries.

RELEASING THE POWER IN YOUR SEED.

TEXT: Matthew 25:19-30 (KJV)
¹⁹  After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
²⁰  And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
²¹   His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
²²   He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
²³  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
²⁴  Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
²⁵  And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
²⁶   His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
²⁷  Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
²⁸  Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
²⁹  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
³⁰  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Every seed has the ability and capacity to become a plant but not every seed has been placed in the enabling environment that empowers it to become what it is created to be. Until you take your seed and put it in the right soil you cannot unlock the potentials that are in your seed. It is dangerous to delay the release of your seed when you have the privilege of maximizing the right opportunity/ atmosphere. It is a big mistake to keep your money in your pocket or in your bag when the opportunity to sow comes begging. Saving your money in the bank is good but if that savings does not add value to your money then you have missed the opportunity to use that period in time to grow your seed. The Lord was angry with the unprofitable servant because he saved the money instead of investing the money in a viable venture that will produce some profits. Keeping your seed will cage your potentials, sowing your seed will release your harvest. Delayed sowing is delayed or denied harvest. The story was told of seeds that were discovered in a jar in one of the historic sites of Egypt. The seeds have been there for over a thousand years. But when they took some of the seeds and released them on the ground along the River Nile, a few days after they began to grow. Don’t store your seed, release your seed into the right environment and you will see what God will do with your seed. Don’t just give to something, somewhere or someone because this is something historic or of great reputation. Be careful to confirm that you are releasing your seed into a good soil and not into a Jar. The Glory Realm Devotional by Rev. Igho Y; the Glorious Fountain Ministries.

DIVINE FELLOWSHIP

Ephesians 3:9-12.

 “Before the fall, the voice and presence of God in the garden was the joy and satisfaction of man’s desire. Man could not wait to enjoy the loving embrace of the Father. Each encounter with the Father was the most exciting and blissful experience of the day. The encounter, no matter how long, seemed but a few minutes. Adam was continually fascinated by the awesomeness of God’s presence and glory. Lost in deep admiration of his maker and Father, he would lie there prostrate in worship. His soul was flabbergasted by the glory of the Father, who loved him so dearly He created him in His own image and likeness. And to know that the Father has made him the crown of His magnificent creation was an honor too hard to imagine, but it was real. ”FFPW p.21.

CONTEMPLATION                                             

Whenever a man finds himself struggling for words in less than 30mins of our time in worship, chances are that our fellowship in the spirit is faulty.  You are designed to be able to commune with God with your spirit. This is where the Lord imparts our souls with unfathomable ecstasy and power. This is where a man receives the grace to excel ahead of others who are in the ordinary realm. When a soul is in communion with the Father of light it will certainly be flooded with light that will make him outshine those who are far from this light (See Eph. 1:18 amplified). He will not walk in confusion because he has divine enlightenment. A man who is in deep fellowship with the Father is a wonder to the angelic beings (Eph 3:9-12). If you are very attentive to God, the world will stop and pay attention to you.

PRACTICAL ISSUES

The answer to the challenge of every day is revealed in the moments of intimate fellowship with the Father, don’t rush out into the world in your own strength; wait on the Lord.

Divine light from God upon a soul sparks divine fire and enthusiasm to accomplish destiny.

The only darkness the sun cannot dispel is the one that overshadows a soul dwelling outside the light of God. Where are you? The Glory Realm Devotional by Rev. Igho Y; the Glorious Fountain Ministries.

THINK LIKE THE BOSS & GET THE BLESSING (PT 3)

TEXT: John 10:11-18 (KJV)
¹¹ I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
¹² But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
¹³ The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
¹⁴ I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
¹⁵ As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
¹⁶ And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
¹⁷ Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
¹⁸ No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

If your motivation to be in a place is just to get a job and earn a living, your heart will be focused on how much money you can make than a passion to render service to help make the establishment improve. Such persons do not contribute much to the work but they want the job to contribute much to them. They are not ready to inconvenient themselves and if it is possible they will avoid work. They are the type that will always look forward to holiday and would be more comfortable when there is a problem with the job so they can rest from work. They are like the hireling in verse 13 of our text, it says ¹³ The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. He does not care for the sheep he is employed to take care of, therefore when he sees the Wolf coming he takes to his heels. But the good shepherd is ready to lay down his life for the sheep. It may seem too dangerous to risk his life for the sheep but in doing so he truly position himself for an unusual favour because by doing so he passed the test that qualifies him for a great testimony. That is why in verse 17 the good shepherd testified saying, ^“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life…”. If any man is able to do this he will attract favour from both God and man. In handling their job with a clean and passionate heart they make it possible for them to receive the blessings of their boss. If you have the heart of your boss you will also have the blessing that goes with such hearts. Think like the boss and get the blessing.The Glory Realm Devotional by Rev. Igho Y; the Glorious Fountain Ministries.

THINK LIKE THE BOSS & GET THE BLESSING (PT 2)

TEXT: John 10:11-18 (KJV)
¹¹ I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
¹² But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
¹³ The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
¹⁴ I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
¹⁵ As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
¹⁶ And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
¹⁷ Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
¹⁸ No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

In Nigeria there is this wicked and unpatriotic saying by many government workers, they will say “You do not bear the burden of government work on your head, but rather you bear it on one of your shoulders so you can easily drop it when you get tired”. This is obviously the reason most government establishments and assignments rot and decay. But the irony of it all is that when this same job or establishment is privatized and taken over by the same Nigerians things begin to work. This reveals the fact that most of us are selfish, self-cantered and wicked. When it is for our personal benefit we are ready to do everything to make it work but when we are employed or in the place of rendering a volunteer service we become armed with enough excuses. This is what reveals the difference between the shepherd and an hireling. In verse 13 of our text, the Lord said ¹³ the hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. His major concern is what he stands to gain from the job. When you are working with any machine, tools or equipments of the organization and things develop problem as a result of your carelessness you are an hireling. If all you are concern about is for a new equipment to be bought to replace the one you could not manage, then you are still a child. You are far from that which qualifies you for your own lifting. If you are wise enough to think and act like the boss you will in no time become the boss. Beloved, act like the owner you will truly become blessed like the owner.  The Glory Realm Devotional by Rev. Igho Y; the Glorious Fountain Ministries.

WORSHIP, A RELATIONSHIP AFFAIR.

Mathew 5:6 “Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied.”AMP.

Do you know when we sing songs and we just worship Him you think we’re just trying to be artistic? This is not a performance; it is an expression of the intimacy of our hearts.

CONTEMPLATION

How many of us use to watch India films? When they want to express their intimacy what do they do? They begin to sing. When you truly love somebody songs will begin to form in your heart just like a mother will sing fresh composition for her baby. It’s the connection of their intimacy that causes that composition to begin to come out. The deeper your intimacy with God the easier it is for you to express worship. When you have deep intimacy for Him worshiping Him is not something that is just one of those religious things. There’s a difference between having church and an intimate relationship with Him. There are songs we begin to sing that addresses Him directly, such songs are songs that expresses your heart and longing for Him.

PRACTICAL ISSUES

We do not lift up our hands because it’s a form of worship; we do this because we love Him.

- (Transcribed From the Fragrance of Glory, copy right, March 2012). 

PUT YOUR TRUST IN GOD (PART 2).

TEXT: ISA 48:16-17 (16.Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me. 17. Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.)

You can make it far beyond your wildest dream, you can surprise yourself by just trusting in the Lord (Isa 48:16).  God has been trying to reach out to you for some time now. If you have an ear open unto God, you will be amazed of the wonderful things He is going to reveal to you.

If anyone is ever going to succeed in the New Year, the person needs much more than academic degrees and understanding. The system of the world is failing, so you need something greater than the system of the world, you need something that is supernatural, something higher and much more impactful, you need the word of God. The word of God says Heaven and earth may pass away but not one jot of the word will go unfulfilled (Luke 21:33). The word of God is dependable, sure, true, powerful and full of majesty. You can’t just miss it following God. If your life is not going to be in the debit or loss account, or amongst those considered as liability but an asset, then you need the instructions and directions of God (Isa. 48:17). God knows what is going to work and what will not work in the New Year. God knows where the enemy is waiting to snuff life out of you and He only can frustrate it.

You cannot be stranded following God, when you put your trust in Him you will be amazed what He will do with your life.

ACTION POINT

Your intelligence can fail you, but our Lord Jesus never fails, He knows how to teach you to profit and how to study. Why don’t you trust Him?. The Glory Realm Devotional, by Rev. Igho Y; the Glorious Fountain Ministries.

AN ACTIVE CONNECTION TO THE SOURCE (Acts 17:23-28)

The Holy Spirit is a personality like God the Father and Son, did you talk with Him today?

CONTEMPLATION

You need more than a place with an attractive and a powerful name to keep an active walk with God.  Many religious houses have only compounded the frustration of many as they try to reach God.  The true longing of your soul is deeper and stronger than mere vocabulary and poetic rhyme.  Don’t be deceived, energetic acrobatic display does not translate into the all-important presence and power of God that transforms the soul. Make up your mind not to settle for dry religious form and activities. Go deeper than the surface into the deep riches in the presence of God. If you must pray let your heart seek and pant for the person and will of God and you will see the extraordinary made manifest. By your union with Christ you belong to a realm far from the ordinary (Eph. 2:6). Until you attempt to step out in the spirit you will never discover the limitless and expressive life in the spirit that is yours.  In Christ you have a new identity and potentials which is far greater than what you have become accustomed to. Keep reaching out in your new life and identity until your talk, expectations and actions conforms to the life of the new man in Christ.  As a man walking in the spirit you can put an end to confusion and frustration by simply stepping up into the realm of the Spirit (see Isaiah 26:3 and Revelation 4:1-2).

The place of your true freedom and joy is in the place of your intimate communion and fellowship with the Lord. Locate it and stay there.

PRACTICAL ISSUES

Any man has the ability to access the realm of the spirit and accomplish great things for God if only they will choose to obey the word of God.

Be careful what you open up your spirit to so you will not have to regret the experience that will follow. You are more a spirit being than a physical being.

The only spirit that has power over you is the one you have empowered over your life. The Glory Realm Devotional by Rev. Igho y; the Glorious Fountain Ministries.

THINK LIKE THE BOSS & GET THE BLESSING (PT. 1)

TEXT: Genesis 41:32-41 Genesis 41:32-33, 37-40 (AMP)
³² That the dream was sent twice to Pharaoh and in two forms indicates that this thing which God will very soon bring to pass is fully prepared and established by God.
³³ So now let Pharaoh seek out and provide a man discreet, understanding, proficient, and wise and set him over the land of Egypt [as governor].

³⁷ And the plan seemed good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants.
³⁸ And Pharaoh said to his servants, Can we find this man's equal, a man in whom is the spirit of God?
³⁹ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, Forasmuch as [your] God has shown you all this, there is nobody as intelligent and discreet and understanding and wise as you are.
⁴⁰ You shall have charge over my house, and all my people shall be governed according to your word [with reverence, submission, and obedience]. Only in matters of the throne will I be greater than you are.

Understand and handle situations as though you are the owner of the organization. Approach problems and challenges as though you are the boss and without doubt you will become a blessing to your organization and you will make it necessary for you to be promoted again and again. When you are willing to go extra mile and sacrifice your time, money and abilities to make things happen, you will make it necessary for your organization to invest whatever they can to make you succeed. This is when all kinds of training, seminars and benefits become a must for you. They cannot afford to keep you from such opportunities because your effectiveness and efficiency is so important to the growth and transformation of your organization. When a man has this testimony, he does not need to struggle for position or title, the organization will do all it can to honour him with a title or position. Before the interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream by Joseph, the position and title of the Prime minister of Egypt was not in existence. His exceptional gift and abilities created that office and released that authority on him. He was able to see the answer to the nagging problem of the boss of the whole land of Egypt and it became clear that no other person will be able to handle. Of what relevance are you to your organization? A man who is of great value to his organization would always come up with innovations and ideas that will help the organization develop the boldness to venture out to break new ground. But men who are a liability make it difficult for their organization to venture out due to their lack of initiative and incompetence. Where do you belong?. The Glory Realm Devotional by Rev. Igho Y; the Glorious Fountain Ministries. 

FAITHFUL MEN ARE A BLESSING. (PART 2)

TEXT: 2 Kings 2:9-12 (AMP)
⁹ And when they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you. And Elisha said, I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.
¹⁰ He said, You have asked a hard thing. However, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you—but if not, it shall not be so.
¹¹ As they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire parted the two of them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
¹² And Elisha saw it and he cried, My father, my father! The chariot of Israel and its horsemen! And he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

Men like Elisha are increasingly on the decrease in our present generation. This is the reason why any wise employer will treasure any faithful worker because he knows that such individuals are not easy to come by. When a faithful fellow is at work he is a blessing and everything he/she does begin to prosper. Faithful men do not wait to be forced to go the distance; they take the initiative and accomplish the assignment with great joy.  When the sons of the prophet spoke to him in Jericho it was an attempt to discourage him from his loyalty to Elijah but he refused to be distracted. If you truly have an Elijah in your life you should do all you can to serve with all your heart not giving room to dangerous opinions. If you follow on like Elisha did to the Jordan, you will become positioned and qualified for the double portion blessing. Only faithful servants become entitled to receive the double portion blessing. There are blessings that can never be released by sowing seeds (money) to the life or ministry of a man of God or by fasting and praying. If this were possible, then Simeon the sorcerer would have been able to pay for the release of the power but the apostle Peter said to him “... Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money Acts 8:20 (KJV). Heaven is focused on the heart that is patient and faithful to a divine agenda. This is the soul that knows the true value of kingdom investment and our God will be willing to decorate him with heavens’ glory.  The Glory Realm Devotional by Rev. Igho Y; the Glorious Fountain Ministries.

FAITHFUL MEN ARE A BLESSING . (PART 1)

TEXT: 2 Kings 2:1-3 (AMP).

¹ WHEN THE Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were going from Gilgal.
² And Elijah said to Elisha, Tarry here, I pray you, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel. But Elisha replied, As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they went down to Bethel.
³ The prophets' sons who were at Bethel came to Elisha and said, Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today? He said, Yes, I know it; hold your peace.

The account we read from 2Kings 2 reveals to us the true qualities of faithfulness. From the very day Elisha joined the ministry of Elijah he was faithful unto him and the assignment to the end of Elijah’s ministry.   He was so faithful to helping his master succeed that he became deaf to any other command. He could not stand seeing his master inconvenienced so he made it a point of duty to see to his comfort. This was why when Elijah said to him in 2 Kings 2:2, “..., Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel... Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel. He was so committed to serving his master that not even the master could stop him from being faithful. If his service was not from the heart he would have used that as a reason to relax. When they got to Bethel, the sons of the prophet at Bethel said to him in 2 Kings 2:3 (AMP) “... Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today? He said, Yes, I know it; hold your peace. In a sense they were saying to him, since the ministry of your master is coming to an end today why are you wasting your time following him? They could be saying don’t you think you are wasting your time? Not many people are faithful enough to give their very best especially when it is so obvious that the end of the job or opportunity is in sight. Many will begin to arrange for themselves something to fall back on. This is where some become fraudulent, overambitious and self-seeking. They will begin to use their office time, assignment or other opportunity to front their own agenda. Their allegiance will shift from their job to self-gratification and like Gehazi, they will find a way to approach Naaman the Syrian so they can get something for themselves. They will begin to seek the favour of those they perceive to be blessed in material things and not many are wise to learn from the consequences of Gehazis action (See 2 Kings 5 :20-27). Are you a faithful servant? The Glory Realm Devotional by Rev. Igho Y; the Glorious Fountain Ministries.

THE URGENT NEED OF FAITHFUL MEN.

TEXT: 2 Kings 2:1-3 (AMP)
¹ WHEN THE Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were going from Gilgal.
² And Elijah said to Elisha, Tarry here, I pray you, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel. But Elisha replied, As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they went down to Bethel.
³ The prophets' sons who were at Bethel came to Elisha and said, Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today? He said, Yes, I know it; hold your peace.

2 Timothy 4:10 (AMP)
¹⁰ For Demas has deserted me for love of this present world and has gone to Thessalonica; Crescens [has gone] to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

In the book of 2 Timothy 4:10 Paul said “Demas has forsaken me...” he was so disappointed in the conduct of Demas that he had to write to Timothy to express his disappointment. It is not that easy to find faithful men. We have many sycophants parading themselves as faithful men, but we will get to know them when some challenge comes. There are those who will tell you that they are ready to die for you or for a cause but it is only sugar coated words. It is sad today that people now use God as an excuse for their unfaithfulness. They will tell you that they are led of God and that is why they are changing their position or stand. It is so sad and unfortunate because in the first instance, they are the ones who came to say they are very sure God told them to identify with you or a cause. 

Not many who are around us can be trusted. Many people are just in our lives for what they can get out of the relationship. Immediately they discover that they can get what they need from somebody else their allegiance will change. They do not love you; they only love what they can get from you. They like the good things they gain from or through you but they do not care about you. They are the brothers of Demas. The Living translation says Demas because he loves the good things of life. He thought he would make some name or get some reputation by attaching himself to Paul but when he found out that Pauls’ ministry was more sacrifice and hard labour for the kingdom he ran away. Paul experienced the unfaithfulness of John Mark during their first missionary journey, it was so painful an experience to Paul so much that when John Mark returned to join them for the next missionary journey in Acts 15:38 Paul refused to have him in his team. Again when Paul was a prisoner in Rome he was deserted by the Christians in Asia (2 Tim 1:15) Unfaithfulness is a betrayal of trust and it often leads to lose of confidence in such a fellow.  In time past all you need from somebody is their word and you are very sure they will keep their promise, but today even when someone signs an agreement with the evidence of some document you are not really sure what the result will be; the document could be fake.  People no longer know the meaning of promise because it has lost its true meaning. A faithful man is someone who is ready to go through the sun and rain with you. Like Demas many are only passionate after their selfish lust. They are there for themselves. They are like vultures waiting to have their pound of flesh.  The Glory Realm Devotional by Rev. Igho Y; the Glorious Fountain Ministries.

UNDERSTANDING VISIONS (PART 4).

Text: Daniel 5:9-12 (AMP).

⁹ Then King Belshazzar was greatly perplexed and alarmed and the color faded from his face, and his lords were puzzled and astounded.
¹⁰ Now the queen [mother], overhearing the exciting words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house. The queen [mother] said, O king, live forever! Do not be alarmed at your thoughts or let your cheerful expression and the color of your face be changed.
¹¹ There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the holy God [or gods], and in the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—the king, I say, your father—appointed him master of the magicians, enchanters or soothsayers, Chaldeans, and astrologers,
¹² Because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, clarify riddles, and solve knotty problems were found in this same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.

As we bring this series of teachings about understanding vision to an end we want focus on the lessons to be learnt from the testimony and life of Daniel. The text of today is preceded by the story of the king Belteshazzar terrified by a hand writing on the wall when he chose to use the sacred vessels from the temple at Jerusalem to drink wine with his guest in a party he hosted. He became much more troubled when none of his wise men could read or interpret what was written on the wall. When the news got to the queen she came to the king in the banquet hall to give the king some hope. The lessons to learn from this story include the following;

1. When a man walks with God even unbelievers will recognize that he carries a divine light, understanding and wisdom (see verse 11).

 2. Not everyone has the grace to understand and accurately interpret dreams, visions, signs, riddle and solve uncommon problems. When a man distinguishes himself he becomes relevant no matter the person in power (see verse 12).

3. Those who walk and commune with the Most High God will have no problem walking upon the high places of the earth in boldness and righteousness.

There is much more about your life. Fix your eyes on the Lord and you will live for his glory. The Glory Realm Devotional by Rev. Igho Y; the Glorious Fountain Ministries. 

UNDERSTANDING VISIONS (PART 3).

TEXT: Job 32:7-9 (AMP)
⁷ I said, Age should speak, and a multitude of years should teach wisdom [so let it be heard].
⁸ But there is [a vital force] a spirit [of intelligence] in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives men understanding.
⁹ It is not the great [necessarily] who are wise, nor [always] the aged who understand justice.

In most part of Africa there is the believe that understanding and wisdom is with the elders. Therefore the older you are the wiser you are expected to be. If that is completely true Africa would have been the foremost continent of the world but we all know that is not the case. Without the fear of God there cannot be true wisdom. Experience does not count for the wisdom we speak of. Rather, it is the inspiration of the almighty God that breaths understanding into the spirit of a man to make him exceptional. Someone who is approaching an issue or a problem by his experience does so by the limit of the knowledge he received at a particular time, but when a more serious situation that is beyond his knowledge and experience arises he becomes confused. Jesus once told his disciples to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees but then his disciples completely misunderstood and misinterpreted his words thinking he was angry they forgot to buy bread. When he heard what they were saying he said “...Why are you reasoning and saying it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet discern or understand? Are your hearts in [a settled state of] hardness?”
¹⁸ Having eyes, do you not see [with them], and having ears, do you not hear and perceive and understand the sense of what is said? And do you not remember? (See Mark 8:15-18 AMP).  These are those who were in the position of leadership yet they missed it.

Verse 9 of our text says “It is not the great [necessarily] who are wise, nor [always] the aged who understand justice.” Whenever we take God out of the picture depending on our experience or intellect we will begin to make a mockery of ourselves. Take some time today to ask God for the inspiration you need to go from where you are to the next level of glory he destined for you and you will begin to see the grace of God at work in your life. The Glory Realm Devotional by Rev. Igho Y; the Glorious Fountain Ministries.

UNDERSTANDING VISIONS (PART 2).

TEXT: Ephesians 1:16-20 (AMP).

 
¹⁶ I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.
¹⁷ [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,
¹⁸ By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),
¹⁹ And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,
²⁰ Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places],

Paying more attention to the details in verse 16 of our text for today, it became obvious that prayer plays an essential part in the receiving and understanding visions. There is no better way to completely understand anything than going to its source. In verse 17 of our text it became clear that the Lord God Almighty who is the Father of glory is the one and only source of heavenly visions and mysteries. Therefore if any man would be able to decode the mysteries of life that are often encoded in dreams and vision then he must seek true intimacy with God till he is empowered by God to access the spirit of wisdom and revelation. When a man gets to this point in his walk with God, his eyes will begin to receive divine light and insight to understand that which only few persons can. This is when his direction and purpose becomes clear and he begins to gain much needed speed to progress in life. The difference between average people and those with outstanding testimonies is the degree of light they have to run with. If any man would spend time in the word of God he will begin to find the access to divine light. The scripture says “
¹³⁰ The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. Psalms 119:130 (KJV).  Soaking yourself in the word of God will dispel every darkness and order your feet on the path of glory. Spend quality time with God regularly and you will be amazed the glory that will be made manifest in your life. The Glory Realm Devotional by Rev. Igho Y; the Glorious Fountain Ministries.

UNDERSTANDING VISIONS (PART 1).

TEXT: DANIEL 8:27

Daniel 8:26-27 (AMP) 

²⁶ The vision of the evenings and the mornings which has been told you is true. But seal up the vision, for it has to do with and belongs to the [now] distant future.
²⁷ And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick [for several] days. Afterward I rose up and did the king's business; and I wondered at the vision, but there was no one who understood it or could make it understood.

Life is full of a lot of riddles. Not many things are really as they appear to be. Almost everybody is born with sight but only a few have vision. With the eyes even a baby can see but it takes a discerning heart to see vision. If you have problem with your eyes your speed in life will be reduced or completely grounded due to the obstruction of your sight. Just as the clarity of your sight can determine your direction, speed and progress in life, the purity of your heart will determine the degree of your access to spiritual vision and the degree of your fulfillment of destiny. The word of God in Matthew 5:8 (KJV) says “⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” reading this from the amplified version is really an eye opener. It reveals that the state of your heart can determine the degree of favour you attract from God and your progress in life. There are issues of life that can never be unravelled by our intellectual capability. It is one thing to see or receive a vision but it is another thing to understand the vision. When we speak of understanding of vision we need a divine light to see beyond our finite wisdom and experience. This was the prayer of Paul for the Christians at Ephesus as found in Ephesians 1:16-19. From our text of today it is obvious that there are some things that are kept for a certain time. Therefore when certain individuals are able to receive certain understanding at a particular time, it is not because they are smarter than those of previous generation, they are just fortunate to walk in a time of divine appointment and fulfillment. If any man will make a difference in his generation then he must seek God with all his heart. I pray God to grant you a discerning heart to guide you into the fulfillment of destiny in Jesus name. Amen. The Glory Realm Devotional by Rev. Igho Y; the Glorious Fountain Ministries.

MORE THAN SILVER AND GOLD (Proverbs 2:1-8).

 “When people come to the end of their personal achievements and pursuit, it suddenly dawns on them that there is something more. They have gotten all they set out to achieve yet they are not fulfilled. By the time they got to the pinnacle of their obsession, it only reveals how empty the whole thing has been, and like a mirage it disappears when it seems to be within their reach.” (p. xvii).

CONTEMPLATION

There is more to life than money, fame and accolades. Some things only have seasonal value but there are a few that are highly sought after and esteemed in season and out of season. Our preoccupation all depends on what we hold so dearly to in our heart.

“Any accomplishment devoid of the true longing of our spirit will always leave in us a feeling of dissatisfaction and vainness.” (P. Xviii.) The latest car, fashion, building design, electronics, etc will soon loos its glamour and fame.   But a heart continually flooded with the glory of God is always the envy of all because it dwells in true peace and prosperity (see Isaiah 26:3).

Whatever decision of life you are contemplating it is an error to jump to conclusion without asking if it will help fulfill the purpose of God in your life. When the heart of a man is very desperate for fame and fortune it will often ignore the various warning signs flashing before him and will listen to just what he wants to hear (Proverbs 16:25).

PRACTICAL ISSUES

Is it true that at the end of your present pursuit you will feel fulfilled?.

How many people do you know that has true fulfillment at the end of a similar pursuit?.

At the end of this pursuit do you think anybody will still see God glorified?  If all that will be noticed is your fame, fortune and accolades please think again. The Glory Realm Devotional by Rev. Igho Y.; The Glorious Fountain Ministries.