RHEMA From Heaven

Acts 12:5 -7 says “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him”. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
Great and awesome things happen when the Church prays.

You see, the Church may not be mighty in the use of litigation, and earthly security to protect her own. But when the church gets on her knees, nothing becomes impossible.

In fact, through prayers, the church is able to bring God’s influence and intervention beyond what human flesh and wisdom can do.

The story in Acts chapter 12 is a clear example of how prayer changes things.
Today, you and I are the church. If only we will pray, if only we will stand in prayers for our own, if we will pray for the believers who are persecuted and falsely accused, wonders will once again happen.

No matter the challenges or onslaught of the devil, when the church gets on her knees in prayer, things will change. Prayer changes things!

Read: Psalm 102:17 “He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.”

Study: Psalm 61:1

“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1)

What happens when people sincerely pray, makes prayer an all time solution to the needs of men. No wonder the Bible prescribes it as the antidote to the troubles one may encounter in life (James 5:13).

The Bible says in Romans 12:12 that, “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer“.

You see, most often than not, how effective you become in your prayer life is dependent on consistency.
You must not pray once in a while or only when something goes wrong with you.

Prayer must be part of your daily life as a believer. This how you can grow in your prayer life and have tremendous results when you pray.

You must learn to pray intentionally in all situations until prayer becomes part of you.
Jesus, our chief Shepherd and our perfect example was a man of prayer when he was in the world. See how he prayed. He made time for prayer in the morning (Mark 1:35).

Never be too busy to pray. Being busy does not automatically result in success.
If you are busy with life endeavours and you leave out prayer, you may not achieve much.
You need prayer to bring God’s influence and intervention into the humanly impossible situations.

Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing”.

Study: Luke 18:1-8

Hebrews 13:18 says “Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly”. It is a noble thing to do the work of God. Nonetheless, it is not without challenge. The challenges and persecutions ministers of the gospel encounter demands that we constantly keep praying for them.

Though many will take it lightly and some may even fuss about it, it is important to pray for people called into the ministry like pastors, preachers and other service men in the house of God.

The Bible in Hebrews 13:17-18, admonished believers to obey their pastors and to pray for them. The Apostle Paul again in his first and second letter to the Church in Thessalonica also encouraged them to pray for him. He also charged them to pray for ministers of the gospel so that the word of God may have a free course and they will be delivered from bad people.

Praying for ministers is one significant responsibility you can adopt to contribute to the building of the body of Christ. Instead of speaking lightly of these servants of God, rather pray for them.

Never undermine or speak evil against such a sacred thing. You must not belong to the body of Christ and still sit in the seat of mockers by insulting and speaking lightly about the men of God.

Be a blessing to the body of Christ by praying for the ministers of the gospel.

Read: Colossians 4:3 “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains”

Study: 2Thessalonians 3:1-2  

Matthew 26:39 says “And after going a little farther, He(Jesus) fell face down and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible [that is, consistent with Your will], let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”
Every Christian has a choice to either subscribe to the will of God or allow their own will or ambition to guide them.

God’s will is God’s purpose or God’s intention about something or someone. At any point in time, God expects you to live in a particular way or do something particular in life. But this may come face to face with your will or desires. This is where you have to allow the will of God to prevail.

Jesus had to made a decision about which “will” he must allow when he was on earth. He had his own will to live and not to suffer, against the will of God to suffer and die for humanity. But he stood against his own will and allowed God’s will to prevail.

In following God’s will, he become a victor and also received a name above every other name (Phillipians 2:9). But before all these happenings, he had to let or allow his will to “fall” for God’s will to stand.

Remember that, if you allow God’s will to prevail in your life, you will have his best. Don’t be stubborn or harden your heart to throw away the will of God.

Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:3 “For this is the will of God, that you be sanctified [separated and set apart from sin]: that you abstain and back away from sexual immorality”

Study: Mark 3:35

Psalm 133:1-2 says “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments”

Dwelling together with people in unity is a good and a pleasant thing.
As Christians God does not expect us to bring divisions or create situations that don’t promote unity wherever we find ourselves.

You see, living together with people in unity means that you must walk in love. You can’t live in harmony with people when you don’t walk in love.

Ephesians 4:2-3 says that “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace”.

Throw off everything that hinders you from being at peace with people. Let go of offense, let go of quarrels, let go of pride and let go of contention.

Remember that when unity prevails, we always win against the schemes of the devil.

Read: Ephesians 4:3 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace”

Study: Matthew 5:9

Psalm 133:1-2 says “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments”.

One thing that makes you outstanding as a beliver is knowing how to flow in the anointing. You see, the anointing is the power of God at work in the believer or the divine enablement that causes one to do exploit and have extraordinary success.
‭
You see, it is important to know how to flow in the anointing or how to keep a constant flow of the Spirit. Being able to connect well with people and living at peace with all men is one sure way to keep flowing in the anointing. This brings peace and causes people to live in unity. Living together in unity does not mean the absence of quarrels and misunderstandings but how quickly you are to forgive and let go.

Also to flow in the anointing, you should be able to relate with the Holy Spirit as a person. John 16:13 says, “Howbeit when the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear.”

The Holy Spirit can speak, and give instructions. He has a specific word for you towards your ministry, finances ,education and relationship. You should make it a point to hear and enquire of Him. Yield to His leadership and you will find yourself constantly flowing in the anointing

Remember, knowing how to flow in the anointing upon your life, will determine how far you can go in life.

Read:‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:27‬ “And as for you, the anointing which ye received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any one teach you; but as his anointing teacheth you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, ye abide in him.”

Study: 1 Samuel 16:6-23.

Psalm 119:60 says “I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy command”.
Obedience is key in our walk with God. One song writer rightly said “there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey”.

One thing that must characterize your obedience to God is promptness. That is to say that you must obey God without delay. Anytime you are walking with God, you must be swift to obey every instruction you receive from him.

When you delay in obeying God, it may not bring you any benefit. Not only that, your so called late obedience may just be like disobedience.

You must not obey God in your own time and convenience. There are many people who have backlogs when it comes to obeying God.
They have things that God had instructed them to do that is still undone.
*Well, God* won’t wait anyway. He will leave you or allow you to learn the hard way.

When God instructs you through his word, or by the Holy Spirit or through your Pastor all he wants from you is “fast track action”.
Whichever way you are instructed you must not slack in obeying the word that has come to you.

Read: Philippians 2:12 “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”

Study: Psalm 119: 60

Ecclesiastes 11:4 “He who watches the wind [waiting for all conditions to be perfect] will not sow [seed], and he who looks at the clouds will not reap [a harvest]”

What you watch will finally determine what you will do. When you watch the “word” or keep looking at the “word” by hearing and meditating on it, it will impart you. Also, when you watch circumstances it will inform you and drag you along, thereby causing you to act as such.

Many people have been held by circumstances. They live their lives acting and responding to things they can avoid.
You see, if you want to make it in life, you must determine what you will give attention to.
*Not everything needs your attention*. You don’t have to respond to everything.

You must be guided by God’s word and the Holy Spirit to know what to do in every circumstance.

The Bible talks about Isaac who in the midst of famine was still instructed by the Lord to work out the ground and sow. (Genesis 26:1-12).
Instead of watching the circumstance that the land was barren or there was no rain, he overlooked the circumstance and obeyed God’s word.

You may not have control over every circumstance, but you have the power to decide what to do in every circumstance by the help of the word and the Spirit.

Read: Hebrews 12:2 “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”

Study: Ecclesiastes 11:4

Matthew 24:12-13 says “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved”.

One major happening that will characterize this end time is people’s love becoming cold. This can be one’s love for God and the love for one another.

You see, the increase of wickedness or iniquity will only hinder peoples ability to walk in love.

Sin never promotes love. Evil or sin conflicts with the principles and practice of love.

Nonetheless, you must not allow the wickedness or sin that is prevalent in this end times deaden your love for God.

Your love for God must be fervent and glowing. Nothing must turn your heart away from the Lord. In the face of persecution, criticism and adverse situations you must still keep your love for God. You must still value and make good time for God and all that pertains to Him. You see, you can’t claim to love God and spend less time with him or remain unconcerned about the things that pertains to His Kingdom.

The Bible teaches that the world is not going to get better. Evil and sin will abound until Christ comes. See John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

This sin doomed world has robbed people of their love for God and fellow humans. But let your love prevail. Stand well in this testing moment. Endure to the end, and you will be saved.

Read: Jude 1:21 “Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life”

Study: Matthew 22:37

Mark 16:15,20 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”
God has called every believer to reach out to the world with the gospel or the good news. This is a divine task that you must endeavour to undertake irrespective of your status in life.

You see, preaching the gospel to the unsaved is not the sole task of the pastor or your man of God. It is a mandate that God has given to all believers. Thus, whatever your obligation or other commitments in life, you must find a way to put God’s word first.

You see, just like any other instruction in the word of God, you must also take the *”go ye”* serious. You must make time for it. You must commit your resources to it and you must make it your heart’s desire.

This is the sure way to have the company of God. The Bible teaches that, as the disciples went to preach, the Lord worked with them (Mark 16:20).

Don’t be left out in this call to *go ye*. It is a *go ye* into every where you will find people who are not saved.

Join the world savers today. Be a preacher. Make time for it. Give your life for this course. Give your substance to God’s work.

Read: Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Study: Romans 10:14