This Christian Life

Fitzgerald Mujuru

Copyright © 2019 – Fitzgerald Mujuru

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic mechanically, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to anyone who is seeking a relationship with God. The cry of your heart is that you want to know Him better, to love Him more dearly and to have a closer walk with Him. This book is for you. You will find a Word-based approach to some fundamental issues about daily Christian living. In a world where many teachings abound on the Christian life, you will find some answers you have been looking for in the pages of this book.

Contents

5 – Foreword 1 & 2

6 – Acknowledgements

7 – Introduction

Chapter 1- New Birth

Chapter 2 – New Life

Chapter 3 – The Word of God

Chapter 4 – Prayer

Chapter 5 – Praise and Worship

Chapter 6- Giving

Chapter 2 – The Holy Spirit

Chapter 3 – The Prophetic

Chapter 4 – Sonship

Chapter 5 – Faith

Chapter 1- Transformation

Chapter 2 – God and Me

Foreword

Wow! Having known Fitzgerald over the years, his passion for God and service has been remarkable. I have watched this man go through the ups and downs of life. What distinguishes him is his heart of worship and passion for adding value to people using his gift as a communicator. I was much amazed by this book you now hold in your hand. I count it a privilege to write the foreword because I have watched the transformational journey of the author. Many books have been penned on the topics covered in this book that one wonders what else can be written on salvation, the Word of God, prayer, giving, the Holy Spirit, among other topics. As I read through the chapters in this book I was blessed by the insight and freshness with which Fitzgerald tackles the issues. It is simple yet profound.

He breaks it down for people to understand that Christianity is not a religion to perform but a journey to be embarked on, starting with receiving the mercies and grace of God. This book in your hand is life changing; I believe it is a helpful manual or tool to assist you to think through and redefine most of our theology around fundamental truths that we tend to ignore. Truth is truth yet revelation is progressive. We need to keep digging deeper in God for illumination. We find ourselves with a generation that is “hyped up” yet not grounded and rooted in Christ. When I read on the giving chapter, for example, Fitzgerald doesn’t encourage people to give just out of inspiration alone but out of revelation and understanding for positive results. As you go through chapters like the one on prophecy and how to handle the prophetic he expounds on the “how to” rather than just the “ought to”. That’s what makes this book practical rather than theoretical. We are living in a very prophetic age hence the need to teach and explain to this generation, the need to handle the undiluted Word of God in a way that ensures its fulfilment.

I do not hesitate to recommend this book to every God-seeking person. You should not only read it but use it to disciple other believers in Christ. Many books are just informative, very few are relatable and transformational. In the pages of this book, you will find out that it’s not just good ideas, but it’s God ideas that are biblically based. Good ideas might come to pass, but God ideas always come to pass, for God watches over His Word to perform it. Life gives birth to life. The joy is in the journey, now go ahead and enjoy the life-changing process.

Munatsi Sande

Overseer, Life coach

Acknowledgements

I want to give honour, thanksgiving and praise to God, my heavenly Father; You made me, and you have a perfect plan for my life. To Jesus my Saviour and Captain of my soul I love you so much. Thank you for walking with me daily. I want to acknowledge the Holy Spirit, my Teacher and Friend, always tugging at my heart strings and pulling me in the direction I should go. I would not be where I am today had it not been for your leading, comfort and love. Your faithfulness has indeed made me bold.

Let me take this opportunity to thank my wife, Kuda Mujuru, for always being by my side. You have been a pillar, cheering me, encouraging me and above all believing in what God has placed in me. Your prayers, advise and insights have made this work easy. I appreciate the way you critique some of my ideas. May the Lord bless you abundantly for all you do. Your encouragement keeps me going.

I would also want to pay tribute to my Pastors, your fine example spurs me on in desiring to serve God. I would not have made it this far without the mentors, family, friends and associates I have. I believe this book is a testimony of your labour of love and the wealth of wisdom you have taught me.

I want to single out my Pastors at Springs of Mercy Church my spiritual home where I am planted. I have learned a lot about God and His plan for my life through your ministry. Many thanks to Overseer Munatsi Sande for that glowing foreword, Pastor Ndoga for encouraging me to stay in my ministry and run my race. A special mention to everyone that prays for my family and me at all times. We are here today because you prayed constantly and faithfully. Many thanks to Nyasha R. Makovere for the sterling editing work. I want to thank my printers for a job well done.

Last but not least, I would like to thank you the reader for making the writing worthwhile. It is for you that we put in the long hours. God bless you.

Introduction

As I was writing this book, I walked back into my early days as a Christian and remembered how I gave my life to Jesus at a tender age and the things that kept me grounded in the faith. My journey was not always an easy one as I had to learn many things about this Christian life. I made many mistakes along the way. Some call this experience, and it’s not always the best teacher. In the ups and downs that I encountered I remember God for His faithfulness. He sent me help in the form of people who availed themselves to assist me in my spiritual walk. I am aware that I may never get to meet you in person, but my prayer is that within the pages of this book you will find lessons that you can use for your life. I pray you find faith, hope and conviction; salvation if you have not yet encountered Jesus as Lord and Saviour. May you be revived and strengthened. I do not forget the man or woman who has felt like giving up and said it’s undoable. May this read cause you to return to the ancient paths which lead to life abundant. To God be all the glory. Be encouraged!

Chapter 1

New Birth

God of Great Mercies.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

I am amazed at the mercies of God that never cease to flow towards us as result of His amazing love. God is waiting patiently for the sinner to repent to experience a new, reformed life. This mercy applies both to Christians and those who have never enjoyed a relationship with God. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin and shows us our true inner-state so that we can turn back to God when we lose our way. My testimony is that He saved my life and changed me and is continuously transforming me. It was indeed for freedom that Christ set me free so that I would no longer live without Jesus. God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. It is His mercy not anything that we can do that brings our salvation. Ephesians 2:8 says,” for by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Let’s explore some insights about the endless mercy and love of God.

We must fully embrace the tender mercies of God in a way we had never done before because Jesus did not die in vain. The issue of our sinful nature was addressed on Calvary’s mountain two thousand years ago when Jesus died on the cross. One writer once said,” It was not the nails that pierced His hands and feet that kept Him on the rugged cross but His love for us”. The same love is calling today and would embrace anyone who returns to God like the “prodigal son”. It was never God’s intention for any of His children to be subject to a yoke of slavery and domination by Satan. Maybe you made some bad decisions or life simply dealt you a blow or it may be sickness or disease that is bothering you. Whatever it is, God is aware of your condition and He has the remedy, but you need to cry out for His mercy as blind Bartimaeus did:

“And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say,” Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me” (Mark 10:47).

Nothing happens until you cry out to Him. God will hear your cry like the Psalmist testifies: “In my distress, I cried out to the Lord and He heard me” (Psalm 18:6). All you need to do is to call on God and cry out, and He will have mercy on you.

The grace of God saves us, but what does grace mean? Often we find the words mercy and grace used interchangeably in the Bible. They both mean the unmerited favour and the awarding of a fresh start to every sinner who comes to God in total surrender. It means that God will treat me just as if I had never sinned when I approach Him with a contrite heart in acceptance of His offer of salvation. This grace is enough to give whosoever will come, access to a new life in the presence of the almighty God. It also enables us to leave the old life behind. Isaiah 55:7 says, “let the wicked forsake his way.” Which means we have to learn God’s way of doing things when we become Christians. I have witnessed how God can take anyone regardless of ethnicity, educational background, past record or even gender and make their life beautiful. This gift of life that God gives is not cheap; He paid for it with His Son’s life. As the blood was flowing on Mount Calvary from Jesus’ veins, the price was paid in full to free us from sin- guilt, shame and pain.

The mercy and compassion of God is so great that it can be described as out of this world, matchless and amazing. It is profound to imagine how someone who holds the universe together thinks of us and does not rest until like lost sheep; we are found and restored to the fold. It says in Matthew 18:12-14, “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety –nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it assuredly, I say to you; he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety –nine that did not go astray.” The tender mercies are not just for those that are lost and have never encountered Jesus. They are also available to repair and care for the wounded, hurting, disappointed soul in the house of God. You may have been born again for a long time but are not where you should be in your spiritual walk. His mercy is calling you today. God keeps on giving second chances, setting us up, creating opportunities for us to get closer to Him because of His mercy and love.

This mercy and grace that brings salvation and turnaround is not the preserve of a selected few. It is available to whosoever will call on the name of the Lord. Heaven rejoices when one sinner is born again. That’s how important we are to God. Most people are walking the perilous path to their destruction, and the loving arms of the Father are held out waiting to embrace and show His grace and mercy. How can anyone go through life without realising that religion is not what one needs? You could be searching for something, and you cannot put your finger on it. It is the steadfast love of the Lord that never ceases and His tender mercies that never come to an end, which are new every morning that you could be seeking.

God is still in love with you and me in the same way that He was when He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16). If you have not so much as given your life to Him in exchange for His, the ball is firmly in your court. Whether you receive it or not, every day He releases brand new mercy for each one of us. A gift you do not accept cannot be yours. Make the right decision today.

Being born again – The Importance of Being Saved from a Life of Sin

It seemed like an ordinary day, but it turned out to be the day I would make the most important decision of my life. I was very young in the sixth grade in primary school, about eleven years old. I had been promoted along with six other classmates to learn with the seventh graders on account of being bright students. I believe this was by divine appointment as I later discovered. Our new teacher happened to be in charge of the Scripture Union (interdenominational Christian) group at our school. One Friday afternoon I was playing with the rest of the students as we usually did when I discovered that the meeting for that afternoon was about to start. I was not in a hurry to go home, so I decided to attend. After singing some joyful choruses, a short sermon was preached. I am no longer sure what the sermon was exactly about, but what followed was significant in that it changed my life forever. An invitation was given to all those who wanted to give their lives to God after an explanation of what it meant to be born again was given. I realised that I needed God in my life and I turned my heart over to Him. I confessed with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and believed in my heart that God raised Him from the dead and repeated the salvation prayer. The Bible says in Romans 10:9-10 that, “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.”

That was it for me; I was saved on that glorious day. I asked Jesus to come into my heart, and I was born again. I became hungry to read the Bible, to pray and live for God. It was the beginning of a life-long journey of following Jesus Christ. I have since learned many valuable lessons about this Christian journey.

I want to share some of these precious lessons with you, but before I do, I want to repeat the words of our Lord Jesus Christ:

“Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

Jesus is not making a suggestion here but instead, giving a command. It is a condition that He gave Nicodemus, the religious teacher who inquired of Him by night with regards to salvation. To enter the Kingdom of God, you need the new birth because you belong to a different kingdom before you are born again. You are called out of the Kingdom of darkness into God’s kingdom of light by that experience. There is no excuse because:

“the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11).

On that Friday afternoon, I asked Jesus to come into my heart, forgive my sins and be Lord of my life. I had not planned it, but God orchestrated events to make it happen. You will also have an opportunity to give your life to Christ if you have not already done so. I believe what you are reading will go a long way in helping you in understanding the need for the salvation of your soul. The grace to be saved is available. Now is the time to give your life to Jesus.

Why does one need to be born again? We are all born sinners, and at some point, we need to surrender our lives entirely to GOD. The Word of God says,

“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but the gift of God is eternal life.” (Romans 3:23)

I realised back then that no matter what efforts I made at being a good person I could never attain to the salvation of my soul by mere human effort. It is clear and accurately documented that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Because of Adam’s sin, we are born sinners, and it takes accepting the gift of salvation for us to have a right relationship with God. It’s a gift freely given but you have to take for it to be yours.

“Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

The story doesn’t end there, onto the scene comes Jesus to solve the crisis. While God had the plan of salvation in place all along, man would try and use religion to find his way back to God. Religion is not the panacea to the sin problem. It is man’s effort to reach God while Christianity is God saying, I am going to go and save the people I created. Yes, they messed up, but I will go and rescue them.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16a).

God is so gracious that even this offer of salvation is not imposed on anyone. He gives each person the freedom to choose or reject it. It would be irresponsible for me not to give a word of caution here. Choosing or rejecting God’s offer of salvation has rewards for those who accept it and consequences for those who do not. There is a heaven to be enjoyed and a hell to be suffered for eternity. Whether you are admitted into heaven or condemned to hell depends on how you decide. God doesn’t send anybody to hell, our choices do; choose wisely.

Let’s take a look at what the scriptures say:

“For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17).

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Because of Adam’s disobedience sin entered into the world while salvation came through the obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ.” There was and still is a penalty for the sin that the first man and woman committed, but thanks be to God that the penalty of sin was paid once and for all by the death of His Son, Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. The penalty of sin is spiritual death and ultimately separation from God for eternity. Without getting back into relationship with God one runs the grave risk, literally, of spending eternity without God in eternal damnation. A way has been made to get back into a relationship with God. The choice is yours.

Action Point: How can I be born again?

To be born again, you need to have the way of salvation explained to you. I heard the Word preached on that Friday afternoon. When you hear the Word of God, you need to believe the Word, and it begins to convict you. That conviction is what makes you aware of your sinfulness and your need for God. It is the Holy Spirit who works in you to a point where you feel the deep need to make right your relationship with God as you confess your sins and ask Jesus to come into your heart and become Lord of your life. You can make a choice to be born again today. I explained that being born again is a simple matter. All you need to do is realise that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself. The Bible says in Romans 10:9-10 “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.”

So all you need to do is:

Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord

Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and God raised Him from the dead so that you shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Confess your sins with your mouth and acknowledge your need for God.

Ask God to forgive you and invite Jesus into your heart to be Lord and saviour.

If you have gone through the steps above and are ready to commit your life to Christ, pray this prayer:

Lord Jesus, I confess with my mouth that you are Lord. I believe with my heart that you died for my sins and rose again on the third day so that I will have eternal life. I acknowledge that I am a sinner in need of your forgiveness. Please forgive me for all the wrong I have done. Cleanse me and give me a brand new start. Please, Lord Jesus, come into my heart and be my Lord and Saviour. Thank you for saving me. Amen.

If you have prayed the prayer above with all your heart, I welcome you to God’s family. You are now born again and have started living a new life. Please write to me so that I can encourage you in the Lord. My email is fitzgerald.mujuru@gmail.com. Find a Bible believing church near you and become an active member.

Chapter 2

New Life

Salvation Brings New life in Christ.

Being born again marks the beginning of a new life in Christ. You become a partaker of all that Christ has for you. There are things that you will begin to experience, decisions you will need to make and habits you will need to change. There are also old things you need to stop doing. It will not be in your strength but by the help that God supplies.

I want to share with you some helpful nuggets that will assist you on the way.

1. When you are born again, you experience something simple yet powerful.

You may or may not have felt anything when you made that sinner’s prayer. Some do not feel anything when they make that prayer of commitment, but we do not go by feelings but by faith. When you confess that Jesus is Lord and subsequently ask Him to come into your heart and be Lord and Saviour, He honours that decision and does come into your life. We all had to do this at some point to become believers. I felt the joy that I had never felt before, the day I received Jesus into my heart. Though it may sound too good to be true, it is a simple matter. It’s all you need to do, and after that, you begin to walk with God and maintain your new-found relationship. Now, every relationship has rules of engagement, and to stay in fellowship with God you have to do it His way; that is, by continually feeding on His Word and engaging in prayer. Prayer is directly talking to God. You must read your Bible for spiritual growth. They say, you become what you continuously do, and you can only grow in the grace and knowledge of God by continually delighting in hearing, thinking about and doing what His Word tells you to do.

2. You need the Word of God to maintain your relationship with Him.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous.” (Joshua 1:8).

The Bible shows what you need to do to become a strong Christian. Show me a Christian who does not read their Bible, and I will show you the one who does not have a strong, stable, solid relationship with God. You need to know what the Bible instructs so that you do not end up relying on the opinions of others. I heard it preached that the journey of discovering who you are in God begins the day you start reading the Bible for yourself. You need the Word of God daily as it is one of the most crucial building blocks you need to build your faith. At salvation you acquire faith, now is the time to build that faith until you are strong in the Lord:

Isaiah 28:10 says, “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”

That’s how you will grow, step by step, little by little every day. The Word will not only help you maintain your relationship with God; it will transform you. Think for a moment about the motor vehicles, phones, electrical gadgets we use daily. If you want to know how these things work, you need to go to the manufacturer. No reputable manufacturer releases a product onto the market without a manual. Being the responsible God He is, He also provided a manual for us when He made us. The Bible is the manual for human beings, the very constitution by which we must be guided. How we must operate, how to get the best out of life, our rights, privileges and responsibilities are all in the Bible. There is no need to imagine or conjure up what to do. All the information you need is contained within the pages of the Bible.

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105).

Your life must be illuminated by the Word of God and your path lit and directed by His Word. Life must not become a constant groping in the dark. You must walk in the light of God’s Word.

There is another scripture that says:

“Your ears shall hear a voice behind you saying, “this is the way, walk in it whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21).

We live in a world where there is gross darkness, and sometimes we can’t see where we are going. The quality of light, the accuracy of the directions and signage along the path determines the way you walk. I believe the Bible is better than any satellite navigation system known to man when it comes to negotiating the bends, turns and highways of life. We cannot see the way without the Word of God. It is the map for life. Let it guide you into the paths of righteousness.

3. Fellowship with other believers is crucial to maintain and grow your faith.

Fellowship with other believers keeps you functioning and gives you a sense of belonging to the family of God. Growing up, we used to go to the rural areas where there was no electricity and all our cooking was done on open fires. One couldn’t cause the fire to burn with just one, separate log. It would take a couple of logs, firewood, dry twigs, matches and constant supply of oxygen to get the fire started and to keep it burning. Every component was necessary to have a fire that burns long and bright enough for heating and warmth. Constant fellowship with a body of believers who are seeking God, in the same way, is essential to keep your spiritual fire burning. After I got born again, I moved to a church where I felt my spirit could be nourished. Previously, going to church for me was a religious exercise with no meaning at all. I did it because that’s what everyone else in the family did on a Sunday. You cannot transform your life through mere ceremonial routine and religious ritual. I then discovered that the Bible is not silent on the believer’s need for good fellowship.

“Not forsaking the habit of assembling of ourselves together as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)

The family of believers is critical when it comes to belonging and being supported in walking with Christ. We must not forsake the habit of meeting together to fellowship and encourage each other. The writer of Proverbs contends that we need each other and I have learned that I do not have to find my way by myself on this road of righteousness:

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).

There is no need for you to be a lone ranger. God has given to us Pastors, leaders, friends, relationships that aid our spiritual growth. It is also important to lay out the fact that once you are born again, it is counterproductive to keep patronising the old places you used to like and maintain old ungodly friendships. You don’t need to go to some of those places you used to frequent anymore. It does your inner –man no good to revel in places like that. What you become is a result of the company you keep and the places where you hang out. Bad company can corrupt you and derail you from the purpose and direction God has laid out for you.

Let us follow the example of our Lord Jesus. He was in the habit of regularly attending the local church while He was on earth.

In Luke 4:16 it says, “And He came to Nazareth where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.”

Based on this example alone you ought to go to church regularly. Find a true, full gospel, Bible-believing church. You don’t want to end up in a place where the correct Word of God is not preached. Some churches merely offer tradition and a ceremonial routine of worship. Others are now quick-fix places where people go to find instant solutions to a myriad of problems. In some of those places you don’t have to pray, the man of God will pray for you, and it’s done. I hear some of these places charge for the gospel which we freely received. That should not be the case.

There are a lot of counterfeits around. Nevertheless, true Christianity requires active participation in the things of God. You have to learn how to engage in all facets of the Christian faith such as Bible Study, worship, fellowship, prayer, fasting and many other Christian disciplines which are tackled in greater detail elsewhere in this book. The discipline of belonging and being dedicated to a specific ministry ensures that you are taught the ways of God, thereby growing spiritually. You will learn in such a way that you can practice Christianity in everyday life.

Worship is a necessary part of this Christian life. Many Christians link worship in Christianity exclusively to music. On the contrary, I believe that worship is any act you do that brings glory to God. We worship God when we serve in the church, when we serve others, with our tithes and offerings we worship. We worship God when we are obedient to parents. We praise God when we continuously acknowledge Him in all our ways. We must also worship Him in song and dance and with our hands clapping. Nothing pleases God more than honest, sincere worship proceeding from a heart that loves and adores Him. It is one of the things that kept me going to the particular church I joined when I became a born-again Christian. The worship was vibrant and gave me the sense that there is no better place I would rather be at that particular moment. I am talking about God-breathed, uplifting worship sessions.

4. Accountability is necessary for spiritual growth.

One of the mechanisms of accountability is having people in the body of Christ to whom you can account your life. Some call it is called personal pastoring, and in the secular sense, most call it mentoring. I am pastored, and I belong to a home group or cell group where we “do” life together. It’s more like having church in smaller groups. While your relationship with God is personal, it cannot be grown and maintained in isolation. Having someone who can hold you answerable and responsible enables you to develop much faster because the tendency is to drift back to one’s old ways and backslide and this can be prevented. It’s also a source of great encouragement because we are not all up or down at the same time.

Paul had Timothy who was learning from him the ways of God. Elisha had Elijah as his mentor. Jesus personally walked with the twelve disciples, and they went on to become the Apostles because of what and how He taught them. He taught them so well that we are still benefitting from the things they learnt and the work they did. While accountability kept us in check especially when we were susceptible to peer pressure in high school and college, it didn’t accomplish that alone, but we were taught God’s ways. Having someone more mature in the Christian walk, walking with you will save you much trouble. You don’t have to repeat the mistakes they made. You are forewarned and forearmed with wisdom that comes with the benefit of hindsight and the scars and lessons of battle.

Apart from personal pastors, we started having “positive peer pressure”, where we were accountable to our contemporaries, positively influencing each other. It is a two-way street where you are open and honest changing each other for Christ.

I owe all I am today to the relationship I have with Jesus. It started with the salvation of my soul, maintained by exclusive devotion and commitment to God as I walk daily with Him. Nobody said it would be easy but as we hold on firmly to the promise that it shall be accomplished not by our power but His. You can also have this God kind of life, and the invitation is still open to anybody.

5. Powered and led by the Holy Spirit you can live a victorious Christian Life.

The Holy Spirit powers the Christian life. Without Him, it is hard to live this Christian life. You cannot make it by sheer willpower or the desire to live right alone. The desire to live for God is good, but there must be strength and power available to do so. The flesh is going to put up a fight against all you believe. The reason the flesh fights is because when the Spirit of God leads you, the flesh is no longer in charge and it loves to be in control.

Paul says, “I say then, walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things you wish.” (Gal 5:16-17).

“For as many as are led by the Spirit these are the sons of God”. (Romans 8:14).

This is the surrendered life where you must get “self” out of the way and allow the Spirit of God to take over and run your life. It doesn’t matter if you are an intellectual, the things of God cannot be understood through mental assent. As my Pastor says, it doesn’t have to make sense; it must make faith. You have got to allow the Holy Spirit to lead you and direct you. He knows everything, and He will guide you into all truth. The Spirit of God will teach you the things of God.

“For what man knows the things of a man except for the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.” (1Corinthians 2:11)

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak of His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come” (John 16:13).

Do you want to be in the “know”? Let the Holy Spirit become your friend, and you will always know what to do because He hears what God is saying and in turn, He tells you. He knows the mind of God. The Holy Spirit is the one who will lead you into all truth; He is the Spirit of promise. He knows the mind of God, and He will explain everything you need to know because He knows everything. He is the third person of the Trinity. He is our helper.

How does one get the Holy Spirit?

The disciples received the Holy Spirit when Jesus breathed on them.:

“And when He had said this, He (Jesus)breathed on them (the disciples) and said to them, receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22).

Jesus wants to breathe His Spirit upon you so that you are enabled and empowered to live this Christian life. All you have to do is ask Him to do so.

You receive the Holy Spirit as a free gift at salvation when you get saved.

“Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

After the initial infilling of the Holy Spirit, you need to continue coming back to God to be filled afresh.

You can also be prayed for to receive the Holy Spirit:

“who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:15)

On the day of Pentecost, they were baptised in the Holy Spirit.

“When the day of Pentecost had fully come, there were all in one accord in one place. Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance,” (Acts 2:1-4).

Fundamental Insights I Owe to The Born Again Experience.

I would never have encountered my true identity and known my real self, had it not been for the Lord. I would be stuck in mild religiosity instead of a convicted knowledge of the one and only true God. I would be hopeless without Christ in me, the hope of glory. I don’t know if I would still be alive today. However, now I know that it’s only God who preserves my soul and keeps me alive. I would have lost heart, cast restraint and perished in ignorance without Him. However, it was and still is the amazing grace of God that keeps me going and growing as I strive, thrive and survive daily challenges to attain the prize of the high call which I am reaching for in Christ Jesus. The Apostle Paul sums it aptly when he says,

“not that I have already attained, nor perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”(Philippians 3:12-14)

After the new birth, there is a new life to be lived. Here are some lessons learned from becoming a born-again Christian.

1. A personal relationship with God is possible.

When I discovered that a one on one relationship with my Creator was possible, it meant that I could run to Him with all the details of my life unashamedly. I could tell Him even the most embarrassing, bad and ugly things that I could not tell anybody. This discovery transformed me significantly as I became aware of the fact that I am and can no longer be a slave to anything that seeks to dominate my life but have been made a son:

“therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4:7)

It gives me confidence as a child of God. Religion gives you an inaccessible and impersonal God who is somewhere out there, whereas the primary reason God created man was to love Him and have fellowship with Him. God wanted a relationship with me so much that He paid the highest price to bring me into that relationship:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

There is no greater love than this. He was willing to pay the ultimate price so that He can legally buy me back from the slavery of sin into the fellowship of God’s family.

2. God equipped us for a purpose on purpose

There are things that God intentionally pre-packaged in us for release such as potential and purpose. When we are born, each one of us arrives on the planet with unique attributes encoded in our natural and spiritual DNA to do that which only we can do. We have unique gifts that we are wired with. I don’t care how much you admire what others have. God has placed in you everything you need to be the best you. How do I know?

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3)

These things are not given or intended for one’s ambition or ego but to help others and provide real meaning to life to bring glory to God. I have everything I need for all aspects of this life until eternity.

3. There is power in your praise

“But you are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3). The World English Bible (WEB) says, “But you are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel.”

It means that when we praise God, He brings His seat and dwells in that place of praise. Praise and worship is a powerful life-transforming activity anyone can participate or engage in. It is clear that God inhabits in the praises of His people. When we praise, we are giving to God what is due to Him. When He is pleased with our appreciation, the manifest presence of Almighty God comes, and He dwells among us because He is delighted when we lift His name. The whole experience enables us not just to feel good but to be changed indeed in the presence of our Holy God. The resulting transformation allows us to be useful vessels in the kingdom of God. There are many instances when I have gone into the place of praise not asking for anything in spite of the many needs that I would be saddled with, and God miraculously moves on my behalf to solve them as a result of praise. Are you between a rock and a hard place? Put on praise, and your victory will be sure.

4. Man is a three – dimensional being.

I now understand that man is a tripartite being who is first and foremost a spirit who resides inside a body and has a mind as alluded to in scripture,

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Therefore, we must continuously nurture the inner man through constant reading of the Word and prayer in the same manner that we pay attention to feeding, nurturing the body and the mind. The spiritual man does not eat physical food but must be nourished spiritually. We spend much money, time and effort nurturing the body and soul yet neglecting the real man, the spirit man.

Because God is a Spirit, neither the flesh nor the intellectual part of me can interact with Him. It’s only my spirit person that can. Yes, the inner man, the one that leaves the body at death and goes back to the Father is the real person. When the spirit man is submitted to God through the Holy Spirit, he dominates the body and mind and determines how one will act and do things. Woe to you if your man of flesh (body) is in charge of your spirit man.

5. True freedom is only found in Christ Jesus

I am an escapee. Let me speak for myself. I wonder what would have happened to all that I have now become if I had postponed or parked the decision to surrender my life to the all-knowing Creator of the universe who is now my personal friend, my deliverer and Lord. It would have been regrettable to discover many years later how different things could have been. When we become born again, we would have escaped from death to life, and God breaks the snare of the enemy upon our lives. The Psalmist says,

“Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The snare is broken, and we have escaped.” (Psalm 124:6-7).

When we are born again, we escape from death to life. Like a bird that was trapped in the fowler’s snare or a cage, we have been released, and we are now free. Before encountering Jesus there is no freedom, “Therefore, if the son sets you free, you are free indeed” (John 8:36). Most people who have not experienced the freedom of knowing Christ think what they have is freedom. However, a life not committed to God’s care results in some “free-doom” not freedom. I have a friend who is an Evangelist and has a prisons ministry. He preaches the good news to those who are incarcerated, and many in those prison yards who have met with Christ experience greater freedom than those who are walking the streets who do not know Jesus as Lord and saviour. That freedom does not know circumstances nor is it limited by them.

6. Wisdom for life is available.

“Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of your salvation: The fear of the Lord is His treasure.” (Isaiah 33:6)

Do you want stability in your life? Get the God kind of wisdom and knowledge. It all starts at salvation and is a key benefit thereof. Knowing Jesus gives you divine wisdom for life. The fear of God gives access to His wisdom because God cannot entrust you with it if you don’t fear Him. Fear and reverence of Him is a prerequisite for receipt of that which is in His hand. Walking with God make you wise:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)

How much wisdom do you want? How much fear of the Lord do you have or want to have? Foolishness only takes root when the fear of the Lord is no longer there. One who fears the Lord walks circumspectly; although many things are permissible, He fears God enough not to dabble in things that displease the Lord. Wisdom is the proper application of knowledge. It does us no good to have the head knowledge or mental appreciation of what God requires without appropriate use of what we know. Such knowledge is useless. When you fear God, you will find out what He wants and do it. Not many of us were wise by the standards of the world, but God took us, just like he can take anybody else and empowered us with the God kind of wisdom that preserves life and causes it to flourish.

7. You must be sure that you are truly saved.

Some people respond to every altar call for salvation be it in church or even when they are watching a television evangelist at home. It is because of a lack of understanding that once you have asked Jesus into your heart by faith you are born again. Feelings will mislead you into thinking that you are not born again because you don’t feel like you are a Christian. You need to know that you are saved. Having said that, if you are genuinely not sure whether you are born again or not, then you need to revisit the whole issue. We read in John 8:36 that if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed. There must be no doubt in your mind about your salvation. If you die today, where is your soul going? Heaven or hell? Make sure you know that you are genuinely saved. I shared earlier my testimony of how I got born again and am assured of salvation, eternal life, the blessing of God and a life of power, dominion and accomplishment. God doesn’t just give us the salvation of our souls only, but the total package. Salvation assures us of a full, exciting and overflowing life. We are just not waiting to go to heaven but applying ourselves fully to life because Jesus says,

“I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10b). The New Living Translation (NLT) says, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

Salvation does not just give you the eternal life which will only be enjoyed when you get to heaven, it empowers you to live abundantly, meaning lacking absolutely nothing. That means its rich and satisfying in every aspect.

It also means if you are born again you are not allowed to be tormented by sickness and demonic oppression. He died for it, so you do not have to suffer or die from it. There are many benefits to having membership of the body of Christ, but these have to be accessed in order to be enjoyed. For a long time, I engaged in “under-living” because I was not accessing the full benefits of salvation God had already made provision for. Do not fall into the same trap. Procure what is already yours because it has already been made available.

8. A life that counts is what Jesus gives.

“And God can make all grace abound toward you, that you having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance of every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

Salvation gives us a life that counts. It is not just about survival or barely making it but living a life of significance and making an impact. We can become engaged in effective living because it is the Lord’s will that we live a maximised life, lacking nothing and never flagging in zeal for the things of God. Before I knew Christ, it was permissible for me to live an ordinary life, but His grace raised the standard and brought about new possibilities and a clearer perspective of how better this life can be.

Good works should be the hallmark of a born-again Christian’s life. Good actions are not for us to feel good about ourselves but to live a life of contribution, that is, the giving of our time, treasure and talents especially for the edification of the body of Christ. Can we honestly say that we are making a difference in the church, community or nation? Jesus doesn’t make us so heavenly minded that you are of no earthly good. When was the last time you poured yourself into someone’s life? A Christian must live a life that counts: that others may be blessed by how we live. It’s not about what God can do for us and in us, but also through us. In Acts 20:20 the Apostle Paul iterates thus:

“And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shown you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house.”

These are some of the valuable things which I have learned from the day I was born again. It’s been a long, exciting journey, and there is so much more to share, but I trust that we find the lessons above useful in our various lives. We should never settle for less than what God has in store. Let’s allow him to shape us because He has the perfect plan.

Order Your Priorities Now for The Sake of Your Eternity

Spending uncommon time doing things that will not count for eternity is the preoccupation of those who have never really considered the gravity and enormity of the fact that the life we live is temporal. There is life after death and nobody come out of this life, alive. The world we see today and all the things that are visible are temporary. The things we do not see are the ones that really matter.

“While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

It is incumbent upon each person to do something about his or her eternity. Jesus will return; will you be ready when He comes like a thief in the night? Whether you spend it with God in bliss in heaven or burning in hell where the worm does not die is determined by the choices you make. If you live for yourself now, separated from God, you have picked a side. Life without Jesus will equate to eternity without Him. Even those that do mighty works in Jesus’ name without a relationship with Him will be cast away. So going to church and doing good works, devoid of a relationship with God will not matter on the Day of Judgment.

“Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast demons in Your name, and done many wonders in your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you, depart from me you who practice lawlessness” (Matthew 7:22-23).

I urge you to do serious reflection and consider what you are prioritising now. Are you going to make heaven at this rate? I speak particularly to the older Christians. We get so caught up in the here and now that we forget that the things that we are very busy with are mostly temporary. We get so busy that we end up not having time for one on one fellowship and relationship with God. Is it the pursuit of wealth, happiness or even busy church programmes? All these things are so demanding of our time that we end up squeezing in a little bit of time to spend alone with God. Do not allow anything to affect your secret place with the Most High God negatively. Instead, build everything else around it. We need to go back to basics. I am talking about beginning every day with quiet time with the Lord, for example. That’s what we called morning devotions when we were growing up. It was a time of reading the Word of God, prayer and reflection. I still do it to this day. Mine is not always quiet as praising and worshipping Him is a pretty intense affair that I sometimes engage in during my quiet time. You may not always do it first thing in the morning, but make time during the day for that all important appointment with God. This reminder is not so that anyone feels condemned, but it’s a charge to take corrective action if you have gone off – course.

Do with your life now the things that will matter in the end; live for God, not yourself. The very lives we live have an eternal purpose and only what is done for Christ will last. When you are pre-occupied with living for the here and now, you are engaged in what the writer of Ecclesiastes calls “chasing after the wind or vanity of vanities”.

The condition of your soul is more important than the pursuit of happiness. There is nothing wrong with that, only pursue God first and all these benefits will follow you. Looking after body and soul at the detriment of your spirit has deadly consequences. Dedicate your life to seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you:

“But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

The eternal life does not begin in heaven; it is a continuation from here. Your eternal life in the Kingdom of God begins when you are born again now. You can begin to enjoy the life of relationship, communion and fellowship with God in the here and now. Man was never created to live for himself and by himself; that is why a life that is self- centred, which lacks contribution and fellowship with others, brings frustration and loneliness. God wants to dwell in us and among us:

“I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16b).

The abundance of wealth and other resources in a man’s house does not change his wretched, spiritual and morally bankrupt state. You need to be planted in God to live a wholesome and complete life. Jesus says,

“I am the vine, and you are the branches. He, who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit for without Me you can do nothing,” (John 15:5).

Deliverance from the yoke and bondage of sin only takes place God’s way, by the method he prescribed, by the power of the blood of Jesus and through Him. Through the ages till now, man has tried in vain to reach God using various paths and ways. Jesus said,

“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Going to church and being a good person has its place, but it doesn’t precede or preclude a life that is committed and devoted to God. Going to church does not make you a Christian any more than going to a car fitment centre makes you a car; it’s about a relationship with God. I have heard some people say I am already a Christian because I was born in the church. You might be born into a Christian family but the time to make a personal decision comes:

“Jesus said, most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

Everything concerning your life must begin at the beginning, and that beginning is at the foot of the cross where Jesus died for you and for me to set us free.

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

The ball is in your court, and you can decide that you have heard all this before and begin to argue that there is no hell and heaven is a fantasy. You can either live in God’s presence for the rest of your life starting today or by default end up in hellfire without fire insurance. This is not to scare anybody but the choice to be born again is the most important choice you can ever make.

Salvation – The Transformed Life.

Many have been in the Christian faith for a long time and have had their lives changed one day at a time to a place of maturity in their walk with Christ. Others have only recently given their lives to Christ and are learning the basics of what it means to be a born again child of God. There are yet others who are still to receive their salvation. God loves all of us, and no matter where you are God wants the best for you. If you are reading this and you don’t have a relationship with Christ yet, don’t wait any longer.

Hebrews 13:15 says: “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart as in the rebellion” and in 2 Corinthians 6:2b it says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

The whole point of being born again is to change. When you are now in Christ, you can no longer live the way you used to. Paul says in Galatians 2:20:

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Transformation is possible, but it does not take place in one’s life because of self-effort or one’s ability to think hard. It is a result of total surrender and allowing Christ to live in you and through you. Are you saying ,” I cannot do it on my own?”. Then you are the right candidate. Personal preferences do not matter anymore. I know elsewhere we have been taught that if you believe it, you can achieve it. It is not even about will power but living your life by faith in the Son of God. Unless the Lord helps you, you cannot change your own life. If you could, you would have done so by now.

Salvation is freely available to whosoever will take it. It is important to note that while it is given for free, it does not come cheap. It cost God His only begotten Son’s life. The invitation is available if you will open your heart to receive it; all you have to do is call upon the name of the Lord and be saved:

“For whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13).

It’s a sure promise. Please don’t say I will have to change and become a good person first. You can come as you are and He will do the rest. When you become saved, I mean truly saved, you have no choice but to be transformed. I can’t explain it in my own words, but the scripture sums it up succinctly:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

That’s how radical the transformation is. I experienced it, and I would desire that you too be saved if you haven’t already received Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour. There is nothing better than the prospect of living that full, abundant life that God promises. Is it easy? No! Is it a better life? Absolutely! I share ten life-transforming things about the salvation of your soul.

1. You become connected to God.

“I am the vine; you are the vine branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

This verse means that God is connected to me and I am connected to Him. When you are connected to Jesus, the true vine, it means you are part of His supply system. The same nutrients from which He feeds is the same one you tap into as well. Lack of fruit is a result of disconnection from God. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. In Him, we live and move and have our being. When we find ourselves outside of God, we are fruitless and lacking in many ways. Acknowledging that you are insufficient by yourself and that you need divine intervention open you up to the God of kind of life as you abide in Him and He in you. Living in the supernatural is possible. All it takes is your “natural” being connected to His “super”.

2. You are saved because you believe.

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9).

You cannot be saved without believing in the Lord Jesus Christ first. When you come to Him, you must believe that Jesus is whom He says He is and that He can do everything that the Bible says He can do.

However, without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrew 11:6 KJV).

So it all starts with believing first. You cannot entrust your life to someone you do not trust. You have to believe in God’s ability and trustworthiness. When I believed in Him, I committed my life to the cause of the cross, and I am enjoying it. It has been a long and sometimes arduous journey and given a choice I would still choose to walk with Christ. Not only is my soul saved but my life is preserved from many negative things that happen in life because of the divine connection.

3. Confession brings forgiveness of sins.

No one can claim to be totally sinless no matter how good they are. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

The great deception is thinking that you are a righteous person; therefore, you do not need to confess your sins because you do not have any. That is a lie from the pits of hell. God’s forgiveness is invoked when one acknowledges their sinfulness. It all starts with that admission of your wrongs and telling God that you are sorry for the mistakes you have done, and you need a fresh start in Him. This is where the life- changing transaction takes place. It is a place of surrender and an opportunity to exchange the broken pieces of your life for the wholeness that comes from Him. You can begin again as a result of this relationship that starts at the foot of the cross.

4. Transformation is a result of total surrender.

“I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20).

“He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39).

When you pour out your heart to the Lord and ask the Lord Jesus to come into your life and to change you, it’s a sign of surrendering your will and your heart to God. The gospel of Matthew here is saying, in order find your life you must lose it. You lose it by giving it to Jesus, and we find it in living in him, through Him and for Him. It comes with acknowledging death to self, that is; it is no longer you who lives but Christ living in you. When you make that simple in prayer you are saying, here Lord, take all of me, mould me, make me and conform me to your image. I do not want to continue to live my life as if it is my own. It is now all yours. The benefits of a surrendered life are many. It means that you do not live for yourself but God. A surrendered life is a life of power because God powers it. You have absolute freedom to be all that God wants you to be if you are surrendered:

“But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you’ve let sin tell you what to do. However, thank God you have started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in His freedom!” (Romans 6:16 MSG)

5. You are made into a new creation

There is an old chorus we used to sing in scripture union with the words;

I’m a new creation; I’m a brand new man

Old things have passed away, and I’m born again

More than a conqueror, that’s who I am

I’m a new creation, that’s who I am

That song we sang back in those days was and still is a declaration founded on the scripture, “Therefore, if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Once you have asked Jesus to come into your heart and is now your Saviour your old self is no longer alive. It would be best if you did not go back to your old ways. Walking away from your past life of sin will lead you into a new chapter of living a meaningful relationship with Christ.

6. You now have good news to share.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news. When something good happens to you, I am sure you can’t wait to tell somebody. Not only has something good happened to you but a miracle has occurred. You will never be the same again, and it’s your opportunity to shout about it from the mountaintop. Now you carry a fundamental message: Jesus Saves! Tell everyone you meet about Jesus because they need Him too.

Moreover, He said to them, “Go into the entire world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Something good has happened to you. I am sure you cannot wait to tell the good news. Evangelising will strengthen your walk as you begin to share with others the goodness of God in your life. When I gave my life to Christ, I could not contain the excitement. I felt like Jeremiah who said, “His Word was like a fire shut up in my bones.” I remember talking to people I know as well as total strangers about Jesus. I still share the good news up till now.

7. You are armed with the Word of God.

Now that you have access to the Word of God what are you going to do with it? You must become addicted to imbibing the Word of God. What you hear is very important as it builds faith. It is essential to have the Word of God inside you as it re-programs your way of thinking. Faith will begin to grow as you cultivate a culture of reading the word of God and prayer. The Word of God renews and reprograms your mind. You need to start developing your Christian character and be like Jesus. To do what Jesus would do you need to have what He had when He did what He did. The word of God shapes your thoughts, your behaviour, and your life. It aligns and conforms you to God instead of the world around you.

“I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies, as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. So do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1 -2)

Let us unpack the verse above. Because you are now a Christian your life is not your own, but you offer it daily to God as a living sacrifice. To be holy means to be sanctified and separated from the world. How are you separated? You think and act differently from people around you. Presenting yourself to God means living in His presence at all times. This can only be achieved by your daily intake of the Word of God and obeying it. As you read and think genuinely about what the Word is saying it begins to speak to you regarding the things that must change in your life, thereby causing transformation to take place.

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” (Joshua 1:8)

It says in the Amplified Classic version, “This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.

The word of God doesn’t just turn you into a good Christian but also enables you to have success in every area of your life. You will have wisdom in your dealings in Jesus’ name! It means that the Word must dominate for you to get the maximum return. You shall speak it, think about it deeply and do what it says for it to work for you.

8. God will heal your life and turn it around.

Remember that you are not the same old person that you used to be. Some things have to go. It doesn’t matter how long some issues have been in your life. The woman with the issue of blood had suffered and bled for twelve long years.

“Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” (Luke 8:43-48)

She had spent all she had on physicians and doctors. Don’t try and get specialists and experts to solve only what Jesus can. Just one touch of faith changed her condition. She told herself,” if only I can touch the hem of His garment, I will be made whole” and she was healed completely.

There was another woman who was bent over for eighteen years who received her healing.

And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.” The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?  So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”  (Luke 13:11-16).

The Bible says as soon as Jesus laid hands on her she was made straight. The old things now need to go.“ Therefore, if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

What is it that needs to be straightened in your life? Which areas need wholeness? If you come into Christianity and you hold on to things that happened in the past you will not enjoy the full benefit of being a child of God. Most people come into the Christian faith with unresolved issues (we all do!), and only God can solve them. There must be a firm resolve in one’s heart to roll it over to the Master, and he will heal completely. Healing of past hurts, disappointments and bitterness has been made available to you too because that is your portion in the Lord. Not only will God heal you emotionally, but also physical sickness, if you have ailments. The physical illness is usually attended to, sooner than the emotional one because you can see it with your own eyes. God can heal both the seen and unseen things in your life.

“He sent His word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions.” (Psalm 107:20)

Jesus made this bold public announcement when He was asked to read from the book of Isaiah in the Synagogue:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor; He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind. To set at liberty those who are oppressed and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (Luke 4:18).

“Then He closed the book and gave it to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him, and He began to say to them, “Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 14:20-21)

There is the fulfilment of the promise of scripture when Jesus shows up on the scene. I believe the truth in these scriptures for every unique thing that needs fixing in your life. If not, the Bible has many examples of people who came to Jesus with diverse problems and issues, and He solved all of them. He has a hundred per cent record of performance, and He cannot fail now,when it comes to your particular life or situation.

9. Burdens are lifted at Calvary

“Come to me all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am meek and gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls”. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28 – 30).

You do not have to carry that heavy load by yourself anymore. Issues that you couldn’t handle by yourself will no longer make you feel inadequate as you begin to take everything to God in prayer because,” in Him, you live and move and have your being.” (Acts 17:28).

Some have said Christianity is hard, but I think it’s because they are trying to do it all by themselves yet the invitation to come is open to all of us. Try living this Christian life without Christ at the centre of it all, and you will discover that it is much harder. There was a time when I tried to handle the issues of my life by myself, and I failed spectacularly. I will never do that ever again. His power and might are inexhaustible and infinite therefore no burden is too heavy for Him to carry. What is it that you are saying, “I can’t do this?” God can; surrender it to Him.

“So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord, God of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel, you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of Grace, grace to it!” (Zechariah 4:6-7)

It is not about you and what you can do, but it is all about what God can do. Put it in His hands for God is able.

10. You are now a child of God, be childlike.

What does it mean to be a child of God? It means He is our Father and we are to be entirely dependent on Him. Sometimes our earthly fathers have not modelled fatherhood the way God intended so that can limit one’s expectation of Father God. Nevertheless, He remains a perfect Father in spite of our previous experiences. Be confident that you are God’s child and know that everything that belongs to your Father in Heaven is yours. It means that we have become joint heirs with Jesus. You didn’t have to work for it or earn it, all you need to do is to receive what God has done for you because He loves you and you are His own. Being childlike means receiving what He has already done.

“But as many, as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12).

Jesus Christ the anointed One takes personal responsibility for your life as you begin to operate with the mind of Christ and to live in constant fellowship with Him and to take on His Godly character and characteristics. While we have not been exhaustive in listing the things that become yours as a child of God, I believe the pointers above will get you thinking regarding all the other benefits that follow the believers’ life. These things, simple and basic as they may sound, can be experienced by anyone who will humble themselves and admit that life without God becomes an unpleasant and fruitless search for the thing you cannot find. It is a privilege that can be likened to none to be able to hear the good news and respond. I listened to these simple truths at an early age and had been living the Kingdom life since then, and I highly recommend it to you.

Action Points.

Make a list of the areas in your life where you need God to change you.

Take this list to God as prayer points and ask Him to change your life

Chapter 3

The Word of God.

Make The Word of God a Priority

Whereas life without Christ does not have any requirements to adhere to, there are specific disciplines you need to practice on a regular basis to engage in practical Christian living. Exercising these daily will enable you to grow and grow until you become fully matured in the things of God. The Word of God, prayer, fasting, praise and worship, giving and serving are some of the building blocks that are necessary to keep you going and growing in Christ. It takes determination and being intentional to develop in the wisdom and knowledge of God. We can talk about these things, but real change will not come until one makes it a habit of incorporating these disciplines in daily living. For this discussion, we will focus in detail on the Word of God.

It is not enough to be the kind of Christian that only hears the Word of God being preached from the pulpit. Imagine depending solely on weekly sermons for all your spiritual sustenance. Many are spiritually malnourished and when affliction comes their faith (God forbid!) gets shipwrecked because it has not been fed and cultivated. Remember the early Christians did not have the Bible we read today. Are we better off than they if we don’t take the time to read? A man who does not read and one who cannot read are not different.

We now have widespread access to the Word of God both in printed and electronic format. Our smartphones, laptops and other devices must contain a Bible at the very least. This unlimited, ubiquitous access makes it possible to imbibe the Word of God on the go, wherever you are. Audio Bibles make it easier to listen to the Word on the commute to work, while exercising or even working. There is no excuse. Let’s look at some scriptures justifying our pressing need for the Word of God.

“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3).

“But He answered and said, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4.)

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable, for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Our physical bodies need food on a daily basis, and so does our spirit man. The inner – man only eats the Word of God. A preacher once remarked that many Christians feed their body three hot meals a day and their spirit man one cold snack once a week. We couldn’t survive on one meal per day, let alone, once a week. Therefore, taking in the Word is a critical discipline, and one needs to find time to do it. It takes God’s grace to do that, and the grace to set aside time to study is available to all of us. I believe this is the most fundamental discipline because you cannot even pray without it, let alone know how to live like a Christian. It is important to note that prayer that is not based on the Word of God does not generally bring answers. This is because when we pray, we are taking the Word of God back to Him and asking Him for things He already promised. I believe when you do this you will get expected results from your prayers.

How does one take in the Word of God? Each time you attend church regularly, listen to sermons being preached you take in the Word. There are many gospel channels on satellite television and the internet these days. It would be best if you were careful about making these your only source of the Word. I recommend reading the Bible for yourself on a daily basis so that you can verify what is being preached. To get the best out of your Bible, decide what time is best for you. Take time to be away from people and things including gadgets so that you can concentrate. You do not need distractions during this time. Reading gives you knowledge of the Word. There many Bible reading plans available online and in bookstores. Choose the one that suits what you need.

While reading is good, an in-depth study of the Word of God is more beneficial than merely reading because you immerse yourself in the subject or topic thereby getting revelation.

“Study or be diligent to show yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Committing God’s Word to memory.

“Your Word I have hidden in my heart that I may not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11)

After we have studied the Word of God, we need to retain it by memorising it.Memorising scripture ensures that the Word is stored on the inside for retrieval when you need it. You can only retrieve what you have. The Holy Spirit will bring to remembrance the Word you have on the inside when you encounter real-life situations. The Lord Jesus used the Word He already knew to overcome the temptations of Satan in the wilderness after His forty day fast. (Matthew 4:1-11). He merely quoted that it is written. What is it that is written in the Scriptures? There is added power when you know by heart what is written and you can use it when needed. We face different battles in life, and we can use the sword of the Spirit to overcome life’s daunting battles. The Word is a powerful weapon!

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty to the pulling down of strongholds.”

(2 Corinthians 10:4)

In this Christian life, the attacks will be there, temptations and trials will come when we least expect it. The question is how much of the Word do we have stored up so that we can speak back and fight back when the enemy comes?

There is so much negative information circulating in the world. What we call news, and current affairs is always bad news. This is what we are taking in consciously and subconsciously. So our minds need to be fed the good stuff regularly as well. How about renewing one’s mind and getting rid of all the negative things by renewing our minds with the Word of God? When we memorise scripture we can retrieve it and meditate on it, speak it until it begins to talk to us. In advertising and indeed the world of music they sometimes use subliminal messages which go into the subconscious mind without being detected by the conscious mind. These messages, however, influence behaviour. I believe continually imbibing, memorising and meditating on scripture will counteract all the other negative messaging that’s of no benefit to us.

The Word strengthens your faith. In principle, there is no faith without the Word of God. It is the source of faith. Are you low on faith? Check your word intake.

“So then faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17).

Having taken in the Word and committed it to memory, it is time to ruminate on that Word or in other words, meditating on the Word of God. Meditating helps us get more out of what we study and memorise. After all, it has to work for us.

Meditating on God’s Word.

I alluded earlier to meditating on scripture in conjunction with memorising it. Meditation on scripture is essential to Christian living and is only effective if we are attentive to God because He still speaks. It must be done prayerfully, relying on the Holy Spirit. We must distinguish between Christian meditation from what is found in secular religions. The Bible is our standard. In a secular context, meditation is associated with emptying the mind and relaxing the body. On the other hand, biblical meditation requires that you concentrate and think deeply on the truth of God’s Word.

“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you (live in you) richly in all wisdom.” (Colossians 3:16)

We get a more in-depth understanding of God’s ways when we ruminate and reflect on the words of the Bible. It has to be intentional. “I will meditate on your precepts, and contemplate your ways.”(Psalm 119:15).

When we meditate on scripture, we are preparing our minds for success as we become filled with the Word of God. Real success is a result of consciously, regularly meditating on God’s Word and doing what it says.

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” (Joshua 1:8).

Meditating on the word renews our minds, which affects our behaviour positively, thereby fostering the development of godly character. What you fill you mind with you will conform to.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2).

Biblical meditation involves speaking and regularly reflecting on the works of God. “I will also meditate on all your work, and talk of your deeds.” (Psalm 77:12)

Certain truths and revelatory insights only become evident when we meditate on the Word of God. We have to search the scriptures to access the treasure concealed or hidden in the pages of the Bible. Searching diligently will unearth life-changing nuggets and insights.

We cannot know certain things written in the Bible without digging deeper because:

“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search it out.” (Proverbs 25:2).

What I need to apply to my life from what I have read may not be obvious from mere reading, therefore its concealed. In order to uncover it, I have learned that comparing the text in different versions will simplify and bring out insights from the scripture. That is why it cannot be a rushed affair. One must make a diligent, thorough search of the scriptures as alluded to by the Psalmist:

“I call to remembrance my song in the night, I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes a diligent search.” (Psalm 77:6)

What are the results of true biblical meditation? The result of true meditation is that faith will begin to arise, the mind will be renewed thereby causing personal transformation to take place. You will have success and make your way prosperous if you meditate on the Word of God and do what it says. Let ’s look at how we can apply the Word to our lives.

Applying God’s Word.

It’s not enough to have head knowledge of the Word of God and not doing anything about it. If you do not use the Word you know, it will certainly not work for you. After you have read, memorised, meditated and applied it, fruit must begin to be evident in the way your life is changing for the better. Fruit comes by application and not just mental acquiescence of what is written. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:17)

You may be considered an expert in biblical studies without any behavioural or moral change happening because it is only academic. Results and fruit are for the doers:

However, be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in the mirror; for he observes himself, goes away and forgets what kind of man he was. (James 1:22-24).

The International Children’s Bible puts it this way:

Do what God’s teaching says ; do not just listen and do nothing. When you only sit and listen, you are fooling yourselves. A person who hears God’s teaching and does nothing is like a man looking in a mirror.  He sees his face, then goes away and quickly forgets what he looked like. (James 1:22-24)

Action Points.

1.There are many different versions of the Bible available online and hard copy. Find one that is easy to read and understand.

2. Find different versions of the same scripture in order to understand what it is saying. To get the most out of the Bible pick a passage of scripture and read it carefully.

When meditating on scripture, questions are very helpful. You may find the questions below useful to get understanding.

1. What does the scripture say about God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

2. Is there a warning I should heed or an instruction I should obey?

3. Is there something I should praise, thank or trust God for?

4. Is there something I should pray about?

5. Does this scripture show any areas where I need to change my attitude?

6. Are there any decisions I should make as a result of this scripture reading?

7. Does this scripture reveal something I should do differently from now on?

Chapter 4

Prayer.

How to Cure the Prayerlessness Disease.

The power of prayer is available to all who are willing to engage in praying. All the books, teachings, exhortations on prayer will not make a difference if we are not willing to engage in a lifestyle of prayer. The intention to pray alone do not amount to prayerfulness. Many would identify with the scripture that says, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”. That’s only part of the verse. The actual scripture says,”

Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).

Busyness is the number one enemy of prayer, and it robs us of intimacy with God if we do not intentionally prioritise our prayer times. Moments spent in prayer give us an opportunity to draw nearer to God. We need to rid ourselves of the disease of being “prayer-less “. I am trusting God that we will be able to identify what affects our prayer lives so that we can make some appropriate changes. The lack of prayer is the number one killer of Christians all over the world, and like cancer, it destroys while the victim is not even aware that there is a problem. When you find yourself unable to pray remember you didn’t arrive there in one day. It’s a process where excuses and busyness limit you from praying until you find yourself getting by with not pray at all.

The disciples did have their challenges when it came to prayer. So He went to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? (Mark 14:37). Has sleep stolen the desire to pray? God forbid that we sleep when it is time to pray. No doctor can cure prayerlessness. Get into the prayer closet and begin to commune with God and you will be all right.

1. Lack of prayer results in spiritual dryness.

Relationships thrive on conversations. When you stop talking you become distant. Therefore, when you do not pray you become disconnected to God. At this point you are no longer spiritually alert and active. You become a soulish Christian guided by the flesh. When you are operating in the flesh and slacken, you are prone to spiritual attacks. The enemy is always on the prowl looking for someone to be a victim and will still regard you as dangerous because of who you are.

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

Be on your guard at all times and pray. The Lord Jesus admonishes his disciples and challenges them on praying for at least one hour with Him. I believe the same admonition is for us as well.

“Then He came and found them sleeping and said to Peter: Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch with me one hour? (Mark 14:37).

The remedy to not praying at all is to start praying where you are with the little capacity and little faith you have, and you will grow. Practice makes permanent.

2. Prayer is the weapon of choice we have in the war against the devil.

As soldiers of the cross, we must not forget that we are engaged in a war. The enemy sees you for what you are: armed and dangerous! The powerful weapon of prayer is at your disposal. Don’t die in battle due to non-use of what you already have.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:3,4)

The best form of defence is attack. If you do not attack things that trouble you and address them in the spiritual realm, they will attack you and destroy you. The time has come to sort things in the prayer room first, earnestly seeking God’s face. A man who kneels before God will never have to kneel down to anything.

If the Son of God needed to pray every day, how much more do we need that consistency in prayer? He would regularly separate Himself from His disciples to pray.

“Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed”. (Mark 1:35) Prayer is recognising that we can’t make it without God for a single moment; therefore, we must,” pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

3. God has given us a prayer language called “speaking in tongues”.

The man or woman who prays in tongues will edify himself and grow. We must desire to speak in tongues from today and see things turnaround.

“But you beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit”. (Jude 1:20).

The Amplified Classic Bible puts the same scripture thus:

But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher, praying in the Holy Spirit.

You will only rise to the level of your prayer and praying in tongues works. There was a time when I prayed in tongues less and I would find myself running out of things to pray about. Then I discovered that praying in tongues just boosts your faith and you find yourself praying for longer and bringing up to God prayer points you had not previously imagined. At this point you are now being directed by the Spirit of God. This is effective prayer.

You are not without help. The Holy Spirit is our helper because we do not know what to pray for, therefore He must pray through us. Desire to pray in tongues if you have not already started doing so.

4. The believer’s authority and power are found in prayer.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Colossians 4:2).

It is when we show up in the presence of God that we receive instructions and revelation from God. Do you need keys to open certain things that are bound in your life? Prayer is one of the keys, but you need to devote yourself to prayer.

“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).

I like the Contemporary English version:

I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth. But he will not allow anything that you don’t allow.

When you have the keys you are not just here on earth experiencing what everyone else is suffering, but you have the power to allow and disallow certain things. It can be allowed elsewhere, but not in my family, not in my house because God has given me the keys and authority.

Many people know the Word very well and minister and serve very well, but their prayers do not get answers and they become discouraged and decide not to pray at all. Some of these prayers are not based on the Word of God. I mentioned earlier that the Bible is the constitution so we can go to God and present it and bring Him to remembrance concerning the things that are rightfully ours. The things that are revealed are for us and our children. Even when it seems like nothing is changing, I am not intimidated because I realise that prayer is the route to everything we need. God is a prayer- answering God. We can approach His throne with boldness, pray the right way and obtain results. “Now this is the confidence we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14).

5. Pray when you don’t feel like it.

Sometimes there is no strength, urge or desire to pray, pray anyway. Do it when you feel like and when you don’t feel like it until it becomes a lifestyle. You will end up depending so much on prayer that you can’t live without it if you make it a daily habit. I have met some people who are so prayerful that it doesn’t matter where they are. They will pray and if you are around them long enough you will catch that spirit of prayer. If you are struggling, God wants to help you.

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26).

We are living in an age where a lot of people are more interested in following signs and wonders and “naming it and claiming it ” without being backed up by the power of God that only comes through having an intimate relationship with Jehovah God. Only the few who are devoted to spending uncommon time in prayer will be endowed with the presence of God that so many are searching for in the wrong places. It’s not everything that is miraculous that is of God.

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart”. (Jeremiah 29:12-13).

In conclusion, begin to pray according to the pattern of God and experience a significant and fantastic change in your life. He has promised to answer you when you pray and call to Him. There are instances when you will need others to pray for you, there is a place for that, but it’s also important for you to pray.

The Importance of Prayer

Prayer is communication with God, more than that, it is a relationship. It is an expression of a Christian in an intimate relationship with God the Father, who made the heavens and the earth. He is not too busy to hear our prayers and to also talk to us. Imagine being in a relationship of any sort with a person who you hardly speak to, or the conversation is at best a monologue. The dictionary meaning of monologue is, “a long, tedious speech by one person during a conversation. It is supposed to be a two-way street where you talk to God, and He speaks to you as well. Prayer is a critical discipline for every Christian. “ They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer” (Acts 2:42).

Let us explore some important questions about prayer .

1. What makes prayer important?

Prayer is so critical that we cannot live without it. It is just as crucial to the spirit man as oxygen is to the body. The Bible tells us that Jesus prayed very often:

“Who in the days of His flesh when He had offered up prayers and supplications with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death and was heard because of His godly fear.”(Hebrews 5:7).

When Jesus offered impassioned prayers, He was heard because He feared God. Many people nowadays are very prayerful when it comes to the habit of praying, but there is a definite lack of fear of God. He was heard because of godly fear. Could it be that some prayers are not answered because of this aspect that is lacking? If the Son of God needed to speak to the Father regularly and He managed to do it what is your excuse? What excuse do you and I have?

“Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” (Mark 1:35).

Prayer is the core business of every serious Christian. The true mark of someone who prays is that he prays in secret, solitary place and not just in public.

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that men may see them. Assuredly, I say to you they have their reward. However, when you pray go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:5-6).

It is easy for anyone, including the prayer-less person to pray in public. The real deal is when it’s just you and God, and I like the fact that Jesus did it a long while before day. There are many distractions during the day and more often than not the likelihood of it not being done increases as the day unfolds. If there were any instructions or direction, He should take, by the time the day started, Jesus knew what to do because He would have prayed. Sometimes we encounter situations we are not prepared to deal with during the day because we did not start at the beginning; in prayer. Notice that He went alone. Corporate prayer is good, but by the time you engage in praying with others, you must have learned to pray by yourself. There are some personal issues you can’t deal with in a corporate setting hence the need for private prayer.

God is expecting us to pray. “And when you pray you shall not be like the hypocrites” (Matthew 6:5a). It’s not a case of if you pray but when you pray, which means there is an expectation that you pray. God created us for fellowship with Him, and he wants that interaction and connection with us. The first man and woman Adam and Eve had daily interactions with God. And, they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8).

Jesus prayed while He was on earth, and we are told that He was fervent in prayer and was confident in God Whom He prayed to.

“Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death and was heard because of His godly fear” (Hebrews 5:7).

1. When should we pray?

As I mentioned earlier, we need to pray on two occasions, when we feel like it and when we don’t. We must pray both night and day, when things are working out and when they are not. That means we “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). It is possible to pray without ceasing though we do not often do it. It is not easy, but with practice, it becomes second nature to pray as you go through even the mundane activities of the day. Before leaving the house, stuck in the rush hour traffic jam, it’s possible to engage in talking to God. When you get to the office, you commit your work to the Lord. When you encounter difficult tasks, it’s an opportunity to ask God for help. When you remember an old friend, you say a word of prayer, and before you know it, you are on your way home in the traffic, and you are thanking God for what you managed to accomplish, and before you retire for bed, you thank God for the day. Find the spaces and the opportunities, and you will surprise yourself that you have been praying without ceasing.

We encounter different things in life and sometimes the temptation is to give up, but that is not your portion. Learn to navigate the challenges of everyday living prayerfully.

“Then He spoke a parable to them that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” (Luke 18:1). Jesus was teaching that there is always a way out of every difficult situation and there is no way out without prayer. Paul exhorts the Colossians to:

“Continue earnestly in prayer being vigilant in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2).

Prayer must become so important that when you go out without doing it, you will feel like something is missing. It is easy to slip into prayerlessness hence the need to be constantly reminded that you ought to pray.

2. How then should we pray?

We should pray as the Lord taught us to pray. The model prayer is mistakenly referred to as The Lord’s prayer. I believe it is a pattern or guideline of how we should pray. It’s not a liturgy for regurgitation as is, but a model of how we should go about, praying.

“In this manner therefore pray:

“Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts. As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13)

Prayer begins with praise. Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name (Matthew 6:9). One cannot begin to address God before giving Him praise and thanksgiving. Without praise, you are outside the courts, and without thanksgiving, you are trying to address God while you are outside the gate. How do you even address God from that far? He will not hear you but when you praise and worship you draw near to Him, and He draws near to you.

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and enter His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good and His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.” (Psalm 100:4-5).

That is the protocol of addressing God. Even in our human experience, before a famous person is addressed, His presence must be honoured and acknowledged, all protocol’s observed. It’s about having the utmost respect for God. Apart from beginning our prayers with thanksgiving, we can have a prayer just for thanksgiving. This is where we are not asking God for anything but just thanking Him for who He is and what He does.

There is the prayer of supplication where we can also ask God for things,” Give us this day our daily bread “(Matthew 6:11). You are asking for what you need for life and sustenance. Most prayers start and end on this one thing; asking. Imagine being the kind of friend who shows up, calls or visits when in times of need only. We tend to do that with God, and it is terrible. Prayer is not a mere transaction but an ongoing relationship.

We don’t have to be anxious because we can ask God for what we need:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6).

The dictionary meaning and the root of the word supplication is to plead humbly, to entreat someone in power for help or favour. The word carries a sense of awe and adoration or respect. So even when we come before God to ask for anything in His name, we must do it with the right attitude as alluded to in the meaning of the word. Imagine going to a well-respected person you know and asking them for something without showing respect. The chances are high that you will not get anything. He knows what we need, but He will not give us what we do not ask for.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one that asks receives, and he who seeks finds and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8).

God is not prodigal with His power or answers. He is not moving around just doling out things to all and sundry. He promises to give us what we ask for on condition of faith:

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6).

Asking in faith means that we must believe that we have received the things that we ask for before they manifest in material reality. If you remain silent, you will never win. Ask, believe, receive!

“Therefore, whatever things you ask for when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:24).

“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10). You are inviting God’s sovereignty and rule not just in your life but on earth as it is in heaven. Once again you are acknowledging God for who He is.

There is also a place for confession and repentance in prayer: forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors (Matthew 6:12). Sometimes we sin by doing the wrong things we ought not to do or by omitting to do that which is right. Other times it is sinful and wicked thought patterns that we develop. It is essential to ask for forgiveness and to bring the ungodly thoughts into subjection to the obedience of God. He will not forgive you if you do not forgive others. I remember a scripture that emphasises the need to be in right standing with others before you come before God:

“Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go your way. First, be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)

In another verse, “And whenever you stand praying if you have anything against anyone forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25-26).

I was teaching a class of teenagers, and one of them asked a question and said what if the person that has wronged you does not deserve to be forgiven; should I forgive them? I answered and said that it does not matter what the person did to you. Is that person so important that after they have wronged you so badly, you do not receive the forgiveness that God wants to give you for your own mistakes that you have done? It’s not worth it, forgive and move on. The one you set free when you forgive others is yourself.

We pray for deliverance. Deliver us from the evil one (Matthew 6:13). You do not need a minister who specialises in deliverance on this one. Here we are taught to pray for our deliverance from the evil one. Because we are in this world the devil seeks to oppress, suppress and generally harass the Children of God. He can’t possess and control you as a born again child of God, so he does his best to attack and side-track you. Yes, we can pray about it because there is power when we pray in the name of Jesus. There is a place for ordained Pastors and elders to lay hands and pray for you. In our generation, many run to the man of God because they have not learned to pray. A lot of the prayer lines would be much shorter if believers learned sooner rather than later that God had made power available to us to deal with these things. We have the use of Jesus’ name, and we should take full advantage of the fact that there is power in the name of Jesus.

You end your prayer on a Thanksgiving note, for yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory (Matthew 6:13).

3. Who Should We Pray for?

Apart from praying for ourselves, we can pray for others as well. During the time of prayer, God may drop the name of a friend or someone you do not know very well in your mind. I believe more often than not that the intention will be so that you pray for them. They might have just asked God to help them in their situation or whatever it is they are going through, and God gives you a “burden” to pray for them. Why is it important for us to obey? It is important to obey because God would have trusted you to get the job done. Remember instances when you cry for help and God in His faithfulness raises people to pray and intercede for you. Paul urges the Philippians and us to be on the lookout for others:

“Let each of you look out not only for his interests but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4).

“And all the people said to Samuel, pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king for ourselves” (1 Samuel 12:19).

Sometimes our turnaround is tied to the degree to which we engage in prayer for others. God restored Job’s fortunes when he prayed for his friends:“ And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends” (Job 42:10).

We belong to families, churches, communities and nations. We have to stand in the gap and pray for others. However, we cannot pray as a religious duty and expect nothing to happen. We must expect answers when we pray.

James 5:16 part b says, “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

The effective, fervent prayer is no ordinary prayer. It has and displays a passionate intensity. When a righteous person prays, results will be seen. This type of prayer brings back answers. It avails much because of the nature of the one who is praying it: a righteous man. Are you in right standing in your relationship with God when you stand to pray. The force of heaven cannot back you if you are not in right relationship with God. The Lord will deliver you out of trouble if you are righteous:

“The righteous cry out and the Lord hears and delivers them out of their troubles.” (Psalm 34:17).

When we have prayed, we must expect the Lord to hear us and deliver us out of any trouble that we may be in because we are the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Situations must change and lives transformed as a result of prayer. There are some who believe that prayer is a religious exercise and do not expect anything when they pray; therefore, they receive nothing.

4. What should we expect when we pray?

We must expect the miraculous when we pray; things that our minds cannot perceive. “Call me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3).

Not only will God answer but He will answer with even the unexpected, high and mighty things you do not know. If you are merely looking for the things, you already know you may miss the answer to your prayer because how He answers may be much different from anything your mind can fathom or imagine. He will blow your mind. When I prayed for my marriage, I imagined that I would get married the usual way where boy meets girl, they date for six months, and then boy proposes, and she says give me two weeks to think about it. God did it for me in one month. All the processes were compressed into one month, and we married at the other end of the month. Glory to God. We must expect to be changed by prayer.

Prayer and Fasting

We have dealt with the issue of prayer earlier but this time around we want to address prayer and fasting and how it works for your benefit when done correctly. Fasting is one of those Christian disciplines that has been neglected by many and often discarded as an unnecessary Christian practise. Christendom does not emphasise it yet you find it’s a biblically sound, relevant teaching and a potent force regarding spiritual growth, enforcing godly objectives and generally sharpening the inner man spiritually.

I have benefited much from fasting. I remember in one of the assemblies I previously attended in a particular year, we fasted more days than we ate and it became the bedrock upon which many spiritual victories were won. I experienced a move of God that turned around everything that was wrong in my life. I was jobless, discouraged, ready to quit church and throw in the towel before that prolonged period of prayer and fasting. I am sure I am what I am today because of worship combined with fasting and a whole lot of prayer.

Before the Lord Jesus started His ministry, He was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness on a forty day fast. I believe it is essential to seek the Lord in prayer and fasting before embarking on a life-defining venture such a ministry, marriage or even a business venture. When you are fasting your spirit man is more alert and can hear God. If Jesus needed to do that, how much more, you and me?

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and nights, afterwards He was hungry; (Matthew 4:4)

Fasting precedes receiving divine instruction. We minister to the Lord when we fast and pray. What this does is that it opens the door for the Lord to speak. Sometimes you will get individual instruction from God while you are fasting and guess what, it’s for your benefit as well as the body of Christ. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted the Holy Spirit said separate for me Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:2)

1. What is fasting?

Fasting is when you intentionally and deliberately stay away from eating food to achieve a higher spiritual goal. It is not an attempt to arm- twist God to give you what you desperately want. It must be done in faith and according to God’s Word. I know these days people talk about all kinds of crazy ways of fasting. You hear of people fasting social media, television shows and all sorts of things. I will keep it simple and say fasting is not eating food for a season to seek God. Duration can vary from skipping meals, to three days, seven days, a month, forty days or however long you are instructed or have decided to undertake. I have never done the so-called Daniel fast because I believe it was a specific instruction to Daniel. I am not making a doctrine out of this. That is how I see it.

2. How do I fast?

There are many different ways people fast. Some will do what is called an absolute fast where you abstain from both food and liquids. I would not advise this one for prolonged periods unless God has specifically challenged you to do it. There is also the fast where you are staying away from eating solid food but yet consuming solid food. Fasting is spiritual. If you fast and do not pray, you may not achieve much spiritually. It may end up being a hunger strike or dieting. It will do much for your weight loss goals but absolutely nothing for your spiritual growth.

I have fasted in instances where I felt my flesh was becoming stronger than my spirit man. Paul talks about subjecting the body or afflicting the body so that you are not controlled by what it wants. You can fast and pray in instances where you need strengthening for victory in spiritual battles. Other times you may fast as a church, that is, the pastors call for the whole church to fast. When these ones are called for, I don’t take as suggestions, but as instructions, therefore I go for it. In the Bible there are instances when leaders would call for a fast to overturn an evil verdict issued against them for example, Esther:

“Go gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise” (Esther 4:16).

At other times it would be a case of God being displeased with sin and fasting and prayer became an act of repentance and turning back to God.

“Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to me with all your heart. With fasting, with weeping and with mourning. So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness” (Joel 2:1-13)

Fasting and prayer can be a response to news that there is an impending disaster coming.

“Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babes; let the bridegroom go out from his chamber and the bride from her dressing room. Let the priests who minister to the Lord weep between the porch and the altar; let them say spare your people O Lord, and do not give Your heritage to reproach that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, where is their God?”

3. Why should I fast?

And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? However, the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast” (Matthew 9:15). Because we do not walk with Jesus in the flesh, it is crucial to fast. We fast to strengthen ourselves in prayer as well as to intercede for others at a deeper level. We fast to seek divine guidance, direction and discern the will of God. We engage in fasting for personal deliverance or protection. We do it as an act of humbling ourselves in repentance and returning to God. We fast to exercise authority over the flesh to overcome temptation and dedicate ourselves to God. We express love and worship to God as we fast. In the grand scheme of things, concern and love for the work of God should lead us to fast. Jesus fasted before His public ministry, and they needed to pray and fast before setting apart Paul and Barnabas for the work of ministry.

4. What kind of fasting does God require?

There is a way that God wants us to fast. It is not for outward show as it is between you and God. God should only see your fasting for it to be approved. It’s no use walking around looking miserable so that people ask you about it. Religious people like to be seen to be holy by others, but Jesus instructs us on how to fast:

“Moreover when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly I say to you they have their reward. But you when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:16-18)

5. Who should fast?

It is a requirement for each of us who are born again to fast. The Bible doesn’t say if you fast, it says when you fast, so at some point, you will be required to fast.

6. What are the benefits of Fasting

Apart from the apparent benefits of good health, losing weight and looking good and feeling good, fasting does more than the eye can see. You draw closer in your relationship to God. Your spirit man is razor sharp, and you are sensitive to the things of God when you are in the habit of praying and fasting. Spiritual victories are enforced. Some spiritual battles are only won this way. There is some demonic activity that only responds when there is power backed by prayer and fasting.

“And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, why could we not cast it out? So He said to them that this kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:28-29).

I am hoping that what I have shared will help you to at least consider the discipline of prayer and fasting for your own life. Do not just wait for corporate prayer and fasting but from time to time discipline yourself to fast for the things that matter for your life.

Action Points

Did you pray today? If you haven’t talked to God where you are right now

Challenge yourself to have a set prayer time and do your best to honour it

If you have never fasted before challenge yourself to fast. You can start by fasting a meal or two and maybe an entire day.

Set aside a time to read and pray as you fast

Chapter 5

Praise and Worship

Powerful Insights about Praise and Worship

It is time for us to get serious about this fundamental pillar of ministry in the house of The Lord. Worship is not about a style of music; it goes beyond that. Worship is a lifestyle and emanates from a place of relationship with God. Massive responsibility rests on the shoulders of every Praise and Worship team member. God’s presence in a church meeting or service depends on the dedication and seriousness with which that function is executed. Most times praise and worship set the tone for the rest of the service. It is so critical because people come to church hungry and ready for an encounter with God. Worship must be done in a such a way that people experience and are ministered to by God himself and not the musicians.

For the worship experience to be different, it is time we do things differently. I have attended many services in churches that are strong regarding the word, fellowship, excellence and other aspects of a good church and yet something was missing in the time of praise and worship. Praise and worship are not about a bunch of songs sung one after the other without being led by the Holy Spirit. I remember how disconnected I would be from God in that particular setting despite my desire to enter into a deeper place of worship. I am partly to blame because I also have a part to play in my own worship experience. That may be what you had been subjected to, but I would like to announce to you that you need to begin to experience the freedom to worship God starting today.

I share some plausible reasons why you must do praise and worship the correct way.

You were created to worship God. A man was created for praise and worship not just for Sunday, but on a daily basis. When we meet together for corporate worship, it is a culmination of what one has already been doing in the secret place.

“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who made us, not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” (Psalm 100:1-3)

The reason why many people do not have a divine encounter when they worship on a Sunday morning is that they do not do it at home. Therefore, they have not nurtured an intimate relationship with God even though they are good Christians. What happens in corporate worship is a celebration of the lifestyle that you already live. It is not a style of music but a style of living.

Worship is giving to God. Of all the activities we do in church or as Christians, the only time where we are giving to God is when we praise and worship Him.

“With Jesus’ help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of His name,” (Hebrews 13:15 NLT).

Worship has more to do with the heart condition of the one who is giving it and his vertical relationship with the one whom he is worshipping (Jehovah God). For example, isn’t it more comfortable to express yourself to the one you love when you are getting along very well? It has been my experience that when I am focused on pursuing my relationship with God that I spend more, quality time in His presence just drinking of his goodness and communing with Him. Worship is not a chore or a duty.

Anyone can sing songs that talk about God, but it takes a special relationship with God to be able to access the presence of God through the medium of worship. There have been many songs sung by secular artists with lyrics about God. That is just good music because they do not commit to living for Him. It may win him or her cross-over audience particularly baby Christians but the mature test every spirit and they won’t fall for that. Even some folks living in sin are masquerading as worship leaders or gospel musicians. They must stop wasting time, repent, get baptised and live for God.

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those that worship Him must worship in Spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24)

He is seeking those who will worship him in spirit and truth while living exclusively for Him. It also means that we don’t just worship with our minds but in spirit. True worshippers depend on the Holy Spirit because it is not by power and not by might but by my Spirit says the Lord.

Sometimes you praise out of an overflow when everything is going right, but other times you may have to bring a sacrifice of praise out of obedience. The psalmist wrote,

Psalm 34:1 says, “I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth,”

You don’t have to feel like doing it when you begin, but if you start, and you worship him with all your heart, God will come through for you. You will end up feeling like praising God. Do it until you feel like doing it. Discipline is necessary if you are going to be consistently constant in worship. For me, it has been a source of restoration, replenishment and renewal as I boldly enter the throne of grace by the blood of Jesus and fellowship with my Creator. You will not be doing it in your strength. It is the Holy Spirit that enables you to give worship that is pleasant and pleasing to God.

God can accomplish more in the life of an individual who is connected during the time of worship than one who is not connected.

“Give the Lord the glory due to His name; Bring an offering and come before Him. O worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness.” (1 Chronicles 16:29).

The mindless regurgitation of song words will not bring you any results. It is always a challenge when someone has mastered the art of window dressing, and they go to church to impress their associates. I would instead mean business and sing in the audience of one and obtain his acknowledgement rather than that of my mates. My life changed when I discovered the secret weapon of worship. In the Old Testament, the walls of Jericho succumbed to the Shout of God’s people as they marched around the walls seven times as per God’s commanded. Make a joyful noise to the Most High; tell him what he means to you with your whole heart.

One doesn’t need to have the exceptional musical talent to worship but have a heart that loves God, a melody and a life that is surrendered to God. Circumcision of the heart is a pre-requisite to worship that God can accept.

“For we are the circumcision who worship God in Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh.” (Philippians 3:3).

There is a cost to being a Praise and Worshipper in the house of God. You have to be separated from the world, wholly devoted to your relationship with The Most High God. You can work hard and become better, play better and master the art of music, but worship is spiritual first then artistic. I am a professional musician, but I have come across men and women of questionable musical talent bulldozing into the presence of God with a song in their heart and a life that is wholly surrendered to God. That is worship!

An ability can help you to sing, but it is the anointing that gives you access into the presence of God. We read that we are to have no confidence in the flesh. “For we are the circumcision who worship God in Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh.” (Philippians 3:3).

“And God is Spirit, and those that worship Him must worship in Spirit and truth.” (John 4:24).

With so much emphasis on excellence and putting on a show, many do not get into the Holy of holies because they are busy showing each other how good they are. You cannot impress God with your skill; He is the one who gave it to you in the first place. Your artistic excellence will not replace the anointing that gives you the ability to make music in your heart to the Lord.

The critical job of a praise and worship leader is to open the heavens, which is the reason why we gather, to have an encounter with our God.

“and the Levites who were the singers all those of Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, with their sons and brethren, stood at the east end of the altar, clothed in white linen having cymbals, stringed instruments and harps and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets. Indeed, it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make a sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord. And when they lifted their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music and praised the Lord saying: For He is good, for His mercy endures forever. That the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.”(2 Chronicles 5:12-14).

When He shows up, He doesn’t leave us the way He found us. Corporate worship is very powerful when it is done correctly. Some song lists that praise and worship teams go through on a Sunday morning reflect how prayerlessly and thoughtlessly they have been put together at the last minute. One must spend uncommon time praying to God. I remember some church services where all we needed to do was to sing one song, and the Holy Spirit would take over, and the order of service would be turned upside down. God’s plans are not ours, and our ways are not his. When done properly worship uniquely releases the presence of God.

Some songs are for personal encouragement and melodies that carry the presence of God because they address God Himself. These are not the songs that you sing because they are in the “top 20” in church, praise and worship circles. Just because the song is being sung at every conference you attended doesn’t mean the song must be heard in your church. God might be inspiring new songs in you to sing and draw near to Him. Those songs are God inspired songs, not your songs. Getting deeper and deeper in worship will set you apart from being a mediocre singer of songs.

I remember a scripture in Zephaniah 3:17. It says, “The Lord your God is in your midst. The Mighty One will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” May God rejoice over you with singing even as you worship Him.

Miracles, signs and wonders begin to take place in an atmosphere that has been created by worship; therefore, worship is not warm up to the preaching. It is ministering to God and when God is ministered to He honours us with His presence.

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is the fullness of joy; at your right hand, they are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)

“As they began to sing and to praise,” The Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.” (2 Chronicles 20:22).

“However, at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were loosed.” (Acts 16:25-26)

The mistake that is made when the people of God gather is that they have planned everything to the last detail. Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the will of God that will prevail. Submit to his authority, and you will experience what you have not experienced before. It is especially true in times of revival. No one has ever left a good football cup final because it went into extra time. People stay glued to their seats even if it means there is going to be a penalty shootout. Staying longer in the place of worship benefits you more than waiting out of it.

In conclusion, I urge you to be consistently constant in worship. Worship God in your homes, with friends, in your cell groups, and soon it will become a great lifestyle and when you come together in church, what an excellent time it will be. Please turn off the beats you play in your car, play some praise music, turn it loud and before you know it you are tuned in to the sound of heaven more often than you thought possible.

How Does Worship Help You to Connect with God?

As a praise and worshipper, I have discovered that man is a tripartite being, that is, body, soul and spirit. I am primarily a spirit, living inside a body and possessing a mind. I cannot access God through the senses, by that I mean touch, sight, hearing, smell and feeling, or my physical body. Any attempt to reach God and worship Him sensually and, or any other way besides in the spirit leads to error and false worship. The praise songs we sing become lovely, soulful melodies when we do not worship in spirit and truth. Our church meetings end up being social clubs and feel-good events where we gather religiously yet we do not experience or encounter God Himself. The preaching becomes rhetoric and speaking opinions of man instead of the oracles of the living God. Many people today are stuck at a place where they desire closeness to God, but they do not know how to do so because they have not been taught how to connect with God. I remember how a relationship can start sprightly, and there is a deep connection between the parties, but over time through neglect and lack of maintenance, the link disappears.

The search for the supernatural leads to a robust relentless desire to access the realm of the spirit. For a long time, man has desired to have access to the realm of the spirit because that is where the solutions to his problems lie. The devil knows this human need, so he manufactures counterfeits. It is no wonder that there is widespread interest in the supernatural. The world of entertainment attempts to explore the supernatural and portrays it in various themes across the spectrum of music, the movies and even cartoons watched by children. There is always a depiction of the wrestling that goes on between good and evil in the film in particular. Traditional and faith healers are attending to both Christians and non-believers alike.

I became a Christian before worship music was popular in the part of the world where I hail from. A few passionately sung songs played on the piano, and a couple of guitars at church was all we had. I don’t believe any of the people who played in the band were professional musicians by any standard. There was something about their sincere desire to connect with God that we caught onto as a church. This was long before the talk of having an “atmosphere” in a church service had begun. We now have all sorts of phrases terms and expressions of worship, yet the purpose and intention of worship remain the same- to connect with God.

The primary basis for worshipping God is that we are in love with Him. He initiated it at the cross of Calvary, and all the things we do or should do in worship must be in response to His love. Worship is not man’s idea, but it is God’s idea. The awareness that God loved us so much that it cost Him His son should create in us a sincere desire and hunger to worship Him.

“But God demonstrates His love toward us, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).

Before we knew Him, He had already started demonstrating His love for us. This is amazing love. Let us look at how worship helps us to connect with God.

Worship is not about having a good experience but about being hungry for and just wanting to soak in the presence of God. It is about longing to have free access to the courts of the living God. Have you seen how a sparrow will fly in and out of a courtyard? It does so, unhindered and without reservation. Our desire for worshipping God should cause us to desire unrestricted access into His presence just like the sparrow. When we worship not only do we access the courts of the living God, but we become dwellers in His courts. The psalmist refers to how blessed they are who now dwell in the courts of our God.

“How lovely is your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts? My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young- Even your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house. They will still be praising you.” (Psalm 84:1-4).

The main reason why you end up with a concert and not a connection with God when we sing is that we have choirs and soloists that have mastered the ability to sing right notes and play professionally. They know the instruments yet at the “heart level” there is no deep connection what so ever with the one who is being worshipped. Also, “you will seek Me and find Me if you seek Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). God is saying here that the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart. If it’s not from a deep place, our worship is superficial. How deep is it at heart level? We cannot connect with God and impress each other at the same time. True worship focuses on God, and that’s the kind that benefits our relationship with Him. It is not empty posturing. God doesn’t want half-hearted devotion any more than we wish half-hearted commitment from those we love and who claim to love us.

“Now, therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day who you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15)

You may not have physical or carved images that you worship. What is it that has become like a god? What is it that has become so important that it now get in the way of you worshipping God? Getting distractions out of the road is essential. Things like sin, pride, being too busy, neglecting our own time of prayer and the Word of God. For the longest time, I have known that musicians are not considered as serious Christians in the church. When scandals and problems come out from the music department, it is almost expected. We as musicians have not helped the situation. We do not show up for corporate prayer meetings, bible studies unless we are singing or playing. I have seen instrumentalists who do not remain in the church to hear the Word preached. They have done their part, so they leave. It is such attitudes that cause us to be disconnected. Worship should be a lifestyle. Upon introspection, can we sincerely and truthfully say we are seeking first and exclusively to worship and honour God in all we do? Sounds like a tall challenge but all it takes is a decision.

I prefer to worship with a bunch of people with terrible voices and connected hearts than melodious but disconnected ones. See, you cannot serve God with your mind. You need to be connected to God by His Holy Spirit. This also places a demand on me to be all in when it comes to ministering to God in worship. How do you get connected and stay connected to God as a worshipper? Worship is not only about the songs but is inclusive of all the things one does with and for God. God can only be worshipped in Spirit and truth. Of a truth can we say we are truly living for God and serving Him according to His Word? It is Jesus Christ who connects us to God, and it is obedience that keeps us connected.

I learned that you do not become a better worshipper just by singing more. You need to pray more, study more, and obey God more as you sing. Draw near to God in Word and deed for worship to be meaningful. In fact, in everything we do we must worship, that is, bring glory to God. Praying more than you sing helps you to develop an intimate relationship with God so that when you begin to express that love and intimacy in the song, it is genuine. A prophetic spirit ushers you into deeper depths of worship as the Holy Spirit starts to give you the right song at the right time that will address what needs to be addressed and usher in a move of God right there. I remember a time when I was deep in debt, and I was afraid that the threats of my creditors would take me down for the last time. God gave me a song that reminded me that God is in control and strengthened me to face the situation. Worship became a weapon even towards the resolution of the case. God gave me a song that I would sing whenever the pressure from the problems I was facing weighed down on me. I would have a sense of God’s presence in a beautiful and calming way. That calmness reminded me that God is with me and He will take care of it.

What I have learned about the Power of a Song

“But now bring me a musician”. Then it happened when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him’. (2 Kings 3:15)

It could be the sweet melodies of the impromptu African acapella sung in a three or four – part harmony at any function where people are gathered, mostly family or friends, or the radio deejay playing smooth, silky, soulful sounds on the local radio station. It could be the church choir on an early Sunday morning euphonically singing “Hallelujah”. It does not matter which part of your life you find it in; music cannot be resisted or avoided. Music and songs are a part of ordinary everyday life, how much more important is it in our daily spiritual walk with God. Songs are so crucial that entire books, for example, the Psalms and the Songs of Solomon be dedicated entirely to songs in the Bible. Happy people sing, sad people sing. So whether you are happy or unhappy, you should be singing. As a youngster, I used to wonder where songs came from until I discovered the ability that had also given me to make new music. As much as I shall be touching on the power of music in general, it is my assignment to explain to an important extent how as Christians we need to understand spiritual songs in the context of worship. Here’s a scary thought: every song written is written by inspiration. We know that songs that the Holy Spirit inspires praise and worship. Even secular music has spiritual inspiration. What spirit is it that inspired it?

In Zimbabwe, where I come from, a funeral, party, celebration, a gathering is not so until there is a song. Music, therefore, can inspire the atmosphere of a place whether it is a joyous or sad occasion. It can comfort bring joy or even bring you to a place of worship and adoration for your maker. Music is living, you cannot touch it, but it is enduring, lives long after the musician has passed on. It carries the spirit of its author. There is a song for every occasion, everyone and every place. The atmosphere you intend to create will determine the genre, the tempo and volume of sound acceptable to you. The song in your heart may be a sad, song, a silly song, a song of praise, a song of love or only a song appreciating the beauty of life. Watch what you sing. It affects your mood, your behaviour or even the person you become eventually.

I’ve never encountered a medium of communication that is not a respecter of persons, religion, race, politics, and social demographics like music. A song doesn’t need your permission to enter into your space, so long as you are within earshot. Even when you are quiet, there is nothing g that stops your heart and your spirit from humming the melody of that favourite, soundtrack of your life. It brings a smile to your face even when you are all alone. Imagine the movies, advertisements, church services, restaurants without a song; such is the power of a song carefully chosen to match the type of place and atmosphere you intend to create. It has been described as the food of love, and the lovers are urged to play on. In church it is the door that opens the door to the “King of kings”, saints pray on. In times of war, it is a medium of strength and hope and “psyches” up one to fight. It is the stuff that dreams, fantasies, virtual realities are made. For me, it is a way of expressing my God-given creativity as I explore various flavours and feels of God- inspired music. The Bible has much to say about songs in general and spiritual songs in particular. We are commanded to sing songs to the Lord. “Sing to Him, sing praises to Him.” (Psalm 105:2)

Singing songs is an integral part of the Christian life, corporately or individually. It is one of the means or expressions of thanksgiving, praise and worship to our God. In a deeper place, it is no longer little singing but singing in the Spirit. Singing in the spirit is usually singing in tongues, but sometimes it can be in a known tongue. When the Holy Spirit fills you, you can flow in these spiritual songs. If you don’t like to sing you are not going to love heaven because there will be plenty of singing there. In heaven there are forever praising God and singing new songs:

“And they sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals; for you were slain, and you have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” (Revelations 5:9)

I have had the privilege and experience of singing new spiritual songs given to me by the Holy Spirit. Because I am a worshipper, it just helps me worship God more. Some of those songs are for personal encouragement or the encouragement of others. The ones I felt were for others I have managed to share, and the feedback you get afterwards is that someone was ministered to. I once heard a testimony of a worshipper in a service who after singing the songs on his list felt impressed to sing a song with the message “you are not alone” embedded in the song. A lady walked up to him after the service and told him that she had decided that she was going to commit suicide after the service, but she somehow felt encouraged, and that song was for her. I have had an experience where a certain song is played in church, and it was just what I needed at that particular time. Paul alludes to this experience when He talks about singing in the Spirit and singing with understanding. If you are a born, again, Holy Spirit baptised, tongue talking child of God you can sing in the spirit in the same way that you sing and pray with understanding:

“I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also,” (1 Corinthians 14:15).

Spiritual singing stems from being filled with the Word and God’s Spirit. You cannot do it unless it is given to you by the Holy Spirit. As a practising Christian, you must stay connected to God through consistent prayer, worship and reading of the Word. This sharpens your spirit man to be able to receive from Him. You cannot be disconnected and expect to hear. I pray that you become connected to God at all times and never lose the signal of heaven. We use mobile phones and have digital satellite television; these both require us to receive the message before we can enjoy transmission and access. The principle is the same here as well. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25)

Even our speech and conduct changes when we begin to walk in the Spirit. “Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).

“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16).

Spirit-filled people will manifest it by spiritual singing. I talked about singing new songs earlier. It’s no use getting a song in your heart and not singing it. Most mornings when I wake up I have a song in my heart. It is usually a song of worship, and when I have composed, it has taken me to a place where I sense God’s presence differently. It is my opinion that you are given this song for a particular reason. It will be obedience on your part to sing it with your mouth.

“I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.” (1 Corinthians 14:15).

You can sing new songs as an individual. It does not matter where you are. Sometimes I receive new songs in the strangest of places, and it’s so good that I want to sing it, but circumstances don’t allow it. Even when I am going about my daily business, I am given a melody or a melody with the words. “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear and I will trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:3) Most times it’s just a one-liner. It is the sweetest tune and gets me into a mood to just worship, adore and love God and tell Him how much I love him. The most exhilarating is usually in the church where a new tune to an existing song you already know is given or new lyrics to a tune you already know. Those are the works of the Holy Spirit and words cannot possibly describe the feeling. The psalmist urges us to sing the new songs.“Sing to Him a new song, Play skilfully with a shout of joy.” (Psalm 33:3).

“O sing to the Lord a new song; for He has done marvellous things.” (Psalm 98:1). This is not a suggestion; it is a command.

“They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty thousand who were redeemed from the earth.” (Revelation 14:3).

You can sing new songs corporately. There have been instances in corporate congregational worship where the Spirit of the Lord would break out, and people would begin to sing songs that have never been sung before. It is amazing how it will be different words, tunes and melodies but there is no confusion. There are unity and beauty, and the resulting sound is even more beautiful. I agree with the verse that says the things of the Lord are spiritually discerned, and the carnal mind cannot comprehend it. We can never get to a point where we can say now we understand how God works because He is dynamic in His doings.

“speaking to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:18-20)

“For, I proclaim the name of the Lord: Ascribe greatness to our God.” (Deuteronomy 32:3).

There are many Biblical examples of people who sang spontaneous new worship songs, either congregationally or individually. We need to emulate these people. You find God would have said or done something beautiful or unprecedented, for example, Hannah:

So Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies because I rejoice in your salvation, no one is holy like the Lord, for there is none besides You, nor is there any Rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly; let no arrogance come from your mouth, for the Lord is the God of knowledge; and by Him, actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and those who stumbled are girded with strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, and the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, and she who has many children has become feeble. The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap, to set them among princes. Also, make them inherit the throne of glory. The Pillars of the Earth are the Lord’s. Also, He has set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness. For by strength no man shall prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; from heaven, He will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to His King and exalt the horn of His anointed.” (1 Samuel 2:1-10).

This is just one of the many instances in the Bible of people that sang new songs. Whatever setting you find yourself in, there are practical things you can do when it comes to activating the power of a song. Ask God to put a new song on your heart each day. We also can become automatic candidates for this by being intentional regarding the music we are always listening to. If you are continually listening to good worship music, you will almost always certainly end up with a song welling up in your heart out of the overflow. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth sings. If you are full of the latest popular hit songs, it will also come out. Use a songbook, hymnal, recorded music in your devotions daily. I use a mixture of recorded music, playlists as well as those I will sing with my voice.

Do you want to get the most significant benefit out of corporate worship? Prepare your heart before you get to church on Sunday mornings. By the time you get to church, you are not trying to crank yourself up, but you are already supercharged in your inner-man. Once there, be present and put your all into corporate worship. Most modern churches project lyrics on a screen. Think about what you are singing.

“He answered and said to them, well did Isaiah prophecy of you hypocrites as it is written:

This people honours Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” (Mark 7:6-7).

May your worship never be in vain. When He gives you a melody hum it, sing it, play it, share it. Most of the songs I have enjoyed shared and written are from that place of receiving a new song — what a powerful tool in worshipping our God and drawing nearer to Him.

God Deserves Your Praise!

“Bless the Lord O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord O my soul and forget not His benefits; who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction. Who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies. Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles”. (Psalm 103:1-5)

I do not believe there is any human being or created thing that has a reason not to praise God. I am convinced that one has to make a conscious decision not to see what God has done because His works are plain for all to see. The fact that you woke up this morning and didn’t forget to rise out of sleep is reason enough to praise God. The very breath in you, the air that you breathe is a reason to glorify Him. The Psalmist mentions some specific benefits to why we must praise God. God has forgiven us of all our iniquities, healed our diseases and redeemed our lives from destruction. He crowns us with His loving kindness and tender mercies, satisfies our mouths with good things, and our youth is renewed like the eagle’s. These reasons are plausible enough to stop what you are doing and give God praise.

What exactly do we mean when we say “Praise God”? First of all, let us examine the general meaning of the word praise. The English meaning of the word praise is to, “express warm approval or admiration of something or someone. In spiritual terms, it is to express one’s respect and gratitude towards a deity, in our case God, who created the heavens and the earth. The expressions may vary, but usually, it is in song. Praise is the expression of respect, thanksgiving, honour and worship to God. Not only is it expressed in a song but prayer, acclamation and declaration for what He has done. The Psalms are replete with praise. Find a good psalm and declare aloud the praises of God Almighty.

Let us explore and learn some things about praise.

1. Who should Praise God?

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” (Psalm 150:6).

Praise is a command given to everything that has life, everything that has breath needs to praise the Lord. However, we cannot embark on the true and meaningful praise of God unless we have received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. The relationship makes it worthwhile, and it also becomes a two-way street because God inhabits the praise of His people, “But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3). So it becomes more than just an exercise of thanking Him because I am alive. It becomes an act of worship and obedience because I am a child of God. If we show gratitude to our natural fathers how much more “our Father, which art in heaven”? He deserves all the praise we can give. As children of God, He dwells in our bodies through the Holy Spirit. This means that wherever we go, God is to be praised. So we ought to worship Him with all that we have. Whatever we do with our bodies, minds and spirits God must be glorified. “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you who you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought for a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

2. Why do we Praise God?

So when we praise it’s not a case of whether we feel like it or not because the benefits that God has given us are many and they speak for themselves. Yes, the situation may be saying that there is nothing to praise God for, but as alluded to earlier in Psalm 103 you surely can praise God for the following: forgiveness of sins, healing of all your diseases, redemption of life from destruction, being crowned with loving-kindness and tender mercies, satisfaction with good things, and renewal of youth like an eagle’s. These are a few examples, but I hope they stimulate us to come up with lists of things to praise God for.

God also expects our praise. After all, as His servants, it is required by our master. So we must do it joyfully. Praise awaits you O God in Zion; and to you, the vow shall be performed (Psalm 65:1).

God made us for His pleasure, and when we do not praise Him, we deprive Him of this pleasure. “This people I have formed for myself; they shall declare my praise.”(Isaiah 43:21).

We must give Him praise especially when we gather in the name of the Lord. “Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who by night stand in the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 134:1-2)

We praise God because He indeed deserves all of our praise. “He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen,” (Deuteronomy 10:21),

He is a great God “For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods”. (Psalm 96:4), “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable.” (Psalm 145:3).

We engage in praise to God because it is a good thing and the right thing to do. “It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your loving kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness at night,” (Psalm 92:1-2)

3. When should we Praise God?

We praise God at all times. I have heard a famous saying that goes,” we praise God on two occasions; when we feel like it and when we don’t”. That means we praise God at all times without exception.

“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth,” (Psalm 34:1).

Some, however, will only wait until they get the answer to the prayer or when they have broken through to praise. So their praising God is circumstantial and this ought not to be because there are so many other things to praise God for.

4. What happens when we praise God?

Praise always has results mainly if it’s offered as a sacrifice, in a time of challenge and in a time of affliction, war. Also, when there is nothing praiseworthy going on in your life that praise is precious.

Prison doors are open when we begin to praise God.

“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were loosed.” (Acts 16:25, 26)

Do you feel stuck? Do you feel bound in any area of your life as if you are in jail? You do not have to remain in that condition. Praise! It is when you praise that you get God’s attention and release must happen because He will show up on the scene God himself. In a time of war praise is a war strategy. Territories and cities are taken through praise. Walls must come down because of the sound of praise.

“Now when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab and Mt Seir, who had come against Judah and they were defeated.” (2 Chronicles 20:22)

“I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be praised from my enemies.” (2 Sam 22:4).

5. What do we do to praise God?

“[ Praise to the Lord] Sing to the Lord a new song, And His praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you coastlands and you inhabitants of them!” (Isaiah 42:10)

And in that day you will say: “Praise the Lord, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is exalted.” (Isaiah 12:4)

“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints.”(Psalm 149:1)

Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the tumbrel and harp. (Psalm 149:3)

Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, (Psalm 149:6)

We sing songs, clap our hands, dance with or feet and even jump for joy. The list of things we can do is endless. We give glory and praise to our God with the use of our physical bodies, with our hearts and minds, and with our deeds. There are many ways to praise God! No matter how you praise and worship God, it should result in awe of God’s power, love, and grace for all of us!

Actions Points

Put together a powerful playlist of your favourite praise and worship songs

Get into your room close your door and worship God to that playlist

Sing, dance do whatever it takes to connect with God

When you feel a new song welling up in your spirit, hum it, sing it

Chapter 6

Giving

God Loves a Cheerful Giver

“Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:5)

When we are stingy and hold onto things we miss out on the liberating feeling that comes with giving and the joy of hearing the sweetness of the words, “Thank You” and “God Bless You” That in itself outstrips any desire to hold onto what we already have in our possession needlessly. There is a continuous outpouring of joy for the generous soul. Sometimes we give joyfully and sometimes it’s a real sacrifice, giving with tears in our eyes. God honours that giving because it is from the heart.

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or out of necessity for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Desire to live a life of generosity because generous people are happier people. Many blessings and benefits will accrue as we become givers. The scripture is saying that we will reap bountifully if we sow bountifully. Be encouraged to be a giver as we share some benefits of giving.

Giving benefits the giver more than the one who receives by making room for more. One cannot receive with a clenched fist. We can only receive what’s in God’s hand when we release that which is in our hands. The Bible promises, “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that we use, it will be measured back to us” (Luke 6:38). People that are generous live stress-free lives. They own the things that money can buy, without the things owning them. That is a blessed place to be.

When someone is generous, he or she solves problems for others and refreshes them. There is a guarantee of sustenance for such a person. “There is one who scatters yet increases more. And there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself” (Psalm 11:24-25).

Imagine your church organising a conference or a camp, and because it is your desire to be used by God, you quietly give food, cash or even your vehicle to transport people to and from the venue. Apart from the promises that you will enjoy from the Bible, you will feel good about yourself as well. Some breakthroughs that are promised by God can only be unlocked by merely giving to the house of God. I remember a couple of years ago when things were falling apart for me. I had lost almost everything I had to my name. I looked around for the stuff that had the highest monetary value in my possession, and I gave it to the house of God, and that single act has unlocked life-changing breakthrough. God has remembered me multiple times and blessed me because of that one gift. It was an act of sacrificial giving. It was painful to do at the time, but I am glad I did. Do you want to get rid of a selfish attitude, give something that hurts and that gift will go on an assignment for your transformation and release from that spirit of hoarding and selfishness? Unlocking the gift of faith does not come because you prayed and fasted. It sometimes calls for radical giving based on the confidence you have in the faithfulness of God; here you serve faithfully without material reward.

Giving is not all about money and things. Exchanging the precious gift of time while adding value to others can be a rewarding experience. Most of the time when we take time to help others and pour what we already know it can change their lives. Someone’s life can become different because you were there for them when they needed somebody to stand with them.

Giving is the antidote to poverty especially when it is in obedience to an instruction that God would have given you. You may be in general financial lack or wallowing deep in debt. It does not matter how bad things are. It would be best if you did not stop being a giver. Withholding the tithe gives the enemy free play in your finances. When we tithe, that is, bringing ten per cent of our income to the house of God, He will rebuke the devourer. “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” says the Lord of Hosts (Malachi 3:11).

Lack will never be your portion as God will begin to command resources to be at your disposal because you can be trusted to use them to expand and finance the kingdom of God. We are not here to hoard and accumulate wealth but to be a conduit through which it passes to where God wants it to go.

“And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, into the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite. Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the Lord; and King David also rejoiced greatly.” (1 Chronicles 29:8-9)

Giving brings joy and rejoicing. When it is done without coercion or ulterior motives giving is a joyful thing to do when it is from the heart.

Action Points

If you have not given your life to Jesus, give yourself to Him first then your money.

Find out what needs to be done in your local church and give your time to do it

Always go to the house of God with something to give. If you do not have money give service.

Chapter 7

The Holy Spirit

Keeping in Step with the Spirit – How to Live a Spirit-Filled Life

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14). Not only are we sons of God but we are His friends and no longer slaves; “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin”(Romans 6:6). Such is the life that is led by the Holy Spirit. There are many great things we miss out on in life as a result of not understanding the simple fact that we cannot make it on our own. God has already made help available to us. The Lord Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit who would lead us into all truth. You might have made it this far without Him, but you can no longer live a “dry life”, without His anointing. Please allow me to share some things necessary to live a powerful, sanctified life.

There is a need to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit who guides us in the way we ought to go. When we have a relationship with Him, He tells us what to do because He knows everything. He wants to teach us God’s ways and show us His glory, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you”, (John14:26).

Being a seeker is important. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). As we mind the business of the Kingdom of God and seek to live righteously, He adds the things we need. This can only be enabled by the working of the Holy Spirit who is fixing the issues of our lives to present us blameless before Christ. We begin to live satisfying, Spirit-filled lives as we continuously seek God.

When He calls, we need to answer God’s call, and He will enable us to walk in His anointing. He will allow us to walk in the Spirit doing His work which He planned from the beginning. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5). Being faithful in what God has called us to do will help us to function at an even higher level.

We must stay hungry for God. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). Let us understand that the enemy will not give up on us as long as we are on this side of heaven. He is relentless in trying to keep us out of God’s presence. Let’s refuse to faint in the day of adversity, keeping on keeping on, not by our strength, but being powered continuously by the Spirit of God.

It is of paramount importance that we keep in step with the Spirit. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). There is a need to stay close in our walk with God. The Bible likens us to sheep, and we must hear and heed the shepherd’s voice. If we can’t hear his voice, it means we must draw closer to Him. Staying in the place of prayer and reading the Word of God puts us in good stead to follow our Lord Jesus Christ.

Living a Spirit-filled life demands that we stay focused and fix our eyes on the Lord as we become more and more sensitive to Him. The “small still voice” will speak but we need to be tuned in to the right frequency to hear. No more distractions!

In a world where many things are clamouring for our attention can we be attentive enough to hear God? We would not have managed to repent of our sins and come to Jesus if it was not for the Holy Spirit who nudged us until we agreed to surrender our lives to Christ. In the same way, we need Him even more as we walk with Jesus daily now.

Action Point

Ask the Holy Spirit to come and fill your heart

Ask for a fresh anointing.

Chapter 8

The Prophetic.

What do I do when I Receive a Prophetic Word about my Life?

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your young men shall prophesy. Your old men shall dream dreams, and on menservants and my maidservants I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:17-18).

God speaks to us in many ways. Sometimes it’s through a word of knowledge,

“for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:8) or outright prophecy, “But he who prophesies speaks edification, exhortation and comfort to men” (1 Corinthians 14:3).

What is prophecy? According to the Cambridge English dictionary, prophecy is a statement that says what is going to happen in the future, especially one that is based on what you believe about a particular matter rather than existing facts. The biblical definition, however, states that prophecy is a message inspired by God, a divine revelation. The Bible says that: “prophets spoke from God as the Holy Spirit moved them.” (2 Peter 1:20, 21). So a prophet is one who receives God’s message and transmits it to others.

Prophecy can be received through a person, a scripture or God revealing things to you at a personal level. It is important to note that it does not matter how you receive the prophecy. We ought not to despise prophecy. There are some who believe that prophecy seized a long time ago. They say that God no longer speaks but He still speaks:

“Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets”, (Amos 3:7).

Everything we see happening has already been revealed by God to someone, somewhere, albeit as a secret. Sometimes God will use a person to deliver the prophecy, His Word or even speak to you directly. Do not automatically believe every prophecy you hear. There are three main sources of prophecy. The Human spirit, an evil spirit and the Holy Spirit. The Bible says to test every spirit:

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone into the world.” (1 John 4:1)

“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things, hold fast to what is good”. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21)

When I say prophecy, I am referring to that which is instigated by the Holy Spirit. After having tested and settled the fact that the prophecy is indeed from God, there are things you need to do and things you need not do.

When you have received a prophecy, it is wise to know that it is not your place to try and make the prophecy happen by your efforts. If it came from God, He will make sure that it comes to pass. Do nothing different unless directed by God:

“Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah” (1 Samuel 16:13).

After David was anointed, he did not assume the throne upon being anointed; he went back to herd sheep. How many of us would go back to our menial routine after being anointed for such a high office? Notice David is still looking after sheep in verse 19:

“Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, send me your son David, who is with the sheep” (1 Samuel 16:19).

Timing is very important. When the process for the fulfilment of the prophecy is set in motion, they will send for you. Even if they do not have your phone number, you will be located because it is God’s time. There is also no guarantee that the prophecy will happen at the time you expect it to happen, especially if you do not obey the instructions associated with the fulfilment of the prophecy.

In this day and age where there is an unprecedented move of God and the church beginning to understand and move like never before in the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, a lot is going on in the modern day church. Believers gathered in church meetings, all-night prayer meetings, camp meetings and conferences from time to time experience the prophetic ministry of the Holy Spirit. I have personally benefited from attending some of these meetings, and I believe ultimately one’s transformation and drawing closer in walking with God is the ultimate desired end.

The subject I would like to tackle in light of this background is one that concerns how to handle prophecy. One can be picked out in a church service and told things that are supposed to happen in their lives in the future and for some stuff that has already happened or is currently happening. My understanding of the purpose of prophecy from the Bible is to bring comfort, edification. “But he who prophesies speaks comfort and edification to men”, (1Corinthians 14:3) In the Old Testament we see many instances where God uses prophets to warn His people. I believe God is still speaking and warning us of things ahead before they happen. Not only do prophecies come through someone but in your closet, God will deliver messages to you. Remember prayer is two-way communication between God and us.

Now there is no problem at all regarding initially being given or told a prophetic word. The problem arises when one leaves the meeting and goes back to their reality, in their little corner of the world. The question is where do I go, what do I do, how do I make sure that I receive this thing that God has promised me? Let’s explore this issue.

Pray about it and keep praying. The first thing to do when you are given a prophetic word by a prophet, pastor, evangelist or whichever vessel God has used is to go and seek God in prayer about that particular prophecy. Pray about it. As you pray about it, God may reveal further what this prophecy is about. In my personal experience, I need confirmation, so I pray for it, and by the mouths of two or three witnesses, the matter is established as truth. You want to know how these things will become a reality. Many do not dig deeper and inquire of the Lord further about their prophecies. This neglect causes the prophecy to never to come to pass resulting in discouragement. What you neglect you will lose no matter how much God intended for you to have it.

“Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of hands of the eldership” (1 Timothy 4:14).

Listen for any special instructions and follow God’s leading.

The fulfilment of prophecy has everything to do with knowing what to do. When it comes to the prophetic, many recipients of prophetic words do not receive what God promised because of lack of knowledge of what to do and even not following up the prophetic word with a re-aligning of their character, attitude and mindset to become the sort of person that can become what God had said you would be. God may instruct you to become more prayerful, to quit certain habits and begin to align your life according to the pattern of His Word.

Understand that it is the beginning of a new season. The receipt of a prophetic word is the beginning of a process of pruning and plucking up of things that may hinder God’s plan. Joseph gets a revelation of the greatness he was going to experience, but God had not yet refined him. Moses experiences and encounters God at the burning bush. David is anointed as king instead of Saul yet despite his impressive resume’ he had not been through God’s school of training for greatness. What follows these individuals are years of trouble as certain things in them ought to die.

Co-operate with God. Cooperating with the dealings of God is a necessary step concerning fulfilling divine intention. As you are right now, you may need to go through the pit and prison-like Joseph before you reach the palace. The road to Hebron was no walk in the park as David would have to escape the sword of Saul and see the mighty hand of God in troubled times as a fugitive running away from Saul. Moses will tell you that all the things he had learnt as the prince of Egypt would not be required in his new assignment as God would have to unteach him Egyptology and reteach him God’s kingdom stuff before he could effectively execute his assignment.

Prepare for battle. I know of many great people who never walked in the great assignments that had been prophesied upon them while I listened attentively. There are many possible reasons why that happened, and they differ from person to person. Let me proffer some of the possible reasons why I think they did not manage to walk in their assignment. When God has pinpointed you for a specific assignment, you don’t go on holiday. Prepare for intense spiritual battle, attacks and discouragement. God said He would do it, and He will do it, but there is a condition.

“This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou mightest war a good warfare”. (1 Timothy 1:18 KJV)

You need to stay on the path and never turn aside, backslide or give in to disappointment. Many will be excited about the concept of prophecy they end up going to every meeting where a prophet will be and without discernment and strong foundation they might be side-tracked or confused after receiving a few conflicting “words” from God. I have found Ephesians chapter six to be a very practical and compelling chapter regarding how to fight every spiritual battle. God has said you will win, so don’t back down until it materialises.

Leave the “how” to God. Do not worry about how the prophecy will come to pass as that is God’s job. After you have prayed and internalised the instructions surrender the fulfilment, times and timing to God. A friendly tip is that you should remain hungry to be changed permanently. Walk close to God as He is more interested in who you become in the process of fulfilment than afterwards. So many people get bogged down in the details and lose track because at the time it doesn’t make sense. I am convinced that God will not only give you the assignment. However, He will also provide you with the ability as well. I was not a good singer at all when God told me that my assignment was to be a worshipper in His house. Some of the things God has said haven’t started to happen, but I must lose all fear and only believe that He said it and that settles are. I don’t care if you are young Jeremiah, timid Timothy or stuttering Moses. It’s not your power or ability but God’s inexhaustible capacity.

In conclusion, I hope these thoughts have somehow helped you in your quest to become what God said you would become. I am excited because once you understand that God has a special assignment for you, you will begin to centre your life on those activities, habits, people that God will use to bring His word to pass.

The Word of God in Your Life Shall Not Lack Fulfilment.

“So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground”. (1 Samuel 3:19).

Not one thing will fail of all the things which the Lord God spoke concerning you. All will have come to pass. God is a faithful God, and He will not allow any of His words to fall to the ground. He has a brilliant record of performance, in fact, a hundred per cent record. Will, He break that record and become a non-performer on account of you? I don’t think so. There are many examples of God promising and fulfilling His promises. From promising the children of Israel that He will give them the Promised Land to promising Moses that he would not enter into that Promised Land; God fulfilled everything He said He would do. In as much as the promises of God are sure, there is an element of obedience on the human part that is required. We have received many assurances in God’s Word, but our non-compliance with the conditions of fulfilment can prevent us from receiving those promised things.

While there are good promises for obedience there are also consequences for disobedience, and going against what the Lord requires. Let’s look at an example of a sign which was not favourable:

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses that very same day saying; go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho; view the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel as a possession; “and die on the mountain which you ascend and be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people; because you trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin, because you did not allow me in the midst of the children of Israel. You shall see the land before you, though you shall not go there, into the land which I am giving the children of Israel. (Deuteronomy 32:48-52).

So if God is diligent in performing His Word in either instance whether good or bad how much more the good Word He has spoken over your life. I have personally received promises about my future. I am looking forward to a brighter tomorrow because He has given us as His children exceedingly great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:4). You may not have been the recipient of a message in an audible voice like Moses and Joshua but each time you read the Bible God is speaking, and He has promised to perform. I have come to discover that no area of life is not covered in the Bible.

There is no doubt that God’s Word is true. We should be able to enjoy and possess the promised things if we play our part. The problem is we want to possess the possessions before deliverance and holiness when the Bible clearly says,

“But upon Mount Zion, there shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. (Obadiah 1:17).

Deliverance from sin and the yoke of evil, then holy and righteous living then comes holiness. God will do it for you because He watches over His Word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12) God does not lie so where there is no fulfilment it cannot be His non-performance. It’s a proven fact that the Word works and God and His word are one, and they cannot differ. It means that if it has not happened yet for me, I must check myself.

Find out what could be the case in your particular instance as we explore the efficacy of God’s word for your life.

We learn from scripture that God cannot lie and He does what He says He will do. We have a responsibility to go ahead and procure it because God has already done it. “Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you”, (Joshua 18:3). Pure slackness and negligence in procuring what God has already given us can mean that we miss it.

Unbelief can be a hindrance to the fulfilment of God’s promises. The unbelieving person mistrusts God and suspects that God will let him down at some point. What if Mary had not believed that she would give birth to Jesus though she was a virgin? The fulfilment came about because Mary agreed with God and cooperated with Him. Blessed is she who believed for there will be a fulfilment of those things which were told her from the Lord. (Luke 1:45). This verse was referring to Mary when she was spoken to concerning the virgin birth of Jesus through her. The condition for fulfilment which is to believe God was satisfied here. We must believe God.

“And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief” (Hebrews 2:18-19).

One thing is certain, God spoke some words about you, and they are good things, you may be waiting for things that are there already. The fact that they have been made available does not mean that they automatically come into one’s possession. Rise, take your journey and cross over the River Anon. Look, I have given into your hand Sihon, the Amorite, King of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to possess it and engage him in battle (Deuteronomy 2:24).

For the things God has done, we must contend for them in battle. The enemy is not going to release them to us on a platter. If we are going to be possessors of God’s promises, we must learn warfare. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4). So we are not fighting in the flesh but spiritually to physically procure what belongs to us.

God has spoken, and He is still speaking. It is important to tune into the frequency of heaven to hear Him speak.:

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

We have to know His voice and ensure that our receivers are in good working order. Imagine blaming the broadcaster for not receiving the transmission on radio or television. Position your antenna in the correct position and begin to receive what He is transmitting. We need to have ears that hear when God speaks, therefore, we should ask. I had never heard from God all my life as a Christian until I started believing that He speaks. It was as if I had just tuned into the station with my antenna ready to receive that I began to receive a download from heaven. A desperate desire in my spirit was what caused me to receive.

Recognition is powerful. It is possible that an answer to prayer or breakthrough comes and we do not recognise or discern it. Most times we can miss it because it wouldn’t have happened in the way we expected, so we let it slide. Let’s not limit God to what we can imagine because He can exceed our expectations. It is not too late to get it back. Today may be the day that you receive the thing that is long overdue. There must be urgency in your spirit to procure and lay hold of your “stuff”.

When the seasons change, it is foolish to hold on to the previous season for sentimental reasons. It is time that you open your eyes to the fact that the days of struggling are over; it’s now time to possess what is yours and live in the overflow:

“I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10b).

I don’t think God is mean and miserly; He owns everything, all power and possessions in the whole universe. Even a small glimpse or bit of His glory will solve your issues. Remember at Pentecost he released not the fullness of His glory, but just a small bit and the first church was born amidst signs and wonders. Procuring what you were promised takes revelation knowledge that is God opening your eyes and showing you where it is. Paul prays for the Ephesians,

“that the eyes of their understanding be enlightened” (Ephesians 1:18).

It is only with enlightened eyes, that is, eyes that see that you will be able to enjoy the things that God has already given.

The good things that God promised you are not for another time in the future, but for the here and now. I submit to you that you must and need to take hold of it right here and right now :

His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and Godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue: (2 Peter 1:3). Your breakthrough is a done deal. God did not panic when he delivered the Children of Israel from Egypt. Canaan had already been prepared, but giants were occupying that land. You may be feeling intimidated by the size of the giants in the land, but God will destroy those dream stealers if you have made up your mind that I am moving forward into the promises of God.

In conclusion, none of the words of God will be without performance if you doubt whether you heard God correctly go back and ask Him in prayer. He will bring to your remembrance those things. It could be a faith issue. Do you believe, I mean to believe? It may also be that there is absolutely nothing wrong at all. There is a set time for its fulfilment. Whatever the case is, as long as you are alive you are a candidate to receive and enjoy the promises of God for your life. Remember with God nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37).

Luke 1:45: Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfilment of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Action Points

Go back into your life and remember the prophecies God made about you

Go back into the Word and recall the promises of God for you

Take Words back to God for anything that is still outstanding

Chapter 9

Sonship.

Things You Can Rightfully Claim as a Child of God

“But as many as received Him, He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born not of blood nor the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God”. (John 1:12-13)

A lack of revelation knowledge causes us to under live and underachieve as believers. When I was growing up, I encountered many people who seemed to have a right standing with God and doing well spiritually, but somehow something was missing. They were lovely church folk, but did not have the joy of the Lord. They were somehow unbalanced in what they believed about themselves and God. I am not sure what it was, but non-believers seemed to be better off. Could it be that some of them believed that sickness, poverty and other bad things were God’s way of teaching them some valuable life lessons? I cannot entirely agree with this way of thinking. My understanding of Christianity is that we should live victoriously and enjoy the abundant life that Jesus brings. I began to ask questions and discovered a few answers about what we are entitled to as believers.

You have authority as a believer which God gave to you. The more (spiritual) authority you exercise, the more dominion you will have. You can lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. You can cast out demons out of people in bondage. The command God gave us was to occupy the realm of the earth until Jesus returns. Why are believers timid if that is the case?

“And God blessed them, and God said to them, be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air and over everything that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28).

The scripture leaves no room for the Christian to be lacking or to be dominated in any realm or area. That dominion is unto fruitfulness, so if one is truly walking with God, there must be fruitfulness all around.

As a child in the house, what your father owns is yours. It follows therefore that if God is your father which is in heaven, how much then will He give you all things when He did not withhold his son from the cross for your sake. You can have access to your divine inheritance because you are a believer.

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God”. (1 John 3:1a)

The reason why a lot of Christians wallow in lack and poverty is that of a lack of understanding of their rights. We can boldly enter into the Kingdom because we have a kingdom passport, the blood of Jesus which gives us access to Kingdom resources.

“Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace for time of need”. (Hebrews 4:16)

Vitality, good health, happiness, peace of mind is all yours to enjoy. No need to walk around looking as if you have been baptised in lemon juice and vinegar.

“As His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” (2 Peter 1:3).

You can lay claim to victory over situations, circumstances that trouble you.

You have been called and chosen for the Kingdom lifestyle of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love.” (Colossians 1:13)

The abundant, overflowing life in every area of your life is yours to take. You can “take it” in your job, school, relationships and every other domain of your life. Because of this principle, I’ve learnt that scarcity is relative.

“I have come that they may have life and life more abundantly” (John 10:10)

You can partner with God. When the little boy with five loaves and two fish partnered with Jesus, his lunch could feed five thousand people. When you get into that kind of partnership with God, that which you have that may be despised by others will be multiplied miraculously to benefit others.

“Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you. Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up.” (Job 22:21-22) ESV.

You have access into the supernatural, signs and wonders following you as a believer

“And these signs will follow those who believe: in my Name, they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues.” (Mark 16:17)

God gives you the restoration of everything you lost either as a result of personal foolishness or an attack by the enemy because you were walking the path that was right.

“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust and the chewing locust, my great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dwelt wondrously with you; and my people will never be put to shame”. (Joel 2:25-26).

In conclusion, we must return to where God wants us to be. We suffer many things when we do not understand who we are and whose we are. God wants you to have all the things the Bible promises you. One of the reasons why we don’t enjoy what God has already given us is ignorance. Open your Bible today and find out what you are entitled to as a son or daughter of the King. He wants to put the best robe and sandals on you only if you return. (Luke 15:22).

Action Points

Examine your life and honestly evaluate where you are in terms of your relationship with the Father.

Ask Him to restore you to your position of sonship, remember the prodigal son

Chapter 10

Faith.

How to Put Your Faith to Work- Practical Things You can do for Your Next Level .

Faith is the substance of the things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Faith cannot be an inactive, dead, “pie in the sky” sort of thing. Activated faith sees, believes and receives. More often than not those that do not accept what they believe God will do in their lives, would have fallen short somewhere in the faith process. You may have faith for a job, and yet you do not make any applications. You cannot win the lottery if you do not buy a ticket. Let me help you with ten pointers on how you can be aligned to receive what you declared and decreed and what was prophesied into your life. No matter how much faith you have, it will not work for you until you intentionally put it into action. Action differentiates the receivers from those who don’t get anything.

Watch your words. Many believers are in the habit of “talking right and walking left”. You believe God for positive things, yet you declare negative things thereby undoing your prayers. Be consistent and stop moaning and groaning about what’s not right. What you believe in your heart and speak with your mouth should be congruent. Think the right thoughts, speak the right words and enjoy the fruit of your lips.

Stay in prayer.

The Bible says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). Fervent prayer is effective because it is the prayer that does not stop or let go until there is a result. The more you pray about what you believe God for, is the more He reveals to you. He may show you a quicker route to your expected end, however, the condition is that you have to be righteous, that is in right standing with God and be doggedly determined for your prayer to avail much.

Listen for instructions and obey the instruction.

Whatever God tells you to do, do it. God will show you where the thing you are asking for is. The Bible is full of scriptures that He will direct you to. He may use someone you know or even a stranger to point you in the right direction. Do you need wisdom for life? Pray and learn to linger and listen for we lose out when we hurry out of the prayer closet.

Believe and hold onto the promise.

The promises of God are yes in Christ Jesus and amen which means that God is willing to do what He promised. While you are holding onto that promise, you need an apostolic covering. The pastor who has spiritual oversight over you has God- ordained authority and responsibility. My pastor has prayed for me and with me for things that I had believed God for, for years and they came to pass. That level of authority brings results.

Put your faith into action.

“Now the Lord said to Abram: Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house to a land I will show you. I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing” (Genesis 12:1-2)

He trusted God and sojourned to, “a land I will show you”. That was firm, unshakeable faith, no wonder he was blessed. He fully relied on God not only for his provision on the journey but the directions and the destination as well. How many of us will step out without knowing the details? It takes faith to do that. Concerning the promised son Isaac, “he did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God”. In the same way, you must lose double-mindedness for faith to work for you.

Be yourself.

Use your tried and tested weapons of warfare not somebody else’s. David, the shepherd boy, could not win the battle in a warrior’s armour because he was not accustomed to it. He put his faith in God by attacking Goliath in the name of the Lord instead of putting his faith in heavy armour and artillery which belonged to the out of favour King Saul. Discard other people’s methods, and God will show you how to get the victory.

Go through the process.

Faith works for people that have allowed God to take them through His process. By faith, David did his “time in the wilderness” and did not remove King Saul from the office by coup d’état, yet all this while it was his entitlement to ascend to the throne as the King of Israel. The prophet Samuel had anointed him. As if that was not enough, he had slain the giant Goliath, and even the women testified by singing that Saul has killed his thousands and David, his tens of thousands. Go through the process like David. He understood the season he was in and what he needed to do.

Maintain your focus.

When you activate your faith, do not give up, but rather keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith. Sometimes when you make a declaration of faith, the situation may become worse to discourage you. Keep on believing. If it is not going to be instant, it will be by this time tomorrow. If you cannot have faith by this time tomorrow at least believe God for by this time next year. Maintain your focus, and it will happen.

Faith is not stagnant; it causes movement.

Moses and the children of Israel put their faith in God by journeying into the wilderness to the Promised Land. As long as they had not moved, they were going to experience no miracle of the parting of the waters of the Red Sea. Move in the direction of your faith.

Faith is audacious, bold and daring.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego believed in God’s ability to save them from the fiery furnace. On that basis, they defied the king. The daring kind of faith that moves mountains must work on principles that are uncompromising and be unrelenting to pressure.

Your faith is the seed necessary to bring to birth what you want in life.

It is one of the keys to unlocking what God placed inside each person. It is impossible for someone who does not have faith to excel in life. It is the panacea for overcoming fear, which is the negative form of faith. If you believe, nothing is impossible. If you can see it through the eyes of faith, you will physically see it. Many heroes of the faith attained great things because they had faith and were unflinching in the face of defeat. I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would experience better days. See it, believe it, and get it!

Principles of Faith that Works.

What is faith?

“Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

The whole subject of faith has been misunderstood by many to mean just believing God for something without taking action because if you only have faith, God will bring it to pass. You can claim all the promises in the Bible, but if you are not willing to put your faith into action, you will not receive anything. Once you obtain the object of your faith, you must be prepared to continue in faith to maintain what God has done. Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). It is faith that got you into Christianity. Faith will keep you there and help you attain the promises God made to you. You must believe that there is a better life than the one that you live. For you to enjoy it, faith may be the missing ingredient. Faith will bring to birth the vision God deposited in your heart and the desires you have been carrying all your life to the extent that it is built and increased. This faith is like a seed, the Word of God waters it and nurtured by prayer and sometimes accompanied by fasting. A dream without faith is a dead dream or merely a wish that you hope to have someday.

There are different types of faith that one can have. Our ultimate aim is to have mountain-moving faith. Mountain – moving faith is the kind of faith that is necessary to please God. The Bible says in the book of Hebrews that:

“Without faith, it is impossible to please God without faith.” (Hebrews 11:6).

Mountain – moving faith moves the difficult things in life, and that transforms situations you thought were impossible. You need the daring, audacious kind of faith that connects you to God’s best for you. It is faith that makes a difference sees the impossible, does the incredible, beats the invincible and stops the unstoppable. You need to cultivate it by praying in the Holy Spirit. When you pray in the Holy Spirit, you are building yourself up in your most holy faith.

“But you beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 1:20).

It means one can stagnate in faith while others are building up their faith. Faith has a twin sister called works. Without works, it is dead faith. “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17), Faith is an active, doing the word. Without action, there can be no demonstration of the fact that one has faith. You believe God for a job; take some action and apply for the job. Give God something to work with. Faith that moves mountains is a pre-requisite for great accomplishment.

The Christian Life is a life of faith

We all have faith but what kind of faith do you have? If we are honest, we don’t all possess the same kind of faith as Christians. That explains why we get different results in our undertakings. We may not be able to see what kind it is, but soon or later the results will show. Some have strong faith, others have weak faith, and yet others have exceedingly growing faith. As explore the various levels of faith, you will then be able to introspect and understand where you are with regards to faith. The important thing is to grow as a result. You do not have to remain where you are. After all, we are a work in progress on our faith journey.

Romans 12:3, says, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt with each one a measure of faith”.

We start with a measure of faith, but most people remain with the faith they started with when they became born again. When the pressures of life take their toll, it is not enough to move the mountains they face. Faith is not just one of the things we need in the Christian life; it is the essence of that life. That is why when someone is backslidden and no longer walking with God, and it is said that they are no longer in faith. Most times we have faith that is not fed, malnourished and running on empty. Why? Because faith feeds on the Word of God, it becomes weak when you stop “eating” the Word. Let’s explore some aspects of faith.

Faith is a necessity

When it comes to faith, it is compulsory for us to have faith as Christians. I believe there was a question asked when Jesus answered them in Mark 11:22,’ So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.” It sounds like we are being commanded to have faith in God. It is not a suggestion but a “must have”. What is the alternative to faith? Unbelief, fear, doubt! When the Bible says that I am no longer a slave to fear I believe it is saying that I have replaced fear with faith and my portion is boldness because I am not trusting my ability but the ability of God and whatever I can do it is Him who does it through me. It is no longer I who lives but Christ that lives in me and the life that I now live I live by faith (Galatians 2:20).

What does it mean to have faith in God?

The fact that Jesus says to have faith in God it means that it is possible to have faith in other things. Some have faith in their riches, some in their intellect, education and abilities. Having walked with Christ for some years now, I have discovered that all these things can fail. There was a time when money failed in Egypt, and there was famine. It didn’t matter how intellectually astute one was. You couldn’t think your way out of it. It took a divinely appointed Joseph to sustain and bring the people out. So having faith in God is saying I am going to get out of the way and let God sit on the throne and do what He says He will do. A life of faith is a life surrendered to God entirely. It says Jesus answered them. It means there must have been a question they were asking for Jesus to answer them He is saying to you and me today, whatever your question is, Have Faith in God because its only in God that you will have answers.

Where does Faith come from?

We have already mentioned that one can have faith in different things apart from God. This also means that there are many various sources. However, the only pure, unadulterated source of faith is the Word of God. Are you low on faith, maybe you are low on your reading of the Word.

“So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17)

Each time you hear the Word of God as you read it, study it, as you listen to a sermon or as you meditate on it you are positioning yourself to receive faith truly. Let me give you an example; imagine someone who is sick, and they are not in good health at all, and all they hear are the doctors telling them how many days they have to live. Negative faith that is, fear is what they will receive, and everything in them prepares to die. Conversely imagine the same person in the same predicament beginning to listen to scriptures such as Isaiah 53:4 that says, by the stripes of Jesus you were healed, and the psalmist declares, “I will not die, but I will live to declare the works of the Lord” (Psalm 118:17). Faith begins to rise and hope alive the more word, testimonies and declarations this person keeps hearing. You must hear it enough to the point of believing. When you believe you declare from a place of power. About that difficult situation, what do you hear lately?

Now our faith is not from us, so even when we have what Paul calls excellent faith, we need to remain cognizant of the fact that it is a gift from God. Some folks think they have faith because of some good works they do or much praying. These things are good, but you don’t work for it or pray for it. It is a gift that comes from God.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

What are the different types or levels of faith?

We will examine the different levels and types of faith that we possess at any given time. It is instructive to note here that you do not always carry the same level of faith. We will look broadly at strong faith and weak faith, that is, what these two encompass. We shall also delve into mountain-moving faith and see how that works. Lastly, we will look at overcoming faith, exceedingly growing faith and receiving faith.

We mentioned at the onset that once you are a believer, you have a measure of faith. You cannot be born again and not have any faith at all. However, your faith is either strong or weak. Let’s take a look at the characteristics of weak faith and then we will discuss other forms of faith that can be considered to be weak faith such as failing faith and little faith.

What is weak faith?

Weak faith is under-developed faith. It has not had an opportunity to strengthen through use. Take for example the human body, if it belongs to a lazy person who is inactive, doesn’t exercise or put any strain at all on his muscles. Such a person is a weak individual because they have not toughened up, when challenges come, they will destroy him. The same applies to our faith. It is a muscle that needs to be exercised through use. The more you use it is, the more it develops. You start by believing God for small things. As you see results of that faith, you have you become emboldened to go for bigger things. You can start off having faith for shoes and grow that faith to the point of believing God for a vehicle. It needs to be in constant use otherwise faith will not become firm.

What causes weak faith? Whatever you feed will grow. When you’re your faith, you cannot have weak faith. Wrong associations, exposure to the negativity that breeds fear and doubt will affect your faith. Choose what you expose yourself to. I do not have much time for the news networks. They never really have good news. It is always something wrong. Limit your exposure and spend more time on that which strengthens your faith, the Word of God. There is a responsibility you carry when your faith is strong. It is to help others. “Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables”. (Romans 12:14)

What else can be considered to be weak faith?

Weak faith is failing faith. You do not train for battle on the warfront. If you try to use the faith that you have not developed or strengthened it will not work. That kind of faith is unreliable, and it will fail. I have good news for you. Jesus has already prayed for you. “But I have prayed for you; that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22:32) When we look at this verse, we see that it is possible for faith to fail. Many things in your life can fail but don’t let your faith fail. If you feel that your faith has already failed, God is willing to strengthen and restore you if you ask Him to. Remember as Peter He has already prayed for you.

Little faith can also be considered as weak faith because it just means not having enough faith. When it’s not enough, it will not bring you the results you are looking for, but it’s not all doom and gloom because little faith is better than not having any faith at all. You can start with the little you have, but it doesn’t have to remain where it is. You can build up your faith from where it is (Jude 1:20) Even if you have faith as little as a mustard seed it will grow if you nurture and use it. It does not have to remain there. “Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30). On different occasions, Jesus castigated the disciples and some of the crowds He taught of having little faith. When He sensed at times that there was no faith he could do no miracles there,

Strong faith.

Strong faith takes time to develop. It becomes great faith or unwavering faith through repeated use. It is the kind of faith that overcomes even the most significant tests. Let’s look at each one in turn. Great faith is amplified by boldness. It is fearless faith. It’s the kind that caused Peter to get out of the boat and walk on water (Matthew 14:22-33). Great faith focusses on what God can do in His infinite power not on what I can do or how things appear to be. Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (Matthew 15:28) Matthew 8:5-13, Matthew 9:27-31

Strong faith is unwavering faith. It is solid and sure; it doesn’t consider the weather, circumstances or how things appear. It’s not undecided, does not have a plan B. This is the kind of faith that Abraham had as opposed to the one Thomas had. It is not seeing is believing kind of faith.

Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;  who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,” (Romans 4:16-20)

To have strong faith you need to make a decision. That kind of faith is nourished by prayer and eats the Word of God. It is firm faith. “Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving”. (Colossians 2:7)

“Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord”. (Acts 11:24) NLT.

Mountain moving faith.

Mountain moving faith has some characteristics we need to consider. It does not doubt, is confident, makes things happen.

So Jesus answered and said to them,

“Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, and 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. Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11:22-24)

Overcoming faith. Overcoming faith starts with recognising who God is, how big He is and what He can do. You must identify with God and not underestimate the greatness of our God versus anything else. How big is your problem? How big is your God? Whose are you?

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

Let the scripture answer your questions and bring you to a place of overcoming faith.

Exceedingly Growing faith.

This faith is like a muscle like I have iterated before. It will continue to grow as long as it is being used. Non- use will cause it to diminish until there is nothing left. Paul was writing to the Thessalonians acknowledging how their faith was continuing to grow. There is no such thing as the stagnation of faith. It’s either your faith is growing or dying. I prefer exceedingly growing faith.

“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other” (2 Thessalonians 1:3)

Genuine faith. The fact that we can talk about faith that is genuine that is real faith; it means that there is faith that is not genuine or fake faith. We talked about sources of faith, and the source of faith will also determine whether it is genuine or fake faith. Faith can be faith in self, faith in fellow –human beings or faith in God. I believe that faith in God (Mark 11:22) is the only faith we need to have. This kind of faith comes from the heart or spirit. It is a spiritual thing based on one’s relationship with God. Faith in self-depends and relies heavily on sheer willpower which will wane as disappointments come. Moreover, faith in other people is not reliable as people can also let you down, either wittingly or unwittingly. It does not rely on the mind as the mind has its limitations. It does not have to make sense. The writer of Proverbs was spot on when he said,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6). Some who have written before me says the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart. It says,” For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. So even salvation itself begins with the heart” (Romans 10:10).

Receiving Faith

“And whatever things you ask in prayer; believe you will receive” (Matthew 21:21)

I used to think that things will appear just because I have prayed and had faith. This kind of thinking is what causes many to pray and not receive, the result being prayerlessness. Believing faith is not a problem for a lot of us. We believe that God can do it and then we pray and end thee. The scripture here is talking about your expectation. When you have prayed, believe that what you have prayed for will happen. If it needs to come to you, expect that it will come. How do we demonstrate that we are ready to receive? We continue to confess that we have because it says you shall have whatever you say.

In conclusion, whatever you do ensure that you are continually feeding and growing your faith. It’s not enough to have it. Make your faith work for you by giving it work to do. We cannot achieve anything at all in Christendom unless we become people of faith. It’s so critical that the Bible says, anything not done in faith is sin”. Do you want to stop living below God’s best for you? Live by faith, trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not depend on what you think you know.

Action Points

Find at least three scriptures for what you believe God for in your life.

Turn them into prayer declarations

Continue to declare in faith until you have those things

Chapter 11 Transformation

Signs That Divine Transformation has taken place.

The highlight of our school holidays was the Scripture Union camps which took place during the first week of the holidays. We didn’t want to miss these because it was a time to interact with and make friends with students from other schools and also an opportunity to encounter God afresh in a special way. These retreats were well worth it after the arduous school term. We had become accustomed to the fact that each camp would be different because it was not always the same speakers and facilitators, but they brought something that would produce a divine encounter whether in the simplicity of teacher the Word of God or charismatic preaching. I have memories of those days but what’s of relevance is the transformation I experienced as a teenager. I believe the reason I am still a Christian to this day is the way I experienced God back in those days.

It is with this early background that I can confidently say transformation, change or revolution in the life of someone who has had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ is permanent. The experience brings about change, and you shift radically from the person you used to be. All it requires is a decision and heaven will respond to that cry for change. Your life could be in pressing need of a re-make and God can do it for you as he did for me in the 1990s and subsequent years. I guarantee you a reversal of the backsliding, misfortune or even spiritual decline that you might have experienced. My God can do exceedingly, abundantly:

“Now to Him who can do exceedingly, above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20)

When Christ begins to work with you and in you believe that when you change you are not going back to being the person you used to be before you encountered Him. It is according to His power that works in us, but it is our responsibility to make sure that we maintain our transformed lives and ensure that the change remains. He will

I share signs that reflect that spiritual transformation has taken place. If you have experienced this and it’s not there anymore, cry out to God that you may return to Him. If you have, maintain what God has done the challenge is to come up higher. There is always more.

A permanent change will be evident when spiritual transformation has taken place in your life. Your interests, desires, preferences change. You will wonder what it is that you found enticing about those things you delighted in before. You could never have convinced me that it is possible to be in prayer on a Friday or Saturday evening when everyone was enjoying themselves in different places of entertainment. When my change came, it didn’t matter whether it was Monday or Friday because every day became the Lord’s day. That change must be nurtured until it becomes a part of you. It influences how you live. The reason why the people that don’t know God in the world can live consistently the way they do is that they have made whatever it is that they believe part of their culture. Until your Christianity determines your day to day living it has not reached the point of permanence.

Divine change is permanent because what God does is everlasting and He does it so well that He leaves his signature on it for all to see. “I know that what God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken from it”. (Ecclesiastes 3:14). God does it that men should fear before Him.” It is all for His glory, so that we may fear Him and love Him more. This kind of transformation is by initiated, maintained and sustained by the Holy Spirit. Every day you begin to grow and grow until you can also be used in the transformation of others. The condition is that you must carry His presence wherever you go. If you can host, the presence of God on a daily basis your transformation is irreversible. The Holy Spirit is in us, but He doesn’t rest on all of us. The Holy Spirit came in the form of a dove, descended on Jesus and remained. It’s the presence that doesn’t leave. The Spirit of Lord came upon Gideon, Moses, David and we do not hear of Him ever departing from them.

Divine transformation changes your heart, your decision – making the template, your economy and you become a changed person that those who used to know you will inevitably think that you are strange because you are a changed person. When the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul, he prophesied and was never the same person again.

“Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. And let it be when these signs come to you, that you do what the occasion demands because God is with you. You shall go down before me to Gilgal, and surely I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings. Seven days you shall wait until I come to you and show you what you should do. So it was when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day” (I Samuel 10:6-9)

The reason why children grow is that they are keen to learn something new every day. Grownups who discover new things can also develop and be transformed for the better if they are curious. Become curious to know more about God, and you will learn and grow. Be hungry and thirsty for God’s presence. You are more than a conqueror as you begin to appropriate your victory which Christ won for you on the cross of Calvary. The awareness that you are more than a conqueror causes you to do battle in the spirit and gain territory for the kingdom of God as you begin to walk with God. Transformation gives you a new perspective on your life. You are aware of whom you are becoming in God, and you have the extraordinary grace to pursue His presence to walk in His power and serve God and His people. When Jesus left the earth, He said, occupy until I come which meant that He gave us a job to do, which is to create and sustain the culture of heaven here on earth.

A truly transformed person is not stagnant; they are dynamic, ever-changing from glory to glory. That man or woman who has been transformed lives a “come and see “kind of life where you have to be a witness of God’s goodness and power that raises the downtrodden and causes them to sit with princes. You become a change agent that is radical for Christ. A transformed person is a powerful tool in the hands of God, an arrow in His quiver. He is not only a threat but is set up by God to destroy the devil’s power in the lives of others. He is a soldier in the army of the Lord who is not scared or timid to carry out His assignments and do His bidding. Transformed people become the Moses’s that will deliver the Children of God, The David’s that will deliver nations by conquering strongholds represented by Goliath. They are like Isaac who sows in the time of famine and reaps and become utterly successful that the heathens envy Him. They are giant slayers; they transform communities, cities and nations.

When you are genuinely transformed, you are not out to impress anyone or do things to receive the applause of man. You realise that your heavenly Father sees what is done in secret is your rewarder not the praise of man. A transformed person is deadly, severe and dangerous. The hand of God is upon Him, and he keeps falling in love with God over and over again. Like a river that flows, others can drink from him and be refreshed. The more he receives is, the more he gives, and he is always fresh with the anointing. His youth is renewed like that of an eagle. You have an opportunity today to begin to desire to be transformed radically and entirely.

The Seasons Have Changed –Things that will happen in a new season.

“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert (Isaiah 43:18-19).

A new season is a time and place in your life when you sense that something good is beginning to happen or has already begun to happen. The tell-tale signs are all there, but you can miss them if you do not get past your past experiences. What happened in the past occured and there is nothing you can do to turn back the hands of time. It would help if you were sensitive enough to pick out that there is a change in the atmosphere of your life. Another version says, “now it shall spring forth, shall you not perceive it?” To perceive is to realise, to discern or understand consciously; in this case that something has happened. It is at this time that you should mute the volume of all those past things and failures that still want you to focus your attention on them and raise the volume of the sweet soundtrack of the new season and the new beginnings. Summer was scorching and winter extremely cold and forbidding, now its spring time and the gardens are blossoming. Do you not perceive it?

I highlight some changes that you will notice in the new season as it unfolds.

Because it is your season you have the boldness of a lion to face your fears and adversaries; it is time for payback of everything that the devil stole from your life, inclusive of but not limited to your health, wealth and vitality. It’s a time of recompense and restoration. “Now within three days Pharaoh will lift your head and restore you to your place, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand according to the former manner when you were his butler,” (Genesis 40:13)

You begin to address issues of life that you were too timid to deal with head-on and occupying new territories, doing new things, establishing new connections and liaisons. You can do what you could not do previously. You have the capacity and a sense of, “I can do this”. You will find that some of your traditional rivals and enemies will be at peace with you because you are poised for success. Your promotion is imminent, and they might need your help once you are in charge. When God favours a man, even his enemies cannot do anything about it because “He prepares a table in the presence of your enemies” (Psalm 23:5)

There have been delays, denial and derailment in the past. Decrease instead of increase had been your portion, and now you are accelerating, and they can hear the sound of your coming, and they are terrified because with an anointing like Elijah’s you will overtake them in their slow coaches. God has given you the speed to pursue, overtake and recover all. “Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he girded his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel” (1 Kings 18:46). He didn’t have any mode of transport yet he overtook the king who was using the best transportation of his day. In a new season, you will get ahead without the resources that are required.

You know you are in your season when they are sending for you and calling you and offering you the opportunities you used to beg for it is due time. I remember once hearing where it was said; no one will help you unless the Holy Spirit sends that person to you. This time they will locate you. The tables are now turned, and you look good, feel good, and you are getting more out of life on a daily basis. Just in case some cynical person thinks that this is just a temporary phase where you have hit a rich vein of form, let me remind them that it is not a seasonal blessing, but it is now a life lived in the realm of blessing where your purpose and destiny begin to manifest.

What is apparent that cannot be denied is the fact that you are a blessed man or woman and one can project at the rate you are making progress that you will soon be out of reach. The devil wishes that he had killed you when he had his chance because your ministry, career, relationships and effectiveness have taken a quantum leap. There is no going back. When you sustain the atmosphere of success and maximise the moment of breakthrough, you will create a climate of blessing for the rest of your days.

Action Points

Think for a moment of the things God has done for you lately

What have you been doing to sustain the momentum to ensure that the change is permanent

In what areas would you like to see change for the better in your life?

Write these down and commit them to the Lord in prayer.

Chapter 12

God and Me.

The Dangers of Comparing Yourself with Others as a Christian.

“Don’t compare yourself with others. Just look at your work to see if you have done anything to be proud of. You must each accept responsibilities that are yours”. Galatians 6:4-6 (Easy to Read Version)

How many years you have been born again doesn’t sometimes matter; particularly if you do not see progress in your life. So you tend to compare yourself with others by how long you have been a Christian. Some people have only been in the kingdom of God for a very short while, and they are getting results, they don’t struggle as much as you do. They have developed their relationship with God at such an amazingly rapid rate. They are doing well. They have beautiful families. Their finances are okay as exhibited by the lifestyle they live in the public glare. Their ministry is set, and they are on fire, and you tend to ask the question, “what about me Lord”? There is always something wrong, something broken or missing entirely in your life.

You fall into the risk of questioning your pedigree and begin to imagine yourself as a “small person” based on how well others seem to be doing. You have just made a couple of mistakes if the above is your assessment of your life. Assuming that these other people you refer to are people whom you know, “do you know them”? Is it true that these folks are living trouble – free lives where they enjoy more favour with God and with man than you do? If that is true, what business is that of yours? The problem with comparing yourself with others is that you get a sense of “I have arrived” if you are now at the stage where you have accomplished what they have or at least you are on comparable terms.

Comparing yourself with others is a sign that you are not ready to progress to the next level because there will always be somebody, bigger, better with more things that they can do and get than you. Setting them as a benchmark gives you the wrong priorities. I believe when you do that you are aiming too low. Why is it that one’s man’s noise is another man’s music? Because the other person doesn’t feel how you feel. This comparing is unhealthy because it does not take into account some critical areas. You cannot compare yourself with others because you’ll always discount who you are and exaggerate the achievements of others.

Besides, you do not know how they got to their position. I would always like to think that besides the fact that we are all children of God, we will never get the same treatment. The Bible says that God himself said, “Jacob I have loved, Esau I have hated.” Could you not ask me how because I don’t know. There were twelve disciples, and one of them went wrong, his name was Judas, he was never allowed to speak. How do I know this, because there is no record of that in the Bible?

What I do know is that whether you are doing well or not, there is a race that each one of us must run in own lane. So comparing yourself against your potential and purpose is to be preferred to comparing yourself with others.

“Don’t compare yourself with others. Just look at your work to see if you have done anything to be proud of. You must each accept responsibilities that are yours”. Galatians 6:4-6

From the verse above we are instructed to:

1. Not compare ourselves with others

2. To examine our work.

3. To see if we have done anything to be proud of. Let me add; to see if we have done anything for which God can say well done.

4. We must each accept our responsibilities

5. Then we compare our effort versus what is required of us.

Let me encourage you with this verse in conclusion. “I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favour to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Your time and chance will come. I believe every man does get His. The verse has been an encouragement for me for a long time. You do not have to be the fastest, wisest, first, best or most skilled. You are good enough.

Places of Commanded Blessing for the Believer.

A commanded blessing is a promise of God that carries within itself the irrevocable power for its fulfilment. Because God has said, it means that it must happen. When you are in that place or situation, you are automatically blessed because you have obeyed a specific instruction or done something that God wants you to do. For example, the beatitudes mention many blessings and the conditions necessary to acquire that kind of blessing. There are many instances where God commands a specific blessing, and you need to know about these for you to understand how to access that kind of blessing. Several cases are mentioned in the Bible where the obedience of a specific instruction or the fulfilment of a particular divine condition attracts blessings straightaway. I am interested in your finding out what those places and principles are so that you benefit as a believer. I will chiefly focus on the unity of believers, honouring parents, giving, tithing, and obedience.

Unity of believers. When there is unity in the body of Christ, their God commands a blessing. He has promised that where two or three are gathered together and agree as touching anything God will grant it to them. There is not only the blessing but power in agreement.

“Behold how good and how pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1)

Honour your Parents. When you honour your parents and are obedient to them, God blesses you because of it the first command with a promise.

“Honour your father and mother”, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth. (Ephesians 6:2-3).

If you want to have an increase of days on the planet begin to honour your parents. It’s difficult for some people who have no respect for their earthly father to relate with our Father who is in heaven.

Generous Giving. When you are a giver, you will never lack anything. It’s a universal law that even non-Christians that apply the principle experience abundance that results from giving especially to the poor who can’t return the favour.

“Give, and it will be given you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).

“The generous soul will be made rich, and he who wasters others will also be watered himself” (Proverbs 11:25)

Paying the tithe. Tithing is giving to the Lord one-tenth of your earnings, produce of profit and it carries a definite promise. This is one instance where God dares you and says try me and see.

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and try me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive” (Malachi 3:10).

Obedience. When you obey God, you find that there are blessings that are tied to the obedience. It follows then that disobedience puts you not only in a place where you can’t receive the blessing, but you receive the consequences of disobedience, that is, the curse.

“Now it shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth” (Deuteronomy 28:1).

The greatest blessing you can have however is a relationship with God because the Bible says you are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. This sort of blessing seats you with Christ in the heavenly places.

Just in case you thought that the blessing of God is in material possessions only, the truth is being blessed is a condition, it is a state of being, and it is not a secret how you can be a blessed person. I have only shared a few areas of blessing, but I urge you to do the above things and find yourself blessed.

Action Points

What is your unique gift/calling or purpose?

What have you done to pursue it?

Will God be pleased with how well you have done so far in fulfilling it?

Pleas write down your corrective action plan and begin to pursue it prayerfully.