IF

The man began to prosper and continued prospering until he became very prosperous. ....so the Phinistines envied him. Genesis 26:13-14

We have read of God's promises all over the bible, we have read/heard of all who have "keyed" into those promises and it has worked for them....these are people of biblical times and also those of our own time. Surely, He honours His word.

Now, we look at our own lives versus the promises we've "keyed" into, the prophesies that has come directly to/for us,  we wonder if God still honours His word or is our case an exception?

So you've been giving your tithe for decades and you are waiting for that "window of heaven" to open and that blessing that will occupy everywhere to manifest (among other blessings)without luck..... have you checked the "if", have you obeyed the "if"?


Some of us with prosperous parents even use their testimonies as a point of contact. I wrote about Abraham's lying and getting blessed despite it http://olufunkeayorinde.blogspot.com/2019/05/discharged-acquitted-and-compensated.html?m=1 in Genesis 20.

Now in Genesis 26, Abraham's son, Isaac got God's blessing for that location in verses 3-4, lies to the same man (poor Abimelech) and lived in that city "a long time" with nothing special to show. What was the problem?

Why the delay in God's word concerning that land?....sin! Unlike Abraham, it took the confession of that sin for prosperity to locate Isaac's household. After the confession, Isaac prospered in a famine to the extent that those who did not notice him before even started to envy him.

For those of us "lifting our eyes to the hills, looking for where our help is coming from", let's do a personal check also with the help of the holy spirit. Our delay could be timing, BUT it could also be sin. May we not be an obstacle to our breakthrough in Jesus name.

Shalom!

MEN PLEASERS

not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. Ephesians 6: 6-8

The life of Saul and David shows the result of being a men-pleaser or a God-pleaser.

Both were anointed king from being a nobody (even in their own families) without even lobbying/asking for it.

Saul felt so unworthy that he went to hide when it was time to show him as king to the whole nation in 1Samuel 10:22.David was so overlooked that he was forgotten when the priest of the whole nation of Israel invited the family for a national service in 1Samuel 16:5.

Saul was fit only to look for donkeys while David was fit only to take food to his elder ones at the warfront.

There ends the similarities.

Saul was never recorded to seek the face of God before a battle, David is constantly enquiring of the Lord before he goes to any battle.

Saul was first son while David was the lastborn.

 Saul was brutal in pursuing his ally-turned-enemy but David was busy avoiding any form of harm to Saul through his own hand or command.

Saul ordered the killing of 83 priests and a whole city because they helped David but when David had Saul at his grasp, he did not touch him because of the fear of God.

In all the aggression and self-will, Saul, despite being king without the input of man, lost his kingdom because he was more interested in what men want and discarded what God wants.1Samuel 15:21, 30

David, despite several opportunities did not listen nor act on people's desire for him to harm Saul....No because he can't, but because he identifies that vengeance belongs to God.

We all know whose throne God established FOREVER.

So, I ask you.... after God has favoured you into a position you NEVER thought you can ever attain in life, what do you do next.... think of how you will please men (which has caused many to sin) or how to please God?

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. 

Choose now, for a better nation for us all.

Shalom!

QUIT FIGHTING WARS

Lessons from today's fellowship.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Corintians 4:17.

What are wars? These are the challenges that we face as human beings....poverty, unemployment, sickness, delay in childbearing, accumulating bills,etc. It is not for us to fight these wars as God allows them before they can be there ( Job, Rachael, etc). People of great destiny go through a lot of tribulations but it's all to the glory of God. Examples are Elizabeth and Hannah who were mothers to great men,even Apostle Paul himself,etc

When God has a plan to make an individual great in a particular way, such an individual will face great torment in that aspect of his life as the devil will want to make sure God's plan fails. If you will be great and be mightily used by God at that career, the devil will make sure you don't even graduate.etc but we should not forget that God is still The Almighty and is in control. No matter what size the war is, at the right time, it will cease....so, why would you allow such trials steal your peace and take you away from God who has the final say? 

* Joseph did not take his gaze away from God, that is why he left prison to the palace. If he had decided to fight the war, his highest victory would have been freedom and back to his father's house.
* David did not take his gaze away from God, that is why at last, all other tribes of Israel came that he should rule over them.

When we look at our challenges, we take our eyes away from the fact that we are already victorious in Christ Jesus. Let us not be like Rachael in Genesis 30 who told her husband "give me a child or i die". She was robbed of her peace and joy already and eventually died before her son fulfilled destiny. Her husband who trusted God saw and ate from the fulfilment of God's word. She was fighting a war she should not.

Everything God allows brings us to Him and teaches us to be compassionate like Him but we are not enjoying God because we actually don't trust Him to take care of us especially those who don't know Him.

What to do while the war rages
1. Give your life to God
2. Study His word to know Him and His promises for you
3. Praise Him always
4. Keep company with people that know and love the Lord

 This is another opportunity to give our life to this God so that we can know Him and have rest from our troubles. Tomorrow might be too late. Matthew 11:28-29 summarised it all.... Come, drop your burden and take up His own, that's all!

Shalom!

RIGHT ATMOSPHERE FOR GOD'S PRESENCE

Lessons from today's fellowship.

For the second quater of this year, God said He will visit us and He did but some of our homes are not in order and so, God could not come in.

This quarter, He is coming with laughter but if our homes have not been put in order, He still won't be able to come in.

Designate a place outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself. As part of your equipment have something to dig with, and when you relieve yourself, dig a hole and cover up your excrement. For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you. Deuteronomy 23: 12-14


1, The spirit of God will not come into filthy environments. Keep your body and homes clean. Laziness is not attractive.

Some of our homes and bodies are dirty, unkept, smelly, unarranged and rough. This is a hindrance to answered prayers. These environment also attracts cockroaches and rats which brings diseases that causes sickness!!!

Let us wash, wipe, tidyup, arrange, dry, air out, shave, cut, make, repair, etc as needed in our homes and bodies. Don't leave till tomorrow what you should do today.

2, And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.Acts 2:1

The apostles were in one accord.....some of our homes are not united. Individual-living within a home. Unity is very key to God; let us all be in one accord so the spirit of God can dwell in the home.

The spirit of God does not dwell where there is chaos. This means quarrels and strife must stop in our homes and businesses for God to dwell with us and joy/laughter to abound in us.

Even if the other parties in the home are not acting right, look unto Jesus and obey God completely. Let the love of God flow from you as Jesus did to a sinful generation. This counts towards God reigning in our homes. Ask for the grace if you need to and you will be given.

Enough of anger, hatred, malice, bitterness, animosity, hostility, moodiness, resentment, etc. and the King of Glory will come in and LAUGHTER will fill our homes.

Shalom!

REMOVING BARRIERS

Learning from today's fellowship

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 1 Corinthians 13:11.

At salvation, we become children of God but babies in the faith. At this time of our journey, If we are not careful, we will bring the ideas, customs and superstitions of the world into our journey.

These and much more are the filth that God help us to wash off at the place of sanctification to make  us vessels unto honour 2timothy 2:20-24 before we come into our full inheritance in Christ.

As a result of this childish behaviour, some of us miss out on the blessings meant for us. Most of us speak anyhow as born-again Christians under the guise of being truthful/blunt (forgeting that the tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright) not knowing that this is what is stagnating us as it's an evidence of immaturity.

Some of us are quick to anger (forgeting that anger lies in the bossom of fools.) and are quick to blame others for our temper. If you find yourself stangnant, check your speech and actions. God will not elevate anyone who will disgrace Him except He is building you up as a scape-goat e.g. pharaoh.

Using company time for personal things while company duties are pending, taking company properties home, pen, paper, fuel,etc. If you think it does not matter, "it's just xyz", why hide it? What this tells God is that you are not faithful in little things and does not YET have the capacity to handle bigger things such as state, national role or higher.

If such a child-heir does not change, he/she might never be great in life.

I conclude with Galatians 4:1-2 "What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees"  If we refuse to learn from our tutor the Holy Spirit, we will not overcome the barriers to our breakthrough and will end up as a frustrated christian.

Start today,
1, Ask the Holy Spirit for help.
2, Obey His instructions completely.
3, Keep rising even after a fall.

Shalom!

WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16.

Today's passage is very very popular, almost every Christian knows it but this afternoon, a new explanation was given to me by the Holy Spirit on the phrase "whoseover believes in Him".

Who is the "Him" we are to believe in and what are we to believe about "Him"?

1,Jesus the SON of God. Luke 9:35...."This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him".

2, The LAMB of God. John 1:29...“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

3, The WORD of God who is also GOD. John 1:1..." In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

4, Our HIGH PRIEST Hebrew 4:14.... " we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,Jesus the Son of God".

5, CREATOR of all things. John 1: 3... " All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made"

6, He is LIFE, He is LIGHT. John 1:4... " In him was life; and the life was the light of men."

7, He is THE SAVIOUR. John 3:16..

8, The great JUDGE. Revelation 22:12... " behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be"

The few points above and much much more are who He is. So, today, when we say we believe in Him, let's ask ourselves , do we believe in ALL that He is and the POWER He possess for our use? Healer, Helper, Deliverer, Father, Warrior, Peace, King, Provider, etc.

If we do believe in ALL that He is, we surely will never "perish, but have eternal life". Let us read the bible more to know more about who He is because " faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17.

Shalom!

REBELLION

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 1 Samuel 15:23

Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
Exodus 22:18

According to Wikipedia, Rebellion is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority.

The books of Numbers shows different instances where there has been rebellion and the disastrous consequences.

Numbers 12 told about Moses siblings rising against him. This caused God to be angry at them, Miriam got struck with leprosy and was put out of the camp for seven days after Moses pleaded on her behalf. I'm sure the honour given to her previously will reduce.

Numbers 14 was where ALL Israel rebelled against Moses and Aaron. Oh my God, the anger of God was terrible to behold and He almost destroyed them all if not for intense appeal from Moses and Aaron. This act ensured the rebels do not enter the promised land and others to remain in the wilderness for 40years.

Numbers 16 is about 253 men headed by Dathan, Korah and Abiram who challenged Moses authority. These men were given "some" of the spirit of God in Moses and they felt that have "arrived". Their punishment spilled to all their family members as the ground opened and they were all swallowed up alive and the ground closed over them.

The 2 bible passages at the beginning of this write-up tells us what rebellion is to God and why he acted as He did at these instances. He sees them as witches and idolators, so they must not be spared.


When it comes to God-ordained authority, it is not in our place to challenge them. Let God decide their fate as He evetually did for Moses and Aaron. To do so is to incure the wrath of God. That does not say we cannot advice them with caution as Moses father-in-law did in Exodus 18.

Disobedience/stubborness is also a type of rebellion. We need the spirit of God to help us see areas where we have been disobeying His order/authority; areas where we've been stubborn in doing the right things at home, church, work, with our spouses, children, neighbours, daily tasks,etc.

This could explain some hardships, demotions and even deaths we are facing in some areas of our lives.

God will help us to submit to His will in ALL areas in Jesus name. Amen.

Shalom!

WHEN GOD WANTS TO VISIT

Learning from today's fellowship

 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:27-28

Your TV device will not display videos of it's not turned on. Except for rare occasions, we need to be expectant if we want to hear from God.

When we adjust our environment to usher in the presence of God, we don't tune our TV to pornographic channel expecting to hear God in that environment, no. You tune your mind, environment and focus on where you expect a message from.

Note that a quarrelsome spirit will not hear God, a confused mind cannot hear God neither can you hear God doing satanic/occultic things.

If we don't know God personally, we can't hear from Him. If we can't hear from Him, Even our Pastor can mislead us as in the case of the old and young prophet in 1kings 13.

God speaks 1st to us concerning little things to know if we will obey. Our failure to obey will shut the channel of communication.

How do you know if the voice you are hearing is God's?
1, Messages that comes with fear is not from God. His words comes with peace and direction.
2, Any word contrary to the word of God is not fron God.
3, You must yearn for His voice. Jer. 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

When we hear Him, God is very interested in our obedience. Some of our blessings are hanging because we fail to be obedient. You say God has been silent to you.... have you obeyed His last word with you? The Holy Spirit will keep quiet when we begin to argue with Him. He is waiting for us before His next word. When we obey in little things, He will instruct us on bigger things.

It is when you are close to someone that you hear from Him. You get close to God by:
1, Giving your life to Him. You have to be His own to hear from Him.
2, Read the word
3, Worship Him.

No matter what has gone wrong in your family, hearing and obeying God will turn this tide from you. At the wedding at cannan, John 2, it was not only the word that turned the water to wine, it was also the obedience of the servants.

Yearn for Him.
Hear Him.
Obey Him.
He will surely visit you.

Shalom!

JOHN 3 :16

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.

Looking at the above bible passage alone, we might not know the gravity of that love or the extent of us perishing if we don't do some calculations. Please get a book and pen.

In various chapters in the book of Leviticus (in the bible), God instructed the children of Israel on the different offerings they MUST bring to ensure that they are not cut off from His people.

1, Chapter 1 tells us about a burnt offering (free will) with A BULL or SHEEP or GOAT or BIRD. According to your capability.

2, Chapter 3 talks about a peace offering (free will)which requires A LAMB OR GOAT

Compulsory Offerings
3, Chapter 4 talks a about a sin offering. This requires a YOUNG BULL (for a priest), or A MALE KID (a leader), or A FEMALE KID or LAMB (common folks)

4, Chapter 5 speaks of the trespass offering where you bring A KID/LAMB or 2 PIGEONS/TURTLEDOVES or FINE FLOUR

5, Chapter 5 continues by informing us that in the instace of a trespass towards the holy things of the Lord, this requires A RAM AND ADD ONE-FIFTH value of the holy item.

6, Chapter 6 mention various sins that requires both restitution with interest and also A RAM offering

7, Chapter 6, continued by instructing the priests to offer GRAINS EVERYDAY.

8, Chapter 12 mandates that a sin offering is made for a woman to cleanse her after childbirth. This is A LAMB and A PIGEON/TURTLEDOVE.

9, Bodily discharges requires at least 2BIRDS according to Chapter 15.

10, The feast of 1st fruits requires A LAMB. The feast of weeks requires 7 LAMBS, YOUNG BULL & 2 RAMS.

11, The feast of tabernacle requires a burnt offering ALSO.

Now, calculate how many you would have bought from your current income and even bought for your children ( Job 1:5 tell us job made sin offerings for his children). Can you afford it? If yes, lucky you.... if no,.........

When we look at all these compulsory and voluntary offerings that the blood of Jesus is now used for, we will know the extent of God's love for us; because if sin does not destroy us, the cost of the sacrifices will actually do.

This blood paid for the sins of generations before us and after us! We can now mathematically understand why we call it the PRECIOUS BLOOD. Not forgeting that the blood also has other uses....PRICELESS.

When next you plead the blood, know that it is the evidence of God's love that ensures that our sins are PAID IN FULL even before we commit them.

AMAZING grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.

Shalom!

NOTE: For those who think today's pastors are collecting too much, if the old testament offerings were still in place, every priest will be looking like the MICHELIN MAN.

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT

Learnings from today's fellowship 

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:19-25


Marrying into a royal family requires that you are trained in the royal way. I am sure Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle who married Britain's princes went through training (and is still being trained) on mannerism, etiquette, carriage, communication, etc. The bible passage above is telling us that to come into the family of Christ (spirit), we have to stop manifesting the works of the flesh. As new-royal folks, we need to stop sitting anyhow,  talking anyhow, associating with the wrong crowd, dressing anyhow, etc.

If the royals of this world can require and insist on these for anyone marrying into their family is it too much for God to ask?

HOW TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT
1, LOOK TO JESUS: When we are in the family of Christ, we need to keep walking in the spirit. Romans 8:5 says " Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." We need to recognise that we are no longer of the flesh and therefore SET OUR MINDS on the things of the spirit. How do we set our mind? Hebrew 12:2 tells us ... " Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Please note that we cannot look into Jesus if we are still holding onto the things of the flesh. That is why Hebrew 12:1 tells us to 1st " lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us". Then, we can walk in the spirit.

2, SOW IN THE SPIRIT: There are 24hours in a day,  give 2.4hours to God's business. Reading the bible, praying, Praise and worship, listening to Godly messages, etc. The more time you spend with a man, you copy the man's character. Spend more time with God to be more like God.

3, BE QUICK TO FORGIVE: Apart from our sins also not being forgiven, when a person offends us, the person is being influenced by a certain demon. Failure to forgive and forget means that demon is still being retained in that person's life. Also, the demon of anger will keep having his way in your own life which is an open door for demonic attack. That is why God FORGIVES AND FORGETS our sins when we become born again to keep the old demons permanently away.

4, LISTEN TO THE PROMPT OF THE SPIRIT: This is what leads to life. This is where your task is differentiated from the others. Where God leads you on your very own journey. Where you walk with God alone and no one else understands you and you don't understand sometimes. But if it's the spirit of God's prompt, it leads to life. John 10:27-28 tells us it's His sheep's that hears and follows Him " MyNow the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:19-25


Marrying into a royal family requires that you are trained in the royal way. I am sure Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle who married Britain's princes went through training (and is still being trained) on mannerism, etiquette, carriage, communication, etc. The bible passage above is telling us that to come into the family of Christ (spirit), we have to stop manifesting the works of the flesh. As non-royal folks, we need to stop sitting anyhow,  talking anyhow, associating with the wrong crowd, dressing anyhow, etc.

If the royals of this world can require and insist on these for anyone marrying into their family is it too much for God to ask?

HOW TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT
1, LOOK TO JESUS: When we are in the family of Christ, we need to keep walking in the spirit. Romans 8:5 says " Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." We need to recognise that we are no longer of the flesh and therefore SET OUR MINDS on the things of the spirit. How do we set our mind? Hebrew 12:2 tells us ... " Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Please note that we cannot look into Jesus if we are still holding onto the things of the flesh. That is why Hebrew 12:1 tells us to 1st " lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us". Then, we can walk in the spirit.

2, SOW IN THE SPIRIT: There are 24hours in a day,  give 2.4hours to God's business. Reading the bible, praying, Praise and worship, listening to Godly messages, etc. The more time you spend with a man, you copy the man's character. Spend more time with God to be more like God.

3, BE QUICK TO FORGIVE: Apart from our sins also not being forgiven, when a person offends us, the person is being influenced by a certain demon. Failure to forgive and forget means that demon is still being retained in that person's life. Also, the demon of anger will keep having his way in your own life which is an open door for demonic attack. That is why God FORGIVES AND FORGETS our sins when we become born again to keep the old demons permanently away.

4, LISTEN TO THE PROMPT OF THE SPIRIT: This is what leads to life. This is where your task is differentiated from the others. Where God leads you on your very own journey. Where you walk with God alone and no one else understands you and you don't understand sometimes. But if it's the spirit of God's prompt, it leads to life. John 10:27-28 tells us it's His sheep's that hears and follows Him " My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. "

5, PRAY IN TONGUES: The gift of tongues is given at redemption, but its manifestation waits till sanctification.Romans 8:26 tells us us, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Ephesians 6:18 tells us to pray always in the spirit.

6, LONG FOR THE THINGS THAT MAKE GOD HAPPY: This, in summary means obeying God.

God bless you.