KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 27:42 KJV” He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him”.

When the Lord Jesus hanged on the cross, the people mocked Him to prove that He is the king of the Jews. They also said, He claimed to save others, so he must come down, so that they would believe Him. Dear child of God, or servant of God, we don’t need any proving to any man that we are called of God. We are only to do what the Lord instructs us to do. A man’s ego could easily have been prompted to prove to the people that He is someone special. God had called on Jesus to die for humanity. Satisfying the demand or request of the people would have meant God’s agenda for Him and men had

 been jeopardized.

IT is sad to find certain ministers who always want to say what the people love to hear. 2Timothy 4:3 KJV” For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears”. Some preachers don’t want to hurt some rich and influential people in their midst.

There are two main motivations why people pray for the sick. They do so either to bring glory to God, or to prove a point to the people. Unfortunately, many falls into the later one. This is a way to prove how anointed they are, and so they miss the real influence of the Holy Spirit in such a time. Miracles are the works of the Spirit and must only be done with the Spirit’s instructions and to the honour of the Spirit and not anyone’s expectation. You are God’s man, so act for Him and not any person

Some Pastors have fallen from favor with God because, they followed the pressure of the people. King Saul is one such an example. The Lord asked him to go kill the king of Amalek as well as every other person. 1 Samuel 15:3. He conquered them all right, but failed to kill everyone and everything. When the prophet Samuel asked why he disobeyed the voice of God, he said the people made him do so. 1 Samuel 15:7–23

God rejected him because he failed to obey Him and rather obeyed the people. One’s ego always come to play when the people want things to be done in a way which does not necessarily come from the Lord. You must always hear from God and do just what He says, period!

CONFESSION

I am called by God and sent to serve His people, so I take His instructions for the children of God. I always please God by doing what He says, irrespective of whether the people are pleased with it or not.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 16:22 & 23 ” Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men”.

Galatians 1:10 KJV” For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ”.

Matthew 7:6 KJV” Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you”.

Many wonders why God seem to have forgotten about them. Certain divine abilities do not manifest at all in their lives. I think besides the fact that God may be having His special timing to relate with some of His children, some simply don’t match up. He said clearly in our open scripture that don’t give holy things to the dog or the swine. The anointing and all divine abilities are holy pearls of great price that cannot be wasted on people who are not serious with the things of God. There are a number of people supposed to be men of God, yet spend not up to two hours in the whole day to pray. They have no time to study the word. These people have all the time to follow CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. They know all the names of the players of Chelsea FC. Their time is always on their mobile phones, watching videos and forwarding them. Dogs go back for their own vomit and pigs feed on filth. What is the spiritual value of most of these social media videos?

The apostles said in Acts 6 :4, that, they will give themselves continually to the ministry of the word and prayer.  The man who is committed to holy things would attract holy things. The Lord Jesus never revealed himself to the Pharisees when he resurrected from the dead, because they had no value for holy things. God rewards diligent seekers (Heb 11:6). Time is destiny, yet people waste it with ease

God is ready to work through men, but would only work with those who have decided to treat serving Him with all the seriousness it takes. The Christian is faced with an unseen enemy who would steal every word of God that is not diligently kept (Mark 4:15). Being casual means, you would constantly lose every word that you receive. The casual man would also lose the impact and blessing of the word, because of the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches ,and lust for other things would choke the word making it ineffective.(Mark 4:18&19) God wants to use you, so be very diligent with your time in the word, prayer and His work as a whole.

CONFESSION

I am about my father’s business, and as long as it is day, I will work the works of Him who sent me whiles it is day, night comes when no man can work. God always honors those who honor Him.

FURTHER STUDIES

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

Romans 12:11 KJV” Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord”;

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 9:3 KJV “Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him”.

When Jesus’ disciples asked about who sinned that, the man was born blind, they were expressing an attitude of people who don’t easily fit into God’s concept of those He would want to work with. They were seeing problems, the cause and effect of the cause. They focused on man and the failure in him. The Lord showed them how they must see issues of life in God’s perspective. In every situation, no matter how bad it may physically appear God seeks to receive glory out of it.   The man God will use in such moments is able to see how God would be glorified rather than looking at the weaknesses of men, and their failures. This virtue of looking beyond human shortcomings and weakness to see the power of God coming into the situation is called FAITH.

When David got to the arena of battle, between Israel and the Philistines, he did not see danger and failure in sight. He rather saw a big opportunity to bring glory to God. 1 Samuel 17. Every other soldier was paralyzed with fear. 1Samuel 17:11 KJV” When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid”. In the midst of apparent danger David said, he would go and fight him, and take away the reproach against God and His people.

When Daniel was threatened to be thrown into the lion’s den, he was not moved or worried, rather his concern was to bring glory to God. God is ever ready for any man who will take such a stance for Him.

Do you want to be a candidate for God’s glory, then stop seeing difficulties and dreadful situations? Start celebrating about the glory of God, which is about to be seen.

Are you in a situation that is causing you to sing the praises of the devil? Complaining, worrying and confessing any defeatist talk, is a way of praising the devil. Satan should never be given any grounds to rejoice over our lack of faith in our Father. Use most of your time to build your confidence in God, by receiving His word. (Rom 10:17). Take steps to trust in him by putting His word into action. David put his faith into action by killing the lion and the bear, and when a bigger opportunity came, he was never taken aback

CONFESSION

To every dark situation there is a brighter side, ready to be revealed. By faith I always see that brighter side. This glorifies God and He stretches forth His hand to reveal His glory and power. The darkness is always rendered only as a mirage.

FURTHER STUDIES

Isaiah 8:12 & 13 KJV” Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

Numbers 13:30 KJV “And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it”.

KEY SCRIPTURE – Rom 5:5 KJV “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us”.

GOD USES men to serve their fellow men. One cannot serve in truth if it is not motivated by love. If it was not on the bases of love, how could the Lord Jesus, allow his roof to be broken through and not complain about it. He went ahead and healed the impotent man. (Mark 2:1-9) He was in his house, yet the multitudes would not allow him to rest. He did not ask them to leave him to rest, but out of love he ministered to them. Whatever gift God blesses a man with, it is meant to be used to serve the rest of humanity. For you to be very effective, you must love everyone God send you to, in all sincerity.

 LOVE for men is the conduit that carries the power of God. Our Lord Jesus out of compassion healed many that were oppressed. Matthew 9:36. KJV” But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd”. Love for humanity kept His mouth shut throughout His passion. He could have called on legions of angels to fight for Him.

Matthew 26:53 KJV ” Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? “A legion is about three thousand to seven thousand. A standard number of legion in the Roman army was six thousand.

 What made Him shut up His mouth? It was love that kept Him silent. (John 15:13)

 Without love people become bosses and Lords over those they lead or are supposed to serve. As Christians the Holy Spirit is love and has imparted that love nature to us. Accept that you have a love nature. Stop looking for occasions to exploit those you are serving, but opportunities to bless them immensely. Whatever you have is by grace and must be given out freely. Matthew 10:8 KJV Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

PRAYER

Father, open the eyes of understanding of every Christian leader to know that, our position as leaders is for service, that must be done in absolute love for the people, and never to exploit them.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 15:13 KJV” Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”.

Galatians 5:6 KJV” For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: 2Timothy 4:7,8. KJV I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

God uses the man who is heavenly.  Apostle Paul describes his Christian experience as a good fight, which he successfully executed. He did all this because of the crown of righteousness that awaits all those who will endure to the end. Apostle Paul had a level of persecution which is not common to most servants of God, yet he endured to the end. I personally believe that he died after he was stoned in Lystra, but was raised back to life after the brethren had stood around him in intercession. (Acts 14:19–20) Apostle Paul was not taken aback because of the terrible ordeal, but carried on the work of evangelizing other towns and cities. He was consumed with the crown to be obtained at the end of his journey

 HOPE for the glory hereafter is the helmet that protects our head to stay on course, even when very adverse conditions rises against us .1Thess 5:8 KJV “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. The scripture in 1 John 3:2, says when the Lord appears, we would be like Him. He added, the following statement to the verse ” And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:3) .The  Bible also describes the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 as a people who were not mindful of the earthly countries in which they were, but they sought for a heavenly home which was not made out of human hands. They were simply heavenly minded.

 To maintain your spiritual momentum, you have to keep the glory and heaven’s crown on your mind.

This is very vital to make you cooperate with the Spirit of God in this journey called the Christian life. Some are making very little impact because they have unfortunately been consumed by the cares of this world. (Mark 4:19) Do not become a reproach to the course of Christ. The following is how the Bible describes such people. “Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. (Phil 3:19). If you must be effective in God’s hands, then you’ve got to be heavenly minded as well. Note: as much as you are heavenly minded, you must also be earthly useful as well.

CONFESSION

The Lord promised to go and come back for us. I am living and serving Christ so that at the end of the day, I will receive a glorious welcome into heaven as well as to obtain my crown of righteousness.

FURTHER STUDIES

Mark 4:19 KJV “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” 1 John 3:2 KJV Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Philippians 1:20 KJV” According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death”.

“IF Apostle Paul is to come around these days, he would say to most modern preachers that he does not understand what they are saying or preaching” Bishop Dag Heward Mills. Many of the preachers these days have a concept of success that is very different from what the apostle taught and exemplified. Many in our time equate success to having a ministry where one has broken through. Breaking through means, one has a large church with very good finances. I do not in any way speak against a large church. That is the will of the Lord Jesus for his body. This is shown in the parable of the mustard seed (Matt 13:30,31) What is success in the concept of God? To God success is living to please Him. (Job 1:8)

Apostle Paul states it so clearly in our key scripture. Philippians 1:20 KJV “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death” .He says his life goal is to magnify Jesus in his body, whether it be by life or by death. These are the people who go very far with God, making a great impact in the lives of many. We were created to give God pleasure. Life is all about pleasing God (Rev. 4:11). The results of blessings and promotions are all God’s acts and choices. Indeed, He is a just God who would surely bless them that please Him. Just consider what he says about those who please him. Psalms 128:1, 2 “. Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

God would always bless and honour those who honour Him, yet our number one duty and God’s expectation of us is to live to please Him. This is what God calls a successful man. God did not refer to Job’s riches, but He talked about how He pleased him (Job 1:8) There are so many Christians who have been overtaken with the “craze” to make it, and so get themselves involved in all kinds of evil acts. Some steal, cheat and some Pastor’s even stage manage miracles. God gets along very well with those who have embraced His concept of success. If God is pleased with you, then you are a big success.

CONFESSION

I have found the answer to a great and fulfilled life. I live to please Him in all I do. God is good and faithful, and He has blessed me in every way.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 3:17 KJV. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Job 1:8 KJV And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

The word of God are the thoughts of God expressed in a written form. It is God’s means of revealing Himself to us. John 1:1. The word is God Himself. The word in you is God in you. Everyone who would be very effective in God’s hands, must be filled with the word. Col 3:16 KJV” Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord”. Your degree of impact and influence would be according to how much of His word is in you, as well as how much of it you are ready to rely on, and apply to your life situations.

The word of God is our light and lamp (Psalm 119:105) The word is our sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17). The word is fire and hammer(Jeremiah 23:29) The word is living and powerful(Heb 4:12)The word is the seed of God, giving birth to every expectation in life(Mark 4:15)  The word is the truth to challenge and combat the lies of the devil(John 17:17).The word is everything  the Saint of God needs for a victorious life. It must be studied, memorized, believed, practiced and preached to humanity. Every vessel of God who must be powerfully used by Him, should be totally given to the word of God. Show me a man who has the word in his heart, believes it, talks about it practices it, and I will show you a man Satan dreads than any thing

The Lord Jesus conquered in his ministry because he used the word of God against the enemy in all of his encounters with him. God does nothing outside His word. When one is able to rightly divide the word of truth, then is he or she approving himself or herself unto God. (2nd Timothy 2:15). One must know the whole counsel of scripture to be very effective in God’s service.  There is the need for one to discipline himself or herself to read, study, memorize, meditate and apply the scriptures to his daily life. If you do the above, then You would be filled with the word and would be ready to successfully do whatever task is given to you.

CONFESSION

I am apt to teach. I have filled my heart with the word of God. My life is a revelation of the ways of God. I am a practitioner of the word. I am therefore a winner in life.

FURTHER STUDIES

Ezra 7:10 KJV” For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments”.

Acts 20:32 KJV “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Mark 2:22 KJV “And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles”.

The Lord is saying in our key scripture that God would not use the man who refuses to change from his old ways. Our former life experiences exposed us to a lot of ways which are the path of the prince of the power of the air. That is what we used to be influenced by (Ephesians 2:2) When we come into Christ, we must know we have entered a new world with a new Lord and new rules. We can’t live in this place with the old ways. Romans 12:2, says ” And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”. conformity to worldly standards makes it very impossible for God to work with you.

HOW can God use a man who refuses to forgive? What about the preacher who has extra marital relationship with another woman? The man who mounts the platform, only to exaggerate and say things that he never knows or experienced, cannot be a candidate of the spirit. He must repent from such a thing; then would the Holy Ghost be ready to cooperate with him. Some workers don’t pray, do not study the scriptures, do not read any material to improve on themselves, yet they come to preach, usher, or lead worship. Such a person cannot operate under a new anointing (new wine, or fresh oil). Consider what the Spirit says about those who repent from their old ways. Psalms 92:10 KJV “But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil”.

Please note, engine of cars that the engine oil is not changed will soon wear out and start smoking. The Lord said, new wine, or fresh oil would only be poured into new wine skins. New wine skins are renewed hearts, vessels that have spent some time fasting and praying. Those who wait upon the Lord (in fastings, trusting and obedience) shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. God constantly seeks new wine skins, or changed hearts to fill them with a fresh anointing. The moment the Lord allowed John to baptize Him, fulfilling all righteousness, the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove (Matt 3:15&16)

CONFESSION

My mind is constantly renewed as I look into the perfect law of liberty. My life takes on an upward course as the Holy Spirit fills me afresh. I am empowered to excel in all I do.

FURTHER STUDIES

Isaiah 40:31 KJV “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” .

Matthew 3:15&16 KJV” And Jesus answering said unto him, suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him.  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him”:

KEY SCRIPTURE-Mark 2:22 KJV. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.

The above verse simply means no man will be ready to invest in a man who will not change from his old ways to accept new ways that are introduced to him. In exodus 17:6, when the children of Israel needed water the Lord asked Moses to hit the rock and water would gush out abundantly for them. He did so and there was water. In numbers 20:8, the Lord instructed him to speak to the rock and the water would come. Moses did not speak to the rock but rather smote the rock twice. Water came yet that angered the Lord. This is what the Lord said. Numbers 20:12 KJV And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

HE said Moses did not sanctify Him by not changing from his old ways. God did not allow him to go to the promised Land. Why did the water flowed out of the rock? The water came not because of Moses but because of the people who were crying for water. God works with those who are ready to change to accept his ways. This statement goes to Pastors who do sinful things yet see miracles happening in their ministry. In such times God works not as a way of approving that man of God but for the sake of the children of God who needs that blessing.

When evangelist Benny Hinn recovered from a heart condition that nearly took his life he said, he went to heaven, but at the gate the Lord refused him entry into heaven. Why did this happen? He said prior to that time he had grown very cold towards the Lord. He had no fellowship with the Lord. He had lost the new wine. He had become an old wine skin. When he went to heaven he was denied, yet the Lord gave him a second chance to come to the earth and make amends.

Like Moses God was working miracles with him. (Miracles are never a proof of God’s approval of one’s life) Make sure you are spiritually fresh all the time so fresh wine would be poured into you. Many servants of God are carrying old wine skins, that is, they are not fellowshipping with the Lord to keep their wine skins new for new wines. They do not worship, study the word or spend time in interceding for the lost and the body of Christ as a whole. Some are bitter about certain individuals or about God Himself. The fact that miracles happen in your ministry, does not mean God is working with you. Let’s all be careful

CONFESSION

I always maintain my fellowship with the Spirit. I am ever refreshed therefore God always fills me with new wine. Like the five wise virgins I am ever ready for the master. Thank you, Lord for the Holy Spirit.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 25:6, – 13 KJV” And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not”. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: James 5:16 KJV” Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”.

The amplified Bible put the second part of this verse this way, the effectual (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man, makes tremendous power available, (dynamic in its working). Any child of God who will obey this scripture and seek the face of the Lord in prayer would definitely encounter the power of God to bless humanity in various ways. God is no respecter of men. Acts 10:34 KJV” Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:”

I will give an example of my experience in encountering God’s power to bring transformation and salvation to others. I am an alumnus of St Augustine’s College Cape Coast. After I wrote my o’ level examination 1982, and on waiting for my results, I used most of my time waiting on God in prayer and fasting at home. These times of prayer stirred in me a desire to see God’s power that would affect any group of people I encountered. I came to school for the lower six level with a lot of desire to see the fellowship in the school, that is the scripture union transformed. I began fasting and praying right away, when we came to school. My prayer schedule was that, when it was dinning time, I would go to the school chapel, lie on the pew and groan in prayer for God’s visitation and revival in the fellowship. I prayed with a great burden on my heart. There were occasions that I would feel the pains in my heart as I prayed.

 After dinning, I joined my colleagues for classes or for siesta in the afternoon. In the evening I would get to the meeting place and pray through till the rest join from supper. I always broke my fast after fellowship had ended before I will go to prep. There were only a few days that I did not fast. I was the scripture union president anyway.

After some time in the third term God had begun stirring the hearts of some of the juniors who also started fasting and praying. We used to meet in the lecture hall or the TV room, which was quite a sizeable hall. Our meetings began to be filled to capacity. There were certain days that it was so parked that, there was an overflow. The Holy Spirit worked among some of the brethren to reveal events in the life of some masters who also came to our meetings. Indeed, God is no respecter of persons, anyone who would avail himself, would be a candidate for the move of the Spirit.

PRAYER

I pray, Oh God that you stir in the hearts of your children a desire to see the move of your spirit in our lives as well as making an impact in this life. Raise men and women who would dedicate their lives to be used by the Spirit in their various areas of life endeavors.

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Chronicles 16:9 KJV” For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore, from henceforth thou shalt have wars”.

Daniel 6:10 KJV “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did afore time”.