GOD IS GOD (PT. 5)

GOD IS GOD (PT. 5) 

TEXT: Matthew 1:1-7 (KJV)
¹  The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
²  Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
³  And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
⁴  And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
⁵  And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
⁶  And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
⁷  And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;

It is amazing the way God see things and how He chose to respond to people and issues. If men were God not too many of us will be considered for certain benefits and glories. Sometimes, some sanctimonious religious folks seem to be greatly offended that God is gracious to those they have written off. But the truth is that God is God and he will always do that which pleases him. He is not alive to please us but we are alive to please him. When you consider those he allowed to be part of the genealogy of Jesus Christ you are just amazed. In our legalistic way of judging people somebody like Rachab the famous prostitute of Jericho should not be included in the genealogy of the messiah. It would have been very easy to hide it because she is a woman and her name need not appear because up until this point no other woman was mentioned. But God has nothing to hide, He is not man, God is God. Another surprise inclusion is in verse six “
⁶ And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; .” it is not easy to comprehend that God bless a relationship that started in adultery with the great and wise king Solomon and still went on with his plan to bring salvation to man through such impure ancestry. We must be careful not to be quick to run to conclusion on people or issues. God has not lowered his standard of holiness and if he makes someone or something holy then it is holy. Just let God be God.  

ANGELIC MINISTRY (PART 7) JULY 28^TH

TEXT: Daniel 10:7-14 (KJV)
⁷  And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
⁸  Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
⁹  Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
¹⁰  And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
¹¹  And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
¹²  Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
¹³  But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
¹⁴  Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

This is one passage of scripture that many still find difficult to understand. They cannot understand how the evil spirit that rule over the kingdom of Persia was able to stop an angel of God from carrying out his assignment. But a careful study of our text will reveal to you that not all angels have been assigned to the same responsibility.

There are angels assigned to deliver divine messages from God and there are others that have been empowered to fight battles. The angel that was withstood by the prince of Persia was one of the angels assigned to deliver messages. But when that angel was met by the prince of Persia which must be one of the fallen high ranking angels that are known for battle, it became difficult to penetrate through but by the continual prayer of Daniel heaven responded to a call for divine intervention by dispatching the great angel in charge of battle Michael. It was Michael and his angels that defeated the devil and all the angels that rebelled against God in heaven, so when Michael showed up the prince of Persia got more than he asked for. One lesson here is that when you sense a delay to an answer to your prayer it will become necessary to ask for divine help to fight the battle to release your breakthrough. You only need a breakthrough when there is some form of hindrance. Cry to God and all will be well.

AMBITIONS AND SUBMITION (4)

AMBITIONS AND SUBMITION (4) 

TEXT: Proverbs 15:20-22 (AMP)
²⁰ A wise son makes a glad father, but a self-confident and foolish man despises his mother and puts her to shame.
²¹ Folly is pleasure to him who is without heart and sense, but a man of understanding walks uprightly [making straight his course].
²² Where there is no counsel, purposes are frustrated, but with many counselors they are accomplished.

Prov. 24:6.

 6. For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

I have found out that often when people are missing it and they are being corrected they will say “I know what I am doing.” This is often the case with those who are full of themselves. They would have saved themselves from unnecessary troubles if they will be wise enough to just consider the warning but allow their ambition to drown the voice of reasoning. A part of verse 21 of our text says “Folly is pleasure to him who is without heart and sense...” Do not let your ambition make you a laughingstock. Open your heart to the counsel of those God has positioned over your life in various ways and save yourself from unforeseen ridicule. Verse 22 of our text says, “Where there is no counsel, purposes are frustrated, but with many counselors they are accomplished.” 

An African proverb says, “What an elder can see while sitting a young man cannot see even when he climbs a tree”. But another proverb says “we are able to see beyond our age and experience when we stand on the shoulders of elders.” Don’t allow pride cut you off from the great plan and purpose of God for your life. Life is full of ups and downs, if for any reason you experience a fall or setback, you will need the help of those who were instrumental in helping you get to the height you once attained to be able to climb back into relevance. But if you have destroyed the ladder by which you ascended to that place it will take a longer time to get back to where you have fallen from. Examine yourself today and quickly strengthen every important but weak relationship and save yourself the trouble of the evil day. Begin with your relationship with God and then your fellow man.  

ANGELIC MINISTRY (PART 6)

ANGELIC MINISTRY (PART 6) 

TEXT: Daniel 8:15-19 (KJV)
¹⁵  And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
¹⁶  And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
¹⁷  So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
¹⁸  Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.
¹⁹  And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.

Today in our study about the ministry of angels we shall be looking at the category of angels created to deliver divine messages from the heavenly Father. This group is believed to be led by the angel Gabriel. Any time there is a word being delivered by an angel it is often Gabriel or one of the angels working with him. From Abraham to John in the book of Revelation there are several encounters of angels of this category. Without them there would have been so much confusion and frustration for many. They were very prominent in the life of Daniel as can be found in the book of Daniel. On several occasions they showed up to make the difference for Daniel. The birth of Samson and the kind of child he would become were given by angels belonging to this category. Gideon was visited by one of such angels to tell him the plan of God; to use him to bring about the deliverance of the people of Israel. It was the angel Gabriel that visited Zachariah and Mary to announce the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus. They are the ones who run to and fro the earth to publish the good news of the birth of Jesus and they are still very much at work.  

GOD IS GOD (PT.4)

GOD IS GOD (PT.4) 

TEXT: Matthew 20:6-16 (KJV)
⁶  And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
⁷  They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
⁸  So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
⁹  And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
¹⁰  But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
¹¹  And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
¹²   Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
¹³  But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
¹⁴  Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
¹⁵   Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
¹⁶  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

God is God and there is nothing anyone can do about it. He said “I am the LORD I change not”. Sometimes in our zeal without knowledge we foolishly question the decision of God that we think is not in conformity with our finite understanding of life. Sometimes our words are just like that of these overzealous fellows; see what they said in verse 12, “... These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day (KJV). Like them, many of us equate the length of time of years we have spent on the assignment as reason to be entitled to special treatment and benefit forgetting that the position is only a privilege. If you were assigned a responsibility like others then you must be careful not to abuse the privilege. Take note of what they were angry about, “and thou hast made them equal unto us,” Like these fellows, those who have been in a system for long tend to form a clique that abrogates to themselves certain powers and right. That is why when someone outside their clique is recommended for certain benefits or position, they will fight against it. But the truth is that since the owner is not in any kind of partnership with them their protest is only a tempest in a teacup. He has made up his mind and that is the end of the story. When God says “Yes” nobody can say “No”. Keep your eyes on God for He has the final say.

WALK IN THE SPIRIT AND POWER (2 Timothy 2:15-22)

WALK IN THE SPIRIT AND POWER (2 Timothy 2:15-22)

Take some time to look at yourself considering your hope and dreams from childhood before corruption crept in and you will see that there is much more buried in you than what you have settled for. You were not designed to struggle in life but it is only in the understanding of the divine plan of our heavenly Father that we are able to walk in that glory. There is more to your life than this.

CONTEMPLATION

The truth remains that we may never be able to get back the full privileges and potentials of the first Adam but in the second Adam(Jesus) we have the awesome opportunity to walk in the spirit and power. If Enoch without the redemption of Christ was able to obtain an extraordinary testimony that he pleased God then we are without excuse. We are able to and we can truly walk the extraordinary life if only we would surrender our will. The only reason why most Christians still struggle to walk in the supernatural is because they intend to eat their cake and have it. You can only hold one staff of office at a time. Whenever you are holding on to the staff of the flesh it means you have dropped that of the spirit which empowers you to walk in the supernatural. The problem has always been the use of our free will.

   “We are all created with a free will but only the will that is

continually yielded to God experiences true liberty and glory.

Adam was the crown of God’s creation, but he lost the full

weight of the glory intended for him by disobedience.” FFPW P102.

As you conform more to the divine agenda of heaven for your life you will gradually become engulfed with the glory of God. Don’t stop, keep pressing until you make it over to the promise land. Shalom!

CONTEMPLATION

Your will has always been your will until you surrender it partially or completely.

The much of God we see in a man is the much of the man that is in God.

Any man can walk in the supernatural when they choose to break camp from the dominion of the flesh.

-          REV. IGHO Y

ANGELIC MINISTRY (PART 6)

ANGELIC MINISTRY (PART 6)

TEXT: Revelation 4:1-8 (KJV)
¹  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
²  And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
³  And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
⁴  And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
⁵  And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
⁶  And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
⁷  And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
⁸  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.  

A careful study of the scripture will reveal to you that the ministry of angels is in multi-dimensions though with a great degree of specialization; angels have specific functions and assignment in their service to God. Today we will dwell on angels that are assigned to create an atmosphere of worship. Whenever there is a glimpse into the throne of God in heaven the worship of angels around the throne will be seen or heard about. You cannot talk about the throne of God without worship being offered to the Almighty God who lives for ever and ever. Other angels worship but the angel with this responsibility will lead others when it comes to worship. They know how to stir the atmosphere for worship (It is believed from scriptural evidences that the fallen angel Lucifer was in charge of this group of angels before iniquity was found in him). These angels like all others before the throne cannot help but cry Holy, Holy, Holy continually as they behold the glory of God. Pointing to us that those who desire to come before the throne of God must have a clean heart. This is the reason why so much holiness is required of those who lead the worship in our various churches and meetings. According to the scriptures God inhabits the praises of his people, but before he will come such praises must be from sanctified vessels. It is the duty of angels that are assigned to create an atmosphere of worship to help stir the hearts of men to become prepared for the moment of divine visitation. In a worship atmosphere that is saturated with the glory and presence of God this category of angels are mightily at work. When they are there the singing and the playing of the musical instruments becomes mightily inspired and unusual things begins to happen. They are the ones seen in our text for today.