RHEMA From Heaven

Faith comes by hearing God’s word

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

The importance of faith can’t be overemphasized. It is the pillar or bedrock on which we thrive as Christians. In fact, the teaching on faith should be one subject the Christian must hold in high esteem. The Bible makes it clear that we live by faith (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38).

Knowing the victories, successes, and triumphs we can attain by faith is important, but we must first and foremost look at how we can come by this faith. The knowledge of how to get faith must be our starting point any time the subject matter is mentioned.

You see, there are many people today who know about the power of faith but they have not so much mastered the truth on how to get faith or build faith. In fact, some don’t even know how to rightly get faith. The case is just like having been told of a nice place but you don’t know how to get there or you don’t know the way to the place.

When it comes to faith, God’s word instructs on how it can be acquired. Romans 10:17 clearly says “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. God’s word is the only source of faith. Reading, and hearing God’s word builds faith into your spirit. This is the bible way of getting faith. Many people have missed it on this simple truth. They try to use other means to get faith and it gets them nowhere.

In fact, some folks go to the extent of even praying for faith. You see, that is out of place. You need to have faith before you pray and not vice versa. Mark 11:24 says “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe…

If you want to have faith, learn to turn your ears to God’s word. Don’t just listen to any thing. Fables and humorous stories does not produce faith. Jesus said “TAKE heed therefore how you hear” (Luke 8:18). It is time to “school yourself in faith” with the word of God. Your faith is the victory that overcomes the world. Do something about your faith now before the evil days come. Remember you will need it to stand and win.

Read: Mark 5:27-28 “When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be healed.”

Take your “ladder” with you

2 Timothy 4:13 “The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments”

Success in life is predicated on many factors. As a Christian you must know the very things that puts you ahead or makes you significant in life. These things – whether they are actions, attitudes, people or your worship life are ladders. They help you to attain heights that would have been impossible to access.

The Apostle Paul in our opening text asked his protégé, Timothy, to bring with him books and parchments he had left in Troas on his missionary journey. As an avid writer and a great learner, the Apostle saw the need for his books and parchments if he was to continue to make impart. This principle is the “take your ladder with you”

You see as you move on in life, it is important you take your ladder with you, so that you can use it to climb to every next level. Though as Christians we may have some common things as ladder(s) such as prayer life, consecrated living, faith and giving, there will also be some ladders that will be peculiar to everyone due to their uniqueness and their calling.

Thus to some their ladder is “a serious prayer life”, “a word study life”, “soul winning”, and “a person who helps you in your Christian life”. Just to help you see what your ladder is, reflect on the things and persons God has brought your way that have made you who you are.

You must seriously guard it and never leave your ladder behind. Leaving your ladder behind will rob you of an opportunity in the future. Don’t leave behind the things that has made you what you are today. Don’t let other engagements in life make you ignore your ladder. Go for it, and get back to work.

Read:1 Timothy: 14-15 “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you through the prophecy spoken over you at the laying on of the hands of the elders. Be diligent in these matters and absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all”

Flee youthful lust

2 Timothy 2:22 “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts”

Lust is a strong desire one has for something. When directed towards wrong things, lust will lead to sin. The bible in the above text enjoins believers away from anything that stimulates youthful lust leading to actions that are not consistent with righteous living.

You see, lust occurs first as a thought in the mind- it may be a bizarre craving for money or pleasure. The warning is to stop the lust before it moves into the realm of action.

God wants believers especially those who are young to channel their energy into right living and not actions that will iilead to corruption- body, soul and spirit.

When you are able to put lust under control, you release yourself to walk in TOTAL CONSECRATION.
In dealing with lust, you must set your priorities right when it comes to HOLINESS and living a devoted Christian life. Never bring your life into disorder by living an immoral and a riotous life. You see, sexual immorality, adultery, and the love of money never builds the believer in any way.

Let go of any inappropriate desire or lust. Rather, pursue righteousness out of a pure HEART before it is too late. Don’t forget: YOU CAN NEVER HAVE IT RIGHT, GET IT RIGHT UNTIL YOU START IT RIGHT. If you have started wrongly, repent, confess to the Lord and pray for the Grace to start right.

Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:3 “God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.” (NLT)

Talk well

Exodus 4:12
“Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say”

How well you talk as a Christian will determine the battles you can win or lose. It will also determine whether you will be favoured by people or lose favour in the sight of people.

You see, our opening text tells how God was so concerned about how Moses would talk to Pharaoh thus, He promised to be with his (Moses’s) mouth”.

You see, in talking you must learn to choose your words carefully. Not only that, it must also be associated with the right mannerism, gesture or body language. Also, the tone and the pace of letting out words from your mouth makes your talk good or bad.
In talking well, you must be able to know when it is appropriate to say something or keep it for a later date or day.
Proverbs 15:23 says “A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!”
Proverbs 15:1-2 says “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness”

You see, what you say or how you talk can let your light shine or put your light out. Many people have lost great privileges because of lack of “talking well”. Aside the spiritual implications that talking brings, in your social interactions with people, how you talk can be the game changer – by either sending you up or bringing you down.

How well do you talk to people?
Are you careful with your choice of words?
Do you add the appropriate courtesies in terms of manners when talking?
Do you put your tone right and pace of words well when talking?

Don’t forget that, before people will even relate with you, your words or “talks” makes them know you.
Never be carried away by anger, childishness and emotions to UTTER words anyhow.
Know this, your words can go a long way to determine your eternal destination because by it, you are either justified or condemned (Mathew 12:36).

Just as people plan before investing, examine before selecting and test before recommending, you must also learn to think and ponder on what to say before you talk

Read: Matthew 12:37 “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned”

Fight the good fight of faith

1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses”

Every Christian has a fight to face. This is not a fight with fist or carnal ammunitions. Ephesians 6:12 says “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”.

This fight of the believer is a spiritual fight. It is a fight against the schemes and wiles of the enemy. The bible calls it a “good” fight since it is a fight we engage in from the Lord’s side or on the grounds of victory. Nonetheless, until you take your stand with the word to engage in this fight, many things won’t go well for you.

You see, your fight of faith as a believer is what delivers into your hands that which you deserve. In this fight, you lay hold of what the Lord says is yours with the “force of faith” through prayer and positive confession. You must not allow the devil to use the arrows of doubts and fear to rob you of your blessing.

The Bible says, the devil is in to steal, kill and to destroy (John 10:10). But you have an advantage. God said “resist the devil, and he will flee”(James 4:7). You must learn to speak God’s word against any works of darkness.

Violently refuse the enemy access in your terrain. Don’t cry when you must stand and rebuke satanic works against you. Crying, complaining and worrying is not the solution. Don’t forget that tears or crying wins no combat.

As you engage in this good fight, vehemently refuse anything that is of the devil in the name of Jesus and declare all the promises and blessings of God for your life into manifestation.

Read: Psalm 144:1 “Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight”

Study: Ephesians 6:10-18

Refrain from sexual immorality

1 Corinthians 6:9 “Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality” (New Living Translation)
Sexual immorality is a destiny destroyer. Anyone given to it will not see a bright future.

You see, sexual immorality has grave consequences that the believer of today must do everything possible to avoid. The Bible calls it a sin against ones “own body”. Proverbs 6:32 says “he who gives himself to sexual immorality lacks sense, and destroys his own soul”.

Proverbs 5:9-10 also reveals that immorality will cause you to lose your honour, and your labour will go to foreigners. Meaning that, your many years of accumulated wealth will be given to another. Friend, this is the price you pay for entertaining sexual immorality.

Don’t be an ignorant Christian when it comes to the consequences of immorality. Most of the troubles people go through today can be avoided if they learn to put their moral life in order.

David after being the man that God cherished most, lost his place of respect and brought calamity to his own family when he committed adultery with Bathsheba, Samson the Lord’s anointed hero matched from hero to zero because of immorality.

Samson aborted his heavenly assignment due to immorality. Not only that, he also died from it. Wise up! Because wise people know that, there is nothing like “free sex”, if the person is not married to you.

Keep the purity principle, avoid any embarrassment and walk into your greater glory.

Read: Ephesians 5:3 “But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints” (NASB)

Study: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7

Overcome the fear of death

John 11:25, 26 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

The experience of life opens people to many fears. But God’s word is crystal clear on the subject of fear. In Isaiah 41:10 it says “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”. So for a believer, God does not want you to live in fear. No, not a day in your life.

Lack of truth on the subject of fear has caused many believers to still live in fear. Some live with the fear of failure, fear of sickness, fear of venturing new things in life, fear of marriage and the fear of death.

Our opening text however gives us an undeniable assurance on why the fear of death must never hunt us or be a worry to believers. When it comes to death, it is important to know that we have the physical death, spiritual death and the second death. Where spiritual death is separation from the life of God, physical death is the destruction of the body- where your spirit leaves the body, and the second death is eternal separation from God into the lake of fire.
Understanding death this way must give the child of God no reason to fear. Since being born again and living in Christ gives you victory over spiritual death and eternal death. Not only that, the physical death does not end your life but rather transits you to another life with God.

You see, the moment you received Jesus, the old life passed away and a new life came into existence. That was your real death experience. “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).
Face up to it. You have already died and gone to heavenly places (Ephesians 2:5, 6). Sure, the world cannot understand this kind of talk, but you can. For God gives you understanding in all things (2 Timothy 2:7). You have been delivered from the fear of death since Jesus destroyed “him that had the power of death, that is the devil “(Hebrews 2:14).

You know what is going to happen when you leave your physical body. You will be with Jesus in heaven. It makes no difference to the child of God as to his place. No wonder the Apostle Paul wrote “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain “(Philippians 1:21).
Never give in to the fear of death. You have to live fearlessly with the knowledge of this truth and fulfill the purpose of God for your life. Not only that, as a Child of God, you are divinely protected from all evil; and God’s word says with long life he will satisfy you and give you his salvation.

Remember that when it comes to physical death, you just change clothes—from your earth suit to heavenly attire, but you will not experience pangs of death. There is no sorrow, fear, nor depression. Hallelujah!

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”

Overcome the Spirit of worldliness

1 John 2: 15 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him”
One sure way to safeguard your faith in this end times is to avoid being worldly – putting priority on the flesh as in to gratify it and living with the philosophies of this world rather than the word of God.

Worldliness elevates the urgings of the flesh over the teaching of the Spirit. Worldliness could involve being materialistic—the ambition of laying up treasures on earth (Matthew 16:19), the passionate desire for wealth without considering values (1 Timothy 6:9-10), or subscribing to the ideology of “eat, drink, and be merry making” indiscretionarily (Luke 12:19).

The tendency of being worldly is not far-fetched. It is a matter of staying balanced on the truths of God’s word by not being so “spiritual” without being relevant in this physical world or by not being too physical to the neglect of spiritual discipline and virtues.

You see, today’s Christian is under pressure to become worldly. Worldly pleasures and pursuits have become so common that you will see nothing wrong with it. Sometimes they call it, ‘right’, ‘freedom’, ‘civilization’ and the like. These has robbed some believers on basic practices like personal prayer, quiet time, and church attendance. They claim they are too busy, but the truth is that they have become worldly. Don’t forget that whenever you choose the methods of the world to make your living at the expense of God’s word you are ‘worldly’.

The Bible says, “Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him”. Don’t take the things of God lightly at all. Worldliness can’t get you into Heaven. Although it can give you “temporary solutions”, it has no eternal REWARD. Be spiritual, be scriptural and worldliness will exit your life.

Read: John 17:16 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world”

Attitude is everything

Philippians 2:5 “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus”

Your attitude as a believer should not be anything far from that of Christ. In other words, there should be a great resemblance in your attitude to that of Christ.

Attitude refers to your manner, disposition, and position with regards to a person or a thing. It also refers to how you express yourself in your words and deeds. This understanding of the word “attitude” makes attitude more mental. Thus, how you think, or your mindset will determine how you will relate to people or act when faced with situations.

Following from our key verse in Philippians 2:5, the Bible admonishes that we have the same attitude as Christ. Meaning that, in any given situation or circumstance you must ensure that your manners, feelings, and expressions doesn’t go contrary to what Christ would have done.

You see, as Christians our attitude is everything. Whether you like it or not, people will know you more by your attitude. Exhibiting a bad attitude will not only look down on God’s grace but will also put you out of favour with people.

To have an attitude that people cannot gainsay, you must always deal or relate with people as though you are dealing with the Lord.
Colossians 3:17 (NLT) says “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father”

You see, you can only have a good attitude with the right mindset.
Never excuse any wrong attitude in your life. Deal with it. Christ is the standard and not the fallen standards of society.

Read: Romans 15:5 “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had”

LIVE FOR A REASON

John 12:27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’?
No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour”.

This were the very words that come out of the mouth of Jesus whiles He was on earth. In fact, He
was purpose bound that He could not but to proclaim it. He knew why He was on earth. His
purpose was clear to him that nothing could derail him from it.

On another occasion he told the disciples “For the Son of man came to seek and to save that
which was lost”. Meaning that from his birth up to the time He gave up His life to save humanity
Jesus was glued to His mission. He never swayed off His assignment. Not even the persecutions
or the accusations could hinder Him.

You see, like Jesus every person must be purpose bound. Life is not and must not be a funfair to
you. You are born for a purpose and you must live for that reason. In other words you are unique
with a divine assignment and are not on planet earth for nothing. You exist and live because of
something.

One preacher once said, “It is either you on earth for a mission or you are on an excursion”. Folks
who take life to be an excursion grounds only see things happen but never contribute to it but
those who live for a mission always cause things to happen.

Until you live for a reason you are just existing but not really living. Living for a reason will cause
you to do something for your generation. Living for a reason will make you particular in life, it will
make you responsible and it will put pressure on you to go about your activities with excellence.

You see, you must also be focused on your purpose to make it come to pass irrespective of the
challenges you may encounter. Never allow frivolous things, and fun fair shift your attention.
Never allow any negative thoughts of impossibilities, the fear of failure, disappointments,
rejection, criticisms and the like run aground your purpose.

Fight for it, stand up for it, no matter what happens walk on the path that will make you live out
your purpose.

Don’t forget this, You are born for a PURPOSE, so fulfill it.

Read: Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts
of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end.”