KEY SCRIPTURE: John 16:24 KJV” Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

The Lord is always good. He says that we must ask the Father all that we desire in His name and the Father will do it for us, so that our joy may be full. The Lord Jesus came so that men would know joy and be fulfilled in their lives. Throughout the scriptures, it has been the desire of God to see that all men are joyful. This is what the Lord is talking about. He says ask and receive so that your joy may be full. There are many Christians who are wondering whether God still answers prayers. Some even wonder whether the Lord is that predictable. Well, the Lord is predictable.

God has given out His words on various matters. If one acts according to the word He would respond just as He said, He would do. The Lord says His ears are opened to the cries of the righteous. What are His terms for answering prayers?

1. He says we must ask in the name of our Lord Jesus. John 16:23

2. When you ask believe that He has given it Mark 11:24

3. Receive your answer by faith. Mark 11:24

4. Thank Him for giving you your answer.1 Thess 5:18

If you would not doubt His faithfulness to answer your request and stand on His word, you would surely see His goodness unto you.

Dear brother or sister God wants you very happy and living a very victorious life. Get testimonies of those who experienced God’s blessings and listen to how they made it. Always remember that the same God overall is rich unto all that call upon Him. Rom 10:12. Remember also that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, His faithfulness is unto all generations and will do for you just as He has done for them. Now take the steps of faith as they did, trusting the Lord to honour His word. God is good all the time, and you would soon experience His power in your life as well.

THOUGHT: GOD’S LOVE, POWER, AND FAITHFULNESS, MAKE HIM VERY DEPENDABLE.

FURTHER STUDIES

Heb 13:7 KJV” Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.”

Rom 10:12 KJV” For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 16:23 KJV “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.”

The Lord Jesus asked His disciples to ask the Father in His name. This is one of the strongest provisions in the Christian faith. To pray in Jesus’ name is very different from praying through Jesus Christ. To pray through our Lord Jesus makes Him a medium. Praying through Him gives no significant authority that Jesus wields. The Lord has a name higher than every other name and, in His name, every knee bows, and no authority whatsoever will challenge that name. Praying in His name gives one to access the authority in His name.

Asking the Father in Jesus’ name is just as Jesus Himself asking the Father. The Father gives us the full audience as a result of that. The two main challenges to prayer are

1. Unbelief in the heart of the one making the request

2. Satanic interferences When a request is made.

Praying in Jesus’ name answers both challenges

In Jesus’ name, no power or dominion can interfere with the request. Secondly, when a request is made in Jesus’ name, you do not worry about trying to believe, because before God it is the Lord Jesus Himself making that request. With this understanding being assured of the answer becomes a matter of cause.

Dear one in the Lord, be very confident about the results of praying in Jesus’ name. It is l like the Lord Himself standing on your behalf to make that request. There is no need to worry about receiving an answer or not. So long as the prayer was a legitimate request, that is not of a carnal motive, the Father would answer it because it was made in Jesus’ name. Many use the name of Jesus as a full stop to their prayers. This is a misunderstanding of praying in His name. Others also see it as a normal thing to do when praying without knowing its true implications. Let’s consider the following illustration. This can be compared to the American ambassador making a request from the president of Ghana, in the name of the president of America. The ambassador need not worry at all about the outcome. So long as he made the request in the name of their country’s president, it is just like the president of that nation herself making the request.

THOUGHT: A PRAYER IN JESUS NAME OUGHT TO BE CONSIDERED ANSWERED

FURTHER STUDIES

John 11:41 KJV “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.”

Acts 3:16 KJV” And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 16:20 KJV “Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.’

The Lord started telling His disciples that, in a little while they will not see Him, yet after some moments, they would see Him. This made the disciples ask among themselves what He meant. The Lord then explained further that they will be in sorrow whiles the world will rejoice, yet at the end they would be rejoicing. Psalm 30:5 captures this point so vividly “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”  Life events may not be pleasant and cause sorrow, but in the end, it will be to God’s praise and your blessing.

The Lord’s death was for the redemption of all. His death was for our offenses and was a great substitution work, yet these men did not know about any of these and so they were sorrowful. Every event that may come to the child of God, either with pain, a loss, or a challenge of any kind is working something out for your good. James 1:2 says “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;” Whatever may come your way is been allowed for your good.

Do not allow the challenge to depress you because you would surely come out of it a stronger person. The Lord says in the end you would be rejoicing.

In conclusion, do not focus on the loss, or the pain, and do not give in to so much sorrow, but let the word of God be your solace in such moments. The scriptures say that those who put their trust in Him will not be put to shame. Make sure your faith in God and His word does not waver. In certain cases, time will heal the situation, yet in most of the challenges, you need to use your faith to make all things work out for your good. Turn to what God says and do not let His word depart from your mouth. Meditate on the word and keep speaking the word boldly. According to Mark 11: 23, you would surely have what you say. Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven and thy faithfulness is unto all generations. He would do for you just as He did for the many in the past who trusted Him.

THOUGHT: GOD WILL ALWAYS DO AS HE DID FOR OTHERS IF WE DO WHAT THEY DID.

FURTHER STUDIES

Psalms 119:89,90 KJV LAMED. Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

Rom 10:11 KJV “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 16:14 KJV “He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you.”

We continue with the work of the Holy Spirit in us. Our key scripture says the Spirit comes to glorify Jesus. The Spirit does not just help us to glorify the master but joins us. Just as He joins with us to fight various challenges. In actual fact, He works through us to achieve this. Why did He not say, the Spirit has come to glorify the Father? This is so because Jesus is the current revelation of God to save all mankind. Acts 4:12 KJV” Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” From the days of the patriarchs and in Moses times God revealed Himself by a number of names. In these moments of grace, Jehovah or YHWH has revealed Himself as the Saviour of men.

The next work of the Spirit is to show the things that are for the Lord Jesus to us. The Lord did not say He will tell us, but He will show those supernatural things to us. This means a higher level of knowledge. Jesus said to the woman at the well, in John 4:22 KJV Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.” As the Lord said to the woman, many worship God, yet they do not know Him. From the Lord’s own lips, He wants us to see or know the deep things of the Spirit that seem to be hidden from us.

What are some of the things that belong to Jesus that the Spirit would show to the people of God?

Deep insight into the scriptures is one of the things that the Spirit will bring to us.

Understanding the dynamics of ministering to the sick, oppressed, and those who may need help.

There are certain decisions concerning ourselves, our church, and even the nation in which you are, that the Lord would want His people to know. Remember, the Lord had to tell Abraham, what He had planned for Sodom and Gomorrah.

Come to know and manifest the fullness of Jesus Christ. Eph 4:13 KJV Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Unfortunately, many children of God are blind to a lot of issues of the Spirit. Why is this so? The following are some of the reasons.

1. Lack of fellowship with the Spirit, in moments of prayer, and the study of God’s word.

2. A lack of desire for the things of the Spirit.

3. Worldliness. You can’t be worldly and receive anything of the Spirit.

4 Those who say whatever comes to their minds cannot have mysteries of the Spirit

THOUGHT: JESUS WANTS YOU HAVE WHATEVER HE IS, COOPERATE WITH THE SPIRIT

FURTHER STUDIES

1Co 2:10 KJV” But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

1Co 12:8 KJV “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 16:13 KJV “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

The Holy Spirit came into our lives to play a special role. He came to guide us into the truth. The following verse also says Joh 16:14 KJV” He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” Considering all that the Lord is revealing about the Spirit, His main work is to focus on Jesus. Jesus is the centrality of life. He is the way; He is the truth and He is the life.

Let’s consider the various roles of the Spirit, and how it relates to Jesus. The Lord said, He would guide us into all truth. What is truth?  Jesus is the truth. To guide to the truth is to focus everything about Jesus since He is the truth. Error is when the teachings focus on other things, persons and not on Jesus Christ. In the revelations given to Paul, Jesus is our salvation, our justification, our wisdom and everything (1Co 1:30 KJV But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

Every glory must go to Jesus. The Holy Spirit came to manifest the Jesus lifestyle. If the lifestyle of any so-called child of God, is not like Jesus or honouring Jesus, then it is not controlled by the Spirit. What is the Jesus lifestyle? This is a life of true love, selfless love that truly values all persons. He also said the Spirit will receive from Him and give it to those who love Him. The following statements would help us know whether one operating any power is under the influence of the Holy Spirit, or something else

1. Anyone who has received from Jesus never promotes himself. He attributes every glory to Jesus.

2. He also rallies men to go about bringing others to Jesus. Anyone who claims he has his grace from Jesus and does not encourage others to go about evangelising about Jesus, has not received from Jesus.

3. Every one who has received from the Lord unites the body of Christ, those who have not received from Jesus speak wrongly about every other preacher, but projects themselves. Let this guide you against wolves in sheep clothes.

THOUGHT: THE MAIN ROLE OF THE SPIRIT IS TO EXALT JESUS IN EVERY WAY.

 FURTHER STUDIES

Col 1:18 KJV And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Col 2:8, 9 KJV” Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 16:13 KJV “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

I have encountered some people of other faiths who argue that certain teachings of the scriptures were taught by Paul and not by Jesus Christ Himself, and so, such teachings should be rejected. I listen to such people with so much love, because I realise, they have little knowledge of the scriptures. The Lord Jesus said in John 16: 12, that, I have so much to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. He added that when the Spirit of truth is come, He would then teach them these truths which was so important but they could not bear them.

Why could they not bear them, when the Lord was with them? Since the Lord had not died and the Spirit had not been given; it meant they were not born again, and so they could not receive them. Remember, the things of the Spirit are spiritually discerned 1 Corinth 2:14. The man who is born of the Spirit is also Spirit, and could therefore appreciate the things of the Spirit. John 3:6 KJV” That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

The truths which were to be given to them could not have been believed and accepted by them. The teachings which Apostle Paul received were not given to Him alone, the other apostles like Peter, John and James all received some of it, yet it was Apostle Paul who championed these teachings the most.

In 2nd Peter 3:15, 16, Apostle Peter sighted the teachings of Paul, in which those who were unlearned wrest or twist them. Well, he, Peter was not unlearned because he had also insight into such knowledge and would not wrest the scriptures. In most of the writings of Paul he made statements like, I received of the Lord 1 Corinth 11:23.  Gal 1:12 KJV” For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. “Eph 3:3 KJV” How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,”

I have stated only a few of the scriptures that show that Apostle Paul did not teach any of his teachings from his own persuasions, but the Lord Himself appeared to Him and taught him to convey them to the churches. Please let us all settle it once and for all that Apostle Paul made his teaches through the revelation of Jesus. His teachings were the continuation of what the Lord wanted to give the church but because of their inability to receive it then, He had to die go to heaven, and send the Spirit to teach them. Please note that, the revelations of Jesus were the Holy Spirit who appeared in the form of Christ  ,for they are one. Note also that when he was making a statement from his own view, he stated it.1Co 7:25 KJV “Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.” Here he clearly stated that this was his personal instruction concerning virgins.

THOUGHT: THE SCRIPTURES ARE NOT MEN’S IDEAS, BUT THE HOLY SPRIT’S

KEY SCRIPTURE: 2Ti 3:16 KJV “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 perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

2Pet 1:21 KJV” For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 16:12 KJV” I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.”

During the discourse with His disciples before His suffering, He said to them, I have many things to say to you, yet you cannot take it. The disciples have heard a lot from the master, yet they had not been taught everything that they needed to hear. The Lord did not say, He is not able to say it unto them because the time was short, no. He said they could not bear them, or they could not bring themselves up to accept those things. They needed an upgrade of their spiritual senses.

These people had read a lot of things about the Christ who was right before them, yet they could not understand or accept. After the Lord’s resurrection, He met two of His disciples walking to a village called Emmaus. These disciples’ level of ignorance was such that the Lord said in Luke 24:25 KJV “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:” Sadly it was not only these two who were slow of heart to believe and understand in actual fact all of them lacked that ability to hear and be able to accept certain truths.

There are many in the church today who lack the ability to receive and keep spiritual truths. The great lack of understanding in the church today is due to over-concentration on other non-spiritual things that make their spiritual perception very low. If you spend most of your time on social media and on otherworldly non-spiritual things, then you would not be able to hold a certain level of truth. Spiritual capacity is always increased through prayer, fasting, selflessness, humility, and the study of God’s word, as the Holy Spirit takes the lead in doing these things. God will also tell those who hunger for closer encounters with the Spirit.

THOUGHT: GOD WILL ALWAYS GIVE THOSE WHO HUNGER FOR MORE.

FURTHER STUDIES

Luke 1:53 KJV” He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.”

Matt 5:6 KJV “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 16:8 KJV “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”

As much as the Holy Spirit has come to stand by the Christian and work alongside what the church does, the main target and ultimate focus of His work among the church is to save the world and make men ready for heaven. Dear child of God, do not get so much concerned about yourself and the work of the Holy Spirit in you but understand that He has come to work through you to win the world. Acts 1:8 KJV” But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Our key scripture tells us what the Holy Spirit does in the lives of men. This normally happens when Christians play their role of going into the world and sharing the word with it. It is the word in the hearts of men that gives the Holy Spirit tools to work with. Our key scripture tells us what the Spirit does. John 16:8 KJV” And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”

The Holy Spirit reproves the world of sin. The word reprove means to convict. The secular world tries to convince men that there is nothing called sin. It teaches one must fully express himself or herself, in any way that he or she pleases, so long as he does not injure his neighbour. This concept is what is breeding all kinds of illicit sexual practices and these transgender persuasions that are taking over. In spite of all these teachings when the word of God is preached the Holy Spirit convicts men of sin. There are instances that the prayers of certain servants of God have stirred up strong convictions of sin in the heart of men.

The scripture said men get convicted because they did not believe in Jesus. Believing in Jesus is the only means that brings forgiveness to sin.

THOUGHT: MEN WILL ALWAYS BE CONVICTED WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS THE WORD IN MEN’S HEART

FURTHER STUDIES

Rom 8:1 KJV” There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

John 3:16 KJV” For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 16:7 KJV. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

The Holy Spirit in a man is what makes Him, a son of God. In Col 1:26, and 27, When the bible speaks of the mystery which has been hidden from humanity, but in these later times has been revealed to men, which is the riches of the glory of this mystery, that is   Christ in you, the hope of glory. The Holy Spirit in us is Christ in us and that is the hope of glory.

The Holy Spirit in us is God in us.1Corinth 3:16 KJV “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” The Holy Spirit in us also makes us the living ark of the covenant. Please, read through 1 Samuel 5 and 6. In these chapters, the Israelites were defeated in a war with the Philistines, while the Ark which they brought to the war front was captured, because the men who carried it that is the two sons of Eli, dishonoured God in all they did. God’s glory had left the Ark, because of the men who carried it. The Philistines captured the Ark and sent it into the room of their great idol Dagon. On the next morning, they found Dagon fallen, with its face bowing to the Ark. The priests of Dagon came and lifted it up. On the morning of the following day, it had fallen again, this time broken all over, except the stump that was lying close by. They began to be afraid and tried sending it away, yet each town of the Philistines they sent the Ark was seriously afflicted with tumors and all kinds of various ailments.

This is what the Ark housing the presence of the same Holy Spirit in you and I did to the people of Philistine. If this is what happened, then it reveals that there is all-surpassing power in you. No fetish, demon, sickness, or negative power can overcome the one in you. Why do most Christians appear to be very weak? The answer is they do not know who is in them. The next reason why many are so weak is when one lives a life of sin. An unholy life makes one vulnerable to satanic dominance. The last cause of the lack of power is to know the truth, yet fail to believe it.

Dear child of God, the Holy Spirit in you is the greatest power in all this universe. Believe it, say it, and live it out always.

THOUGHT: THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CHRISTIAN MAKES HIM A POTENTIAL TERROR TO EVERY NEGATIVE POWER.

FURTHER STUDIES

1 John 4:4 KJV” Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.”

Eph 1:19 KJV” And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 16:7 KJV” Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

The victory, power, and excellence of the child of God are as a result of his cooperation with the Holy Spirit in him. On the vice versa, the tonnes of problems that assail most men are as a result of the deception and tricks of Satan, or devils that take men captive. The picture of the Holy Spirit in us is revealed in an encounter of Moses with the Spirit of God in the book of Exodus 3.

In Exodus 3 the Spirit of the Lord encountered Moses in a burning bush, while the bush remained unconsumed. This picture is exactly how the Spirit dwells in the Christian. We are carriers of fire whiles we are not consumed, yet evil is judged. Remember that, the scriptures say the Lord is a consuming fire Heb 12:29.    In Deut 4:24 the word teaches that ”  For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.” Now jealousy means He would not permit any other unwanted power, to compete with His presence, so long as we do not want that thing to be there. If you like that thing, then His jealousy is weakened and cannot consume the alien power away.

What kind of alien power, am I referring to? This could be sickness, an evil habit, a spirit or a sinful lifestyle.  The Holy Spirit is in you to consume that power, to keep you free.

Matt 3:12 KJV “Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” This verse refers to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would not want any competition with any other influence. This is what holiness is about. It is a separation from all sinful ways. This is an act of your will and then the Spirit will also follow up by consuming or judging that unwanted power.

All you need for the total annihilation of evil is to take a stand with the Spirit, by believing the word of God, and with your mouth commanding that evil presence to leave you, and then the Holy Spirit will go into action, by dealing with the sickness, habit or evil power.

 THOUGHT: REMEMBER, GOD, DOES NOT SEPARATE FRIENDS, IF YOU HATE THAT THING, THEN IT MUST GO.

FURTHER STUDIES

1 Kings 18:38 KJV “Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.”

2Ki 1:10 KJV” And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and. thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.”