YOUR FUTURE IS BLESSED

 YOUR FUTURE IS BLESSED. TEXT: Col 1:26-27

The present economic downturn all over the world seems to make the future of many bleak with little or no hope in sight. It is so bad that most of the Western nations that were once considered the Promised Land are now dealing with hash economic realities. Government and systems are failing and the world is confused and uncertain about the future, but the word we read today assures us that there is hope. This hope is only in Christ, for when we have Christ in us there is the hope of glory. If you take Christ out of the way there is no hope. The Western world took Christ out of their society and government and so they took hope for a glorious future out of their way. If you want to have the hope of glory then make sure that Christ is in you and you in Him. If you have not made Jesus the Lord of your life you do not have the hope of glory. If there is no room for Jesus in your business there is no hope of glory. If He is not allowed to be a prominent part of your job there is no assurance of glory. If He is not in your vision and pursuit, there is no hope of glory. When you let Him be your glory He will also become the lifter up of your head and when others are saying times are hard you will be saying the Lord is good. If you will bless the Lord with your life your future will be blessed. The hymn writer says “because He lives, I can face tomorrow”. Jesus is the only guarantee for the future, hold on to Him and your future will be blessed.    

-REV IGHO L.Y

HIS PRESENCE IS EVERYTHING PART 1

 HIS PRESENCE IS EVERYTHING PART 1 (Exodus 33:12-18)

The story of Charles finny visiting a factory and the presence of God causing such deep conviction that brought the workers to their knees pleading for the forgiveness of their sins, reveals to us that our God is much more than words. Whatever degree of the manifestation of God’s presence you carry is a privilege. Be thankful for it and God will smile on you.

CONTEMPLATION                                                                                                         

Until you are confronted with extraordinary opposition that makes nonsense all of your abilities, you may not understand why Moses said except your presence go with me I do not want to leave this place. King David understood well that the only reason he was chosen ahead of his elder brothers was nothing but the presence of God attracted upon him in the place of intimacy with God. That same presence gave him victory over the Lion, Bear and the giant Goliath. He fought and won several wars on his way to becoming the king of Israel and throughout his reign he was able to subdue all his enemies because of this presence. He was only able to escape the plot of King Saul and others with evil intention because of the presence of God. In all your getting please get the presence; God’s presence is everything. Whatever you seek can only be a blessing when the glory of God is in it.

      “A blessing without the presence of God is a curse. Check

out Lot, the nephew of Abraham who thought he was very

smart when he chose the well-watered valley of Sodom and

Gomorrah over the divine covering he had abiding with

Abraham and you will see better (Genesis 13:8-11).

Lot thought he got a blessing when he settled for Sodom

and Gomorrah, but it was a curse. He later had to run out of

Sodom for his dear life, but by this time his wife had become

a pillar of salt and his daughters later committed incest with

him (Genesis 19:15-38). ” FINDING FRESH PASSION TO WORSHIP pg.99.

PRACTICAL ISSUES

When Lot settled for the well watered valley of Sodom he thought he got a blessing. It was an assessment based on face value. (Genesis 19:15-38) If your passion for anything exceeds your passion for the presence of God it will become a problem.

-REV IGHO L.Y

FOCUS ON JESUS

FOCUS ON JESUS (Hebrews 12:1-2)                           

To focus is not primarily the function of the eye but an assignment of both the eye and mind; the staying of the mind on something. The eyes can be fixed on something but then it may be an empty gaze. The mind also can be left to wonder though the individual is hearing but not paying attention. Stay your eyes and mind on the Lord and you will not have to deal with the avoidable troubles of life.

CONTEMPLATION

If you are having trouble getting direction from the Lord chances are that your focus is wrong. It is possible you have allowed your mind to wonder by not controlling the various influences that are around you. It is by a predetermined purpose and effort that anyone is able to continually abide in the presence of the Lord. It is a more serious business to get more than one person to focus on the same thing with a high level of passion. It all depends on the motivation and drive of each person.

 “When you see a group of people express themselves in

worship, you can have an insight to what they know, believe,

and adore. The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 6:22 that “the lamp

[light] of the body is the eye…”5 and if our eyes are focused on

Jesus, who is the light of the world, we can never dwell in darkness.

The more we focus on the Lord, the more we become

like Him.” FFPW pg.114.

To all true lovers of Jesus, just the mention of the name “Jesus” is enough to stir up a strong passion to worship. If you are with the right crowd worship should not be a struggle.

PRACTICAL ISSUES

What are the foreseeable challenges in Isaiah 26:3 to any worshipper?

Sometimes the reason people cannot see the Lord or encounter Him through us is because we talk too much about ourselves and less of Him. List the various subtle ways we are guilty of this.

Make up your mind to seek the Lord today and you will be amazed what will follow. (Matthew 7:8).

-RE V IGHO L.Y

THE GIFT OF TIME. TEXT: Eccl 3:1-11

     I have often heard people say “Time is not our friend” but I beg to differ because our scripture says “to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose” if there is time to every purpose then there is a certainty that some things have been assigned to happen for our own good. And because there is a set time for you to find favour then time is your friend. It is so committed to bring to pass your moment of glory, but you too must be committed to keep that appointment with time. This is why the word of God says “time and chance happens to them all”. So what you do with the gift of time will determine whether you will celebrate or weep. If you know how to put to use time as designed by the creator, you will come to see that He makes all things beautiful in its time (See Eccl 3:11). When it is your time and you are positioned for it, He will make all things beautiful and people will say it is your time. Everyone has his time but not everyone knows his time. The B part of verse 11 says God has planted this divine agenda in our hearts but many are unable to understand it because they are far from their creator. It is only the Lord who can help you understand purpose and time. Without divine assistance you will waste precious time chasing shadows. Time is a gift, do not let it pass you by. Maximize the moment and your glory will come to full manifestation.

-REV IGHO L.Y

CREATE THE ATMOSPHERE AND GET THE RESULT

CREATE THE ATMOSPHERE AND GET THE RESULT (PART 2) Exodus 33:7-11

Thank God for those who put you on your toes, without them you may not have developed extra wisdom and sensitivity. They are your training ground for the real battle.

CONTEMPLATION

Some times in life we are more concerned about pleasing others to our own detriment. This is when we are too nice to a fault. It is wrong for you to always allow some people have their way only when such actions always leave you frustrated and unfulfilled. We surrender to the will of God not to the will of man. If the Lord is stirring you up to excuse yourself from a place or group of people do not try to play nice, walk away. If the radio station will not play edifying music play your own music. Choose where you want to be and dwell on the things that will take you there.

PRACTICAL ISSUES

You may not be responsible for who your parents are but you are responsible for the children (result) you give birth to. Therefore be careful what impregnates your mind.

Joy is by choice, so is sadness. Choose right.

-REV IGHO L.Y

CREATE THE ATMOSPHERE AND GET THE RESULT

CREATE THE ATMOSPHERE AND GET THE RESULT (PART 2) Exodus 33:7-11

Thank God for those who put you on your toes, without them you may not have developed extra wisdom and sensitivity. They are your training ground for the real battle.

CONTEMPLATION

Some times in life we are more concerned about pleasing others to our own detriment. This is when we are too nice to a fault. It is wrong for you to always allow some people have their way only when such actions always leave you frustrated and unfulfilled. We surrender to the will of God not to the will of man. If the Lord is stirring you up to excuse yourself from a place or group of people do not try to play nice, walk away. If the radio station will not play edifying music play your own music. Choose where you want to be and dwell on the things that will take you there.

PRACTICAL ISSUES

You may not be responsible for who your parents are but you are responsible for the children (result) you give birth to. Therefore be careful what impregnates your mind.

Joy is by choice, so is sadness. Choose right.

-REV IGHO L.Y

ACCESSING THE REALM OF GLORY

ACCESSING THE REALM OF GLORY (2 Corinthians 3:7-18)

Sometimes we often become too familiar with the presence of God upon the life of a servant of God or in a place of worship and we begin to lose all that would have been in our favour. Take some time to thank God for the privilege of encountering Him in some lives and places. Do something to show your gratitude.

CONTEMPLATION                              

“Many are struggling to worship because they can’t see or

hear spiritually. They are trying to access the realm of worship

in the flesh, and this is not possible. Until we respond to

the call like John, we will never be able to enter the throne

room. “…Those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit

and in truth.” FFPW p92.

It is a waste of time trying to encounter God by your intellect. “God is a spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” any man who disciplines himself to allow the word gain access into his being will one day be given extraordinary access into the realm of glory.  The difference between a passive worshiper and a passionate worshiper is the degree of glory they are in fellowship with. Some are limited in worship because they only respond to a planned order of worship, but there are others whose worship is a divine response to a divine call. Every man who is continuously in the presence of God has a sweet advantage ahead of others in all aspect of life. Make the Holy Spirit your sweet and active companion and you will too begin to take the lead over others.

PRACTICAL ISSUES

You cannot encounter new degree of glory except your hunger exceeds your present realm of glory.

No one, church or body is responsible for the degree of glory made manifest in your life. It is up to you.

If you have lost respect and admiration for people and places that once stirred up excitement in your spirit chances are, you have become insensitive and full of yourself. Jesus was the fullness of the godhead bodily yet He held in high esteem the ministry of the prophets before Him. A greater or a peculiar anointing is not a licence to disrespect others.

-REV IGHO L.Y