Saturday, March 16, 2024

THE CHURCH AS RIVER OF GOD FLOWS

 

THE CHURCH AS RIVER OF GOD FLOWS 

1)  1) Diseased Spiritual River - 2 Kings 2:19-21

Elisha Performs Miracles

19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.”

20 And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’ ”

The barren land was connected to the barren water, water that needed healing. So this water can caused death and barrenness into the crops. It was the water but it was also sick water.  

In Exodus 15:23 Moses was directed by God to cast a tree into the bitter water a place called Marah. Moses cried out to the Lord so our part in healing the water is to cry to the Lord that will bring healing to the waters in the church today. Then Moses cast vs. 25 a tree into the waters, the waters wre made sweet. This tree represented Jesus who was crucified on a tree and the cross. The power of the cross was the answer to the bitterness and barrenness of life today.

Every local church has a spiritual life flow that we call “the River of God” in that church. The bible says out of our bellies shall flow rivers of Living waters. The river of God is the spiritual flow cause by Holy Spirit activity to bring the presence of God. During revival seasons God pours out His Spirit as rain upon dry ground and produces rivers in the desert. The river of God is a river of life, health, healing and power.  It should bring with it fruitfulness not barrenness.

2)   2) What is the Evidence of a Healthy Spiritual River?

God’s river is seen in its great power to bring life not death, healing not sickness, growth not stagnation, multitudes not smallness. (Ezek. 47:7; Isa. 61:1-4). The river of God in our churches is to be like the river in Ezekiel’s vision.

In Ezek. 47:1-12 the river symbolically flowed from the Temple, a river that we are to swim in and enjoy. Ezekiel’s vision described a man moving into the river, first to his ankles v.3, then to his knees v. 4 then to his waist v.4 and finally into water too deep to walk in and he had to swim. The river could not be crossed. This happens when the river comes into our lives and churches. Every church and believers belly shall flow rivers of Living waters to the world.

So the river of God in our churches is to be like the river in Ezekiel’s vision:

Ø  The river is a place for many trees to be planted v.7

Ø  The river reaches to the eastern regions. V. 8

Ø  The river flows down into every valley v. 8

Ø  The river brings healing to the waters v.9

Ø  The river causes life to spring forth everywhere v.9

Ø  The river has a great multitude of fish v. 9 (fish symbolic of people)

Ø  The river causes healing and health to everything. V.9

Ø  The river will minister healing to the nations v.12 – Missions

Ø  The river will produce very fruitful trees v. 12  fruitfulness.

God always used rivers as a symbol of His life-giving Spirit. God desires that every church or believer have a healthy river, a place of passing through new spiritual experiences and a place of encountering a new flow of spiritual life, power and blessings.  Come to the River of God!

3) Challenge: How healthy are the waters of your spiritual life? How healthy are our churches today? Are we open to a fresh anointing from God? Where do the waters of your spiritual life need to be stirred where you have become stagnated? In Worship, in devotion, and many more areas to be revived and refreshed in our lives.  

MAY THE RIVER OF GOD FLOWS MIGHTY THROUGH YOU TODAY! AMEN!

 

Saturday, March 2, 2024

LET YOUR WILL BE DONE

 

topic:  Let  Thy Will Be Done” - mARK 14:36

One of the hindrances of Gods will to be done in our lives is our self-will.  We have to say No to our self-will. Self will is the greatest hindrance in our soul area. God created our will to do His will but self-will came because of sin.

A)     What will self-will do to us


1.         Self-will turned Paradise into a desert. (Rom. 5:19)

 

v  It has been well said My will and not Thine be done, turned Paradise into a desert.  Thy will and not Mine be done, turned the desert into a Paradise” One man disobedience has made many sinners. 

 

2.         Self-will is the mother of sin (Jude 2)

 

v  This is illustrated in Cain, when he is self-will came to God in his own way instead of Gods way, and was jealous because Abels sacrifice was accepted and his was rejected, which jealousy led him on to kill his brother


3.         Self-will is the forerunner of disaster (Gen 13:10)

 

v  Lot chose the well-watered plain of Sodom, and then soon after was found in Sodom, but he lost all he had in Sodom, and only escaped with his life.

 

4.         Self-will shuts us from blessing (Numbers 20:11, 12)

 

v  Moses struck the rock twice when God told him to speak to it, and was shut out of the Promised Land in consequence.

 

5.         Self-will brings punishment (I Samuel 15;23)


v  King Saul lost his kingdom and the Holy Spirit through consulting his own will in opposition to Gods word, when the latter told him to destroy all the Amalekites.

 

6.         Self-will brings injury to others (Luke xxii.50)

 

v  Peter acted on his own authority when he cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest

 

7.         Self-will means loss of blessing. (Luke 15:16, 17)

 

v  The prodigal son found the difference between the swine troughs and the fathers table, and between the far country and the old homestead.

 

B) Put To Death The Self Will JOHN 1:12,13


1But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Self is the I in our lives, our egos.  The apostle Paul said, I die daily. You die daily not once at salvation, once at water baptism, baptized in the Spirit, or when you become a cell leader or worship leader or even Pastor but every day.  One of the biggest hindrance or obstacle to our dying daily is our pride.  We are proud people, no matter what our race or color.  Pride is something that cannot always be seen; it can be subtle or deceptive.  That is why, we are careful about what we say or do especially in front of our pastoral staff.  The way you look at one another negatively, selfishly and carelessly is so important concerning doing the will of God.

C) Lucifer and his Pride Isaiah 14:12-16

Notice that the words I will appear 5 times in the passage but the words Gods will do not appear at all.  That was how much Lucifer had changed. By the words you say and your attitudes speak volumes.

Our attitudes may be: I know better than God.  I know what I should do no need others to help.  I know how the church should be run, etc.  What is the will of God?

Will Not my will, but Your Will be done.  Gods will involves His guidance, wisdom, knowledge, ability, and His grace. We see Lucifer ceased to depend on Gods wisdom and guidance.  He started to think and act as though he know more than God.  So when the proud, self-reliant attitude took hold of Lucifer, he no longer wanted to love and know God intimately.

That is why he fell.  When we have proud attitudes, we also will lose our first love for God and that intimate relationship we once had with God.  You become cold and backslide.  Your will becomes stronger than Gods will.  (Lords Prayer will humble us.)

(ii) 1 Peter 5:5 be submissive to those who are older.  All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud will but gives grace to the humble.  If you want to live in Gods Will then die to your own self-will, pride, egos, rebellion and selfish attitudes. 

(iii) Dan 4:30 King Nebuchadnezzar boasting.

Dan 4:32-32 Kings downfall. It started with pride and our attitudes, then your speech and finally your actions.  What happens next is a glorification of self not of God.  No recognition is given to God for what He has done, for His supernatural ability and power.   Is this not the great church I build?  Great Sunday School class, etc. 

As we recognize our problem we must humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and repent.  Tue repentance is not just saying sorry but turning away from our proud spirit/attitude and walking in humility in the will of God.  Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another why, because God opposes the proud.  It is worst than rejection, it is fighting against us because we are in the devils side.

PRAYER:  

Father, I pray that the will of God be done in my life as it is in heaven.  Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; let Your good Spirit lead me into a plain country and into the land of uprightness.  Jesus, You gave (yielded) Yourself up (to atone) for my sins (and to save and sanctify me), in order to rescue and deliver me from this present wicked age and world order, in accordance with the will and purpose and plan of our God and Father. Deliver me from my self-will and pride.  Your will be done on earth in my life as it is in heaven.  Amen and so be it!  In Jesus Name, Amen.



Tuesday, February 13, 2024

 

CHANGES WILL COME TODAY!

“… All the days of my hard service (work) I will wait, till my change comes.” – Job 14:14  

Job is saying that despite of his miserable condition, he is looking for a change of circumstance.  E.W. Bullinger translates this as: “… I will wait until the time of my reviving comes.” The NIV says “… I will wait for my renewal to come.”

Job was not talking of his dying conditions. Hard service is not hard lives.  Hard service in KJV has it “appointed time” is a military expression relating to engagement in warfare.  All the time Job was waging the good fight of faith, he was not waiting for death but for a divine visitation. He was expecting a revival, a renewal, a change for the better.

Yes the bible says, “I shall not die but live and see the salvation of the Lord.

Psalm 118:17 King James Version “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.”

The change had come when the Lord intervened to turn Job’s captivity and reward his faithfulness with a double portion of all that he has lost in his life.

This is our day too as changes will come.  We too engaged in the fight of faith. Our warfare against the powers of darkness goes on and on. We too look for a change, a renewal, a revival, a spiritual breakthrough. The Lord will do and intervene for us just as He did for Job.

Job expected changes in his circumstances. They came to him in double portion.  We can expect the same. So get ready for a dramatic breakthrough and changes in the family and the whole Church. The Church is going to change into His image from glory to glory, faith to faith and blessing to another level of blessings.

May the Lord Jesus bless you and your family today!

Sunday, February 4, 2024

GOD GOODNESS PROCLAIMED

 

GOD GOODNESS PROCLAIMED

Job 36:1-12  

Elihu proclaimed the blessing of the righteous.  Self-righteousness was condemned in the previous chapter Job 35.  Now Elihu spoke on behalf of God’s and was prophetic in nature.

Firstly Elihu mentioned about righteousness saying “I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.” Two thousand year and more he mentioned about God’s righteousness that he will ascribe or give the attributes and belongings to God. And mention also that “God does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous.”

v. 7 “… and the righteous are on the throne with kings for they have seated and exalted in power.  In Revelation 1:6 says that Jesus who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood has made us kings and priests to His God the Father.

Secondly Job 36:5 “Behold God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty in strength and of understanding.”  We are serving a God who despises and condemn no one. If we have sinned then “God tells them their work and their transgression” Jesus is sent for this purpose to redeem us from sin.

Thirdly, Job 36:10 says, “God also opens their spiritual ears to instruction and commands that they turn from iniquity.  If they obey and serve Him then they shall spend their days in prosperity and years in pleasures.”

What a revelation of God and mercy in God to lead mankind back to Jesus grace and bless them with prosperity and pleasures.

Fourthly, Job 36:26 says “Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him…”  How come Job says that “we do not know Him” yet until Jesus came into the world that all the prophetic revelation of truth Elihu spoke by the Spirit has answer the questions of how great is our God and yet we do not know Him.

Yes what Elihu was speaking for God saying that God has given us righteousness and seated with Him (Jesus) in power and glory and made us kings and priests to serve Him and obey Him.  God has also open our ears to His Word that we turn from sin and as we obey Him and serve Him. And we will prosper our way in years to come. What a powerful revelation of God’s Goodness proclaimed for us as believers to see His Greatness and power.

May the blessings of God prosper you greatly in 2024, Amen! 

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

WAVES OF END-TIME REVIVAL

 

THE END-TIME REVIVAL

1.   Spiritual Timing

Acts 2:1 “And when the day of Pentecost had fully come…”

God’s time is precise in every outpouring. God moves on time and spiritual timing is the key to spiritual harvest.

Zech. 10:1 – “Ask for rain from the Lord at the time of the spring rain…”

2. Spiritual Preparation 

Acts 2:1 “… they were all together in one place.”

Acts 1:14 “These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer…”

Ø  God cannot move unless man have prepared themselves in accordance to His word.

Ø  The fire came from heaven after the prophet Elijah had built the altar according to God’s word.

Ø  The rain came after Noah built the Ark in according to God’s word.

3. Spiritual  Outburst

Acts 2:2 “And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.”

The apostles were expecting revival yet they were taken by surprise.  So suddenly and powerfully God intervene in the spiritual destiny of His Church.

    4. Spiritual  Liberty

      The Holy Spirit who fell from heaven had full liberty to move and direct the people as He chose.

      He was allowed to move in any direction and His spontaneous work spread so quickly from one person to another.

5. Spiritual Presence

Acts 2:37, 38, 43

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

     6. Spiritual  Vessels

Acts 2:4  “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

  • This is one of the characteristics of true revival. God takes over ordinary human lives to do extraordinary work in the community of men.
  • God needs prepared vessels whom He can anoint with His power to help fulfil His purpose on this earth.

7. Spiritual Manifestation

“… and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

      In every revival, the manifested Presence of God convict the hearts of men (Acts 2:37, 43.)  God is honoured and held in holy respect.

      God consciousness fills the hears of men. God consciousness creates an awareness of sin and releases the opportunity for His grace to be made available.

8. Spiritual Ministries

Spiritual ministries are birthed during revivals and spiritual ministries following the Holy Spirit are given spiritual quickening and promotion. They enter into a new dimension of power, glory and honour with God and men.

Conclusion: The church that is asleep is often deceive of its own spiritual state and lacks the cutting edge to strike at the weakest link of the satanic kingdom.

The effect of the revival is the reviving of the saints to gather spiritual momentum to affect the sinners.  The quickening of the saints is the root and the conversion of the sinners is the fruit.  LET’S HAVE REVIVAL NOW!

Friday, January 12, 2024

HURT HINDERS AND HURT US

 

HURT HINDERS AND HURT US

Your hurt can steal somebody blessings. Sometimes we hurt others by not speaking to them. Many people didn’t have the revelation of God to forgive.

In Mark 3 it speaks of a Man with a Withered Hand.

 3 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

 People are hardness of heart because they are offended by the Sabbath.

To forgive 70 x 7 it deals with your hurts and deep wounds.  When you forgive you are set free and others are set free too. You forgive then you will not have harden hearts. They are a few things we would do when we are hurt:

1. Run from Hurt

It's a natural human tendency to seek pleasure and avoid pain. Much of our lives is shaped around this instinct. We're innately inclined to turn away from what hurts, and to seek safety in what's pleasurable and familiar.

2. Fight the Hurt

Why We Should Stop Running from Pain. Learning to face what we don't want to feel can change our lives for the better.

3. Hide the Hurt

We reach for a drink any time we feel stressed. We leave a relationship every time things get tough. We people-please until we’re spread paper thin. We procrastinate on important tasks and projects.

4. Deny the Hurt

We aren’t wrong for wanting to avoid feeling pain. It’s a perfectly human, perfectly natural thing to do. It just turns out to be ineffective. Our efforts to escape just take us right where we were trying not to go.

Heraclitus, a philosopher from the late 6th Century BCE, taught that everything, pushed to its extreme, becomes its opposite. He was right. We can try to run from pain, but we can’t hide from it. Eventually, some form of it finds us.

5. Overcome the Hurt

If we want to survive and, no doubt,if we want to thrive — we have to develop a tolerance for pain. We have to train ourselves to stay present to what we’re feeling and breathe through it until we come out on the other side.

A. Understanding of God through Word.

When we are hurting, we often believing something about God that isn't true. Sometimes we believe God is punishing us or is ignoring us out of His anger. When we look to Scripture to see who God really is and grab hold of that truth, it changes our lives.

In Hebrews 12:12, 13 NKJV says,

12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

Hebrews 8:12 in Other Translations

12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more." 12 And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” 12 They'll get to know me by being kindly forgiven, with the slate of their sins forever wiped clean.

 Let God heal your heart of the hurt you’ve experienced by getting to know Him as He really is. As Scripture says He is. He is a God that remember our sins no more not some more. He did not count our sins also as some believers thought.

2 Corinthians 5:19-21 Amplified Bible (AMP)

“… that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people's sins against them [but cancelling them]. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation [that is, restoration to favor with God].

B. A lie that God didn't care for you.

God promised in His Word that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). His Word also says that no matter where we go, He is with us (Psalm 139:7-11). That means He has been with you in everything you’ve faced. Maybe you just don’t remember the sudden turn of events in which something worse could’ve happened, but didn’t. Maybe you don’t recall that He was protecting you in spite of the pain.

C. Look to the Healing Power of the Cross.

Psalm 103:12 tells us: "As far as the east is from the west so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

And in Isaiah 53:4-5 we are told: “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows… He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Let us be healed – “He (God) sent His Word and healed them.”

Psalms 107:20 says,

20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. 21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

May the Good Lord bless you and family this year!