HOW I ARRIVED AT MY LAUGHTER

A person's outlook to life is wholly dependent on that person. A popular saying tells about a bottle which can either be seen as half empty by a person or half full. That about sums it up.

Someone sees stumbling blocks, another sees stepping stones; someone sees a mountain too high to climb, another sees a way around it; someone sees a problem, another sees an opportunity to provide solutions.

Many people have often commented that I am too happy for my age, and that I smile and laugh often. This attitude only came about because I have come to understand certain simple but important things which have guided me to my destination of laughter.

In life I have faced challenges but I have learnt that rather than seeing them as burdens to pull me down, rather they are weights meant to train me for greater things ahead. Psalm 144:1 HCSB says “May the Lord my rock be praised, who trains my hands for battles and my fingers for warfare”. Once you realize that challenges and difficulties are to toughen you and make you more capable, you will smile through them all.

I have also learnt in life that unforgiveness is a dark pit. A person who does not forgive or finds it very difficult to forgive, will simply keep wallowing in that pit alone, and what’s more? Unhappiness and unforgiveness are the best of friends. If you don’t forgive, you will be unhappy. Having understood this, I made up my mind to forgive in advance. Before anyone even offends me, I have forgiven. It may be surprising to some that this principle is contained in the Lord’s Prayer. Many of us learnt it while growing up and we know the words by heart but fail to take out time to understand their implication. Matthew 6:12 NMB says “And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us” This verse is futuristic meaning you do not need to wait until you are offended before deciding to forgive. The verse is saying even before you are offended, you have already forgiven. A life of conscious and constant forgiveness is a happy life. Armed with this knowledge, I find myself going through the day fortified with an impenetrable armour of happiness. Because I have forgiven in advance, no matter the offenses that come my way, they easily slide off my armour.

Closely linked with unforgiveness is anger. In fact, it can be said that anger is fuelled by unforgiveness. Anger is a great enemy. It was what led to the first instance of the grave crime of murder. Genesis 4:5 tells us how angry Cain was and this eventually led to him killing Abel in verse 8. From this, I derived that an angry person is a person capable of committing murder at that instance. I also understood that anger is a great destroyer, people usually regret many things done as a result of anger. Anger clouds a person’s judgment, at that point a person may think that he/she is taking the right decision but once it fades away, it most times leaves sorrow in its wake. When you deliberately decide not to be given to anger, you live a happy life.

Another dimension to my unending happiness is how I handle money and loss. As painful as it can be to lose something you have worked for to either a debtor that blatantly refuses to repay money borrowed from you, or a dishonest person who cheats you, I decided to look at it from a different angle. And so I began to treat any money lost to people as money given to them by me. I no longer regard it as a loss but rather as a gift. The idea is that I see it as a furtherance of God’s directive to give. With this approach, the pain recedes and I continue life with my happiness intact.

Yet another principle of mine is that I practise laughter as an element of good health. I believe that laughter is an underrated “drug”. Due to how simple it sounds, the tendency is for people to overlook it. But it has been proven that laughter is highly beneficial to a person’s well being, this is why we are encouraged to smile and laugh more. Constant laughter breeds good health. It is not even a complex link—it is very difficult to laugh easily if you are carrying so much anger, unforgiveness, regret and sadness, these only serve as stones tied around your neck with no relief in view. But without these things, you find yourself laughing through life.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. Psalm 34:19 KJV. I am constantly happy because I know that I have God. Whatever situation I find myself in, whatever problems arise. No matter how large they may seem to me, I have the confidence that God will deliver me out of them all. He said it in His Word and I believe it. Many people have the wrong belief that because they are Christians, they ought not to face any problems, life should just be easy breezy. And so when problems come, they begin to grumble, wondering why they are having problems. However, there was never a point in time where God said a believer will live a life free of challenges. Challenges will definitely come up, problems will always come up but God has promised that through them all, we will emerge on top. Jeremiah 29:11 KJV says “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” With the assurance that my end will be great, I proceed to go through whatever God allows to come my way, with smiles.

Guided by these principles, I have been able to cultivate a lifestyle of permanent, unshakeable and untainted happiness. 

GO YE INTO THE WORLD 2000 YEARS LATER

All scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

After the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, He ascended into the heavens to the Father. He then secured a forty day leave from heaven to return to the earth, even though He had said ‘It is finished,’ to set some things in order. He could not have done all this if what He was coming to do with His disciples was not of utmost importance. He left heaven, returned to the earth and showed Himself alive to His disciples. And for a space of  forty days, He was telling them things concerning the kingdom of God and how the kingdom of God should from Jerusalem spread even to the remotest part of the earth by their preaching. And Jesus concluded by telling them not to leave Jerusalem but wait to receive the promise of the Father of which He had been telling them. The summary of His meeting with the disciples was that they should not be so concerned with their personal restoration which was the restoration of their nation (though this was also part of God’s will), but their concern should be about how the gospel would be spread.

The disciples, prior to this time, just like almost every Christian today, had only been concerned about their own personal restoration by God; they had no interest in the spread of the gospel. Because of this, the Lord had to return after His resurrection to tell the disciples what should be their major focus which was evangelism and also prepare them to receive what would make them truly His witnesses. And Jesus says in Acts 1:8

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Heaven and earth may change but the word of the Lord remains the same. Time does not make it less effective nor does its meaning change over time. The words the Lord Jesus spoke to His disciples while on earth apply to us today just as it did to them. Those words were not only for them but also for those who will believe on Jesus Christ through their witness. Matthew 28:9-20 says

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

(Emphasis added).

The Lord Jesus straitly charged the disciples to ensure they teach all those who will believe on Him through their preaching to observe all He had commanded them. Not only that, but that this should continue even to the end of the age. If Jesus had injunctively said to them in Mark 16:15 "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation,” so is He telling you today. The command has not changed. And there has been no better time for the gospel to be preached than now. The time is shorter now than it was in the days of the apostles. The world is speedily running its course to an end. The world is perishing and gross darkness is covering it. Wickedness and iniquity are on the increase. The need to witness Jesus now cannot be overemphasized. He is the only way out of this darkness into light, the only way out of this death into everlasting life. He is the only way to the Father. Without Him, the people will remain and perish in darkness. And the Bible says in 2 Peter 3:9 that the Lord is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance,” and the only way for them not to perish is to present them Jesus. John 3:16 says

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

When you do not preach the gospel, you are not only disobeying the great commandment of Jesus which He took His time to tell the disciples and that it should also be passed down to you, you are also not fulfilling His will by allowing souls to perish. There is no other way for God to save the world aside through you. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

“Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

What a great ministry God has committed into your hands by saving your soul. Just as God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, so is He now in you to continue reconciling the world to Himself. And there is no stopping until the whole world is reconciled to Him. Just as He anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost and power, and was going around doing good, healing all that were oppressed by the devil because God was with Him, so does He want you to be concerned about receiving the Holy Spirit for empowerment to be His true witness today because He is with you, for this purpose, and yea, even to the end of the age.  

Also, not preaching the gospel is delaying the coming of the Lord. He is not slow concerning His promise that He will come but He is patient, waiting for you to preach the gospel and bring many to repentance as He has no interest in the death of the wicked. Hasten His coming by going out to preach. Do His will and obey His command today. 

6 INNOVATIVE WAYS TO REWARD EMPLOYEES

A company or business is not run by one person alone. There are key players that all contribute to its success. One of such key players is the employees. These are the people who work under the employer to achieve the company’s goals and ensure customer/clientele satisfaction. In a way we can say that employees make the company. The success of a business is largely dependent on how efficient and effective the employees are. Most of the time, you discover that they are the ones who are in direct contact with the customers or who personally handle projects and the success of the project is generally accredited to the employer as the face of the company. 

Rewarding employees for jobs well done, has been discovered to be a great way of keeping them motivated and encouraging them to even do more. Once a person feels appreciated even for one good thing done, the person will find it easier to do better. An employee who is unappreciated most of the time does work grudgingly and may find it difficult to give a hundred percent inputconsciouslynconsciouswill

Some of the ways that employers have come up with over the years to reward employees who have contributed positively to the company or business include promotion and increase in their pay, simple appreciation cards, parties thrown in honour of them, official recognition in form of awards, sponsored lunches or dinners, and so on. 

In addition to the above, here are 6 innovative ways to reward employees and ensure the continued success of your business:

1. Double pay: I will like to describe this as a step further from a surprise bonus pay. With the bonus pay, the employee gets paid the usual salary at the end of the month plus a little extra. With the double pay, the employee gets double of the usual salary. This is definitely a great motivator and will propel the employee to do even better.

2. Loan without interest: There are employees who have personal projects to undertake to improve their quality of life but they lack sufficient funding to carry them out, as many of these projects are capital intensive. The employees are also very reluctant to take out loans because these loans are usually attached with high interest rates. 

A good way to reward an effective employee who is in need of a loan is to surprise him or her with a loan offer with the interest waived. Remember that due to this employee’s hard work, there has been an addition to the company’s income and the continued hard work of this employee means future additions. Therefore, granting the loan without interest should not be viewed as a loss to the company. Firstly, the loan will be repaid and secondly, the employee is still working and constantly bringing in money for the company. On the one hand, the company benefits from a highly motivated employee who puts in his best and on the other hand, the employee gets to accomplish his/her personal project—it’s a win-win situation for everyone.

3. Invest in their continued education: Master’s, diploma, certificate, skill acquisition, just name it. Developing your employees will also in turn profit your business. With the level of skills and knowledge they presently have, they've proven to be valuable, how much more with improved skills and greater knowledge. You can reward a valuable employee by sponsoring him/her in further education. This sponsorship will ensure that he/she continues to be an asset. Investing in your efficient employees this way is another great motivator.

4. Surprise all-expense paid trip to a moderately exotic place: Another great way to reward an employee for a job well done is by arranging an all-expense paid trip for the employee and the family if there is, for a short vacation. The trip need not be to an expensive place, just somewhere different and nice. A place where the employee can take a break and relax. Recall the popular saying all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy? I will modify it to all work and no rest makes employees dull.

5. Time off from work: If you consider the all-expense paid trip too expensive for you as an employer, you may consider rewarding an employee by giving him/her a day off from work. It is important to rest the body regularly. This will aid the perfect working of all the systems. Working your employees for unending hours, 5 or 6 days a week is neither beneficial to the employee nor the business. In your haste to get the best from your employees by working them to the ground, you may likely find yourself getting lesser output from them over an extended period of time. Therefore rewarding efficient employees by allowing them to rest on a working day, is a good way to ensure that the level of efficiency and effectiveness they have prior exhibited, is maintained and even improved.

6. A paid visit to a good hospital for general check-up: Health is wealth. A major contributory factor to the effectiveness of an employee is good health. The only concern of a sick person is to get healthy, the same applies to a sick employee. It is even more important now than ever for people to regularly go for check-ups as many serious illnesses find a way to lie fallow for even a couple of years before outwardly manifesting at which point, it may either be too late to be treated or highly expensive. Prevention they say is better than cure. Rewarding efficient employees by paying for general check-up in a good hospital is a great motivator. Illnesses can be caught on time, necessary life changes can be inculcated on time and general medical advice is gotten. These will contribute to the good health of your employees and the healthier they are, the more qualitative their work output will be. Invariably, the better your business becomes.

THE LIBERAL SOUL SHALL BE MADE FAT

Unless otherwise stated, all scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Everything God made was good. Time was regular and everything maintained its course. Even God, at the end of the sixth day, looked upon His work and said  “It was very good.” (Genesis 1:31). There was neither any insufficiency, nor was there any difficulty of any kind. But it was not too long when He was seen pronouncing a curse upon the ground. And this was not for any evil it has done. But Adam had sinned. He together with his wife, had disobeyed the commandments of God by eating from the tree they were commanded not to eat. Adam was now sentenced to a lifelong struggle. He would no longer have access to the fruits of the garden but would be sent out of the garden altogether to eat from the plants of the field, meant originally for the animals over whom he had been chief. For Adam and his descendants to eat in toil for all the days of their lives, because of his transgression, the ground would now not only lack the strength to bring leaves and fruits into maturity, thus resulting into it bringing forth thorns and thistles, seedtime and harvest would also be highly uncertain and unpredictable because of the curse pronounced upon the ground. And this was the kind of life Adam and his descendants were forced to live. This continued until Lamech, Noah’s father, prophesied that in Noah’s time “will they have rest from their work and from the toil of their hands arising from the ground which the Lord has cursed.” (Genesis 5:29). And in Noah’s time, as spoken by his father, the Lord reduced the effect of the curse He had pronounced on the ground to give the people rest. Genesis 8:21-22 says 

“The Lord smelled the soothing aroma; and the Lord said to Himself, ‘I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease."

(Emphasis added).

Prior to this time, there was no certainty that what you sowed would yield fruit. And if it would yield any fruit, you would not be certain when it would. The time of reaping was unstable and irregular. So it was a terrible life since no prediction could be made. But after this time, among some other things, seedtime and harvest could now be calculated. The plowman could now plow in hope. The principle of sowing and reaping was now firmly established. To now enjoy the strength and fatness of the earth, and live in abundance, you would need to follow this principle. This became the way out of a cursed life of toil and struggle. This principle became the way into material rest. The Bible clearly says in Proverbs 11:24

“There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. 

(KJV)

If you now scatter your seeds on the ground, they will die and germinate to give multiple folds of what you scattered and you will thereby increase. The way to increase and abundance is now in scattering and sowing. But if you refuse the principle of scattering and sowing, and withhold your seeds, maybe because you think what you have is not enough for your satisfaction or because you are uncertain it will yield, there will be nothing for you to reap and have as your increase and you will therefore end up in penury. And in the next verse, verse 25, the Lord clearly tells us how we can scatter and sow our seeds so we can increase with the fatness of the earth.  Proverbs 11:25 says 

“The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.”

It is by being generous you sow. It is by your liberality you will be made fat. And fear not, but be assured that you will certainly reap what you give, even in more measures. 

There are people who reject this principle of giving and unknowingly to them, they have accepted the life that was before Noah’s time and are thus struggling with a curse. A curse of not bringing into maturity. They are suffering from all forms of disappointments and the uncertainties of life. No wonder they have not been able to enter into financial rest. Such people will always receive and never give. But Jesus says “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35). The Lord has provided a way out of the curse into a life of blessing. After He perceived the aroma of the sacrifice offered to Him by Noah, on behalf of the whole earth, the way He could bless everyone on earth, who will want to come out of struggle and enter into rest was for Him to establish the principle of sowing and reaping. It became the God ordained way to come out of the curse of retardedness, poverty and dryness. There is no other way made available. 

Also, do not think you do not have enough for yourself let alone having to give out. You should not eat all your fruits without keeping some as seeds. When you have consumed all, what will you have to sow? If you do not sow, you will have nothing to reap and then be in want. It might be insufficient, but even out of that insufficiency, sow. For that is the way to come out of that insufficiency. 

The Bible says Psalms 126:5-6

“Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”

It is so certain. Even if you have to give in tears, give. You will come again with a great shout of joy and your increase. Leave the cursed ground and return into the garden by giving to others. 

6 Simple Acts to Give Your Customers Pleasant Experiences

Ensuring your customers are satisfied and that they always have pleasant experiences in their dealings with you is one of the requirements for your business to be truly successful.

Now, customer attrition is normal in all businesses. No business can expect to keep 100% of its customers forever no matter how much they want to. Often, factors beyond your control like death or change of location lead to loss of customers. These have nothing to do with the quality of the product or service you provide.

However, a major factor why you lose customers is because you treated these customers with indifference. You didn't perform the simple acts that show you appreciate, respect or value them. They felt taken for granted and as a result, took their business elsewhere.

Even though you should always be on the lookout for new business, customers and clients, retaining existing repeat ones is far more profitable than chasing down new ones regardless of the business you do. It's a shame if you lose these very valuable existing customers by not valuing their patronage.

Fortunately, as a business owner, you can avoid this through simple acts. By making the customer feel appreciated through praise, excellent service, free gifts and pleasurable experiences, you significantly increase your customer retention rate.

Below are 6 simple ways to give your customers pleasant experiences and ensure their satisfaction:-

1) Treat your customers royally: By consistently putting your customers' needs at the forefront of everything you do, you will ensure pleasant experiences for them and expedite your business success.

Every decision in your business should be made with the customer in mind. That doesn’t mean that all of the decisions you make should be based on what the customer wants and nothing else, but the decision-making process should always start with the customer.

Customer complaints, questions and enquiries should be responded to speedily and efficiently. Occasionally, you can and should also add value to your products or services without raising cost wherever possible. These are crucial parts of ensuring customer pleasant experiences.

2) Give away free stuff: One of the oldest and powerful ways to make customers happy is to give them something for nothing. This is even more effective if what you freely give brings added value to their lives or businesses.

By offering free but valuable products or services to your customers, you deepen your connections with your customers, increase your credibility and reinforce the value of your paid offers.

It is also important to remember to personalise your free offerings. All customers aren't the same and their desires vary too. By seeking and tailoring your free gifts to their specific tastes, you intensify the effect of this approach.

3) Invite and appreciate their feedback: Customers are the lifeblood of any business. By inviting and listening to whatever input these customers give you, you will be better placed to ensure their needs are adequately met.

With technological advancements of today, it’s easier than ever to communicate with your customers, for example through social media or customer surveys, even as it’s vitally important to actively listen to them.

Engaging customers in this manner shows them that you value them enough to seek their input to assist you figure out how you can better serve them. This ultimately leads to higher customer satisfaction and positive experiences.

4) Recognition: Greeting your customer by name is a very meaningful and treasured detail that greatly improves the experience of doing business with you.

There are few things more flattering, more pleasant, and more effective at making your customer feel special than receiving a warm, friendly greeting by name when walking into your place of business.

5) Constant appreciation: How do you show your customers, your clients or your patients that you appreciate them? Considering they chose to do business with you when there are probably several other businesses that do what you do. Do you show the customers who choose to patronize you that you value and appreciate their business? Feeling appreciated is an experience that is generally pleasant.

This could be a periodic handwritten note that you send to your customers. You could also take note of their special dates like birthdays and anniversaries and send them warm messages on those dates.

In whatever you do, always be sure to let them know that you are extending this extra to them because they are a valued customer and you want to show them that you appreciate them.

6) Charm and consideration: Simple acts of charm and consideration also enhance pleasant experiences. These include regularly walking customers to the door and opening it for them as they're leaving, having your employees help customers carry their purchases to their car, especially the old or anyone who appears frail or a bit unsteady on their feet. If you have a waiting room, using cushions instead of chairs help make customer wait times pleasant and stress free.

Lots of businesses overlook these simple acts but they contribute to a pleasant experience for the customers and can mean the difference between continued patronage and not.

The ultimate trick is to understand that these acts when combined and used together consistently generate magnified impacts.

Customers are always perceiving. By offering meaningful, memorable, fun, and unusual experiences, you positively influence the impressions these customers come away with and how they view your business.

It’s easy to disregard or underestimate the importance of these details. But the shrewd businessman understands and appreciates the intrinsic values of incorporating strategies that ensure customers are always impressed after dealing with him.

This smart businessman is acutely aware that in a vastly competitive market place, it's these little details that keep a customer coming back over and over, it's the little details that cause a customer to rationalize paying more because he/she feels he/she is getting more, it's the little details that keep customers talking about him and recommending him to their social circles.

Treating your customers right, being attentive to their needs and desires and recognising them personally cost nothing. Neither does regular appreciation, and being charming. Yet the advantages these simple acts can afford your business often outweigh and outlast the most expensive marketing campaigns.

Ensure your customers always have pleasant experiences. Your bottom line will be all the better for it!

PROLONGED LOUD HALLELUJAH

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.  Genesis 2:17 KJV

Alas, this command was broken in Genesis 3:6 when Adam and Eve, deceived by the serpent, ate of the tree thereby introducing disobedience to God (sin). Thus began man's journey to death. No longer would he commune with God eternally as was God’s original plan. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Genesis 3:19 KJV.

Driven out of the garden, the first sign of corruption showed up when Cain killed Abel in Genesis 4 thereby introducing the sin of anger and murder which was continued later on by Lamech.

Genesis 6 shows an increase in sin among mankind. It seemed that mankind was definitely headed for annihilation and in Genesis 6:3, mankind’s number of days on earth were drastically shortened. Not too long after, the flood came in Genesis 7. 

Fortunately for us, all hope was not lost for the All Compassionate God declared the first promise in Genesis 9 that ensured that mankind will remain. And I will establish My covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. Genesis 9:11 KJV.

God did not just stop there. It was not enough for Him that the world will no longer be destroyed by flood, He saw the need for mankind to have a shot at the life He originally intended for us, this led to the call of Abraham in Genesis 12. Through him came forth a people called by God for whom He fashioned the first law that will guide mankind in the painstaking journey back to life—the ten commandments.

Unfortunately, even with a chosen people and the law, mankind was still bent on going against God. Was this the end of the road?

Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:18-19 KJV) Hallelujah!

God’s mercy showed up for mankind again. The first hint was given to us in Genesis 49:10 and it was backed up by a clearer assurance in Isaiah 9:6-7 This came to pass in Matthew 1. God made the ultimate sacrifice. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV) Hallelujah!

God gave you and I Jesus so that we will not end up in hell. God gave you and I Jesus so that after this world and everything in it has passed away we will have an inheritance. God gave you and I Jesus so that we will not have to pay the price for our sin. For the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23a KJV.

Through Jesus we have the certainty of life. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10b KJV). Hallelujah!

Through Jesus we are no longer condemned to a life of struggle. Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. (3 John 1:2 KJV). Hallelujah!

Through Jesus sicknesses, diseases and infirmities are no longer permitted to afflict us. With His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5b KJV). Hallelujah!

Through Jesus we can subdue vile spirits. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils. (Mark 16:17a KJV). Hallelujah!

Through Jesus we have the confidence that when we ask for what we need, it shall be given unto us. Ask and it shall be given unto you Matthew 7:7a KJV. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it. (John 14:14 KJV). Hallelujah!

Through Jesus we have been adopted by a matchless Father. Behold, what manner of love the Father had bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. (1 John 3:1 KJV). Hallelujah!

Through Jesus we are no longer subject to the power of death for He conquered the grave. And the angel answered and said unto the women, fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come see the place where the Lord lay. (Matthew 28:5-6 KJV). Hallelujah!

Through Jesus I am able to enjoy unfathomable things and so can you. Through Jesus, you can be ushered into eternal life with no cost, all it takes is for you to invite Him into your life and surrender yourself totally to Him.

The love of God is insurmountable, unexplainable, boundless and immeasurable. For we have done nothing to deserve it, in fact we repeatedly test its limits by our disobedience, by going astray, by stubbornly doing things our own way and by our inconsistency. Yet God's love is still keeping us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39 KJV). Hallelujah!

Ephesians 2:4-6 KJV For God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace ye are saved; And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!

THE CONSISTENT STRATEGIC TEAM WILL SUCCEED (Judges 20:20)

“Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB),

Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,

1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation 

Used by permission. www.Lockman.org” 

Judges 20:20 “The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel arrayed for battle against them at Gibeah.”

The men of Gibeah had committed a great sin and so must be punished according to the law of the Lord. The tribes of Israel had determined to execute judgment on them and therefore required the tribe of Benjamin to deliver the men of Gibeah into their hands. The tribe of Benjamin did not only refuse to deliver the men but also gathered together from the cities of Gibeah to war against the whole tribes of Israel. When the latter realized the former was set for a civil war, they went ahead to inquire of the Lord about the strategy to be employed and the Lord told them which tribe should take the lead. 

We would have thought that because they were obeying God in warring with the tribe of Benjamin, were following the strategy which was given to them by God Himself and also outnumbering the tribe of Benjamin, they would have overcome them just at one strike. But this was not the case. The tribes of Israel lost 22 000 men in the first fight (Judges 20:21). 

That was really a big defeat, a great loss, which should obviously have led to a total and permanent retreat. Not only because they were defeated but defeated by a very small number of men compared to them. But surprisingly, the men of Israel encouraged themselves and arrayed for battle again where the have first arrayed. And after inquiring from the Lord, the second day they struck again and also lost 18 000 men who were expert in handling the sword (Judges 20:25). By this time, they had become weak and discouraged but at the same time had faith in God and therefore fasted, prayed, and cried to Him. After inquiring again and receiving an assurance from the Lord that He will at this time deliver the tribe of Benjamin into their hands, they assayed to strike the tribe of Benjamin the third time. But at this time, they had developed another strategy, that would be workable only because of their past defeats. The strategy was setting some men of the tribes of Israel in ambush at Gibeah while the remaining men will go and array themselves against Gibeah just like the previous times. The men of Israel would flee, not because they were being defeated but so they could draw out the men of Gibeah out of their cities that the men in ambush could from behind, set the cities of Gibeah on fire. And so, it happened. The men of Israel who arrayed themselves against Gibeah deliberately retreated as if they were being smitten before the men of Gibeah and consequently drew out the men of Gibeah out of their cities after them. Before the men of Gibeah knew, the whole city was going up in smoke behind them and they could neither go forward nor turn backward but were surrounded and killed while a few escaped into the wilderness, where they were still captured. This victory was possible because of the previous seemingly defeats. The success of the last strategy employed, which granted them victory, was contingent upon the previous strategy they used which resulted in defeat. This tells us that no matter how difficult and unsurmountable a problem is, if we consistently face it strategically it will soon be dealt with. The men of Israel were a consistent strategic team. They never gave up, they did not relent but kept striking until they succeeded in burning down the cites of Gibeah and putting out the men of Benjamin. It does not matter how many times we have failed and lost, those defeats and losses will add to our experience and help us when next we are dealing with the problem. The strategy we have used that seemed to have failed will later be a foundation for the next to be a success. And just like the previous defeats of the men of Israel helped them to eventually overcome the men of Gibeah, so we will overcome and succeed if we are consistent and strategic. Is it not interesting that in their first two fights in which they suffered defeat and loss, they inquired from God and got an approval at each time to go against the tribe of Benjamin? But the Lord was using what we will call a failed and fruitless strategy to set the tribes of Israel up for a victory and success. 

You might have been led by the Lord and you might have obediently carried out His command, and yet it seems you are no different from a failure, do not give up. Whatever you are passing through will be the same reason you will become successful and victorious. Continually seek God’s face, be consistent in fighting and be strategic in your approach. No matter what the machination of the enemies is, you will soon succeed. Learn from your past and use that knowledge to form a formidable strategy against the problem or enemy and you will see yourself coming out successful and victorious. Remember, the consistent strategic team will succeed. 

FAVOUR IS MORE POWERFUL THAN YOUR ABILITIES AND CAPABILITIES

Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. 

Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

The need for skills and abilities, especially in this present world cannot be overemphasized. They are needed to make you productive and relevant, pedestalling you in high places in life. However, although these are very important, they cannot take the place of favour if you are going to be outstanding in life. Having abilities and capabilities and trusting only in them cannot bring about fulfillment. There is little you can achieve only with your abilities. Apparently, abilities and capabilities are meant to be the things needed for one to go far and high in life, the criteria needed to qualify one for a position or any good offer, but actually, this is not so. As a matter of fact, you can have all the necessary and needed skills and still not be regarded or considered by anybody. Whereas, you can be qualified without the required abilities and skills as long as you are favoured. 

What does it mean to be favoured?

To be favoured means to be regarded and paid attention to without any substantial reason. To be made qualified without any qualification. To be favoured also means to be preferred, however not on the basis of abilities and capabilities. And to say that someone is preferred means there are other people over whom they are preferred, therefore favour singles you out among others for recognition and promotion. 

You should not grow your abilities and capabilities and ignore the need for favour. As good as it is to have skills, it can be the reason you will not receive the favour of God. Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes says favour is not given to men of ability. 

“I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favour to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11. Emphasis added).

You do not even need to be a man or woman of ability to be qualified when you are favoured!

 How can one be favoured? 

Favour comes only from God. We, first of all, find favour before God and in turn find it before men. He who God has not favoured cannot be favoured by any man. In 1 Samuel 2:26, we read: 

“Now the boy Samuel was growing in stature and in favour both with the Lord and with men.” 

And also in Luke 2:52, concerning Jesus, we read:

 “And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.” 

You will see that they both grew and increased in favour first with the Lord and then with men. For you to be favoured by any man, you therefore need to have been favoured by the Lord. 

It is of utmost importance to know that it is the favour of God upon your life that will give a silent recommendation of you to people to prefer you to or/and above others, overlooking or without considering both your abilities and inabilities. The favour of God easily and quickly marks you out and separates you from every other person, causing you to be paid due attention and be regarded above all. Taking the case of Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 1:28 as an example, we read

“And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” (KJV. Emphasis added).

Mary, obviously was not the only virgin woman in the land but among every other women of her time, she was blessed and preferred above them because she was favoured. Although others may have the same abilities and capabilities that you have or even more, you are seen as qualified because you are favoured and others are not regarded. From the text quoted above from Ecclesiastes, we know that recognition or promotion is actually not the result of being skillful or abounding with all wisdom and strength. The Bible says in Psalms 75:6-7

“For not from the east, nor from the west, nor from the desert comes exaltation; but God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another.”

Exaltation or promotion does not come from anywhere, not even from your skills. It is God who exalts. He exalts by putting His favour on you. With the coming of His favour on you is the coming of your exaltation from men. 

Just before the Lord would execute His judgment upon man by sending flood upon the face of the earth, He caused Noah to find His favour. Noah, because of the favour of the Lord, was singled out, with his family from those who were destined for destruction. It is true that Noah was a righteous man and others were not, but he could not have been righteous if he had not found favour in the eyes of the Lord. It was made known to us that he found favour before we knew about his righteousness. Genesis 6:8-9 says 

“But Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord. These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.” (Emphasis added). 

Could it also be that when the Lord favours us, He also gives us the necessary and needed abilities and capabilities? Since this is the case, is it not better to go after His favour which will make us to be preferred above all, coupled with the fact that we will be loaded with abilities? When God wants to bless you among every other person on earth, He places His favour on you. So it was with Noah. He was marked out and separated only because he found favour with God. Only the favour of God can single us out among others. Your skills are insufficient to make you recognizable. You need to totally depend on the favour of God and with all your heart,  seek it. 

7 IMPORTANT REASONS YOU NEED TO BE A PASTOR OR BE VERY CLOSE TO YOUR PASTOR

All scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. 

Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

1Timothy 3:1 says 

“It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.”

If there is any work you should desire to do, it should be the work of a pastor. There is no work nobler and more beautiful than the work of a pastor. If at all there is no blessing or any benefit attached to it, the simple fact that a pastor hears from God and declares what he/she hears to God’s people is a blessing great enough. God, speaking to Ezekiel His servant whom He has set to proclaim His Word to His people in Ezekiel 3:17 says 

“Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me.”

What a sacred thing to hear from God! What a great privilege to declare God’s counsel to His people! The Bible calls it a “fine work.” 

There are many beautiful and important reasons you should become a pastor, or at least be close to your pastor and work with him/her. Among these reasons, I have listed seven below:

You are working directly for God. 

There is no better master than God. If there is anybody you should work for, then it should be God. As He is not an austere master but merciful in His relationship with us. Both in the books of Ephesians and Colossians, the Lord shows us how masters should relate with those working under them. Let us take a look at these portions.

Ephesians 6:9

“And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.”

Colossians 4:1

“Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.”

From the first passage, the Lord instructs every master to forbear threatening and in the second passage, He warns them to be just and fair. If the Lord could give such instructions to earthly masters, He would not do less but exceedingly more as your heavenly Master. An earthly master may be unjust and unfair, but the Lord cannot. You will not be threatened or be cheated if you work for God as a pastor or stay close to your pastor to work with him/her. 

You become a steward of the grace of God

God is doing a special work in this new creation. Because of the nature of this work, He has adopted a particular way of accomplishing the task which will definitely be a blessing to whoever has chosen to work for Him. The way he adopted is  committing a stewardship of His grace to anyone who is willing to work for Him. So the person can now dispense the grace of God to the church for her building. 

Ephesians 3:2

“If indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;”

Because of the stewardship given to him, Paul became God’s steward. A steward is a person who manages the property or affairs for another entity. We can say that a steward of God is someone who manages the grace of God for the accomplishing of His work. Paul was such a great steward and we can see how in his letters he was dispensing the grace of God to the church. There is practically nothing that God wants to give His children that will not be through you if you work for Him, because you are in custody of His grace and riches. What a marvelous thing to be a steward and custodian of God’s grace!  

You become the first partake of God’s blessing

This is a principle that can be easily noticed in the Bible. The one through whom a blessing comes should be the first partaker of the blessing. In the case of the Jews, Jesus came through them and therefore must first bless them before any other nation. The Greek woman besought Jesus for the healing of her daughter but He told her He was at that time only sent to the lost sheep of Israel (Mark 7:26,27; Matthew 15:24). Also when He was first sending out His disciples, He sent them only to the lost ship of Israel (Matthew 10:5,6). Although Jesus had come to die as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29), He did not reach out to the world until the children of Israel proved themselves to be unworthy and rejected Him. And just as the water that passes through a channel touches the channel first before reaching out to others, so you enjoy first the blessing of God if you are working for Him. The apostle clearly says in 2 Timothy 2:6

“The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.”

You will walk in great power

Acts 4:33

“And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.”

To completely and successfully accomplish the work you have undertaken, you will need not only to walk in power but in great power. Almost all the apostles were ordinary fishermen before they gave themselves to the Lord, but later walked in great power. There were other disciples who walked in power but to the twelve were great grace  given because of their special work. If they were not given to the preaching of the word of God, they would not have walked in such great power. But the word of God which they preached needed to be confirmed with signs and wonders. 

The lives of Elijah and Elisha are also good examples. We can see in the Bible how many great wonders Elijah wrought to ensure the LORD was served as the only God and then how Elisha who had been working with him also walked in greater power after the translation of his master. It is even written that the dead bones of Elisha raised a dead man (2 Kings 13:21)! 

You will know the ways of God

Psalms 103:7

“He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel.”

It is a glorious thing to know not just the acts and works of God but the ways in which He does them. An ordinary Christian may only be familiar with the works of God but a pastor will be shown how the Spirit of God operates. Jesus says in John 5:20

“For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel.”

The Father shows Jesus everything He does. It should also be noted that aside being a rare privilege in itself, knowing the ways of God according to Jesus, is also a sign that you are intimately loved by the Father. 

Your life is secured

As far as you are working for God, you cannot die untimely. The work itself preserves your life from untimely death. Strength and agility is guaranteed. There are many examples of this in the Bible. Moses, at the time he was dying at the age of 120 was still strong and his natural force had not abated (Deuteronomy 34:7), John the apostle was persecuted so much and was finally exiled in the isle of Patmos that he might die but he instead received the prophecies of what will happen from his time till Christ’s return (Revelation 1:9). Paul, who many times was beaten and stoned but could not also be killed until he finished his course (2 Timothy 4:7). If you work for God, it will be impossible for you to die without fulfilling destiny. 

A great reward awaits you.

Hebrews 6:10 says  

“For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.”

Men may forget to reward you after serving them but God will not because He cannot be unjust. He will not even delay your reward (James 5:4). Towards the end of his days on earth, apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:8

“In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” You can see it  is obviously profitable to serve the Lord because aside the blessing you will receive here on earth, a reward also awaits you in the next world.

Desire to work for God or at least work with your pastor. For in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. In Colossians 4:9-11, apostle Paul listed the names of those who have worked with him and said they were his fellow workers and they were entering the kingdom of God together. Working for God secures your life here on earth and also in the next age. 

THE LIBERAL MENTOR

ACTS 20:20

Paul was to declare the total counsel of God to the ephesians. To accomplish this, his time would be sacrificed and also be required to adopt a particular lifestyle: a lifestyle of humility. But not only was the environment with its judaistic atmosphere unconducive, some of the people he was preaching to were obstinate and full of unbelief. Yet the apostle did not hold back anything that was profitable from them. If we are liberal, nothing will be able to stop us from giving out our all. 

Prayer: Father, help me to give my all.

YOU ARE BORN DEAD: PLEASE GET LIFE!

JOHN 3:3

Having been born by his mother, Nicodemus thought he was alive. He also knew himself, apparently to be a man and a teacher just like Jesus Christ. He, however, realized that he was incapacitated in doing the things Jesus was doing. He came to Jesus for an explanation. Jesus  told him that although he had been born, he was actually dead and needed to be born again to have life. 

You are not living until you begin to do what Jesus was doing. 

Prayer: I receive life by the Spirit today.

GOD IS IN CONTROL AS YOU WAIT FOR AN ANSWER AND HE NEVER MAKES MISTAKE

PSALMS 37:7

The Lord is so gracious! It is true that to God’s warriors, quick-marching is much easier than standing still. But the Lord has chosen for you the time of waiting as the time of rest and not the time to fret. Do not think the Lord is not in control. He is working out your salvation, and in due time He will answer you. Rather, cease the waiting time to rest in Him.

Prayer: Lord, give me the grace to wait on You. 

WHEN MARY VISITED, JESUS HAD GONE FROM THE GRAVE

All scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. 

Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Matthew 28:6

“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.”

Jesus Christ, having completed His work on the cross, said “It is finished!” He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. The horrors He faced are unimaginable. This Son had never been separated from His Father until He hanged on the cross. As we can see, He was not even expected to have died at the time He did. The soldiers had come to break His legs, with the other two thieves’ so they could die and be buried as their bodies could not be left hanging on the cross till the following day. But Jesus was  found dead already. He had been separated and forsaken by His Father- obviously because of our sins which He was bearing and could therefore not be joined with God whose eyes cannot behold sin- and His death was facilitated by that separation! 

Then Joseph of Arimathae, one of the disciples of Jesus, went secretly to seek permission from Pilate to take the body of Jesus for burial. With Nicodemus, Joseph took the body of Jesus and bound Him according to the jewish burial custom. Close to the place He was crucified in Golgotha was a garden that had a grave that no man had ever been laid. And because the sabbath was drawing on apace, they hastened the interment, took the most opportune  place and laid Him there. Mary with the other women saw the grave and how He was laid and returned home to prepare spices for embalming. Now, the chief priests and the Pharisees having heard Jesus, while He was yet alive, saying that three days after His death He will rise again, went to Pilate to receive orders to not only put some guards at the grave of Jesus but also put a seal on the stone covering it so His disciples, as they supposed, would not come and steal His body away to claim He had truly risen again. So was the grave made secure.  

First thing on the first day of the week, Mary came to the grave, while it was still dark, to see the body of her Master. And she saw the stone already taken away from the grave, although it was extremely large. But we read in Matthew 28:2-5 how a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. Entering into the tomb, Mary could not find the body of her Master. She, supposing the body of Jesus had been stolen, ran and came to inform  Simon Peter and John the beloved. They all returned to the grave, Peter and John saw the grave empty and believed her report but returned home confused since none of them understood yet that the scripture says He must rise again. But there is something worthy of note in the grave . We read in John 20:6-7

“And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.”

The careful arrangement of the materials used for His covering did not suggest that the body of Jesus had been stolen, or hurriedly carried away. Jesus having resurrected, had Himself unbound and, probably, tidily folded the materials, and keeping them in their place walked out of the grave alive. 

But Mary, being left alone, stood outside the tomb, weeping. Although her eyes were filled with tears, she could see two angels sitting where Jesus was laid. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” And when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but did not know that it was Jesus. And Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”  But Mary supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” And Jesus said to her, “Mary!” As soon as she heard her name, she turned and said to Jesus in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher)” (John 20:12-16). Mary who was expecting to meet Jesus lying dead in the grave rather met Him alive outside the grave. Jesus had risen from the grave! 

Contained in the words of Jesus to Mary is a great message and blessing: 

"Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’" (John 20:17). Jesus, Who had always been found calling His disciples ‘friends’ was heard here calling them a more intimate name which was only possible because He had risen. We now see, also from other passages of the Bible, that  the resurrection of Jesus procured us some blessings some of which are listed below:

1. God is now our Father and we are His children (John 20:17).

2. We are now the brethren of Jesus, having the same Father with Him (Hebrews 2:11). 

3. We have now obtained redemption and forgiveness because Jesus would be going to the presence of the Father to present His own blood for us (Hebrews 9:12).

4. We are now justified because He was raised for our justification (Romans 4:25). 

5. We are no longer in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:17). 

6. A way has been paved into the Holy of Holies, by Jesus as our Forerunner, so we can also have access into the presence of the Father (Hebrews 6:20).

7. Authority over every power of the devil including death and hades (Matthew 28:18; Revelation 1:19). 

8. Possibility and assurance of our resurrection at the last day (1 Corinthians 15:20).

THE SPRINKLED BLOOD

All scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. 

Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Hebrews 12:24

“And to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.” 

(Emphasis added). 

The first time we heard about blood in the Bible, it was heard speaking or rather, crying:  “He said, ‘What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground...’” (Genesis 4:10. Emphasis added). Now, Adam, with his wife, had sinned and were sent out of the garden of Eden. He then had relations with his wife, gave birth to Cain and afterwards, Abel. In the process of time, these brothers brought each an offering unto the Lord as they had been taught by their father. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain’s countenance fell and became very angry: committing a terrible sin of judging God, and stirring up wrath at His just dealings. However, God would not abandon the sinner to his fate. He reasoned with Cain, trying to show him his evil condition; how sin was crouching at his door and desiring him. God also promised that if an offender repents and acts rightly, he also should be accepted. But this gracious remonstration was a waste. The seed of sin which had been planted in Adam ripened into murder in his eldest son. The Lord was now asking Cain the whereabouts of Abel, although He had full understanding but to give the sinner an opportunity of judging himself and confessing his sin. Cain rather labelled himself a second time with the mark of the serpent by adding lying to murder. “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” Cain replied. So hardened has his heart become that he would deny the truth even before the omniscient God. But the cry of the blood of Abel, voluming up from the ground, was already heard by God and Cain was instantly dragged forth to judgment. Not being able to offer any defence or excuse, God went on to pronounce sentence. A righteous man may be successfully silenced here on earth, but the voice of his blood cannot be repressed in the spiritual realm. It will continue to speak until judgment is meted out just as in the case of Abel. There are a lot of righteous men in the Bible whose blood was spilled and their blood will be charged against this generation says the Lord Himself. Matthew 23:35

“So that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.”

Among all the righteous men that were killed and whose blood was spilled, Jesus was the most righteous. And if the blood of Abel, the son of Adam,  could speak so vengefully, how much more the blood of Jesus, the Son of God? And if it speaks so vengefully, then we all, by now, should be under God’s curse because He was killed by us.  Matthew 27:25 clearly says that “the people said, ‘His blood shall be on us and on our children!’” But all thanks to God, it is not so as with the blood of Jesus! Instead of His blood seeking vengeance, it is seeking forgiveness for us. He rather atoned for the lives of His murderers and their entire generation by offering His blood. Atonement cannot be made without an exchange of lives. With His blood, He literally gave His life for ours. We are told expressly in Leviticus 17:11 that the life of all flesh is in the blood and to make atonement for a soul, a life, that is, its blood must be substituted for the soul. 

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.” This blood is speaking better than the blood of Abel: being the blood of the most righteous Son of God, and speaking forgiveness and not vengeance! There is a part of our heart that speaks to us when an accusation is brought against us in the spiritual realm. And that is our conscience. When this happens, we become unsettled and incapacitated in rendering any spiritual service, and, in most cases, unable to engage in any physical work. The only way out of this is to sprinkle the blood of Jesus. Paul, listing the people we can encounter now that we have come to mount Zion, mentioned the blood as a personal thing to meet, aside the Person of Jesus. Hebrews 12:22,24

“But you have come to mount Zion…and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.” Unfortunately, there are many Christians who do not know or come specially to the sprinkled blood and are therefore incapable of living the life God has destined for them. And there are some who know about the blood but do not sprinkle it. Because it is a sprinkled blood, it must be sprinkled to receive its benefit of purging. In our walk with God, as long as we are still in this world with mortality on us, there will always be the need to sprinkle the blood to have our conscience cleansed. Below are a few of the needs of sprinkling the blood:

1.  To speak for and not against us when any accusation is brought against us thereby releasing us from every condemnation (Hebrews 12:24).

2. To cleanse our heart from a bad conscience so we can boldly draw near to God for fellowship (Hebrews 10:22). 

3. To purge our conscience from dead works so we can comfortably serve the Lord (Hebrews 9:14,15). 

4. To purify and clear our spiritual atmosphere so we can successfully reach up to our Father in heaven (Hebrews 9:23).

5. To keep us from the destroyer (Hebrews 11:28).

The potency of this blood lies in two facts: it is the blood of the most righteous Man and it is the blood of the Son God. And since it is loudly speaking better things for us, let us always sprinkle it to experience its power and efficacy in our lives! 

31 LIFE SECRETS IN PROVERBS 21

1. Do not rebel against authority: do not rebel, even if the authority is unfavorable, for that is condemnable by God. Also, rebellion is evil, and you cannot overcome evil with evil. Therefore, commit such authority into the hands of God Who can direct their hearts, just as He does to the waters, for your favour. 

2. You are not always right: subjectiveness makes you presume that you should be right. But do not think you are right until you have allowed God to try your heart and check your motive. Only God has the authority to decide between what is right and what is not. 

3. Obedience before sacrifice: the Lord is more interested in you carrying out His will than you making undemanded sacrifices for Him, especially when your sacrifices and His commands conflict. Also, you cannot suggest to God how He should act, He already has a way, you are to just obey.

4. Watch the way you are treated: do not take the way you are behandled by others for granted, for through their treatment much of their heart can be revealed to you. The heart can be read on the look, anyone who looks on others disdainfully definitely has a proud heart. And remember, no one can be more wicked than a proud man because he sins in all he does.

5. Be diligent mentally and physically: to live in abundance, you need to be diligent both mentally and physically. To be only diligent mentally, building air castles or to  be only diligent physically, acting without thinking, thoughtlessly and hastily executing every idea leads to poverty.

6. Secure nothing by lying: only the truth endures, any lie and whatever is gotten by it will fleetingly be gone. And since the tongue is the instrument for lying, it will drive the liar to quick destruction because the tongue is the steering that directs the body just as the rudder is used by the pilot to direct the ship. 

7. Do not be unjust: injustice is violent and whoever is unjust in their ways will be destroyed violently.

8. Think rightly to live uprightly: nothing begins outside the heart. Every action originates form the heart. A man with a perverted heart will live crookedly and a man with a pure heart will live uprightly.  

9. Avoid contention: solitude or loneliness coupled with discomfort but with peace is better than a hostile association. 

10. Do not be ruthless: to be ruthless towards others is nothing but desiring evil for them but to be merciful towards people is desiring good for them.

11. Learn by watching and hearing: There are two ways to acquire knowledge: indirectly learning by watching the retributory punishment inflicted on others and directly hearing instructions.

12. The prosperity of the wicked is his destruction: To live in glory, splendour and abundance as a wicked person is only to set yourself in a slippery place that will easily lead to destruction.

13. Always help others: no matter how sufficient and independent you think you are, there will be a time you will need help. But you will only find help if you have ever rendered it to others in time past.

14. Gifts can pacify: is anyone angry with you? Gift them something, and they will be pacified. But ensure you do it secretly or privately so as not to mock the receiver.

15. Be just, to administer justice: to have the authority to administer justice, you must first of all be just. And one of the ways to know a wicked man is his hatred for justice.

16. Ignorance is deadly: ensure you are not ignorant about things but be enlightened to avoid being in darkness. To be in darkness is to be incapacitated and shadowed by death because darkness is the expression of death. 

17. The flesh cannot be satisfied: trying to always gratify the flesh will lead to penury.

18. Evil boomerangs: scheming evil against the righteous is not just futile but can also boomerang. Do not plan evil against people lest you fall into it.

19. Loneliness is better than a strife-ridden company: to be lonely and as well as to be exposed to attacks is better than companying and being secured by one with a quarrelsome and angry disposition.

20. It is better to save than to expend: what is saved today will become a valuable treasure tomorrow, at least, for its ancientness. 

21. Follow after the right things: you will definitely have more than what you desire in your pursuit in life, therefore pursue only good things.

22. Wisdom is better than strength: build yourself more mentally than you will build yourself physically. Mental strength exceeds physical strength.

23. Bridle your tongue: the tongue is the steering of the body, an uncontrolled tongue leads to destruction without remedy. 

24. Pride can manifest as anger: one of the ways pride manifest itself is through anger. The major reason for some wrathful expressions, if properly checked, is rooted in pride. 

25. Put your plans to actions: wishes, desires and plans alone cannot bring prosperity, until they are executed, poverty lingers on. 

26. It is better to give than to receive: do not always want to receive because it leads to greediness. But giving always, without holding back makes one righteous

27. The state of your heart determines the fragrance of your acts: the state of your heart is more important to God than the condition of your sacrificial acts. If your heart is not right with God, your acts become noisome to Him and will be rejected. 

28. It is safer to hear than to speak: do not be quick to speak lest you be found attesting to what you have not witnessed, and that quickly leads to destruction. But first learn how to hear so you can have enough to say. 

29. Foolhardiness does not equal boldness and confidence:  foolhardiness is an actual display of the wickedness in the heart. Only the righteous can exude true confidence because of the assurance in his heart. 

30. Nothing can successfully stand against the Lord: although it may seem He is hindered, He will bring to nought such barrier in a moment. It is now wise of you to stand for God in your motives, thoughts and actions.

31. Preparation is not enough: there will always be a time of battle and therefore, it is necessary to be always prepared. But as good as preparation is, it does not guarantee  victory, only the Lord secures success and victory. 

7 BENEFITS FROM TOTALLY DEPENDING ON JESUS

Unless otherwise stated, all scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. 

Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

John 15:5

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

Jesus Christ expressly says without Him, you can do absolutely nothing. Although it seems you are making accomplishments without Jesus, they will soon become nothing because they lack the reality behind everything that exists. The branch may be able to live after it is disengaged from its vine, but such living is temporary and it is going to wither away if it is not restored to its vine quickly. The only thing that can be done without Jesus is NOTHING. It is therefore expedient to depend on Him if you are going to accomplish anything in life.

Below are some seven benefits from totally depending on Jesus:

1. Direction: 

Jeremiah 10:23

“I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself, nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.”

You were not created with the ability to order your steps. If you do direct yourself, without an external help from Jesus, you will end up in a way which although seems right, leads to destruction. Nobody knows the exact way to take in life to fulfill destiny. There is a cluelessness that has afflicted every mortal and they have therefore become limited in directing themselves. If you are going to find the way that leads to destiny, you will need to seek it outside yourself because it is not in you. That is why the Psalmist tells the Lord in Psalms 16:11: “You will make known to me the path of life” Only Jesus can reveal to you the way that leads to destiny when you depend on Him. Depending on Jesus is the way to fulfilling destiny because He is the Way (John 14:6). 

2. Walking in the Light

John 8:12

“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

To live independently of Jesus is to walk and dwell in darkness. His absence is the presence of darkness. And darkness is the expression of death. But Jesus says He is the Light, and if you depend on Him and follow Him you will not have the darkness of death but the Light of life! Your life will be both enlightened and enlivened. Just as He entered Capernaum, it was said that "the people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light, And those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a Light dawned." (Matthew 4:16). You need to come close and rest on Jesus so that you can experience life and light. 

3. Peace 

Philippians 4:6-7

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Depending on Jesus gives you a kind of peace that surpasses human understanding. Lack of peace can lead to mental illness and consequently a physical breakdown. Nowhere else can this peace be found except in Jesus. And when He sees you depend on Him, He releases into your heart and mind His peace to uphold you. Lack of peace exposes you to the onslaught of the devil, but this peace of the Lord guards your heart and mind. 

4. Authority over the power of darkness 

Luke 10:19

“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.”

There is absolutely nothing that can be done without power on earth. There are many unseen forces that hinder and frustrate humans. To become successful in life, there is definitely need to overcome these powers of darkness.  When you depend on Jesus, He empowers you to break through every hindrance in life. 

These serpents and scorpions are the frustrating agents of the devil, which nobody can subdue. But in Jesus, you have authority over every demonic agents and even over all the power of the devil himself. By trusting in Jesus, you can journey in life without permanently hindered by these unseen forces. 

5. Abundant life

John 10:10

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

If you are going to experience an abundant life, a life that overflows, it is only in Jesus. He came down from heaven to give you this life. The enemy, the devil, who is the thief, only wants to steal away from you and even steal you away from depending on Jesus. But Jesus wants to give unto you. Jesus wants you to have abundance and plenty in every part of your life. He has not destined a beggarly life for whoever trusts and depends on Him. 

6. Promotion 

Psalm 75:6,7

“ For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.” KJV. 

It is the Lord who determines who gets exalted and who gets demoted. When you put your trust in the Lord, He will work everything for your promotion irrespective of your current state. He can “raise the poor from the dust, lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with nobles, and inherit a seat of honor” (1 Samuel 2:8). 

7. Supplies 

Philippians 4:19

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

How innumerable are our needs. On your own, you cannot provide your needs, but the Lord promises to supply ALL. If the animals can depend on Him and get their food every day, how much more will He supply all your needs when you absolutely depend on Him as one created in His image? 

7 WAYS TO BRING OUT THE FLOOD AND FIRE IN YOU

Unless otherwise stated, all scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. 

Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

2 Timothy 1:6

“For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands”

John 7:38

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”

(Emphasis added). 

You are embedded with the power of God and the fire of the Holy Spirit. For this reason was Timothy reminded to kindle what was in him. By kindling it, he would be letting it out. The Lord Jesus also says to His believers that a fount is now in them from where rivers of water will flow out. This fire was put within you to be kindled so as to set you and everything that comes in contact with you on fire. Also, these rivers are supposed to flow out and not to remain in you lest you receive the rebuke given to the man who did not let out what was given to him. His lord called him a “wicked and slothful servant” (Matthew 25:26, KJV). 

Then, how do you kindle this fire to set aflame everything around you? How do you let out these rivers to completely flood your territory? 

1. Bible Study 

Jeremiah 20:9

“Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.”  (KJV) 

Through frequent study of the word, the Holy Spirit will infuse the fiery word into your spirit and soul and set you aflame. When you are inflamed, you will not be able to contain it and it will therefore come out of you. Prophet Jeremiah was so filled with the word that even when he wanted to be quiet, the word was like a burning fire in his bones and he could not hold it in. 

2. Prayer

Acts 2:42-43

“They were continually devoting…to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.”

These people were ordinary people who have just received some cloven tongues of fire. But because they gave themselves continually and steadfastly to prayers, they soon flooded the whole territory with the presence of God and a holy awe. The impact of what came out of them was felt not only by the people around them but also by the powers of darkness as they wrought many signs and wonders.

3. Faith 

Matthew 17:20

“And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.”

Hebrews 11:6 says “And without faith it is impossible.” There is practically nothing that can be possible without faith. The disciples, though having received authority from Jesus, could not cast out the demon from the young boy. The fire was in them but they could not set on fire that which was around them. And when Jesus arrived, He cast out the demon from the boy and was cured at once. The disciples questioned Him why they could not cast the demon out and they were told it was because of their faithlessness. You need faith to release what is in you. 

4. Fasting

Matthew 17:21

“But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

In addition to prayer, you need to fast. The disciples were struggling with the demon and could not cast it out. They were powerless before it and could not at all bring about any positive effect but Jesus, with one word, drove out the demon. He then also revealed to the disciples that they needed to fast in addition to their prayers.

When you fast, every obstruction to the outflow of the rivers inside you will be cleared and everything that can quench your fire is made quiet and incapacitated.

5. Obedience 

1 Thessalonians 5:19

“Do not quench the Spirit.”

Disobeying God is tantamount to quenching His Spirit Who is the Source of the fire and the Fountain of the rivers in you. When you walk in disobedience, the well in you will no longer spring up and there will be nothing to let out. But when you walk in obedience, the well will not only spring up but spring up to the point of overflow.

6. Fellowship

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

It is imperative you fellowship with other believers. Timothy could not even have been reminded to fan into flame his fire if he was not having fellowship with Paul. You will be able to easily know your capacity and also outbring what is in you. And there is a great tendency that if you are alone, you will become lethargic and lukewarm. But in fellowship with others, your gifts are sharpened and your desire to deliver is whetted. 

7. Evangelism 

Mark 16:15,17-18

“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’”

The power of the Holy Spirit in you will not flow out if you do not go out to preach the gospel. An outflow of power and fire of the Holy Spirit is the sign given to identify those who preach the gospel. If you are not a preacher, there will be no need for this sign to accompany you. Be a preacher of the gospel and the fire in you will be let out effortlessly to enlarge the kingdom of God.

5 KEY INFORMATION FROM LUKE 17

All scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. 

Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Be On Your Guard Against Stumbling Blocks: a stumbling block is any person or thing by which one is drawn into error or sin and thus, entrapped. Jesus Christ clearly makes it known that there will always be a person that will entrap you as a believer. And it would have been better for such person who is a stumbling block to perish, than to cause a believer in Christ to fall into unbelief or sin. Therefore, anyone who is a stumbling block should rather perish alone, than to make another person perish with him. This means that a stumbling block is already destined for destruction. Also the possibility of meeting with a stumbling block, almost always, should always make you be on your guard. And while on your guard, you meet with any, rebuke and correct him. If he repents, forgive him and you will have as well delivered him from his destruction. Being on your guard against stumbling blocks will save your life and possibly also deliver the person who is a stumbling block from destruction.

You Do Not Need A Big Faith: the disciples cried “Increase our faith!” Jesus Christ quietly answered them that they actually do not need a big faith. Faith is a seed furnished upon the heart by the Holy Spirit. And it does not matter the size of this seed, as long as it is the breath of the Holy Spirit, it can grow into a big tree of reality if spoken out. The size of a tree is not determined by the size of the seed. The mustard seed to which Jesus Christ likens faith, as a matter of fact, is a very small seed but grows to become a very big tree. You grow your small seed of faith into a big tree of reality when you give a command by it. Do not wait to have a big faith, or ‘feel’ powerful, before you attend to situations. Only ensure you have faith, even if it is as small as a grain, and you will move mountains, even physical ones.

Do Not Expect A Commendation: some, thinking because they have worked for God, He is therefore under obligation to appreciate them. Of course, God does appreciate, but it is not your entitlement. Who compliments a slave for doing what he ought to do? It is pride that makes one expect a commendation. If you see yourself as who you truly are, you will not expect any compliment. Expecting an appreciation means you do not know your responsibility. Apostle Paul captures this explicitly in 1 Corinthians 9:17-18

“For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.”

So, his reward was the work he was entrusted with. Do no look for any commendation again, serving God itself is a commendation. The service of God is a noble one, and nobody is worthy to be enlisted therein. It is a great privilege to serve Him in His kingdom. It does not matter what you have done, or how much you have wrought, know that “you are an unworthy slave; you have done only that which you ought to have done.”

Ungratefulness Is A Sign of Faithlessness: if at anytime God gives you a blessing, which instantly does not manifest physically, thank Him. Failure to thank Him actually means you do not believe His word. Out of the ten lepers who were cleansed, only one returned to thank Jesus. The rest, since they had not gotten to the priest who would confirm them healed, just like a physician does, did not believe they had been actually cleansed. So they did not return to give thanks. They consequently lost there healing because they lost their faith. After the one, who was a stranger, returned and worshipped, Jesus told him "stand up and go; your faith has made you well." So only the one who gave thanks was known to have faith, and was therefore made well by his faith. Anyone who does not give thanks does not have faith, and therefore cannot receive anything from God. James says concerning such person that he “is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:6-8). 

Also watch against getting too familiar with God. The only leper who returned to give thanks was the only stranger amongst the ten. The rest were of the same nationality with Jesus. 

The Characteristics of Noah’s Time And Lot’s Time Will  Be The Same With Jesus’ Time: Jesus Christ told His disciples the things that will be prominent on earth by the time He will be returning to the earth to establish His everlasting kingdom. By the prominence of these events now, you can know if His coming is near or not. Some of the striking activities were EATING, DRINKING, MARRYING and BEING GIVEN IN MARRIAGE, BUYING, SELLING, PLANTING and BUILDING. Now the great question is, Are they more universally characteristics of this epoch than of any other? The obvious answer is YES! These are the major activities that the whole world is presently preoccupied with. Now if the present times are only beginning to take the form of those of Noah and Lot, they send forth a sharp cry of warning, admonishing us to stand with our loins girded about and our lamps burning, waiting for the summons of the Lord.