RHEMA From Heaven

Love, faith’s engine

There is nothing as precious as having faith. In fact, the Bible teaches the “impossible” things that those who have faith can accomplish. Jesus for instance spoke about our faith moving mountains in Mark 11:23. “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”. The authors of the book of Hebrews also give insight to the creative power of faith. Hebrews 11:3 says “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear”.  

Despite all these great things that faith can do, it needs to be fueled, powered or made operational by love. Galatians 5:6 says “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” You see, your faith works through love.

Although people try to associate weakness and powerlessness to love, that is not the case. Love is actually a divine force. It get things done through faith.Love drives your faith to work. Love emboldens your faith to produce results. You must understand that without love, your faith will be inoperative. 

You see, your faith will only work when your love is intact.Love is a faith propellant. Your faith can’t give you any spectacular results when you don’t walk in love. If you want to master faith, master love. These two forces works together. You must walk in love to go far in your faith. 

So you see, whether faith for healing, faith for finances, and faith for overcoming the storms of life, it all comes from love. Trying to exercise faith without love is like trying to drive a car without an engine. It can’t get you anywhere irrespective of how hard you try. 

Read: Galatians 5:13 “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love”

Demonstrate your love.

Love should not just be something you say but also something you do. In other words, you must learn to demonstrate your love. By demonstrating your love, I mean you act the love of God in your heart out. Anytime you demonstrate something, you give a practical exhibition or explanation of the thing. You see, we can’t walk about and say we love people with nothing to show for it.

The Bible says in 1 John 3:18 that “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions”. The text above simply reveals that when love is at work there is always a manifestation or a demonstration. Love makes you show concern by doing something. Love is best expressed with positive actions

The Apostle John has this to say on this truth in 1 John 3:17 : “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him”. The Amplified Bible renders it this way, “But whoever has the world’s goods (adequate resources),and sees his brother in need, but has no compassion for him, how does the love of God live in him?” Don’t just claim you love. Let good works follow it.

You see, Love has works. It does not only talk. You can’t say that you love without acting it out in a positive way. You can’t see a brother in need when you have what it takes to help but still ignore him and claim that you are walking in love. In demonstrating your love, you care for people, you give to people, you encourage people, you pray for people, you share with people, you visit people and above all you preach Jesus to people.

Love just like faith must be backed with corresponding actions. Make your love for God and the brethren evident. Your actions must let people know that you walk in love.

Read: Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners,Christ died for us”

Let brotherly love continue!

Hebrews 13:1 says “Let brotherly love continue”. The Young’s Literal Translation puts it in a more simplified way “Let brotherly love remain”. One virtue that characterizes the new life or the “born again” folks is love. Love is both our life and our being. Thus, we go about our daily life by walking in love towards all men, both saved and unsaved.

You see, as a believer,you are not known by your prayers or by how regular you attend church services. Although these are very important things in your Christian life, it does not spread the fragrance of the new life you have received from God like your love does. Jesus once said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).

As a believer, you are known by your love. God has wired you to be a dispenser of love in this “loveless”and “selfish” world. This is why the bible teaches that, we must let brotherly love abide, remain, continue. In fact, the Contemporary English Version puts the Hebrews 13:1 in a classic way by saying “Keep being concerned about each other as the Lord’s followers should”.

You see, you can’t claim to love without being concerned. Love makes you wake up daily with people in your heart and mind. You think about people to bless, help and to pray for. This is the way to let brotherly love continue. Anger, bitterness, revenge, blackmailing,quarrels, contentions and the likes must and should not operate through you as a Christian. No justification or whatsoever should be given for these “love quenchers”.

Remember that God has brought us into the arena of love. What matters in life now is love. Meaning that brothers and sisters should be able to live together in love. Married couples should be able to live together in love and peace with all their differences to God’s glory.

Let brotherly love continue. Allow brotherly love to continue. Make sure that brotherly love continues. Give room for brotherly love to operate.

It all comes down to love.

Read: 1 John 4:20 “If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates (works against) his [Christian] brother he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen”

Humility brings honour.

FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH

“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” (1 Timothy 6:12).

There is a fight that every believer must fight. This fight is not a carnal fight where people exchange blows or use natural weapons to hurt one another. The fight of faith is a fight in which you use your faith to battle the works of the enemy to enjoy your inheritance in Christ.

In this fight, you lay hold of what the Lord says is yours with the “force of faith”. You don’t give the devil the chance to mess things up in your life. It is a fight you engage in to ensure that whatever the Lord has said about you is not hindered by the devil.

The Bible says, the devil is in to steal, kill and to destroy (John 10:10).  Thus, even though you may be a genuine child of God, if you don’t fight off the thief in your territory you may not make a headway in life.

In this good fight of faith you stand on God’s word to resist the devil. You must vehemently speak God’s word against any works of darkness that wants to work in your space. You see, you must violently refuse the enemy access in your terrain.

Remember that, God will not do this for you.  Don’t cry when you must stand and rebuke satanic works against your life. Rebuke sickness, rebuke sinful habits, rebuke poverty, and rebuke fear. Crying, complaining and worrying is not a solution when it comes to warfare. In fact, we don’t cry in a combat. Engage the weapons of warfare that God has given to you and victory will be yours.

Read: “He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms” Psalm 18:34

Submit to the Authority in Church

“Let every soul be subject to the authorities that are above him. For there is no authority except from God; and those that exist are set up by God” (Romans 13:1). One way by which we can have order in life is when we submit to the powers that be. There are various forms of authority that everyone must recognize and hold in high esteem. These includes the family, the Church and the state.

God sets people in these institutions that we must submit to. From the above text, it is clear that submitting to authority is a divine instruction. God expects every Christian to submit to authority and especially in the Church.  

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”.

When you submit, you yield yourself to a particular course or order and comply with every given instruction. Thus when you find yourself in a local Church, you must not run your own show. You must not do things in the “opposite” to what you are taught. Rather you must comply with every instruction given to enhance your growth in the things of God in that particular local Church.

See the instruction to the saints in the Church at Thessalonica on the subject of submission; “Dear brothers, honor the officers of your Church who work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong. Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because they are straining to help you…” (2 Thessalonians 5:12-13).  So submitting to authority in the house of God is not a choice. It is a duty that must be discharge irrespective of what you think.

Anyone who ignores the duty to submit is not only ignoring the people in authority but he or she is also ignoring the God that place such people there. The truth is that people who refuse to submit to authority are in rebellion. Such people make themselves vulnerable to the enemy or opens the door of satanic attacks against themselves. Not only that, some favors and divine guidance don’t come to them.

You must make living in submission to God’s authority your mandate in life. Never make your life contradict the teachings you receive from God’s house. In fact, never try to outsmart your shepherd or behave like you are “wiser” than the Spirit of God that is leading the Church.

Read: Hebrews 13:7 “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”

Excel in the Grace of Giving

Christians must not only excel in godly virtues without excelling in the grace of giving. The believer’s excellence must be all round and not one sided. You must not only pursue holiness, faith and love without any record when it comes to giving. You must also be zealous when it comes to giving to the Lord and the local Church.

Today, we have Christians who don’t give to the Church. Some even think it is not worth it to give to the work of God. This thinking make them spend more on themselves and never care about the financial health of the Church.

Nonetheless, the fact is clear, when the Church is not financially sound it can do little in this world. This is why we must excel in giving individually and collectively so that the relevance of the Church can be seen in some areas. You see, until we intensify the giving in our Churches it won’t be long and the world will sink us into oblivion. 

But for you to be a “passionate” giver as a Christian, you must understand that your prosperity is for a purpose. In other words, your money has a mission. See Zechariah 1:17:”Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem”. You see, advancing God’s work is a combination of both spiritual power and prosperity. Having one without the other can hinder the work. 

Every Child of God that prospers financially must also see the need to support the Kingdom business and help other believers in the body of Christ. Although this is not a usual road people would want to take, that is what God expects from you. Don’t “dress” yourself with the wealth that God blesses you with. Learn to give it out without compulsion. See Acts 2:44-45 “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need”. 

Be a giver. Consciously and constantly be a Kingdom financier. 

Read: 2 Corinthians 9:7 “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver”

The Holiness mandate

For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy (1 Peter 1:16).

Holiness or purity is God’s order or directive which must not be compromised. You must therefore live your life daily with this consciousness. Inasmuch as we have being made holy by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost as Christians, we must work it out.

One way to walk in the holiness mandate is to cleanse yourself from every filthiness of the flesh and in the spirit as the Bible says.See 2 Corinthians 7:1. “…let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, completing our sanctification (holiness) in the fear of God”.

You see, you can only walk in holiness or live the holiness mandate only when you are born again. In the natural, you can try to be highly moral, gentle or let me say a legalist or a moralist. But that can’t make you holy.

You become holy when you receive the life of God or accept Jesus as your Lord. The Bible says “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). So becoming “holy” is not something you work for but it is something you are made into when you get born again. You only live it out by letting the “spirit life” or the “new life”subdue the “flesh” or your “carnal desires”.

Meaning that you don’t work for holiness but rather you work in it. That is, you bring all your faculties and the members of your body to live in sync with the holiness nature you have received from the Lord.

There are many unbelieving folks who have turned to following some set of rules in their attempt to put away some wrong behaviors or lifestyle. Well that is a genuine attempt to do something, but it is still the wrong approach. You don’t follow a set of rules to become holy. You must receive the life of God, which is holy to become holy. This is why salvation, born again, or accepting Christ is something that is priceless because it gives you a new identity.

If you are born again you have the grace and the ability to perfect holiness in the fear of God. Don’t comprise on that by following the sinful standards of this world. Nonetheless, if you are not born again, you can start now by accepting the Lordship of Christ and you will have the ability to live a holy life.

Read: 1 Peter 1:16 “You must be holy because I am holy”

Believe and speak

2 Corinthians 4:13 “Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak”. It is one thing to believe God for something and another thing to receive from Him that which you believe.

Anytime you believe,you have a firm assurance that God will deliver on his word or will meet your expectations. But the truth is, believing alone will not get the job done. You must add your “words” to what you believe. In other words, you must confess that which you believe. You set your faith loose when you say what you believe.

That is why the Bible says “we also believe, and so we also speak”. You see, your faith in God demands expression. You must not believe in God and hide the expression of it. 

Mark 11:22-23 gives the account of how Jesus taught his disciples on this subject. Jesus taught them to have faith in God and to express it by saying it. See Mark 11:22-23 “So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says”.

You can’t believe God for something and keep mute. If you believe God for your healing and health, you must keep confessing his word on that. If you believe God for your finances, you must make that your confession.

Always learn to vocalize your faith no matter the situation you face.

Read: Mark 11:23

Our sufficiency is from God

2 Corinthians 3:5 “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God”. One version also puts it this way, “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God”.

The Greek word from which the word “sufficiency” was translated also means ability or competency to do a thing. Thus the heading “our sufficiency is from God” can also be rendered ‘our ability or competency to do is from God”. God is the one who equips us to stand out in life.   

As a child of God, your being and your making can only be attributed to God and nothing else. Acts 17:28 says “for in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring”. You see, you don’t get to the top or accomplish great things because of your “own smartness” or special skills. No matter what you think, every skill and wisdom you have is a divine endowment.

Apostle John in his account revealed that whatever we have, whether a gift, grace, or a skill is given to us from heaven. John 3:27, “John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven”.

Knowing this truth will cause you to walk humbly with the Lord and also help you overcome the pride of life. You see, to pride in yourself about your achievements and what you have can take your eyes off God’s Grace. It is therefore IMPORTANT to know WHAT you have and WHO you are is because of God’s sufficiency.

Read: Philippians 4:13 (AMP) “I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]”