RHEMA From Heaven

Being punctual when dealing with the Lord is a practice that will serve your best interest. Even beyond spiritual matters, being punctual to events or important engagements demonstrates the virtue of excellence. On the other hand, allowing lateness in your dealings with the Lord and in life generally will hinder your progress and success.

To thrive in life, you must learn to treat every meeting with God or any spiritual appointment with utmost seriousness. This means you should never show up late for church services, Bible study discussions, or any gathering designed to build your spirit, soul, and body. These appointments are strategic moments that can bless your life, but they require your timely presence for the blessing to manifest.

Many people miss their blessings simply because they do not respect the timing of their appointments. As a Christian, you must learn to avoid lateness when dealing with divine matters. Don’t show up late for church activities. You must reach a point where you view every church service as an appointment with God Himself.

Prayer meetings, worship services, and teaching or preaching sessions are all divine appointments. You must take them seriously. If you treat these appointments with contempt, you will undoubtedly miss God’s blessings.

In John 20:24, we read about Thomas being late for an appointment Jesus arranged with His disciples after His resurrection. His lateness caused him to miss an important encounter, which ultimately left him in a state of doubt and unbelief when told that Jesus had risen.

Always remember that every church meeting is an appointment with God, and honoring that appointment can bring profound blessings into your life.

Read: John 20:24-29 “Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. “A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Prayer: I pray for the grace to be punctual in all my endeavors.

 

God’s help for man cannot be denied. His loving nature makes Him reach us in moments of despair. The Bible calls it a “very present help.”

Help is something none of us can do without, no matter our status, level of achievement, color, or race. One day, we will all need it. However, where you turn for help in your time of need can either make or break you.

When it comes to receiving help, you can miss the mark, fall into sin, or make errors if you seek help from the wrong sources or people. Help, by its very nature, should bring you peace, but receiving it from the wrong individuals will result in unrest. This is because the ordeal you might go through before and after receiving such help can sometimes be harmful to your Christian life.

For instance, seeking help from mediums, shrines, or cults will pollute your spirit and destroy your faith in the Lord (1 Kings 11:4-6). Additionally, accepting help from people with ulterior motives will trap you in a disguised prison.

As a Christian, you must make God your first point of call in times of trouble. Hebrews 4:16 says, “So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help” (CEV). This means that God can touch the hearts of people to offer you sincere help.

Learn to depend on God for help. Remember, relying on humans as your primary source of help will lead to disappointment and frustration.

As you receive this divine help, also learn to help others. Help!

Read: Psalm 121:1-2 “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord,the Maker of heaven and earth”.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping me in my endeavors.

Whenever you are faithful, you attract God’s attention for a blessing. Proverbs 28:20 says, “A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” God always blesses the faithful. This is why you must be faithful to the Lord in all things.

Faithfulness demands that you remain committed to God without wavering. Faithful people never make excuses when it comes to doing something for God. They work hard to be consistent and to meet the desired expectations. For instance, Joseph, the son of Jacob, remained faithful to God even in the face of unfavorable circumstances. He was sold by his brothers, went into slavery, was falsely accused, and was finally cast into prison, yet he never became unfaithful to the Lord (Genesis 39:1-3).

Serving God or fulfilling His purpose will sometimes stretch you, but you must be determined to go the extra mile or make sacrifices to emerge victorious. This is what faithfulness is all about. Faithfulness isn’t starting something only to leave it unfinished; it’s about reaching the finish line in the face of opposition.

Remember, being faithful will sometimes take away your comfort and convenience for a season, but it will pay off in the end. Be bold and determined to finish what you started. Never be uncommitted at any point in your life. Be faithful in all things. Be faithful in attending church services, tithing, studying the Word, and helping in the church. Be known for your faithfulness.

Read: Proverbs 28:20 “A faithful person will be richly blessed,but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished”

Prayer: Lord, I pray for the grace to be faithful. Amen

Prayer is powerful and always produces tremendous results. However, the effectiveness of a person’s prayer can be hindered by unforgiveness. Simply put, unforgiveness can make your prayers unfruitful.

The Bible says our fellowship is with God and with one another (1 John 1:3). Thus, holding grudges against people will bring you out of fellowship and cause your prayers not to be honored by God.

Know that, no matter how “justifiable” you may think your reasons are for keeping an offense, it will not change God’s word.

Anyone who desires to pray and see results must learn to walk in love and avoid holding onto offenses. Unforgiveness prevents your heart from being right before God. Mark 11:25 reminds us, “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

The Holy Spirit operates through a heart that is inclined toward righteousness, peace, joy, and love. Just as clogged gutters prevent water from flowing, unforgiveness blocks your prayers and hinders your fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

If you want your prayers to be heard, do not hold onto offenses. Don’t miss God’s purpose in this area, or you will end up praying, struggling, and still seeing no results.

Your prayers can bring amazing outcomes, but first, put your heart right with God by forgiving those who have wronged you. Love one another, forgive one another, and never hinder your prayers.

Read: Mark 11:25 “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Prayer: Lord, I pray for the grace for always forgive others.

One of the most wonderful gifts a Christian can experience is divine direction. It is God speaking to you, instructing you to take certain actions or follow a particular path in life.

As you chart the course of life, it is easy to be carried away into many wrong courses and paths. The Bible rightfully says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death” (Proverbs 16:25). Not only that, there are people who can also lead you astray through evil schemes and demonic manipulations.

As a Christian, God has made provision for you in this world of uncertainties. He is ever ready to order and guide your steps. The Bible revealed how God led the Israelites on their journey from Egypt through secure ways. Deuteronomy 29:5 says, “Yet the Lord says, ‘During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes didn’t wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.’” In Psalm 78:14, the Bible says, “He guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night.”

Know that as a Christian, you need the Lord to order your steps into greatness. It could be steps into your ministry, career, relationships and marriage, travel, or social networks. Just like the psalmist noted, “When God orders your steps, He leads you beside still waters” (Psalm 23). Beloved, when God directs your steps, you become the RIGHT person, at the RIGHT place, with the RIGHT people, and at the RIGHT time. Divine direction will never make you a victim of circumstances.

Learn to follow God’s leadings in all that you do, rather than relying on your feelings or carnal desires, and it will go well with you.

Remember, your life will face unending difficulties if you refuse to follow God’s guidance when He orders your steps. What has God instructed you to do that you are still hesitant to obey? Act today, as your delay may come at a cost.

Read: Romans 8:14
“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”

Prayer: Lord, I pray for grace to follow Your leadings. Amen.

One of the things you must be able to boast of as a Christian is your faithfulness. In all you do, your faithfulness must go ahead of you. God must recognize you as a faithful Christian and a diligent servant or worker in His house.

To be faithful means to be loyal, steadfast, and dependable in your commitments and relationships. As Christians, we have duties toward God and man. You need the quality of faithfulness to fulfill all these demands.

You must prioritize faithfulness just as you do love and faith. Know that your faithfulness is the highest display of commitment to God. It is a quality that pleases God and ensures success in all you do in life.

1 Corinthians 4:2 says, “Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.” Life may not offer a straight path to achieving your dreams, aspirations, or any God-given purpose, but despite the challenges you encounter, your character of faithfulness must stand out.

Faithfulness is a quality that everyone yearns for. People want to associate with those who are faithful in both good and bad times. But don’t only expect faithfulness from others; you must also strive to be considered a faithful person.

Faithfulness requires you to be consistent in any assignment you have from the Lord and any duty you must fulfill toward others.

One tragedy in this generation is that many Christians are not faithful in the things of God. While some show faithfulness in their jobs, education, marriages, etc., they often fail to demonstrate the same commitment to the Lord’s work of saving souls, discipling believers, and helping the less privileged. For them, faithfulness seems too high a price to pay.

Beloved, can God say that you are faithful? Remember, faithfulness is a quality that will speak for you after your earthly life. Moreover, a faithful person will attract God’s attention for blessings. Proverbs 28:20 says, “A faithful man shall abound with blessings…”

Read: Hebrews 3:1-2: “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.” (KJV)

Prayer: Lord, I pray for grace to be faithful in all my endeavors.

Christians must not only excel in godly virtues but also in the grace of giving. A believer’s excellence must be well-rounded, not one-sided. You should pursue holiness, faith, and love, and also be zealous in your giving to the Lord and the local church.

Today, there are Christians who do not give to the church. Some even think it is not worth it to support the work of God. This mindset leads them to spend more on themselves and ignore the financial needs of the church.

However, 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, both individually and collectively, so that the church’s relevance can be seen in various areas. Until we intensify our giving, it won’t be long before the world overshadows us.

To be a “passionate” giver as a Christian, you must understand that your prosperity has a purpose. In other words, your money has a mission. Zechariah 1:17 says: “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.” Advancing God’s work requires both spiritual power and prosperity. Having one without the other can hinder the work.

Every child of God who prospers financially must also see the need to support the kingdom business and help other believers. Although this may not be the common path, it is what God expects from you. Do not simply adorn yourself with the wealth God blesses you with; learn to give generously and willingly. Acts 2:44-45 says: “And all that believed were together and had all things in 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.”

Prayer: Lord, I pray for grace to be a giver.

One of the great needs of our generation is leadership. In every area of life, there is a need for leaders; we need leaders of homes or families, communities, the church, and the nation at large.

As Christians, we can’t exempt ourselves from this demand of our world. It is through leadership that we can exert our positive influence. Thus, our Christian life must not be restricted to church activities.

You see, it is even important to know that the “call to preach” is a call to leadership. If one can preach the Gospel to one, that is good. If they can preach the Gospel to two, that is better. If they can preach the Gospel to 10,000, that is even better. Yet the fact remains that the commission says, “to every creature.” Thus, this can only be possible when we have people to stand in as leaders.

God’s call to Moses in the burning bush was a call to leadership. God’s call to Abraham to leave the Ur of the Chaldees and seek for a city “which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” was basically a call to leadership. God’s call to Gideon as he threshed wheat behind the winepress was simply a call to leadership. God’s call to Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land was a call to leadership. Thus, whatever your calling, it is a call to leadership. It may be to lead your home successfully, a business organization, a country, or a church.

Rise to the call to leadership through discipline, hard work, integrity, proactiveness, and by being visionary.

Know that without leadership, many things will go wrong. In fact, your results in life and ministry will be minimal. You must build capacity for excellence in terms of work and character, be ready to sacrifice, and stand for your convictions if you want to become an exceptional person in delivering on any divine mandate as a leader.

Read: Exodus 18:21: “Furthermore, you shall select from all the people competent men who [reverently] fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; you shall place these over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.”

Prayer: Lord, I pray for grace to rise to the call of leadership.

Following God and working for the Lord demands great sacrifice. You can’t follow the Lord effectively without it. The call to be a Christian is inherently a call to sacrifice.

For us as Christians, the call to sacrifice means giving up something valuable for the sake of God and His assignment for our lives. It often involves surrendering personal comfort, time, resources, or desires to achieve a greater good or fulfill a higher purpose that God requires of us.

The concept of sacrifice always reminds me of the early missionaries who brought the gospel to Ghana (then the Gold Coast) in 1828. Missionaries like Karl Friedrich Salbach, Gottlieb Holzwarth, and Johannes Henke all died on the mission field within less than two years. Yet, their sacrifice did not deter others from continuing the mission. Faithful Christians such as Andreas Riis, Peter Peterson Jäger, and Christian Heinze heeded the call to continue evangelizing in Ghana despite the challenges of a harsh tropical climate, diseases, and language barriers. Their sacrifices laid the foundation for major Christian ministries like the Presbyterian Church and other educational institutions.

As a Christian, you must be willing to sacrifice comfort. Be prepared to be inconvenienced by the faith you profess. Some people sacrificed their lives, careers, comfort, and status just for the sake of the gospel.

You see, you can’t promote the agenda of God without sacrifice. Sometimes you must give up your time, energy, resources, and in some cases, your life. Beloved, will you heed the Master’s call to sacrifice?

Remember, Christianity is not about “me, myself, and I.” Never let it be all about you, lest you fail to sacrifice. Think about God who gave His only Son. This is what sacrifice truly means.

Serve the Lord, serve the body of Christ, and serve the cause of humanity. But this can only be done through sacrifice.

Read: Revelation 12:11: “They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death.” (Berean Standard Bible)

Prayer: Lord, grant me the grace to sacrifice.

It is good to receive good things from people. It is also good to do good things. But more importantly, as Christians, you have a responsibility to do good to people who have done you good.

Doing good in return for the good done to you is a great way to express your gratitude.

The good you offer in return to others who have been a blessing to your life may not necessarily be financial. It may be an act of good conduct and honor towards them.

You see, you must always have it at heart to relate well and be a blessing to the people that God has used and is still using to bless your life. People who have done you good must not be rewarded with evil from your hands. It is wiser to do nothing at all than to repay them with evil.

It is not an act of love to be wicked towards people who have sacrificed their comfort for your achievements in life. Whatever the occasion may be, “render good” for the good you have once enjoyed.

For instance, it would be a strange scene to see people act wickedly towards their parents who once helped them, fed them, schooled them, and trained them. Such evil must not emanate from a Christian. Always be thoughtful in your actions so that you don’t end up repaying your benefactors with evil deeds.

Be guided by God’s word and do good to all men, especially those who are of the household of faith and those whom God has used and is still using to bless you.

Read: Galatians 6:10: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (NIV)