RHEMA From Heaven

Pray in the spirit on all occasions

Ephesians 6:18 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (NIV).

There are different ways by which we can pray. You can pray with and in the spirit, and you can pray with your understanding. 1 Corinthians 14:15 says “So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.”

In praying with your spirit, and in the spirit, you allow yourself to be fully influenced by the Holy Spirit to make utterances by the will of God. This may sometimes be in groanings, or syllables that is unusual.

Praying with your understanding is also praying with your intuition or mind fully dominating in the process. Although, both ways of praying can be engaged, the Bible encourages that, the believer prays on all occasions in the spirit.

Praying on all occasions means, praying daily, constantly, and consistently. That will also mean that, you must give yourself to be fully led and influenced by the Holy Spirit to pray.

You see, looking at the preceding verses, before the instruction “pray in the spirit”, it means that praying in the spirit is one antidote against satanic and any demonic activity.

Read: Romans 8:26:“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered”

As far as it depends on you.

Romans 12:18 “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone”

Looking at other versions of our opening text may help to make the understanding much clearer. The New Living Translation says “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone”. The English Standard Version says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all”. The Berean Study Bible says, “If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.

You are a key factor in making sure that whatever God requires of you is done. Most often than not, the reason why people fail in life, or never achieve God’s purpose for their lives is when they become “reactionary”. So instead of doing what the word says, they put it under condition with respect to the one or people they are dealing with.

Sometimes what God wants you to do is independent of what others may do or think. So for instance, when it comes to letting peace and unity prevail, God’s word says, as far as it depends on you, play your part, do what is expected of you.

Many people have lost out on this great truth. They live as though nothing depends on them. Well to a great extent the peace, the happy relationship and marriage, etc. depends on you. Don’t go expecting it from anyone.

Do what you have to do, without murmuring and God’s blessings will manifest.

Don’t forget that, in any given situation you cannot control everything but you can control how you act, react and do things. With this truth in mind, you will always know that, “you” determine whether you will go up or down.

Read: Romans 14:19, “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another”

Share with people in need.

Romans 12:13 “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality” (NIV)

The Message Bible renders it like this “Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality”. Helping people in need especially, Christians is a divine instruction. As a Christian, you must go beyond looking at your own interest. Others must feature. 1 Corinthians 10:24 says “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others”. (NIV)

You see, meeting the needs of the under privilege or the less privilege doesn’t come automatically. Sometimes you must be on the look out for those in genuine need. You must also allow yourself to be led by the Holy Spirit to see people in need around you.

Today, our Churches are full of people in need due to the challenges that the devil has engulfed our world with. Some are in need of healing, some are in need of salvation, some are in need of food, some are in need of clothing, some are in need of accommodation, some are in need of job, etc. The needs are countless. Holistically we can put all these needs into categories. Some may be spiritual, social, emotional, and financial.

God’s charge to us is to share with anyone who may have a need in any of these areas. It is important to note that when it comes to sharing with people in need, you must not be in the position of having what you want to give in excess. The little you have can be a blessing.

So never wait to be “self sufficient”. Do good as and when you have the ability.

Read: Galatians 6:10 “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (NIV)

Be joyful in hope

Romans 12:12 “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer”

Hope is an important element in our walk with God and in life. Without hope many people will give up as they may not see the need to move on in life.

In the exercise of hope, the Bible says it must be done joyfully. Romans 12:12 says “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer”. One version, says “be cheerfully expectant…”. That is to say, your hope won’t help that much when it is characterised with complaints, nagging and in sadness.

The Bible says be joyful in the hope. So if you are expectant of something turning out positive in your life, you must develop a positive attitude in the process.

There is no need to be moody or depressed when you are in hope. The Bible says, God is a God of hope. Thus, He will never disappoint his children who turn to him in hope. Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises” (AMP).

Never be in despair when things don’t turn out the way you expect. Keep your hopes alive. Your hope will enhance your faith and it will definitely bring a better outcome.

Read: Romans 5:5 “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us”

Heaven, a prepared place for a prepared people.

John 14:1-2 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. *I go to prepare a place for you*”

Man’s life on earth is transient. In fact it is a journey. No one will be here forever. Some will sleep in the Lord and others too will die (because they didn’t know the Lord), whatever the case may be, man will definitely leave this world.

After this world, everyone will be faced with the realities of heaven and hell. How you lived in this world, what you believed, what you gave your life to will determine which of these two destinations will become your “home”.

On the other hand, going to heaven or making it to heaven is not by chance. It is something you must prepare for by accepting Jesus as Lord and saviour to begin with. The gospel of John calls it the born again experience (John 3:3).

Preparing for heaven also involves living by the word or putting to death the activities of the flesh. Colossians 3:5-6 says “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience”

You see, you can’t live anyhow and expect to land in heaven. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says,“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

Thus making it to heaven involves preparation. Prepare by being born again, prepare by living for the Lord, and prepare by working for the Lord.

Read: 1 John 3:2-3 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

Faith comes by hearing the word.

Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”

Knowing how faith comes or how to get faith is important. Without this knowledge you will likely operate with presumption.

Faith, the God-kind of faith, comes from the word. It comes from hearing the word. It comes from opening up your spirit to the word of God, through any means possible.

You see, getting faith, or having faith is not something beyond anyone’s reach. All you have to do is to make yourself available and be attentive to hearing and studying the word. That’s to say that, a casual, undisciplined, and inattentive approach to hearing the word of God or studying the word will only leave you on the shores of doubt.

The “less faith action syndrome” or weak faith in most Christians today is self inflicted. That’s the result of not making time for the word of God. Just as faith for salvation is initiated and ignited in the hearts of people when they hear the word on Christ’s redemption, you need to hear God’s word on other provisions to be ignited.

Instead of giving your ears and attention to things that don’t bring faith, turn to the word. Turn to it daily. Joshua 1:8 says “this book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success”.

Hear the word! Hear it actively! Hear it attentively! Hear it in a disciplined way and your faith will be ignited to do exploits in life.

Read: Mark 11:22-23

“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith”

Seeing is not believing

John 20:25
“So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

“Seeing is believing” is a common statement that has gained grounds in many cycles of life. Nonetheless, despite its popularity, it is not the truth. People who hold on to the concept of seeing is believing teach that, if you see something, then you can be sure that it is true or it really exists. Though this proposition sounds nice, it is not the truth. In fact, you don’t need to “believe” after seeing.

Most Christians have made their faith ineffective by holding on to the saying “seeing is believing”. You see, your relationship with God, solely depends on faith. Thus, anything that hinders your faith, will in effect hinder your relationship with God.

In John 20, the Bible records the post-resurrection encounters Jesus had with his disciples. On his first appearance to the disciples, Thomas was not with the gathering but he doubted when he was told Jesus had resurrected. To him (Thomas), he will only believe when he sees Jesus (John 20:25).

On his second appearance, Jesus, said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side”. “Stop doubting and believe.” You see, Thomas’ condition under which he will believe that the resurrection has happened was called by Jesus as “doubt”.

Seeing is believing is therefore “doubt”. Jesus further explained that, “blessed are those who believe and have not yet seen”. (John 20:29) “Then Jesus told him, Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (NIV).

You see, any time you believe without seeing, you are walking by faith and you will be blessed.
As a Christian, you must come to the point of holding on to God’s word irrespective of what happens around you and to you. Believe in God’s word without any reservation. Don’t go looking for physical evidences before you believe.
When God’s word says you are healed, that is it. When God’s word says you are delivered, that is it. When the word says you are prosperous, that is it.
Never ever get into “doubt” because you don’t see anything physical.

Read: John 20:29 “Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, do you now believe? Blessed [happy, spiritually secure, and favored by God] are they who did not see [Me] and yet believed [in Me].” (AMP).

Sin brings sickness

Psalms 38:3 “There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.”

The connection between sin and sickness is something the Child of God must fully understand.

The Bible reveals that sin is one major cause of sickness. Psalm 107:17 says “Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities”. Other versions says, “Others were foolish. They suffered (became sick) because of their sins”.

Nothing can be far from this truth. Walking in sin makes you open to become sick. Sin breaks your fellowship with God and brings you out of His divine covering. You must know that walking in sin as a Christian breaks the hedge of God around you. It gives the devil easy access to your life to afflict you with sickness which is incipient death. Ecclesiastes 10:8 says “…and whoever breaks an hedge, a serpent shall bite him”.

You see, you must understand that living in disobedience or sin will cost you a lot. Jesus once healed a man who was taken ill and instructed him not to sin again lest a worst thing will come to him. See John 5:14, “Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.”

Living in divine health has more to do with how you obey God’s word. You will live in divine health as you dwell daily in God’s word by faith. Learn to walk worthy of God and never break your fellowship with God by living in sin.

Read: Psalm 107:17, “Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.”

Honour ministers of the gospel

1Timothy 5:17 “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”

Honouring ministers of the gospel is a must and not a suggestion. You can’t take ministers of the gospel for granted and be blessed by their ministries. You must honour them by obeying the word of God they teach, not speaking evil about them and also giving to them out of your substance.

Jesus said in Mark 6:4 that “A prophet is not without honor except in his home town and among his own relatives and in his own household”. The above verse in the gospel of Mark was the response Jesus gave to his kinsfolk when they could hardly accept his ministry. The Bible says a prophet is not without honour, meaning that a prophet is with honour.

For instance in the case of Jesus, even though he was God sent to redeem humanity he was not accepted by his own. Instead of them appreciating and honouring the grace of God, they subjected it to criticism. They knew Jesus so much that they could not accept him as God sent.

There are many folks today like that. They find it difficult to relate spiritually with ministers of the gospel. Instead of positioning themselves to be blessed, they rather become critics and familiar with Men of God.

The Shunammte woman in 2Kings 4 understood the truth of honouring a man of God. See 2 Kings 4:9-10, “She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. ¹⁰Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.”

Today you have a man of God in your life, your Pastor who toils for you day and night. when problems come, you ask the Pastor to pray for you, when the circumstances seem too difficult, you seek his advice and guidance. Yet when was the last time you blessed him? When was the last time you fell on your knees and prayed fervently for him? When was the last time you said, Pastor thank you for all you do for us, here is a small gift as token of appreciation?

Let us not become ignorant of loving, serving and giving back onto the men of God who have been anointed as a caretaker of our souls. Do not become critical and stingy in blessing your Pastor. God wants to bless you through him. Honor him with the best so that God can honor you through him with His best.

Don’t get carnal or familiar in dealing with men of God especially your pastor. Learn to honour your pastor and ministers of the gospel in general.

Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 “And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!”

Be careful what you hear.

Mark 4:24 KJV“And he said unto them Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given”.

What you allow into your ears has the power to make you or destroy you. You can be imparted negatively or positively from what you hear. Thus, the instruction from Jesus is very crucial.

Just as the Bible says faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God so also does unbelief comes from hearing words of men and the devil. Anything you hear or allow into your mind comes with something. If you allow the word of God into your ears it will build faith, courage and give you a sound mind. On the other hand, if you also allow the ungodly opinions of men and the voice of the devil into your ears it will build fear and unbelief in you.

Don’t just allow people to say all kinds of things around you, especially when it is not inclined towards building you up. If you allow talks of fear, sin, and doubt, your life will follow suit. It does not matter which channel is bringing you what message, always be guided by wisdom before you pay heed.

Carefully select the songs you give your ear to, be mindful of words or statements people will make going forward around you and you can be assured of an unending flow of grace in your life.

Read: Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”