RHEMA From Heaven

Ephesians 5:1,16
” Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; [16] making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil.”

One characteristic of God is that, He is not a waster of time. He gets the job done when it must be done. That’s why the world and all its beauty is here today.
Not only that, whatever God does is for the best interest of man.

To God, the most important agenda on earth now is the salvation of the world. This is what proves his love for us. That was the divine mission Jesus came to accomplish. The bible talks about Jesus coming to do this at the right time or in the fullness of time (Galatians 4:4).

Thus, in imitating God, you must follow in his example of getting things done and at the right time. You must also make sharing the gospel that brings salvation to everyone within your reach your priority. This is how you can also demonstrate your love.

Be guided by this wisdom and be diligent in executing every assignment you have in life.
Remember to make the most out of your time.
Be an imitator of God!

Read: Psalms 39:4
“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, how fleeting my life is.

Study: Ephesians 5:1-16.

Joshua 1:8 says “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

It is without doubt that everyone in this world wants to be at least successful and prosper in life. But until the word of God becomes the foundation for such desire or pursuit, things will fall out of place.

The above text gives us a clear road map to enjoying good success and prosperity as believers.

God’s first instruction towards success was for Joshua not be too busy to neglect the word. On the contrary, he was to MEDITATE on it day and night till the word settles in his heart. Know that, until the word dominates your heart, it can’t direct your life.

Not only that, the word must also not depart from your mouth. That is, you must speak the word at all times. It was by the word the worlds were framed and by this same word of God, you can also frame and create your success. Job 22:28; says, Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

Your prosperity, success, academic exploits, healing, deliverance, and any other thing you desire is in the word. The more you speak it from your heart, the more you form your world.

All you need to make it in life is in the word. Make the word of God, the first thing in your life.

Read: Hebrews 11:3
“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.”

Study: John 1:1-5

1 Timothy 6:6-8
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

One dictionary defines contentment as the state of being mentally or emotionally satisfied with things as they are.
Today, we rarely see people who are really content or satisfied with their state of life. Everyone is on a quest to gather more, spend more and enjoy more.

The Bible has a great deal to say about contentment. That is, being satisfied with what we have, who we are, and where we’re going
Jesus said in Matthew 6:25 that;
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”

You see, people who are not content in life, are always worried. They give themselves over to indiscriminate pursuit of things. As a Christian you must always know what drives you to want more of something.
Most often than not, people don’t really need more of something, what they actually need is putting what they already have to use.

You see, when you don’t walk in contentment, greed will dominate your life. You will break many boundaries of morality just to satisfy your insatiable desires.

Also, not walking in contentment will make you ungrateful to God for what you already have.

Don’t yield to the worldly pressures that is making people discontent in life. But be content with such things as you have.

Read: Ecclesiastes 5:10
“Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.”

Study: Philippians 4:10-13

Anything God created is with a purpose and for a purpose. Nothing existed just for existing sake.
That’s why you must know God’s purpose for your life. God has a specific purpose for your life and you must do everything possible to get it and to follow it.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

God’s purpose is His plan and will for your life. It reveals God’s specific desire in what he wants to accomplish in your life. You can’t live a fulfilled life outside God’s purpose.

As a child of God, you must be driven by God’s purpose and not your personal ambition. Don’t simply do things because you feel like or because other people are doing same.

Until you subscribe to God’s purpose you will always run your own show. Isaiah 55:8,9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”.
Go with God’s ways and thoughts and not that of your own.

You can always know and follow God’s purpose for your life through his word and the Holy Spirit.

Always let your motives be aligned with God’s purpose. By this you will enjoy good success and flourish in all things.

Read: Philippians 1:6
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Study: 1 Corinthians 2:9-13

Discouragement is not an uncommon human experience. Especially for the believers. We are sometimes faced with unexpected troubles and discouragements that we aren’t prepared for. It is in these moments that we need to exhort one another. Exhortation is very crucial for our walk of faith.

To exhort means to strongly encourage or urge someone to do something.

Jesus Christ told his disciples “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” ( John 16:33). You see, Jesus did not shy from telling His followers about the troubles they would face. In fact, He told them the world would hate them (John 15:18-21)
However, he also encouraged them to rejoice since He has overcome the world.

You see, anytime you are encouraged, you are able to move on in life with great tenacity even though things may not be in their rightful place.

You must know that, just as you need an encouragement from some other believer someone also needs your encouragement.
Proverbs 27:17 says “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend”..

Instead of criticizing or accusing people, rather use the time and opportunity to encourage them.

Always bare in mind that, it is your responsibility to exhort someone.

Read: Hebrews 3:13
” But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

Study: Deuteronomy 3:28

The cross is a very important symbol for Christianity. It signifies the selfless love of Christ that brought us salvation, redemption and total forgiveness of sins. It also represents pain and persecution that comes with obeying God’s will.
Hence, if anyone is to successfully be a follower of Christ, then he or she must learn to take “the cross” daily as Jesus did.

For many people, Christianity is a joy ride that exempts one from any form of pain or discomfort. But on the contrary, Jesus thought his disciples the opposite.
See Luke 9:23-24;
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it”.

You see, being a believer demands that, you daily deny yourself and take up your cross. That is to say, you must not make ‘self pleasure and comfortability’ your focus in life.

It means that, just as Jesus carried the burden, shame and pain that you should carry, you must also carry the burden and pain of others. This we do by going the extra mile of sharing the gospel at all cost even to the peril of our life.

But the unfortunate truth is that, today, many profess the faith of Christ but do not follow him fully. They seek after their own pleasure and comfort. In fact, very few are willing to go the extra mile in doing something for God and humanity. This is one reason Christians are not making much impart in the world.

Demonstrate your selfless love for God and humanity by carrying your cross daily.

Learn to carry your cross daily.

Read: Galatians 6:14
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Study: 2 Corinthians 11:21-33

“You will also decide and decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And the light [of God’s favor] will shine upon your ways (Job 22:28).

“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” (Mark 11:23).

You see, God’s word on your lips is an antidote against any devilish onslaught. The word of God in your mouth is a weapon. Speak it.

It is not enough to know the word mentally. You must believe in it and make it your confession. This is how you can make the word of God real in your life.

Anytime you believe the word and boldly declare it, it has the backings of God.
Today, you have the incarnate word of God who is Jesus in you. You have a knowledge of the written word. Constantly make it your confession.

Yes, speak it, and it shall be unto you according to your faith.
Your healing, prosperity, appointment letter, promotion, admission, breakthrough, marriage, is all in the Word. Arise and start speaking the word. Your confession will surely bring a possession.

Read: Mathew 8:8 “The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed”

Study:Mark 11:22-24

James 5:13-16
“Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. [16] Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”.

Prayer can change any unwanted situation or happening.
Never take a defeat sentence that life, people or the devil may bring to you.
You can change the tides by praying.

With prayer you chart a new course for your life.
Folks who are given to prayer are unstoppable. Know that limitations break when you pray, embargoes are lifted both in the realms of the spirit and the physical world when you pray.

You see, whether you will make it in life or not, has also gotten to do with your personal prayer life.
You can pray yourself into greatness, you can pray yourself into health and you can pray yourself into wealth.

It is time to pray. Yes, instead of complaining, channel your words into prayers. Miracles will be birthed forth, breakthroughs will be released, and the tables will turn to your favour.
Hallelujah!

Read: Philippians 4:6
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done”.

Study: 2 Kings 20:1-6

As human beings, we are daily faced with the decision of making choices or taking one course of action against the other. One of such choices will be whether to return a good done to us with good or otherwise.

You see, life is such that, you will at all cost benefit from someone’s goodness and others too may benefit from you.
But after benefiting from the good done to you, God expects you to return or reward the good done torwards you with good and not evil.

The Bible says in Proverbs 17:13 that;
“Whoever returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house”. Meaning that, as a Christian you are not permitted to do evil to those who have sown goodness in your life. In fact, if God expects us to do good to those who persecute us, then more noble stuff will be required of us, when people do us good (Matthew 5:44).

It is an act of ingratitude to reward good with evil. You must know that, one way to be thankful or show appreciation is to find a way to return a good deed done towards you by someone.

A classical example is how king Saul intended to kill David, though David had served him faithfully. (1 Samuel 19:10). But also on another occasion when David had the opportunity to kill Saul he did not do that. He repaid Saul with good.

Do good to all men and never repay good with evil. God is watching!

Read: Galatians 6:10 “So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).”

Study: 1 Samuel 19:1-24

Nothing is as important as the foundation upon which things are built.
Love one can say is the undeniable foundation for the Christian faith.
It is because of the love of God that we are reconciled with Him through Christ. Not only are you reconciled back to God, but you also now have the capacity to love God and everyone else.

Romans 5:5 says; “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
Thus, you have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to love just as God loves. Love becomes part of your being as a believer and It will rather be strange if you don’t walk in love.

You see, love has works. It is not a silent non-active virtue that lives within our hearts. As a matter of fact, you must actively and constantly manifest the love of God in you.

1 Corinthians 13, highlights several characteristics of love. These include, forgiveness, kindness, being considerate, patience, and giving. Love acts more than it speaks.
Thus, your love for God and man must cause you to act on the things you say. Don’t only tell people you love them, demonstrate it also.

Always remember, a love demonstrated is always appreciated more than a love only spoken off.

Read: 1 John 3:18
“Little children (believers, dear ones), let us not love [merely in theory] with word or with tongue [giving lip service to compassion], but in action and in truth [in practice and in sincerity, because practical acts of love are more than words].”

Study: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8