RHEMA From Heaven

Imitate those who through faith inherit the promise

Hebrews 6:12 “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises”.

One way you can make it in life is by imitating the heroes of faith that have gone ahead of you. By imitation, you follow in their example or learn of them how they did exploits in their walk with God here on earth.

You see, sometimes the best way of making it is by imitation. You must be humble to copy or follow the noble examples of people that have gone ahead of you.

Paul in teaching the Corinthian Church said, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1 ). You must not read the word of God and still miss it. The Bible says that “whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4).

You must know that, the Christian is not left without an example. The bible has examples of people who demonstrated faith against every odd situation, it has examples of people who lived holy or consecrated lives in the mist of corruption, it has examples of people who lived in absolute patience to God and on and on goes the list.

Your duty is to search the word and see where you are lagging behind and learn from the principles of a gone hero. For instance, you can follow the faith, patience and obedience of Abraham. He obeyed and followed the word of the Lord, when God asked him to leave his father’s house, country and kindred. (Hebrews 11:8)

Again, he demonstrated faith in the word of the Lord and finally had a child at the age of 100. Not only that, he was patient to have his miracle after more than twenty years of the promise.

Let the exploits of such faith filled men be a source of inspiration to you in your walk with God.

Read: Hebrews 6:12 “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises”.

In all things give thanks

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Thanks, giving is mandatory for every child of God. This is not something that is done at certain times or seasons. Your thanksgiving to God must be independent of whatever situation you are in.

1 Thessalonians 5:18, according to the amplified version of the Bible says “in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”

George Thomas Smart (1776-1867) captured this truth when he put forward the words of his song ” Through all the changing scenes of life ,

In trouble and in joy,

The praises of my God shall still

My heart and tongue employ”

You see, the reason many Christians approach this spiritual activity so casually is because they don’t believe that, God at all times and in all things is working for their good.

In fact, it is for the many victories and awesome works of God on your behalf that has brought you thus far. Before you cast your eyes on your needs and wants and before you take a walk on the lane of “ungratefulness” just take a minute to see the enumerable things that God has done for you and is still doing.

Prophet Jeremiah in his lamentations said, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not”.

Don’t also forget that, God has not dealt with us according to our sins.

Remember that, God has indeed done so much that we cannot tell it all. This is why we must keep thanking Him and let our thanksgiving override all the troubles that we encounter every now and then.

Read: 1 Chronicles 29:13 “Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name”

Your Spiritual leader is for your profit

Hebrews 13:17

“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

It is always a great privilege to have a spiritual leader in your life. This can either be your pastor or spiritual father. However, how you treat and respond to them determines if they become a blessing to you or not.

Your leader has a mandate from God to guide you on your God ordained path through instruction. That is why a disregard to your spiritual leader is a direct rebellion against God.

Hebrews 13:17 says “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

You see, the reason why you must obey and submit to your spiritual leader is that it brings a benefit. Every work of your leader is geared towards keeping your soul intact. This mandate is especially hard since they do not only face physical challenges but demonic oppositions as well. They literally fight through physical and spiritual barriers to keep watch over your souls.

Thus you can ease their task by being obedient to their instructions. You must do this because they will one day give a report to the Lord about you. The Living Bible renders the same scripture this way;

Obey your spiritual leaders and be willing to do what they say. For their work is to watch over your souls, and God will judge them on how well they do this. Give them reason to report joyfully about you to the Lord and not with sorrow, for then you will suffer for it too.

What report will your pastor give about you? Are you responsive to their instructions?

Do you obey and willingly submit? Or are you making their work harder for them as another version puts it;

“…Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?” From today, strive to be a good son or daughter that any local church is raising or nurturing.

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

Nothing is hidden before GOD

Hebrews 4:13 “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account”

The life of the believer is an “open field” before God. He sees all that we do and knows the motive behind every action of ours.

Hebrews 4:13 says “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account”.

You see, you can’t be a mystery before God. He knows you very well. Knowing this truth must make you go about your Christian life with all sincerity. To proclaim and profess one thing in public and do something awkward from the ” truth” you profess is nothing but hypocrisy and insincerity.

You see, God wants you to uphold the truth in all sincerity. Don’t be good on the outside when with people and throw away your innocence when alone.

Many people are just deceiving themselves in this generation. They just use God and the Church as a cover up for all their evil. But that should not be your walk as a Christian. Walk with God in all sincerity knowing very well that one day He will reward you for all that you have done.

The truth is that, no man can be smarter than God. No! Very impossible. You can only deceive your pastor and your Christian brothers and sisters but not God.

Job 23:10 says “But he knows the way that I take…’. Friend, God knows the way that you take. You can’t keep him in the dark. You can only do that to men. It is very interesting how people deceive pastors these days, but God is watching.

Rather than covering up evil, confess your faults to another to be helped and be healed. Never be a Christian with ” dead bones” in your cupboard, but rather do awesome and great things for God in secret.

Stay blessed and flourish!

Read: Luke 8:17 “For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”

Treat People Well

Luke 6:31, Jesus said, “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise”.

The world operates with and on principles and laws. One of such principles is Reciprocity; that you can only reap what you sow in life. This principle is true for every area of our lives, be it academics, business and most importantly your interaction and relationships with people. That is why you must always endeavor to treat people around you very well.

Jesus taught this same principle to His generation. In Luke 6:31, Jesus said, “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise”.

In other words, treat people the same way you want to be treated. Therefore if you are abusive, disrespectful, self centered, unforgiving and unloving towards those around you, you are sending them a message that, you also want to be treated the same way.

You see, your bases for treating people well must not be because of their social status or because of what you stand to get from them. It must solely be based on how you wish to be treated yourself.

You see, don’t expect respect, love and help from people because you did same to them. Act on the basis of love. Nonetheless, people will always give to you exactly what you gave to them or even more. The hands you strengthen today will one day hold you up.

You must make it a priority to treat people well in life.

Philippians 2:3 “let nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves”

Temptation, the dice the devil throws to everyone

Mathew 6:13 “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen”

Temptations come to everyone. Irrespective of your status in life you are never exempted from temptation. In fact, the bible in Mathew 4 reveals how Jesus was also tempted in the course of fulfilling his heavenly mandate.

Dealing with temptations demand great understanding. You must first of all know the source and the methods by which it comes. Temptations are worked out and backed by the devil with the sole purpose of derailing you from your belief and cause you to lose confidence in your walk with God.

With this evil agenda that is embedded in temptations, God expects you to be ready against temptations and not be taken unawares by it.

Apostle Paul in teaching admonishes that, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:12,13).

To be on your guard against temptation, you must not presume you are beyond temptation because of your spiritual height or “level” in the faith. As a matter of fact, the devil’s main targets are those who ‘presume’ they are standing and they stay off guard.

The watch word for every believer is to take heed. In other words, be careful. Be careful of who you associate with, be careful of what really interests you and the things you desire for.

You see, the devil will not tempt you with things that are unfamiliar to you. On the contrary, your biggest temptations would come from the things that are common to you. Things you are familiar with, your familiar places and your familiar desires.

But in all these, always know that God is faithful. He will not stand by and watch you go through any temptation stronger than you. Therefore, any temptation that comes to you, know that you have what it takes to overcome it.

Read: James 1:14 “But every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed”

Called to be servants

Luke 22:27 “… But I am among you as the one who serves”

One cardinal attribute that characterized the ministry and life of Jesus was service. He served the purpose of God, and He served his disciples through His leadership. In Philippians chapter 2:7, the bible says he took the form of a servant although He was God himself.

As Christians, Jesus wants us to uphold to this great principle of servant leadership. You see, despite the fact that leadership is very important for any institution to thrive, for any leadership to make a meaningful impact, it must be founded on service.

Thus, as Christians, we are all called to be servants contrary to worldly opinions and concepts of leadership. See Marks account of Jesus’s teaching on serving. “But Jesus called them to him , and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister, And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:42-45).

Jesus’s teaching brings down the general misconception people have about leadership whether in the sacred or secular office. Today most folks assume leadership roles with the intention to be served or to enjoy the best of everything. But you see, that’s actually far from what God expects. Jesus said, if you want to be the chief or master, be the servant first.

Pay the price of service and sacrifice if you are a leader. Don’t crave for the power that comes with leadership meanwhile you don’t want to subject yourself to service. You see, if Jesus become a servant leader, then it means that the God ordained way to thrive as a leader is to serve.

Always know that, your first point of service must be to God and whatever He demands of you. God is calling you into a place of greatness that comes through service. Endeavor to be a servant.

Read: Mark 10:43 “But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant”

Have you stopped listening to instruction?

Proverbs 19:27 “Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge“

Every individual will go through many phases of life. This process of growth will require that one do away with some things, maintain some and also adopt some new things necessary for growth and development in all aspects of life.

One key thing you must maintain as you journey on in life is listening to counsel. Counsel, especially a counsel from a father has a way it can set you apart for greatness in life. Although many downpour on the importance of listening to counsel as they grow, it is never a wise decision to make.

Instructions are instrumental for your success as you grow. It will save you the loss that comes with trial and error adventures. This is the more reason why you must be aggressive to pay heed to instructions.

In fact, when it comes to instructions, the book of Proverbs has more to teach.

Proverbs 1:8 says “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother”. Proverbs 4:1 says “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding”. Proverbs 13:1 says “A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke”

You see, most often than not, the instructions from a father, or a godly counsellor is filled with practical wisdom. This is the wisdom that will help you to do well in life and will also bring you success. Anytime you heed to instruction, the bible says you will be wise in your later end (Proverbs 19:20). Meaning that, some instructions are well understood or are made more clearly with time.

Keep following every instruction from your spiritual instructor, and the word of God. Never turn on death ears to godly instructions and you will see great results and success in your life.

Proverbs 24:6 says “For by wise guidance you can wage your war, And in an abundance of [wise] counselors there is victory and safety“

Count it all Joy

James 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations“

It is important to know that you are bound to face trials and challenges as a believer. Nonetheless, all these trials can be a stepping stone to elevate you into greatness if you can learn to trust God.

You must understand that whatever happens in your life, whether good or bad can only be for your advantage as a Christian. It is in this light or truth that the epistle of James admonishes that “count it all joy”. You see, if your faith is not in the Lord and in his power, then there is a genuine reason to worry. But if you have left all things, including your life and whatever happens to you in the hands of God, there is no need for any concern.

In the book of Romans 8:28 apostle Paul said, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”. You see, as long you are child of God, all things shall work together for your good. No matter how difficult or challenging a situation may be, God will work things out for your good.

You see, whatever was meant to bring you destruction and disgrace would work together for your good, if you can trust God in your moments of difficulty. The story of Joseph is a typical example of how God is able to turn things for our good. Through rejection, betrayal, accusation and being forgotten by people he helped, God still come through for him. This is to remind you that there is no cause of alarm when you are with the Lord. Author John H. Sammis, puts it right through his lyrics “When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word, what a glory he sheds on our way”

Always look out for what God can do in your trials and challenges. This is why you must “Count it all joy” when difficulties show up, because God will work for your good.

Read: 2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work“

Grow, don’t remain a child

2 Peter 3:18 says “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

Every believer’s life must be characterized by growth. It is one sign that shows that you are making progress in your walk with God. You see, remaining at the same level of faith, understanding, grace and love after being born again is a sign that you are not growing.

But the apostle Peter also makes it clear that our spiritual growth and our progress in the Christian life must be a continuous maturing in grace and an ever-increasing knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is important to note that, growing in God’s grace is not only the accumulation of facts and information about the Lord Jesus, but also involves a day by day transformation of our life, as we become increasingly like Him in disposition and character.

Just as people grow in the natural, it is also expected that we grow spiritually as well. Growing in the Lord will therefore follow the same principles as in the natural.

To grow up in life, whether in the physical or spiritually, feeding, and the right kind of food is key. The food that brings growth to the Christian is God’s word. The Bible says “desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby”. Thus, you must be on the “word diet” to grow up.

When you don’t feed on God’s word you remain a “baby” Christian and miss out on many things in your walk with God. Your growth as a Christian is key, since that is what leads to a “TRANSFORMED” life.

In the natural, trees that grow change in shape and form, and moves through various stages then to fruit bearing. Same applies to Christians who grow. Be zealous about growing up. This is the sure way for you to become productive in life.

Read: Colossians 1:9-10 “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God”