RHEMA From Heaven

The call to follow the Lord is a call unto sacrifice. No one can fully serve the Lord without this attitude or life of sacrifice. Apostle Peter said we are called to offer up spiritual “sacrifice”. 

When it comes to sacrifice no better example can be cited more like that of Jesus. The Bible says he gave himself as a ransom for many. See 1 Timothy 2:5-6 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time”. Jesus left all his glory and dignity as God and Lord over all things just for the sake of man. 

As Christians, we can’t travel any different way or take any other way. We must be ready to sacrifice at all times in our walk with God. Paul said in Philippians 3:7 that “what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ” Peter and the rest of the disciples also said, “Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee” (Mark 10:28). Child of God, what can you also say? 

What price have you paid for the furtherance of the gospel? What sacrifice have you made for the things of God? In fact, even if you did sacrifice, was it from a sincere heart or with a bitter heart? 

Today, we have many Christians who can sacrifice for things that will benefit them and will never do same for the Lord- his kingdom and any local Church. How many don’t go the extra to get good jobs, better relationships, and fame but these same people won’t do same for the things of God.

In fact, we have people who can report to work or any other engagements very early but these same people will think it is too much when the Church requests that they make it to their meetings very early. 

You see, Christianity is not about “me, myself and I”, because selfishness and self-interest will not make you sacrifice. What have you sacrificed for the Lord and what are you sacrificing because of the work of the Lord?

Remember that, you can sacrifice irrespective of your situation! You don’t have an excuse when it comes to sacrifice.

Read: Psalm 54:6 “I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O Lord; for it is good”

Prayer: Lord, may I have the heart of sacrifice at all times. May I not give excuses when it come to sacrifice, In Jesus Name. Amen

One of the important things you can get in life aside God is “people”. People here is used generically to either mean an individual or more. Many people have succeeded in life because of the people factor they handled well, whiles others too have failed because of the people factor they mishandled. 

To say that your success in life is predominantly dependent on people is not a mystery. Lot needed Abraham to become wealthy, Noah’s daughters-in-law needed him to survive, Joseph needed Potiphar and Pharaoh to rise, Ruth needed Naomi, Saul needed Samuel, David needed Saul and Jonathan, Paul needed Barnabas, Timothy and Titus needed Paul, and on and on the list goes.

You see, the earlier you humbly admit your need of some persons in your life the better. It may be your mother, father, siblings, friend, or a spouse. Most people today have attained success in life because of some particular people they had in their life. This is why it is important to know and learn how to deal wisely with the people God give you access to.

Never take anything for granted when it comes to dealing wisely with people. Most often than not, many people miss this great opportunity to greatness. For instance, an opportunity to serve a great man of God must not be taken lightly, an opportunity to be married by a staunch and industrious Christian must not be taken for granted, an opportunity to have a virtuous lady for a choice of marriage partner must not be taken for granted. Take it or leave it, these are major ways by which God brings most of your prayers into reality. 

Your service to just one great and faithful man of God is what may open locked doors for you and your family. You being married to a serious and noble Christian is what can break any demonic cycle of marital challenges in your home. It is only ignorance and pride that make people say things like “me I DON’T need anybody”. Most people, and sadly some Christians have even been caught up in this lie. For David, he knew this truth. He received Saul as his God-sent man, and thus behaved wisely towards him.

You need somebody to make it in life. Because after your prayers, God will touch the hearts of people to bless you. The Bible says, woe is him that is alone (Ecclesiastes 4:10). Men are not God, but there are God-sent men into your life.

Your God – sent man is your somebody. John the Baptist was God-sent to Jesus (John 1:6). Jesus was also a God -sent man to his disciples. Philip was the God – sent man to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26 – 39). Your God – sent men are HEAVENLY positioned in your life to bring the best out of you and to help you fulfil destiny. They bring a divine turn around to your life. 

Pay heed to the HEAVENLY truth they share with you. Keep them, cherish them and do them good. I see you making it in life with your God – sent man in Jesus name.

Read: Ecclesiastes 4:9 “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour”

Prayer: Lord, I pray for the wisdom to acknowledge and appreciate the people you bring into my life. Help me honor them and relate well with them, In Jesus Name. Amen

The ways of God and the ways of man are not the same. Isaiah 55:8-9 says “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says 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”. Thus, it takes receiving from the Lord, before you can know his ways. 

One truth you must understand and believe as a Christian is that God can show you His ways. The Bible says He made known his ways to Moses in the days of old. In the new testament, the Bible says the Holy Spirit makes His ways known to us. John 16:13-14 says “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you”. You see, the Holy Spirit will lead you into the truth- the word and ways of God.

Just as the Holy Spirit is not limited to some selected few, same applies to knowing the ways of God. Nonetheless, you have to be born again to be a beneficiary of this blessing from God.

Don’t forget that in life, there are three ways you can follow. You can either go your own way, the way of other people; or the ways of God or the devil. One reason why many don’t follow the ways of God is because they go with their own ways, or the ways of others. But never sacrifice the ways of God revealed to you through the scriptures and by revelation from the Holy Spirit for anything.

You see knowing the ways of God means, to know the methods, procedures, processes and steps that the Lord uses in bringing to pass His will or counsel. This is what will take you away from playing religion and make you more spiritual and unpredictable – because that’s when you will fully live the life of the Spirit.

It’s one thing to know what God will do and another thing to know how he will do it. We have most often than not mastered knowing the “what” but not knowing the “how”. This is why many have missed great spiritual encounters. 

Don’t only know what God wants to do, also desire to know how he will do it. Just like Moses knew the ways of God by having a deeper relationship with Him. Walk in this light and you will know the ways of God.

Read: John 16:15 “All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you”

God deals with man based on the condition of his heart. Therefore, if your heart is not right towards God it doesn’t matter how you appear before people or what you do, you will not earn his approval. 

When we are talking about the heart, we are referring to the real you. When the Bible is talking about the heart, it is not referring to the biological heart that pumps blood to the other parts of the body. Your heart is your spirit. It is the condition of your spirit that men can hardly see.

The Bible talks about thoughts and intents of the heart. Thus, to keep a perfect heart, you must try as much as possible to align your thoughts and intents to the word of God. That is what Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life”. 

It is your duty to keep or guard your heart and the Bible said, “do it with great effort”. Since your heart or spirit is of God, you guard it by feeding regularly on spiritual truths. You keep it by being consistent with God’s word. John 6:63 said “God’s word is life and spirit”. 

The moment you feed on facts or any information that contradicts the truth of God’s word, you are breaking down the walls of security of your spirit. This is when the devil too can make an in – road into your life. Jesus once said “If you don’t doubt with your heart, you will have whatever you say”. So you see, your heart matters. It is the foundation for your success or failure. The well it is kept the better. 

Always stay in sync with God’s word and you will flourish in life. Maintain a perfect HEART at all times. Bitterness, pride, envy, and all actions that affect the state of your heart won’t in any way serve your interest.

Read: Mark 7:21 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders”

Prayer: Heavenly father, help me to keep away from the things that will corrupt my heart. May your word dominate my heart and let all bitterness, pride, malice and anger be far from me, in Jesus Name. Amen

The Amplified Bible put our opening text this way, “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others”. Many problems in the world today is just a matter of selfishness. Looking at your own personal interest, without any consideration for other people only makes you mean and a user of people. 

Selfishness can be considered as a “little fox” that destroys the whole vine (Songs of Solomon 2:15). Selfishness makes you act without consideration for other people. Do you only look at your interest in life? In your interactions with people, do you use them or value them?

Today, we have a lot of people who only complain about how people should treat them and handle them, but they never look at how they can also treat these same people from whom they demand some kind of favors or privileges. 

What are you demanding from people? What expectations do you want people to discharge towards you? 

The truth is that, whenever you are only concerned with your own personal profit and pleasure you are being selfish. Most people act out selfishness unknowingly. Over the years, I have learnt not to use people around me. As a Pastor, I try as much as possible to look at the needs of people around me, than to crave for some exceptional treatment or favours from them. Like Jesus, I find ways to serve, than to be served. 

Beloved, do you do nice things for people or you rather want to receive nice things? Well, if the latter is the case then you are a selfish person. Philippians 2:3 says “do nothing out of SELFISH ambition…” The fact that you must be ambitious about your dreams and visions in life does not mean you must execute it to the detriment of others. 

Never also use people as ladders to climb up and leave them down. Sometimes, selfishness may successfully launch you into your destiny, or get you what you want but will bring alongside many unbearable consequences.

Let other people matter. Be the person who have others at heart, treating them well, than putting onerous demands on them. This is the best way to avoid being selfish.

It shouldn’t be an issue of “me, myself and I”.  Remember, when it is always about you, you are simply selfish. 

Read: Matthew 7:1 “So then, in everything treat others the same way you want them to treat you, for this is [the essence of] the Law and the [writings of the] Prophets.”

Prayer: Lord, I pray for grace to be selfless in all that I do. 

A common misconception among Christians is that only ministers, specifically evangelists, are called to reach out to the lost. In Ephesians 5, the Bible teaches about the purpose of the ministry gifts that Jesus has set in the Church.

Ephesians 4:12 says “His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church)” 

You see, the purpose of the five ministry gifts is to equip the saints to do the work of building the Body of Christ. When you receive from a minister who has been placed in his office by the Lord, you will become better equipped to minister yourself.

That’s why all Christians should consider themselves “full-time” ministers, for the Word declares that all that we do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Col. 3:17.) The responsibility is ours as Christians. Like the song writer puts it “a charge to keep I have “

In John 8:12, Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the light of the world.” But He also said in Matthew 5:14: “Ye are the light of the world.” We are now the light of the world because we carry His Word. It is His Word that brings light into a dark world (Ps. 119:130.) The wonderful privilege of carrying on the ministry of reconciliation has been entrusted to us.

You see, you must make the preaching of the Gospel of Christ your business. Not preaching robs this world of God’s power and salvation. Be a soul winner today and forever. Hearken to the master’s call, and save someone.

Read: 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation”.

Prayer: Father I pray that I will become a vessel through which many souls will be won. In Jesus Name. Amen

Achieving great things in life is by faith and solving arduous issues in life is also by faith. Thus, faith plays a big role in a Christians life. 

Know that it takes faith to come into the limelight in life. Lack of faith or breeding doubt is a disincentive for your life as a Christian. Rising to the top in life whether in your finances, ministry, career or whatever you are doing takes faith. 

You see, logic and natural sense doesn’t have all the solutions to human life. Nonetheless, your faith in God answers to all things. 

You see, it takes a heart of faith to be a hero in life. Faith will make you attempt and achieve great things in life. When Jesus spoke to the fig tree in Mathew 21:19, and what he said happened, he assured the believers that they can also do same and beyond. Matthew 21:21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.

As a Christian, you must put your faith to work to get things done. Don’t live with doubts. Don’t live in the realm of “what if it doesn’t work”. Engage your faith and the impossible will happen.

Read: Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the gift of faith. Thank you that my faith produces results all the time. Amen

Life is a journey. You must start from one point and end at another. This is why God is not only interested in you starting something. You don’t have to start and stop midway.

For instance, you must not be a Christian today and give up the faith in years to come, and you must not start the work of ministry and stop along the way. Yes, challenges may come, but you must strive to the get to the end. Moving forward in your assignment despite all the difficulties that you may encounter is perseverance.

Thus, as a Child of God you must persevere! Keep your gaze on the Lord and keep on moving forward. Hebrews says, “… And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…”. You see, you must run with perseverance. That is to run with the mindset of not giving up.

Our opening text speaks of the Apostle Paul and how he fought his way through difficulties to get to the end of his assignment in life. He wrought wonders and did awesome things because of this “not giving up” spirit. 

You see, people who persevere are focused, they find delight in God’s will, and look forward to the reward that God has for those who end well.  

Never draw back in your walk with God. Keep alive all the purposes and plans that God has revealed to you. Your perseverance will bring you a reward.

Read: Hebrews 12:2 “We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side of God’s throne!”

Prayer: Lord, I pray for the grace to preserve to the end in Jesus’ name!

To be on guard means to be careful to avoid being tricked or getting into a dangerous situation. It also talks of a state of alertness and preparedness. 1 Corinthians 16:13 says “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong”.

It takes this quality of “being alert” or vigilant to succeed as a Christian. When you are on your guard, things don’t just take you by surprise. Staying alert helps you to know beforehand how some things will turn up and to also prepare.

Christians who don’t remain on guard make themselves vulnerable to the schemes and devices of the devil. In fact, the devil may toy with your blessing if you don’t put in place some degree of alertness or vigilance.

Jesus once illustrated this happening by talking about a good man sowing good seeds for some people but whiles the good man was away the people went to sleep and gave an “enemy” the chance to sow weeds among the good seeds. (Matthew 13:24-25). Thus, lack of alertness or vigilance gave the enemy the chance to destroy their good field. 

Never let the enemy destroy your harvest because you were off guard.

Read: 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”.

Prayer: Father, I pray for the grace to be vigilant in every aspect of my life, in the name of Jesus. Amen!