GRACE, THE TOMB RAIDER

John 11:34-36 (NLT) 34 “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!”

Truly, Lazarus epitomizes the depraved state of  the fallen race. Our depraved state, compelled a loving God to leave Heaven to come to our Bethany (World) of hopelessness, pain, and predicament, to rescue us and bring us to the status of divinity – a new life derived from a relationship with Him.
Scripture records that when Lazarus was seriously ill his sisters sent word to Jesus saying; “Lord, the one you love is sick.” Jesus, the friend of Lazarus did not respond ASAP but waited for two more days, and within this period, death laid its icy hands on Lazarus. Jesus love for Martha, Mary and their brother was extravagant, yet He didn’t come when they expected Him but rather came to Bethany when in man’s timing; it was too late. Its, not too late for none in this world, as the blood of Jesus still speaks of His redemptive purpose, towards human race, sitting in gloomy darkness.
God always set His plan in motion; a plan higher and loftier than we can imagine with our peanut minds. It may seem like heaven is on vacation sometimes, when we so badly need God. Friend, you can rest assured in the loveliness of God; He will always show up when we least expect., even at the dead-end of the tomb.
Where have you put Him? This is a probe into the core of the state and condition of the man, whom God created in the very image and likeness of God. When Jesus asked Martha and Mary as to the whereabouts of Lazarus, the guy He loved so much. There was urgency in Jesus steps to reach out to falling man, (so to speak) and snatch him from the power of death; which was a picture of our sinful state. As He drew near, His goal was to show to man, heavens agenda to bring man (Sinner) back to the state of newness of life, as God intended from the beginning of creation.

                       ” To have dominion but not dominated by death, and its derivatives”

He was moved with compassion, and was also indignant in His spirit on how low man has fallen from the status of God’s identity, to being caged in the prison of death. He was standing on ground zero, witnessing the devastating work of Lucifer against humanity.
Where are you my friend? Alive, dead or contained in a dark dungeon, without any sense of hope, purpose and direction! There are answers, in Christ Jesus. The God who came to rescue the dead and the depraved is still at work, loving and bringing life to dead situations. Jesus came to our dead-end to show the character of God; a being who can start all over again with you. He pull us from our wits ends and place us again at the starting line, with fresh legs and a new heart to run the race of life with a new identity and meaning. hallelujah!
Jesus Wept; He found Himself face to face with the works of Satan’s kingdom; an activity of the changed state of the family of the human race, which Lazarus scenario epitomize. Death, was not part of the plan; man sold His identity through the first Adam. He couldn’t control His anger towards the Devil and His deepest emotion of love towards humanity. No wonder, all the people who have come to console Martha and Mary, sensed His deep affection for the Lazarus family. They saw Love (Jesus) and felt Love (God) has come to the place where there was no sense of love, but fear and rejection. They exclaimed in unison “See how He loved him” Grace goes to where we least expect…the tomb to shine all of His goodness upon the undeserved. Jesus did not love Lazarus or her sisters because they were “sponsors” of His ministry, He love them because He is love. We did not merit His love because of our works.

“The world is witnessing the incredible love of Jesus in an unusual way. What we are seeing in this end time about the loveliness of God, is prophetic. Many are being delivered from shame, guilt, condemnation, sin, sickness into total life of prosperity, in its purest beauty”

This is love at work, and it’s not your love for Him, but His love for you. When you grasped His love; your appetite to love Him is awesome, and it affects all that you do in life. God is not just a diffuser of love; He is by nature, love. This means wherever God is; love becomes the fluid that lubricates impossible circumstances, to awaken boldness, faith, restoration etc. which are all a residue of His life imparted to us, so we can face tomorrow with peace and certainty.
1 John 4:16-18 (NLT) 16 We know how much God loves us 17 And as we live in God, our love grows perfect.”   17 And as we live in God, our love grows perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. 18 Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

Now, focus on the love of God towards you as you consciously meditate on Jesus presence in your dead situation, to give you life and hope. Don’t wait for somebody to point you to how impossible your situation is, but rather speak, confess and declare to yourself; “I am loved and dearly accepted by Jesus today for resurrection, healing, salvation; I boldly declare that, I am wired to function in the capacity of the quality life, on this side of eternity”

This love is irrevocable, magnificent, irresistible good; There is nothing you can do to make God love you less or love you more. This understanding will cause you to sit back and own it when even you are in the grave of sin, you can be forgiven, healed and restored to live freely again, in the land of the living. Remember, this old Sunday school song;

Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
For the Bible tells me so

“My friend see how He loves you and watch this same love, expel all your fears and doubts, today.  Our God is love”

- McDaniels Gyamfi

39.111698 -77.570396

7 Pillars of Wisdom Patr 1

7 Pillars of Wisdom Pt. 2

YOU HAVE GOD AND GOD HAVE YOU!

DAILY MEDITATION

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore, I shall see my desire on those who hate me. Psalm 118:6-7

BIBLE READING

Psalm 118, Isaiah 49:16

REFLECTIONS

“When you don’t know what you have and who got your back, you always walk through this treacherous terrain of life with un certainties and emptiness in your soul”.

It is very unfortunate how religion has been able to corrupt and condition our minds through our belief systems and twisted concepts of who God is and our position in Him as believers. Do you know that many believers are still trying hard every day of their life in their Christian journey to earn God’s love and His power on their behalf to prosper in every sphere of life?

 

When you don’t know what you have and who got your back you always walk through this treacherous terrain of life with uncertainties and emptiness in your soul. My friend, through the finish work of Christ on the cross, you have crossover from being a wanderer in obscurity into the Fathers embrace with abundance of love and grace to help you through life difficulties.

 

Do you know that, you don’t only have God, But God have you in the palm of His hands till eternity? Hear Him and take His word to heart; Isaiah 49:16 “Behold, I have engraved you upon the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me”. You are in God’s hands. Your whole life is engraved and encoded into the very image of God. He is in you to make the difference whiles you trust Him by faith to appropriate this awesome blessings. In the midst of adversity and rejection from men, David understood the secret of his relationship with Jehovah and therefore could affirm on the positive Psalm 118:6a “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear”. Be conscious of what you have and not what is trying to have you under bondage. When you through faith get hold of His promise to never leave you nor forsake you irrespective of your condition and how far you’ve drown your life in the sea of forgetfulness into the depth of your heart, fear loses its hold and effects on you.
     Your enemies to your progress are not far from you, they might be found in your own pocket. All they can do is to distract you from pursuing your God given dreams and stop you on your tracks. Set your face like a flint and run the race. What can man do to me? Think about it, they can do all the crazy stuff yet you don’t get moved nor be fazed by their doings because you are perfectly perfect in Christ and completely complete in Him to fill the vacuum man will try to create through their mischievous acts. Reject me, hate me, disown me, tarnish my image and what have you – God restores, refresh, and grant rest through it all. That must be your attitude so that you don’t die before your time in the face of your enemies. Square your shoulders, rise up from the pity party, put a smile on your face and a little swagger on your walk and pursue your God given assignment in life.

Are you a leader going through difficult times in the hands of people whom you’ve helped and yet now they pushing you down into muddy waters and you feel so much embittered? Keep your head up and see the salvation of the Lord. Help is here, don’t give up the fight. Yes, the LORD is for me; he will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me. (Psalm 118:7 NLT)
Yes, you have enemies but your help in Jesus to overcome and see the dreams and desires come to reality far outweigh the weight of the enemies baggage.

EXPONENTIAL BREAKTHROUGH PRAYERS

1. In the name of Jesus Christ I refuse to give up and give in to my enemies who multiplied themselves against me.

2. I take authority over every evil spell of fear over my mind and release by faith the soundness of heart and peace in my born again spirit.

3. I activate the helping hand of God by faith in the name of Jesus Christ to continue through those who have been released to help me to be loyal and dedicated to the will of God in my life.

MY PROPHETIC WORD

• I walk in the counsel of Jehovah and therefore outwit my enemies by.

• I see the desires of my heart in the face of my enemies. • God is on my side and therefore I walk into my destiny with courage and hope.

• I walk in the counsel of Jehovah and therefore outwit my enemies by the virtue of His manifold grace towards.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Be conscious of what you have and not what is trying to have you under

WISODM

Why do most people resent wise counselors when they deeply know what they hearing make sense, but rather they easily connect with negative people and talk trash about their mentors

THE TRUTH, FREES

The truth does not hurt but rather sets free. The truth shakes the very foundation of our very life, this stirring makes us uncomfortable when it so much places a demand or a response from our end. That is what hurt most of us
- McGyamfi

What Others Have Said about Christ

In the last years of his life, the German dramatist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote, "If ever the Divine appeared on earth, it was in the person of Christ."
The Russian novelist and philosopher Fyodor Dostoevsky said, "Even those who have renounced Christianity and attack it, in their inmost being still follow the Christian ideal, for hitherto neither their subtlety nor the ardor of their hearts has been able to create a higher ideal of man and of virtue than the ideal given by Christ of old. When it has been attempted, the result has been only grotesque."
Dr. Charles Malik of Lebanon, former president of the United Nations General Assembly, said, "I really do not know what will remain of civilization and history if the accumulated influence of Christ, both direct and indirect, is eradicated from literature, art, practical dealings, moral standards and creativeness in the different activities of mind and spirit."
Napoleon Bonaparte, the famous French general, said during his exile, "I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world, there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for him."
Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States of America and principal author of the Declaration of Independence, said, "Of all the systems of morality, ancient and modern, which have come under my observation, none appear to me so pure as that of Jesus."

THE TEST OF GRACE

I once heard a preacher say that “80 to 90% of Christians are unacquainted with the gospel of grace.” I guess this estimate is not far off the mark as evidenced by the large numbers of believers who are still trying to earn what God has freely given them. If you were to ask these people about grace they would declare, “yes, I am saved by grace! I thank God for His grace!” But by their works they testify that God’s grace is not enough. Grace may have got them started, but now it’s up to them to finish. Having begun with the Spirit they are now trying to attain their goal by human effort (Gal 3:3). Instead of working out what it means to be saved, they are working hard to stay saved.
How does this happen? Usually someone tells them that God won’t accept them or bless them or be pleased with them unless they perform for Jesus. Dead religious works are sold with respectable labels like “responsibility,” “good works,” “mission,” “sowing,” and “investing.” I am not against these things! What I am opposed to is the diabolical lie that says God’s favor depends on me doing them.
Do you know that you are saved by grace and kept by grace?

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him.” (Col 2:6)

How did you receive Him? By faith. How should you continue to live in Him? By faith! It’s faith in God’s grace from start to finish. Are you living by the faith of the Son of God? Or have you taken out a little works insurance? As Watchman Nee put it, the choice is between trying and trusting. You can try or you can trust but you can’t do both. Are you a tryer or a truster?
I have proclaimed the true gospel elsewhere. I have also listed some of the common ways the gospel is perverted along with some signs that you might be living under self-imposed law. What I want to give you here is a simple test to help you determine whether the gospel message you’re trusting in is the same gospel that Jesus revealed and Paul preached. It’s a simple test. Just ask yourself the following four questions. If your answers are all yes, then rejoice, for you are living on pure, undiluted grace!
1.    Does this gospel cause me to fix my eyes exclusively on Jesus?

Does this message focus on me or does it cause me to fix my eyes on the Author and Finisher of my faith? Does it emphasize what I’m doing (or not doing), or does it emphasize His finished work on the cross? Does it make me introspective and anxious or Christ-conscious and grateful?

A true gospel preacher will always seek to reveal more and more of Jesus. It took me years to realize this. When I began preaching in the 1990s, I used to preach on the kingdom. I loved the kingdom and I still do. But I now realize that my love for the kingdom was really a love for the King. Now I just preach of this Great King who loves me and gave Himself for me. Now I just preach Jesus.

Preachers, do you need a message on healing? Then preach Jesus! Do you need a series on overcoming, giving, wisdom, holiness, faith, warfare, marriage, family life, outreach, helping the poor, deliverance, Leviticus, the Tabernacle, etc? Then preach Jesus!

Whatever your need, your answer is found in Jesus and His finished work. That’s why Paul resolved to know nothing but “Christ and Him crucified” (1 Co 2:2). Any message that doesn’t reveal Jesus will likely be powerless substitute, a flesh-trip, and a wasted opportunity. Jesus is the supreme manifestation of the character and purpose of God. Any message that diminishes Jesus, insults the Spirit of grace. Jesus is peerless and nothing compares to Him. He has become for us wisdom from God and I will boast (preach) of nothing else (1 Co 1:30-31).

2.    Does this gospel increase my dependence on Jesus?

Jesus said, “apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). Sadly, much is being done apart from Jesus and most of it will amount to nothing! Instead of healing the sick, raising the dead and driving out demons – the very things Jesus said His followers would do – we’re doing other stuff. And because we’re so busy doing other stuff we’re worn out and missing opportunities to do the works and greater works of Jesus.

Let me put your mind at rest right now: I guarantee that in your own strength you cannot heal the sick and raise the dead. Don’t even try. But Christ in you can do these and greater things! Do you trust Him? Working out your salvation with fear and trembling describes the adventure of learning to do impossible things with Jesus. Here’s the test: The true gospel will always inspire you to take risks in His Name, but a false gospel promotes activity in your own name.

3.    Does this gospel empower me to overcome sin?

There are two ways to deal with sin; (1) preach law or (2) reveal grace. A law-based message will stir up the flesh in a human-powered quest for a change in behavior. This approach is inherently flawed for the purpose of the law is to inflame sin (Rm 7:5). Thus, any “success” with this approach will only lead to the graver sins of pride, self-righteousness, and the truly fatal sin of unbelief in the grace of a good God. Ultimately the law is powerless to deal with sin because it leaves the heart untouched (Col 2:23). Worse, it releases condemnation (which some mistake for conviction) and ministers death, just as it was designed to do (2 Co 3:7,9).

Grace declares that Jesus conquered all sin on the cross (He 9:26). You are not holy because of your behavior but His (1 Co 1:30). A preacher of grace will deal very practically with sin by seeking to reveal your true identity in Christ. You are a new creation with a new nature. Your old sin software has been nailed to the cross and you are no longer sin’s slave (Rm 6:6,20). Appetites are dealt with by recognizing who you are in Christ and reckoning your old self as dead. Again, the focus is on Jesus, not you. Jesus was tempted in every way yet was without sin. As you rest in Him, you will find grace to help you in your time of need (Heb 4:15-16).

The law does not provide useful guidelines for Christian living. We turn rules into idols when we put our faith in them instead of Christ. The Bible is very clear; the law empowers sin (1 Cor 15:56) and only a revelation of God’s grace can teach us to say no to ungodliness (Tit 2:12). Here’s the test: a false gospel will keep you sin-conscious, but the true gospel will make you Christ-conscious. Which describes you? Are you sin-conscious or Christ-conscious?

4.    Does this gospel release peace and joy?

The kingdom of heaven is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rm 14:17). If the gospel you’re listening to doesn’t reveal Jesus and the gift of His righteousness, then you will never experience the peace and joy that comes with it. It really is all about Jesus. He took our sin and gave us His righteousness (2 Co 5:21). This is what the gospel reveals – a righteousness from God that is received by faith from first to last (Rm 1:17). When you know that God has made you as righteous as Jesus, you will be empowered to reign in life (Rm 5:17).

This test is actually about righteousness: Are you resting in His or are you trying to impress Him with yours? A false gospel will seek to manufacture righteousness through works and holy living. By prescribing a course of action for you to take, it will instantly fail the above three tests. It will burden you with loads you cannot carry and expectations you cannot live up to. Before you know it, you will be as stressed and joyless as Martha.

Here’s the test. If you stopped doing the things you are doing for Jesus, would you feel guilty? What if you sinned, stopped giving, or skipped church? I’m not encouraging you to do any of these things – sin is stupid. But someone who knows they are clothed with His righteousness will never battle guilt and condemnation. Even when they sin they will sense the Holy Spirit convicting them of their continued righteousness in Christ (Jn 16:10). Conversely, one who’s bought into a false gospel will never know lasting peace. Even when they’ve performed there will always be a sense of “but have I done enough?”

Paul began every one of his letters with the phrase, “Grace and peace to you from God the Father.” It is only a revelation of God’s favor that brings true peace. Know grace, know peace. Worldly peace is temporary, but the peace of God – that sense that everything is coming together for good because you belong to Jesus and His favor rests on you – passes understanding (Php 4:7). It fortifies your heart and mind so that in all circumstances you find yourself overflowing with thankfulness (Col 2:7). No matter how severe your trial, you will be able to find rest – indeed, even joy – in His mighty, loving arms (Php 4:4).

So how did your gospel do? If you honestly answered no to any of these four questions, then I have Good News for you.
http://www.escapetoreality.org/

Thank You Jesus

Thank you Jesus was in the past used by the Church religiously without conviction and understanding. It now means a lot to me. When I shout it to the heavens or I silently say it in my Spirit, it means a lot to me to have a saviour who loves me and not only me but the world at large sooooooooo much. Thank you Jesus, and this time I mean it, not just playing with words.

WHAT'S YOUR SMELL

2 Corinthians 2:14-15 (New King James Version)

¹⁴ Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. ¹⁵ For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing

"Deodorant.  Soap.  Body Wash.  Perfume.  Cologne.  All of these items and many more make up a billion dollar industry focused on one thing, making sure we don’t smell bad.  Our culture has an obsession with how we smell.  No one wants to smell bad, if we are going to smell we want it to something pleasing to ourselves and others.  The Apostle Paul picks up on this idea in the verse above explaining how we are to “smell” as ambassadors of Christ".

In the hands of a loving father is the representatives of Jesus Christ on earth. Picture yourself as a cologne called "Loveliness Of Christ" and He cherishing you every minute and diffusing, displaying His love, power, creativity, talents, giftings, wisdom and what have you into our society. Men! the world will be a better place. We are to be a cologne for Him in our communities, schools, homes, churches and the uttermost part of the world. When we are empty of Christ and full of self and carnality we become undiffusable and clogged.

How will you feel after you bought an expensive brand name cologne and to your surprise the content of the perfume smell way different and kind of stinky to you and frinds. We are new creation in Christ Jesus, the old things has passed away and behold everything has become new. All that you need to impact your world is in your born again Spirit. You are full of Christ and continue in that fullness when you daily feed on His strength and embrace His presence to change our stinking world. You cannot diffuse what you have not receive.

We have no fragrance in our self to change anything, We are living on a borrowed fragrance - Christ. The excellency, beauty, loveliness of Christ is displayed in our lives. In that regard, we are all qualified to be used in this end time for our God. What's your smell, friend. No matter how badly you smell, you have evry opportunity to refresh your life in the power of God unconditional love and grace.

Let's touch every corner of our world by spreading the fragrance of the person of Christ and the loveliness of His finish work on the cross of calvary.

PAUL ELLIS @ ESCAPE TO REALITY.ORG

How do you know God’s love is unconditional? The phrase ‘unconditional love’ is not in the Bible!” This is a fair question that cuts right to the heart of the grace message. Grace says that God loves us with no strings attached but do a quick scan of the Bible and you will find that sometimes there are strings attached to the love of God. In one passage, God refers to Himself as a jealous God who loves those who love Him but punishes those who don’t (Ex 20:5-6).
And yet despite these few passages that say otherwise (I will address these in my next post) I am 100% convinced that God loves us unconditionally. You need to be 100% convinced too. So let me give you seven reasons for concluding that God loves you unconditionally:
(1) Love, by definition, is unconditional

“God is love (agape).” (1 Jn 4:16)

You probably know about the different words for love in the Greek language. You might even know that agape-love refers to “unconditional, self-sacrificing, and active” love. But did you know that agape love is unique to God? It is not a human form of love. If your experience of love is limited to what you have received from people, chances are you have encountered frail love that sometimes comes with expectations and baggage. But God’s love is not like this. As we will see, His love is unlike anything found in this world.
(2) Jesus demonstrates unconditional love

“But God demonstrates His own (agape) love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8)

If you want to know what agape love looks like, consider Jesus. “For God so agapao-ed the world, that He gave His only Son…” (Jn 3:16). We did not deserve to be saved, yet He came for us regardless. That He died for us shows us that God loves us more than He loves His own life. We had done nothing to attract Him. We had not even repented. Yet our Creator hung on the cross that we put Him on and forgave us as we killed Him. The cross is the single greatest demonstration of unconditional love the world has ever known.
(3) God’s love is immeasurable

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the (agape) love of Christ, and to know this (agape) love that surpasses knowledge…” (Eph 3:17-19)

When Paul wrote these words he knew full well that he was asking us to do the impossible. You cannot grasp the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love – they are ungraspable! Nevertheless Paul encouraged us to “Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights!” as Eugene Petersen says, because if you had even the smallest glimpse of how much He loves you, you would be undone. Selfishness and dead religion would wither. Your accomplishments and qualifications you would cheerfully count as rubbish compared to the awesome privilege and surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus your Lord.
(4) God’s love keeps no record of wrongs

“(Agape-love) is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it…” (1 Cor 13:5, AMP)

Jesus knew the name of every soldier who beat Him, every person who mocked Him, and every Pharisee who thought He was the devil. Yet He still went to the cross so that they might be reconciled to God. It was as if God was not counting their sins against them! He wasn’t, and neither is He counting yours (2 Co 5:19). On the cross, justice had a meeting with unconditional love and your peace with God was secured. Your transgressions have been blotted out as if you’d never done them (Is 43:25). Because God the Son bled for you, both God the Father and God the Holy Spirit have gone on record saying they will remember your sins no more (He 8:12, 10:17).
(5) God’s love endures

“Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].” (1 Cor 13:5-8, AMP)

You can take the love of God and nail it to a cross and He will still love you enough to come back from the dead and hunt you down just to tell you that He’s forgiven you and loves you and wants to be with you forever. Who does that?! Only God.
(6) God’s love is everlasting

“The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.’” (Jer 31:3)

Now there’s a quote that should be on the wall of every believer! The Hebrew word hesed, which denotes steadfast love, warm-hearted generosity, and devotion, and which is usually translated as loving-kindness, appears 250 times in the Old Testament. As Malcolm Smith explains, this word captures God’s heart towards us and is revealed formally in the covenant He made with us through our representative Jesus. So even if it were possible for God to have a change of heart and stop loving you, He would be bound by covenant to continue loving you for as long Jesus lives.
(7) God loves the unlovely
Perhaps you think God can’t love you because of all the bad stuff you’ve done. If you’re still not convinced that He loves you with an unconditional love, then consider those He loved in the Bible. He loved an adulterer and murderer called David. He pursued a persecuting Pharisee named Saul. When He wanted to portray His love for Israel He told the prophet Hosea to marry and love an unfaithful woman. When He walked the earth in human form He developed a reputation as a friend of sinners and told stories about prodigals who were loved even though they had done nothing deserving of love. He loved lepers and Gentiles, thieving tax-collectors and stinkin’ Samaritans. At this point you really should stop and ask yourself why?
Why does God love us?
We have seen from scripture that His love for us has nothing to do with our loveliness nor our behavior, whether good or bad. He simply loves us because He is love and it’s His nature to love. And thank God this is so, for there is no hope except that He loves us. If He did not love us unconditionally, He would not have died for us and there would be no new covenant based on His grace. But He does and He did and there is!
This is the good news that the whole world needs to hear.

The Bad News Preacher

Why is it that some people seem to get more excited about our shortcomings than they do about God’s goodness? I’m really not that interesting. I don’t know why you’d want to talk about me that much. But my Father – wow! Where do I start? He’s altogether amazing…

THE ANOINTING TO STAY PRODUCTIVE

I don't do nothing in this life without taking my productive vitamins. Thank God almighty I'm addicted and hooked up on grace gel" You want some, come get some...

I have seen and heard so many awkward and weird methods being propounded by the Church and ministers of the gospel for desperate Christians in their earnest desire to prosper. Back in the days, I and most of my friends were honestly chasing the anointing" any means any how" So desperate and hungry for God but lack in the knwledge. They will tell stuff like, If you want to hear God's voice pour anointing oil into your ear drum in the morning, anoint your toes in the afternoon, bath some in the evening and anoint your bible.(My faith was always in that Dinol Oil) And men, we went home and did that but could not hear anything.So mad an angry, we searched for other options. I could hear your sigh, either you were once doing this or still doing this maybe in a different way. Don't feel guilty and ashamed, there is a way out.





You cannot work for anything that Christ has already paid the price. Jesus did not only paid the price for our sins. Every good and perfect gift comes to us through the manifold grace of God.Even though it is good to pray - You cannot use your prayer as a form of work and activity to convince God to release heaven on you. Prayer should be a means to fellowship and an intense romance with our heavenly father.





 I believe in the anointing oil and use oil myself but some of the stuff were so weird. Women who were looking for children were told to put eggs into a bowl of wine for seven days and then boil it and share with the husband for fertility in the womb. I believe in tokens and symbols but there is nothing like truly holding on to the word of God. The church then was in an extreme wilderness but little did we know then because we were naive. Now, the Church has taken it to a higher dimension of spiritual extremity by concocting formulas that was formerlly in the syncretic churches (Sunsum Sore, Awoyo)





Motivational speakers also gain an inroad into the Church with charisma and self centered inspiration like "Yes I can" slogans and self affirmations that stirs the passion of pride in thinking that your destiny is in your own hands. It is so stupid to think that without God you can manuever your own destiny. The danger in this form of religion of "I can and I will, I will make it" takes christ from the center stage of our hearts and pride is always the fruit of self centeredness.





The power to be productive and stay productive is in Christ. Christ  ~ greek Christos= The Anointed one. You can do all things through Christ and His anointing that empowers you to prosper or be productive. To strengthen literary from the greek word endunamoo = to be strong, endue with strength, to receive strength, be strengthened, increase in strength. Abraham and Sarah did not need the anointing to preach nor prophesy but were endued with power to be productive because he Abraham did not look at Sarah's dead womb nor his weakling waist but gave praise to God. What was he doing - He was feeding on the strength of the anointed one and His anointing and voila Isaac was born.



Jesus does not only strengthen us, He is your strength, creativity, wisdom, health and what have you. He is all in all and all that you need to have the better life.

When you begin to stay in His presence, He rubs of Himself and smear your life with the fulness of Himself. You probably asking, Pastor McDaniels will that bring me more sales and put food on my table? You sure have asked a good question. You see, the more you feed on His abilities on your behalf, you position yourself for an uncommon favor to attract customers and receive bussiness ideas that your competitors have no idea. Don't forget He is your supplier and shepherd.He open doors for you from unexpected source.



Philippians 4:19 (New King James Version)



19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.



Psalm 23:1 (New King James Version)

 1 The LORD is my shepherd;

 I shall not want.



 God's riches are inexhaustible. They don't run dry neither does it run out. Whatever you need today you can bank it in Christ. He loves you and want to prosper your hand. Don't be a statistic to the hungry and desperate wolfs with sheep clothings.They pounce on the innocent and the ignoble. Stay in the word be constant at your local Church and embrace God's unearned, undeserved favor that is available for you, to live victoriously without sweat.



Take your "I can do all things through Christ Vitamin everyday" in confident belive that He is with you to prosper you and mantain you in that state of blessing. Speak to every cell in your body to respond to the anointing of the Christos for longevity and health.







EMBRACE GOD'S LOVE FOR YOU

Romans 8:32-35 (New King James Version)

³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

It is one thing to know that God is love and another thing to know that He loves you and in liberty walking with your head up and a smile on your face glidding in this favor everyday. We need to renew our minds by embracing this truth in scripture. God loves you unconditionally, period.

Condemnation is the greatest weapon satan uses against so many believers. It is sometimes very difficult on the part of certain section of the Church of Jesus Christ to walk in this truth. Romans 8:1 lay a srong emphasis on this truth "There is therefore NOW no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" No ccondemnation means God will not remember your sins and iniquities anymore. As far as the east is from the west, so far has God blot out our transgressions away. If you will embrace God's word of no condemnation of your mistakes, you will learn to walk without guilt, shame, powerlessness in life.

Nothing on this earth can separate us from the love that God have for His children. He loves you unconditionally and therefore will not let anything to block the flow and the current of His love on you. You are loved and accepted in the beloved. Walk in the confidence of knowing that you have a God who loves you when even life situations even don't match up with His promise of loving you unconditionally.

THE BREAKERS ANOINTING REST ON YOU

BBE © Micah 2:13
The opener of the way (Jesus Christ)  will go up before them: forcing their way out they will go on to the doorway and out through it: their king will go on before them, and the Lord at their head

Toaday, May Elohim release Himself on you and anoint you with fresh oil to bring you out from the realm of containment and limitation into a higher ground of destiny. He, Jesus will go before you as a mighty warrior and unlock the ancient doors and break the iron bars of antiquity against your family and your generation. The Lord is giving you new territorrries in life, that will shock the very foundation of your being because you trusted not in the arm of men nor your own sophisticated skills. His grace is available today in abundance. Just embrace it by faith and see Him do a new thing through you, in you and around you - "Nothing Missing Nothing Broken" May you refuse to give in to limitations, guilt, shame and the past. Every sin that easily beset you will be history and you will burst into righteousness and rejoicing

NASB © Micah 2:13
"The breaker(Jesus) goes up before them; They break out, pass through the gate and go out by it. So their king goes on before them, And the LORD at their head."

MSG © Micah 2:13
Then I, GOD, will burst all confinements and lead them out into the open. They'll follow their King. I will be out in front leading them."

BBE © Micah 2:13
The opener of the way will go up before them: forcing their way out they will go on to the doorway and out through it: their king will go on before them, and the Lord at their head

Shalom to you

THE MEN OF GOD, THE PICK AXE AND THE EMPTY HOLE

About a month or two ago, while on our 21 days of prayer and fasting for the Church of Jesus Christ, I had a revelation. I have asked the Lord if He will want me to share the revelation with the body of Christ and to be specifically, the shepherds of the flock. (Pastors,Teachers,Apostles,Prophets & Evangelist)I have shared this with my church, prayed passionatelly for ministers of the gospel and reshaped my ministry as Christ centered and Jesus saturated Church.  You have the right to prayerfully receive it or reject it. He that has ears "Let him hear what the Spirit of the Lord says;

Colossians 2:6-8 (The Message)
  6-7My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.
 8-10Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that's not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.

"In this revelation or vision , I saw many Men of God or Pastors with PICK AXE in their hands and digging a mighty HOLE in the earth surface. This is one big hole, and zealously, everybody with our little effort  digging deeper and deeper"

I had a teary eye and a whirlwind of loneliness and emptiness overwhelms my whole being like I have never felt before. Right away, interpretation was given to me by the Holy Spirit. He said, THERE IS AN EMPTINESS IN MY CHURCH. My servants has a dug a big hole of emptiness in the hearts and mind of the Church and they keep digging deeper and deeper; and in the time of test and trials, they do not realise their position in me, their prayers has become an activity, they feel condemed and unrighteouss, neither do they have an intimate relationship with me and their emptiness is perpetual because I am the only one that can satisfy their emptiness but I am (Jesus) not being projected to them. They wake up everyday with belly full of regret and disappointment, no sense of purpose and essence but the practice of religion on Sundays to Sunday.

Take the time out of your busy schedule Man of God and interview five Christians randomly and dig deeper into their hearts, your discovery my friend will surprise you. Many are standing on quick sand instead of standing on the rock which gates of hell cannot prevail.

Just as Moses lifted the bronze serpent in the wilderness and those bitten by poisnous snakes lived again so must we lift Christ in every place that those whom we have helped to be carnal and materialistic, look up to Him and be kingdom minded.

Apostle Paul warn the Church at Colosse to watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that's not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.

It is time to drop your pick axe gospel  of self, propheteering, commercialization, charismatic witch craft, insecurity, sexism, materialism which is the order of the day.  A mind corrupt leads to all kinds of behaviors. Let's stop corrupting the minds of God's precious possesion - His Church.


2 Corinthians 11:3 (King James Version) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

If the body of Christ cannot behold the beauty and pleasant nature of Yeshua through the preaching of the Gospel which Paul says "He is not ashamed of it and resolve to know nothind among the greeks but Jesus and Him crucified" - That is what gives peace, forgiveness,prosperity, freedom, wisdom, love, faith, hope and what have you. This is not a matter of being genuine or fake, it's a matter of giving people the chance to see Jesus. Are you doing that?

 The pulpit has to be oiled again with the passion to see people transformed not modified: The pulpit and the clergy needs repentance from dead works and come back to a true relationship with the Lord. There are so many ministers of the gospel who are not born anew, doesn't have arelationship with Jesus, being deceived by spiritual gifts. A lot in the Church are nursing injuries from pains and junk food that we've given to them over the years.
 There is too much religion on the altar. The problem of the Church has it's roots from the head (Pastor) not the body body.(Believers)

My heart bleeds with sadness when I think about the next generation of leaders - What substance do they have, they lack holiness and righteousness and discipline, the hate the process of growth because that is what they see now. But I encourage myself, His thoughts are not my thoughts and there is surely hope for the future.

 We need to go back to the basics, when discipleship was the priority, quiet times, morning devotions, obedience, hearing of God's voice, giftings in the church not just one man commercializing the gift and carries every tittle. Oh' how I miss the days when our Pastors who didn't have much, spent thei precious time with us in the neighbourhood and explained the scriptures. Where are the fathers?

In a nutshell, the Spirit of God is raising some crusaders in this endtime who with selfless devotion  to the cause of the kingdom and the constraints of the Love of Christ are dipping their contaminated garments and swords in the blood of the lamb of God, soaring high up like an eagle do the  uncommon works of Christ in this end time. John 14:12 is being fulfilled in our day.

Saints who can discern and are so worried about the mess in the house of the Lord will hear again that the Lord has visited His Church and the bread on the pulpit is fresh and hot from the coals of heaven. They will eat to their abundance and function in the strength, wisdom, anointing of the Bread, which is Jesus. (The Bread of life)

 

Ruth 1:6 (King James Version)
 6Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread

God Help Us All.
 Amen!
 

THE STARFISH STORY

The Starfish Storyadapted from The Star Thrower by Loren Eiseley (1907 - 1977)

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer.

He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all.

The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die.

"Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!

"At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

We can all make a difference. Look around and see who we can help today!

REAL FAITH - By George Mueller

(Founder of the Orphanages at Bristol, England)
TEXT: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Hebrews 11:1).
FIRST: WHAT IS FAITH? In the simplest manner in which I am able to express it, I answer: Faith is the assurance that the thing which God has said in His Word is true, and that God will act according to what He has said in His Word. This assurance, this reliance on God’s Word, this confidence is FAITH.
NO IMPRESSIONS ARE TO BE TAKEN IN CONNECTION WITH FAITH. Impressions have neither one thing nor the other to do with faith. Faith has to do with the Word of God. It is not impressions, strong or weak, which will make any difference. We have to do with the written Word and not ourselves or our impressions.
PROBABILITIES ARE NOT TO BE TAIKEN INTO ACCOUNT. Many people are willing to believe regarding those things that seem probable to them. Faith has nothing to do with probabilities. The province of FAITH begins where probabilities cease and sight and sense fail. A great many of God’s children are cast down and lament their want of Faith. They write to me and say that they have no impressions, no feeling, they see no probability that the thing they wish will come to pass. APPEARANCES ARE NOT TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. The question is – whether God has spoken it in His Word.
And now, beloved Christian friends, you are in great need to ask yourselves whether you are in the habit of thus confiding, in your inmost soul, in what God has said, and whether you are in earnest in seeking to find whether the thing you want is in accordance with what He has said in His Word.
SECOND: HOW FAITH MAY BE INCREASED. God delights to increase the Faith of His children. Our Faith which is feeble at first, is developed and strengthened more and more by us. We ought, instead of wanting no trials before victory, no exercise for patience, to be willing to take them from God’s hand as a means. I say – and say it deliberately – trials, obstacles, difficulties, and sometimes defeats, are the very food of Faith. I get letters from so many of God’s dear children who say: “Dear Brother Mueller, I’m writing this because I am so weak in faith.” Just so surely as we ask to have our Faith strengthened, we must feel a willingness to take from God’s hand the means for strengthening it. We must allow Him to educate us through trials and bereavements and troubles. It is through trials that Faith is exercised and developed more and more. God affectionately permits difficulties, that He may develop unceasingly that which He is willing to do for us, and to this end we should not shrink, but if He gives us sorrow and hindrances and losses and afflictions, we should take them out of His hands as evidences of His love and care for us in developing more and more that Faith which He is seeking to strengthen in us.
The Church of God is not aroused to see God as the beautiful and lovable One He is, and hence the littleness of blessedness. Oh, beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, seek to learn for yourselves, for I cannot tell you the blessedness! In the darkest moments I am able to confide in Him, for I know what a beautiful and kind and lovable Being He is, and, if it be the will of God to put us in the furnace, let Him do it, that so we may acquaint ourselves with Him as He will reveal Himself, and that we may know Him better. We come then to the conclusion that God is a lovable Being, and we are satisfied with Him, and say: “It is my Father, let Him do as He pleases.”
When I first began to allow God to deal with me, relying on Him, taking Him at His Word, and set out fifty years ago simply relying on Him for myself, family, taxes, travelling expenses and every other need, I rested on the simple promises I found in the sixth chapter of Matthew. Read Matthew 6:25-34 carefully. I believed the Word, I rested on it and practiced it. I took God at His word. A stranger, a foreigner in England, I knew seven languages and might have used them perhaps as a means of remunerative employment but I had consecrated myself to labor for the Lord, I put my reliance in the God who has promised, and He has acted according to His Word. I’ve lacked nothing – nothing. I have had my trials, my difficulties, and my purse empty, but my receipts have aggregated thousands of dollars, while the work has gone on these 51 years. Then, with regard to my pastoral work; for the past 51 years I have had great difficulties, great trials and perplexities. There will always be difficulties, always trials. But God has sustained me under them and delivered nw out ofthem, and the work has gone on. Now, this is not, as some have said, because I am a man of great mental power, or endowed with energy and perseverance – these are not the reasons. It is because I have confided in God; because I have sought God, and He has cared for the Institution, which, under His direction, has 100 schools, with masters and mistresses and other departments which I have told you before.
I do not carry the burden. And now in my 67th year, I have physical strength and mental vigor for as much work as when I was a young man in the university, studying and preparing Latin orations. I am just as vigorous as at that time. How comes this? Because in the last half century of labor I’ve been able, with the simplicity of a child, to rely upon God. I have had my trials, but I have laid hold upon God, and so it has come to pass that I have been sustained. It is not only permission, but positive command that He gives, to cast the burdens upon Him. Oh, let us do it! My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain thee.” Day by day I do it. This morning sixty matters in connection with the church of which I am pastor, I brought before the Lord, and thus it is, day by day I do it, and year by year; ten years, thirty years, forty years.
Do not, however, expect to obtain full Faith at once. All such things as jumping into full exercise of Faith in such things I discountenance. I do not believe in it. I do not believe in it. I DO NOT BELIEVE IN IT, AND I WISH YOU PLAINLY TO UNDERSTAND I DO NOT BELIEVE IN IT. All such things go on in a natural way. The little I did obtain, I did not obtain all at once. All this I say particularly, because letters come to me full of questions from those who seek to have their Faith strengthened. Begin over again, staying your soul on the Word of God, and you will have an increase of your Faith as you exercise it.
One thing more. Some say, “Oh, I shall never have the gift of Faith Mr. Mueller has got.” This is a mistake – it is the greatest error – there is not a particle of truth in it. My Faith is the same kind of Faith that all of God’s children have had. It is the same kind that Simon Peter had, and all Christians may obtain the like Faith. My Faith is their Faith, though there may be more of it because my Faith has been a little more developed by exercise then theirs; but their Faith is precisely the Faith I exercise, only, with regard to degree, mine may be more strongly exercised.
Now, my beloved brothers and sisters, begin in a little way.
At first I was able to trust the Lord for ten dollars, then for a hundred dollars, then for a thousand dollars, and now, with the greatest ease, I could trust Him for a million dollars, if there was occasion. But first, I should quietly, carefully, deliberately examine and see whether what I was trusting for, was something in accordance with His promises in His written Word.
“As laborers together with Him” (2 Corinthians 6:1).

FOOD FOR THE INNER MAN: By George Mueller (1805-1898)

  

 

While I was staying at Nailsworth, it pleased the Lord to teach me a truth, irrespective of human instrumentality, as far as I know, the benefit of which I have not lost, though now…more than forty years have since passed away.
The point is this: I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day, to have MY SOUL HAPPY IN THE LORD. The first thing to be concerned about was not, how much I might serve the Lord, how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished. For I might seek to set the truth before the unconverted, I might seek to benefit believers, I might seek to behave myself as it becomes a child of God in this world; and yet, not being happy in the Lord, and not being nourished and strengthened in my inner man day by dy, all this might not be attended to in a right spirit.
Before this time my practice had been, at least for ten years previously, as a habitual thing, to give myself to prayer, after having dressed in the morning. Now I saw, that the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God and to meditation on it, that thus my heart may be comforted, encouraged, warned, reproved, instructed; and that thus, whilst meditating, my heart might be brought into experimental communion with the Lord. I began therefore, to meditate on the New Testament, from the beginning, early in the morning.
The first thing I did, after having asked in a few words the Lord’s blessing upon His precious Word, was to begin to meditate on the Word of God; searching, as it were, into every verse, to get blessings out of it; not for the sake of the public ministry of the Word; not for the sake of preaching on what I had meditated upon; but for the sake of obtaining food for my own soul.. The result I have found to be almost invariably this, that after a very few minutes my soul has been led to confession, or to thanksgiving, or to intercession, or to supplication; so that though I did not, as it were, give myself to prayer, but to meditation, yet it turned almost immediately more or less into prayer.
When thus I have been for awhile making confession, or intercession, or supplication, or have given thanks, I go on to the next words or verse, turning all, as I go on, into prayer for myself or others, as the Word may lead to it; but still continually keeping before me, that food for my own soul is the object of my meditation. The result of this is, that there is always a good deal of confession, invariably is even sensibly nourished and strengthened and that by breakfast time, with rare exceptions, I am in a peaceful if not happy state of heart. Thus also the Lord is pleased to communicate unto me that which, very soon after, I have found to become food for other believers, though it was not for the sake of the public ministry of the Word that I gave myself to meditation, but for the profit of my own inner man.
The difference between my former practice and my present one is this. Formerly, when I rose, I began to pray as soon as possible, and generally spent all my time till breakfast in prayer, or almost all the time. At all events I almost invariably began with prayer. But what was the result? I often spent a quarter of an hour, or even an hour on my knees, before being conscious to myself of having derived comfort, encouragement, humbling of soul, etc.; and often after having suffered much from wandering of mind of the first ten minutes, or a quarter of an hour, or even half an hour, I only then began really to pray.
I scarcely ever suffer now in this way. For my heart being nourished by the truth, being brought into experimental fellowhship with God, I speak to my Father, and to my Friend (vile though I am, and unworthy of it!) about the things that He has brought before me in His precious Word.
It often now astonishes me that I did not sooner see this. In no book did I ever read about it. No public ministry ever brought the matter before me. No private intercourse with a brother stirred me up to this matter. And yet now, since God has taught me this point, it is a plain to me as anything that the first thing the child of God has to do morning by morning is to obtain food for his inner man.
As the outward man is not fit for work for any length of time, except we take food, and as this is one of the first things we do in the morning, so it should be with the inner man. We should take food for that, as every one must allow. Now what is the food for the inner man: not prayer, but the Word of God: and here again not the simple reading of the Word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water runs through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering over it, and applying it to our hearts.
I dwell so particularly on this point because of the immense spiritual profit and refreshment I am conscious of having derived from it myself, and I affectionately and solemnly beseech all my fellow-believers to ponder this matter. By the blessing of God I ascribe to this mode the help and strength which I have had from God to pass in peace through deeper trials in various ways than I had ever had before; and after having now above forty years tried this way, I can most fully, in the fear of God, commend it. How different when the soul is refreshed and made happy early in the morning, from what it is when, without spiritual preparation, the service, the trials and the temptations of the day come upon one!