RHEMA From Heaven

Jesus the saviour

Matthew 1:21 says “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins”.

One of the awesome gifts humanity received is in the person of Jesus. Jesus was an all-inclusive gift to our sin doomed world. His birth and death, was solely to the benefit of humanity and the expression of the incomprehensible love of God. John’s gospel put the saving mandate of Jesus in this way “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

You see, prior to Jesus’ coming, the power of sin and the consequence of sin has deprived man from the higher life that God designed for him to enjoy. Also through sin, death entered, thereby putting man in a fix. Meaning that the whole human race was under sway of the devil and his cohorts. But thanks be to God for giving His son for our salvation.

The Bible says in John 3:16 that “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”. This is to tell you that Jesus was and is not a religious figure or leader as some people perceive. Jesus is the saviour of the world. He came to give life to a dying and a hurting world.

Isaiah 53:4-5 says “Surely he (Jesus) hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed”. You see, Jesus took our griefs and sorrows, or better still every sickness or disease, and He also brought us peace- peace with God and the peace that comes from a sound mind.

Today, Jesus is still the saviour of the world. He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to him (Hebrews 7:25). What is your case? Are you sin bound, are you sick, are you struggling with any negative addiction- the saviour is here.
Come just as you are, call on Him in faith and with a repentant heart and you shall be saved.

Read: Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”

Faith, a key factor in walking with God

Hebrews 11: 6 “But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him” (AMP).

Every born again Christian has been brought into a relationship or fellowship with God (1 John 1:7). But for us to continually abide with him, we need to live by faith or believe Him. We need to believe him for who He is, what He is able to do and what He is willing to do. No one can walk with God and see tremendous results or see great happenings without exercising his or her faith.

I have often said that, you can’t walk with God and send your faith on vacation. Your faith in God must be ever present. It must be undulating irrespective of what the situations or circumstances of life may be.

Any time you walk with God at the “believing level” or by faith, doubts and fears fade out. When you believe God, in your walk with him, you are able to lay hold of all His promises and make them materialize in your life.

The Bible teaches how Abraham became a stalwart in life through the demonstration of his faith when the Lord called him. He laid hold on the promises of God against all odds till he saw each promise manifested in his life. Romans 4:20 says “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God”

You see, anything God promises you gets delivered to you when you believe that He (God) is able. Just like Abram moved from the background of insignificance to significance by believing, the same will be your story as you journey with God when you also believe.

You see, Abram’s belief in the word released him into prosperity, great divine encounters, blessings of the fruit of the womb, and divine protection (Genesis 13:2, 17:1, 21:2). In fact, Abram’s faith in God, moved God to fight for his course without his knowledge.

This means that your walk with the Lord must be by faith. You must be FULLY persuaded in your heart about what God has said about you. When God’s word declares that you are rich, prosperous, healed and delivered, you must believe it. This is what brings the manifestation.

Thus, when God’s word says you are healed, let that be your confession and don’t look at the symptoms of a sickness to determine whether you are healed or not. In fact, your healing is independent of what you may be experiencing in your body at that material moment. Similarly, when God’s word says you are prosperous, don’t look at the current financial challenges, look at His word, and as you remain diligent in your work, you will see great wonders in the area of your finances.

Always look at the Lord, because faithful is He. Your belief in God will bring you to the shores of rest.

Read: Hebrews 11:2 “For by it the elders obtained a good report”

HELL TO ESCAPE

1 Thessalonians 5:9 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ”

There’s a hell to escape from. Hell or Hades is a place of eternal torment and pain. It is a place for all the children of disobedience, who despise God and reject his salvation.

The good news is that anyone born again has been redeemed from the clutches of hell into eternal life in the kingdom of heaven.

The Bible says concerning every believer that, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

You see, your attention must be set on heaven as a Christian. It should be your number one priority. Be willing to do all it takes to avoid hell and it’s dangers, because though hell is not meant for believers, living a reckless ungodly life can send you there.

“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” (Galatians 5:19-21).

You see, if you give in to the works of the flesh you will surely miss the kingdom of God or Heaven. If you miss Heaven, you won’t miss hell. It’s either one or the other.

You must avoid every contrary doctrine that suggests you can live in sin and still make it to heaven. Nothing impure shall enter heaven except they that are sanctified by the blood of Christ.

Receive Christ and his finished work of salvation in your life and be saved from the dangers to come.

Hell was not created with you in mind, so don’t go there by mistake.

Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:9

BEWARE OF MOCKERS

2 Peter 3:3 “First of all, know [without any doubt] that mockers will come in the last days with their mocking, following after their own human desires“.

One of the things that characterize this end times is the “spirit of mockery”. That is to let you know that, we are in the days where people will mock God, the things of God and the followers of God.

The word “mock” means to criticize and laugh at someone or something for being bad, worthless, or unimportant. It also means to laugh and make fun of something. It is therefore not a strange thing seeing people make fun and laughing at the things of God in this generation.

To some, believers are a mere bunch of people who don’t know their left from their right. Believers have been branded religious fanatics and sometimes called “unwise”.

But this is nothing, than an end time demonic spirit to cause your faith to waver and to make you doubt the move and the power of God in this last days.

You see, don’t let people’s destructive criticism which is backed by the spirit of mockery affect your love and commitment to the things of God. Rather, in the midst of this end time antagonistic spirit of mockery, grow from strength to strength.

Be admonished by the word of the Psalmist and have nothing to do with mockers.

Psalm 1:1 says “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers“

Have nothing to do with people who mock you for your faith and zeal in the Lord.

Read: Jude 1:18

MAKE NO ROOM FOR OFFENCES

Acts 24:16 “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and [toward] men.”

Life is not without offences, irrespective of who you are as long as you still exist on earth, offence will come to you. It is impossible to go through life without being offended. Though offence do come, how we handle it influences the end result of the offence.

To be offended means to be hurt or angry because of a wrong against you. You see, anytime you carry hurt in your heart because of something done to you, you are offended

Jesus had this to say about how we should handle offence. Luke 17:3-4,”Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. Against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” You see offences are not to be kept but rebuked (reconciled) and forgiven.

We live in a generation where retaliation is common. They have this to say when offended: “I’m not talking to him anymore”: they rain insults, they fight or write off a brother or sister. But that shouldn’t be your stand as a Christian. Although it is “natural” for people to pay back for an offense, Christians are different.

Every offence not properly handled will give room for enmity and many times open doors for the devil. Prolonged offences can also birth bitterness which strengthens sickness. (Hebrews 12:15)

Never act carnally to habour an offence or evil in your heart. Let love lead?

Read: Proverbs 19:11

STUDY TO SHOW YOURSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD.

2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”

Studying is an important factor in our walk with God. You see, you can’t be a good Christian if your “head” is not good. Because just like your spirit, your head must be flooded with the truth of the Gospel.

Anytime you study, you devote your time and attention to gaining knowledge of a particular subject matter. It also involves a detailed investigation and analysis of a subject or situation.

Thus, as a Christian studying will involve devoting your time to understand the things of God, the principles of the kingdom of God, and everything that will enhance your walk with God.

You see, until you give yourself to rigorous and consistent study, you will always walk with God at a shallow level. You have to go deep in study if you want to present yourself to God in the right and appropriate manner.

There are many folks today who are only running on the fuel of zeal. In order words, what keeps them going is zeal, passion, enthusiasm but they have no knowledge. Such people have the tendency to fall off when their zeal dwindles.

Another reason, why you have to study as a Christian is for you to be able to accurately handle and skillfully teach the word of truth. You see, the truth you know benefits no one, until you let it loose by teaching others.

God is interested in Christians who are studios. Don’t rush reading God’s word. Give time to studying God’s word in context. Remember that, when you don’t study, you will become insignificant with the passage of time.

Read: Ezra 7: 1-10

DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS

1 Corinthians 14:1 “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy“.

One of the ways to receive the gifts of the spirit is through “desires”. That is why the Bible admonishes Christians to desire spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts are special endowment from the Holy Spirit that helps us to minister to the Lord and also to the needs of others. In fact, the Bible says spiritual gifts are given to benefit the body of Christ.

You see, it is by the release of these gifts that our world can be blessed and the body of Christ will also stand in its glory.

For instance with the gifts of healing and special faith, sickness will be healed, people can also be imparted to overturn adverse situations. Also, the gift of word of knowledge and word of wisdom will help us solve problems and guide us in decision making.

You see, the Church will be a glorious and a beautiful place to be when all these gifts are working in the lives of Christians.

But this can only happen when we redirect our desires towards spiritual gifts. Don’t let material things dominate your desires. Inasmuch as material things are helpful, the benefits of spiritual gifts outweighs every material thing you can ever have.

Direct your strong feeling of wanting to have something towards spiritual gifts. God is ready to meet your desire for spiritual gifts.

Read: 1Corinthians 12:1-11

EXERCISE SELF-CONTROL

1 Corinthians 9:27 “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway”

Self-control is the nature of the recreated human spirit. See Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.“

Meaning that as a born again Christian, you have what it takes to put your emotions, and the flesh under control.

Even though this is a great departure from the “way of life” of the old nature, that is not to say it is impossible to be done. Self-control is part of the new life we have as Christians but we must deploy it to make it vital.

Self-control is having rule over your spirit. One author defines self-control as self-restraint, slow to react, and keeping ones emotions, feelings and behaviour within biblically accepted confines. Thus, anytime you deploy the virtue of self-control you don’t do things anyhow.

By self-control you are able to put your appetite or desire under check. You also get to know how to handle issues so that you don’t result to violence.

Although most people limit their understanding of self-control to “the control of sexual desires”. Self-control is broader than that.

It has to do with how you put your “human nature” under control so that you don’t do stuffs that are inconsistent with the word of God.

Don’t think that self-control is not possible. As a matter of fact, the ability to exercise self-control is in you as a Christian. Put it to work and you will stand out among many.

Read: Proverbs 25:28

GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU.

Jeremiah 29:11 that “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end“.

No one is a mistake or a biological error. You see, you are a product of God. There was a divine plan on you before you arrived on earth. In Jeremiah 29:11, the Bible says that “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end“.

You must understand that, heaven had an agenda and a plan for your life before you were born. Thus, your success in life depends on your knowledge of this plan. The Bible talks of Jesus the Savior of the world, the son of God and how he sort for the plan of God for his life and to fulfill it. “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God“. (Hebrews 10:7)

The truth is that, if even the son of God had to follow God’s plan before he could make impact in the world, then you can’t make it in life outside God’s plan.

Knowing the plan of God for your life and following it brings success because God only provides for the plans and vision he gives you and not the ones you went to shop for yourself. If you want to succeed in life, follow God’s plan for your life and not what is trending in town.

When your plan is from God, it brings you to a successful end.

Solomon in his wisdom said “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him” (Ecclesiastes 3:14).

You must learn to subject your plans and visions to that of God. Yours might be good but God who is all knowing has the best of all plans.

It is time to stop resisting the plans of God for your life and embrace it wholeheartedly irrespective of the challenges it may come with.

From today, endeavor to yield to God’s plan for your life.

Read: Isaiah 55:9

KEEP YOUR HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE

Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life”

The heart is one important thing that every Christian must take serious. By the heart, we are not referring to the biological heart with its valves, atria and ventricles. The heart referred to here is the human spirit, which is your inner man. This is what the epistles refer to as the “man on the inside”.

Although most people have mastered the art of mounting guard on the material things they have in life, they can’t be assured of success if the heart which is the most important is left out. The Bible says all the issues of life or the springs of life comes from the heart. This is what makes the heart a precious thing to keep, or guard with great effort.

For instance, whether fear, love, faith, hatred, or lust, it all flows out of the heart. Matthew 12:34 says “…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”. Thus, keeping your heart means that, you do everything possible to make your heart remain in a perfect state or condition. Also mounting guard on your heart means that you don’t allow your heart to go astray or wander in wrong stuffs. You see, you must learn to guard your heart against all improper affections. Left to itself, the heart of man will wander in carnal things.

Never forget that the state of your heart determines your moral character. The intention of your actions will always correspond to the dispositions that prevail within. On whatever side the weight of inclination hangs, it will draw the practice after it. Independent of all actions, it is the state of the heart itself which forms our character in the sight of God.

Take note of this truth: “you are known before the Lord by your heart and not only by your act”.

To effectively keep your heart on and in the right things, consistently study and mediate on God’s word since it is the only way to mount guard over your heart and never allow ideas and opinions which are inconsistent with the word of God into your heart. In fact, ignore them as they come.

Read: Psalm 17:3