KEY SCRIPTURE: Colossians 1:11 KJV” Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness”;

PATIENCE normally has to do with bearing with situations and conditions that demands that one wait restfully till things improve or change. There is another way of expressing patience. This time it is towards unpleasant actions or conditions of another human or a number of persons. This type of patience is called longsuffering. It is one of the outshoots of Love. 1Corinth 13:4 KJV Charity(love) suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Love is longsuffering.

Longsuffering does not mean bearing with the inconsistencies of others with anger, pain or bitterness. Such an attitude is not longsuffering at all. Longsuffering is initiated by a genuine love for the one who may be acting wrongly. It may not only be towards one with wrong actions, but towards one with a shortcoming, like a handicap. A loved one who may be sick and needs constant care. An aged member of the family who must be cared for. They must be genuinely loved, which is expressed as, bearing with all the challenges that go with handling them. Ephesians 4:2 KJV “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love”;

Many fleshly ruled individuals out of their selfish motivations may pose or give so much challenges to us. It may be your wife, your husband, your child, a friend or a stranger. Many of us also give in to our flesh and so fail at such a time. Some of us see it as an external pressure on our comfort. This thinking is wrong. Longsuffering perfects our Character. It is an avenue to allow the fruit of the Spirit to function in you. It is also a means of demonstrating God’s liquid love to others.

CONFESSION

I am love ruled. I am not irritated, angry worried with the shortcomings of others. Their actions may be unpleasant yet I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. I express the love of Christ by bearing with all their mistakes and inconsistencies.

FURTHER STUDIES

Galatians 5:22 KJV” But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith”,

Ephesians 4:2 KJV” With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love”;

KEY SCRIPTURE: James 1:4 KJV” But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

In this life challenges and temptations would never cease. Each one will have his or her own kind of them. The word of God teaches us our response and attitude to them as they show up. The scriptures teach us, we should not face them with fear, anxiety or desperation, but to count it as joyful moments. (James 1:2,3, Phil.4:6) The Bible adds that, that condition comes to try or test our faith. In the test of faith there would be the need for patience, or the test of faith would produce patience. Patience must be allowed to do her work.

Patience is the act of waiting for a promise you have believed to come to pass. The work of patience is to produce the will of God in you. Heb 10:36 KJV “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise” .The will of God in such moments is to hold on to the word of God that brings you to a place of absolute trust and confidence in God. . It involves making bold declarations about what God have said, concerning that thing. Patience means maintain your stand in the word throughout the period of waiting. In such moments you declare that the word of God is true and that it is fulfilled in your case.

We take a clue from the example of Abraham. In the period of the test of his faith, he kept calling himself, I am the father of many nations. He also gave glory and praise to God (Romans 4:20-21) The work of patience demands; you keep declaring the faithfulness of the word of God. This will build a strong confidence in God, making you strong in the face of later life challenges (James 1:4) When patience completes its work, you would want nothing and the answer would be delivered into your hands. Let patience complete its work in you. (In the period of WAITING, never say any word that is contrary to the word of GOD, for that will nullify the work of patience.)

CONFESSION

In any moment of trial, I allow patience to have her perfect work. The word of God is faithful and produces what it talks about. I maintain my stance in the word and always come out very victorious. I am making great strides and doing exploits in life, in Jesus name.

FURTHER STUDIES

James 1:2 & 3KJV My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers’ temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience”.

Romans 5:3 – 4 KJV. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

KEY SCRIPTURE:1Jn 4:16 KJV” And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him”.

Every law of God is given for the liberation of mankind. The greatest of all the commandments or laws of God is to love God first and to love your neighbor as yourself. Love is therefore the greatest principle for man’s liberation. Love is the nature of the new creation, that is the real you . Believing in love means lifting the down cast, blessing those who curse you.  True beauty is not what is seen on the outside but in the hidden man of the heart. (1st Peter 1:3&4) Real beauty is the person with love. This is not selfish love but agape love. The God kind of love.

The man of the flesh believes in selfishness. Such a home is always tensed up with anger, insults and bitterness. Satan has taken dominion over such a place. When love is welcomed, the insults turn to be blessings and encouragements. Anger is overthrown and fellow feeling takes over. The Holy Spirit and angels would be in charge of your home not the devil Believe in love so you would respond to an insult with a smile. Believe in love so you would not manipulate but be sincere and share. Love is of the Spirit and brings you into the supernatural life of abundance. Believing in love is believing in sharing and subsequently believing in supernatural supply. Love liberates you from stinginess.

Fear has torment, yet love breaks the power of fear. 1John 4:18 KJV “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love”. Dear child of God love will put you in charge. Love is stronger than hatred. Our world is hurting because of selfishness. Relieve yourself from this bondage by walking in love. Believe in love.

CONFESSION

I believe in love. I walk in love. I have no hatred for any man under the sun. I may not agree with most views and actions of people, yet I love all men, irrespective of their race, color, religion or what they do. It is not in my nature to hate. Like my Father, the God of all flesh, true love controls me.

FURTHER STUDIES

1 Peter 3:3&4 KJV Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

1 John 4:12 KJV” No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: James 4:6 KJV” But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.’

Grace is God’ s supernatural provision that works in the life of a believer, causing him or her to perform beyond his or her natural abilities. The Bible teaches us ways to have more of this grace. 2nd Peter 1:2 shows us that, as we increase in our knowledge of God, and our Lord Jesus grace and peace is multiplied to us. The Bible again shows us another way to receive more grace. James 4:6, says, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble”. More grace is given to the humble.

The Bible spoke against the proud man. He says God resists the proud man. There is no advantage in any form to be proud. Talking about, the humble, who is a humble man? Humility has nothing to do with temperamental traits. It is not about one being calm, cool, that makes him or her a humble person. Neither is an outspoken individual a proud man. Humility is purely dependent on one’s disposition towards God and His word. The meek and the humble are used interchangeably. Psalms 149:4 KJV For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

Give yourself to honoring God in all you do. Make sure you put the Lord first in every issue about your life. This is all that humility is about, your readiness to do what God says. When relating with people, humility becomes a product of love. There can’t be any true humility, shown to others where love does not reign. Love places great value on everyone and so is ready to give true service to that individual. You would speak to one another as very important people. 1Corinth 13:5 KJV(Love) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Dear child of God receive more grace as you walk in true humility.

CONFESSION

I am full of the Spirit. I manifest the nature of Jesus in demonstrating humility. I place God and His word above everyone or my own interests, in all I do. Through love I place great value on all persons, and this makes me treat all persons with great dignity and respect

FURTHER STUDIES

Psalms 45:4 KJV ” And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.”

Zephaniah 2:3 KJV” Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Genesis 45:7 KJV ” And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance”.

The story of Joseph reveals another man who would not allow the wrong actions of people to dictate his response to them. His brothers sold him into slavery, something that amounted to ‘killing’ him. Joseph overcame the maltreatment and showed love and acceptance to his brethren, without any sense of pain or hurt of any kind. He was in a great position to pay them back very well, yet it did not even cross his mind to do so.

What made Joseph overcome such a painful treatment with such ease? Joseph did not see himself as so important, but rather God who is the center of all activities and he is the most important person in all life issues. His will is what matters most. Many of us place too much importance on ourselves. This makes it very difficult to accept the will of God in certain issues. Can you forgive your spouse when he or she is unfaithful? Can you stand a close friend’s betrayal? What about the father who failed to be responsible to take care of you but is in a condition that, he needs your assistance?

These are issues that needs something beyond yourself. You have to stop making yourself so important. God is the most important being, and He is the center of every activity. You only have a meaningful life if you commit yourself to pleasing Him above your interests. Joseph looked beyond his little mistreatment to see God’s bigger plan of saving many lives. Your father who did not take care of you, now needs your assistance, what would you do? Will you go ahead with the divorce, although your partner is pleading for leniency? What is it that makes you so bitter? What is God saying about the condition? Would you not allow yourself to be liberated to experience the peace of God?

CONFESSION

Thank you, heavenly father for the awareness of your superiority in all matters. I allow your will to prevail over my will in every issue of life. No situation would I ever lose myself to misbehave against your word. I am always in control of my response to people ‘s action.

FURTHER STUDIES

Genesis 45:8 KJV” So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt”.

Ephesians 4:31 & 32KJV Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

KEY SCRIPTURE:2 Samuel 1:11 KJV “Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise, all the men that were with HIM”:

(Read 2nd Samuel 1)

King Saul spent a great deal of his reign pursuing David to kill him. It was because of him that David and some men had to live like outlaws at Ziklag. (1st Samuel 30). At Ziklag the Amalekites attacked them in their absence and made away with their wives and burnt the camp. David had returned from pursuing the Amalekites. On the third day of his return, a man came running to Him and announced of the death of King Saul. What should have been his natural response? He should have jumped in jubilation.

HE did not do any of such things. He rather rent his clothes, mourned, wept, and fasted till evening. He even caused the man who brought the information to be killed because he claimed he killed King Saul. Why did David behave this way? He saw king Saul as the anointed of the Lord and must be treated as such. David would always seek to do that which would please the Lord. Indeed, he was a man after God’s own heart. We must always treat people not in the light of who they are, what they have done or how they treat us, but what God says.

Just consider what the Lord says  in Matthew 5:44 KJV “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”; The child of God is not of the flesh(Romans 8:9, Galatians 5:18)Decide to put God’s word first in all circumstances. Please settle this point once and for all, you cannot determine how people should treat or behave towards you, but you can always determine how you respond towards them. Your response must only be according to God’s word, not according to how you feel. Take a stand for God. You might have been so badly treated by someone you trusted, please don’t focus on yourself but decide to be obedient to God’s word.

CONFESSION

I have chosen God’s way and always do what pleases the Lord. I do not respond to people according to what they do to me. I have power over my emotions and control how I feel towards all persons.

FURTHER STUDIES

Galatians 5:17 & 18 KJV. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Ephesians 4:26 & 27 KJV” Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath,  Neither give place to the devil”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Psalms 91:2 KJV” I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust”.

From verse one we learnt that the man who places his faith in the promises of God is dwelling or hiding in the secret place of the most high. The next thing to do is to activate the promises. You do this by declaring your faith, and what is happening to you as a result of dwelling in the secret place. The psalmist says” I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in Him would I put my trust. Your act of faith is not complete without an open and bold declaration of what he is doing in your life.

SALVATION is always a combination of what you believe in the heart and a corresponding confession of what he has done. I mean what God has done. Rom 10:9 KJV “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” .To experience that divine security of the Lord you believe in your heart according to Romans 10:9, that what God says is true. The next is to declare boldly what you have believed and accepted that it has happened. You do not say, what you are expecting to happen in the future. That nullifies your faith. You say what you have acknowledged in your heart.

The psalmist said in verse two, that I will say of the Lord He IS. He did not say He will be, but rather, He IS. This is a present tense experience.  2Corinth 4:13 KJV “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak”; Please always do as the psalmist did. Say of the Lord. He says further in verse three that God will keep them secured from all kinds of satanic attacks. Dear reader in this time that the world is threatened with all kinds of dangerous situations, including Corona virus. scare entrust your future into God’s hand by declaring He is your refuge and your fortress.

CONFESSION.

I am dwelling in the secret place of the most high, the Lord is my refuge, he delivers me from every calamity, every pestilence and no evil will befall me, in Jesus name.

FURTHER STUDIES

Psalms 91:4 KJV” He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler”.

Psalms 91:7&8 KJV” A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Psalms 91:1 KJV” He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty”

The psalms are songs of praise, thanksgiving, worship., confessions of one’s failures before God, as well as confessions of one’s faith in God. It is a very good practice to note some of them and read them aloud unto God and to yourself. Eph 5:19 KJV” Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; “Doing this would strengthen your faith as well as fill you with the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 91 is a psalm about God’s protection, and preservation of all who trust in Him. The verse one says, he that dwells in the secret place of the most high, shall abide under the shadow of the almighty. What is the secret place of the most high? It is called a secret place because it is hidden to certain people. Matthew 11:25 KJV” At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes”. The wise of this world question and reason out so many things about God and so they can’t access the secret place. The secret place is for those who are like babies. Those who would accept and trust everything God says.

The rest of the chapter from verse 2 to the end is the result of or the effect of dwelling in the secret place. To dwell in this secret place, means a decision not to respond to the senses, or what you see, feel, smell, taste or hear. You must only accept what God says in His word. It is a state of being at rest. (Heb 4:3) The secret place is God’s promises. Rest in God’s promises and you would abide under His mighty protective arm and provisions as well.

CONFESSIONS

I dwell in the secret place of the most high. I put my confidence and trust in His word of promises. I abide under His mighty arm of power. I have no fear of any kind.

FURTHER STUDIES

Hebrews 4:3 KJV” For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world”.

Psalms 52:8 KJV “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Genesis 22:17 KJV “That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;”

A critical study of the life of the Israelites in the old testament reveal that so long as they were in obedience to the Lord, they never lost any battle. No matter the size and magnitude of their enemies they were always victorious. In our key scripture the Lord blessed Abraham and covenanted with him that his seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. The meaning of that word means they would always dispose their enemies. They would never for once be overpowered by their enemies. It was in the light of this that Joshua could not take the defeat from the city of Ai. Joshua 7:6 KJV “And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads”. Iniquity had entered their midst. It simply means they had not kept faith with the Lord.

The life and experiences of David buttresses this point so much. He fought about fifty-six (56) fights and never lost any. Every battle was the Lord’s. He never fought for himself. God has no failure in any form for the seed of Abraham. Dear child of God, you are also a seed of Abraham just like David. Galatians 3:29 KJV “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise”. Now who are our enemies? Our Enemies are devils which are manifested in various forms. Sin, diseases and every satanic activities. No child of God must give in to sin. No disease is strong enough to destroy you. No ancestral power must overpower you.

Why are many Christians defeated?

1.Many children of God do not have a consciousness of continuous victory always.

2. Many children of God do not stick diligently to the word of God in times of challenges.

These are the two main reasons why many Christians live a life of up and down Christian life.

 CONFESSION

My life is not up and down, but upward and forward. I always expect victory in every context and I always have victory. I stay with the word no matter the gravity of the challenge. I walk in perfect health, victory over sin and I’m prosperous in every way. Glory be to God.

FURTHER STUDIES

Luke 10:19 KJV.  “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you”

Romans 8:37 KJV. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us”.

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Corinth 5:20 KJV “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God”.

We are Christ ambassadors: what an honour. We are the representatives of heaven and heaven backs us in all we do. The Lord Jesus came into this would under the Father’s instruction. He came with the Father’s provisions. We also have the same assignment. John 20:21 KJV” Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you”. The Lord accepted His assignment and committed Himself fully to the assignment.

Heaven is a higher and glorious place. Jesus said The Lord saw Himself as far superior, and a solution to this world. He said in John 9:5, that “as long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world”. The Lord claimed He is light by virtue of where He came from. He is not from the earth. You are also not from this earth, but from heaven. You are the light of the earth (John 8:12.). As light you shine and take men from darkness into light. As light the darkness of this world, that is evil, sin, diseases and failure in this world does not have power over you. You shine by winning the lost with the word. Get out of your comfort zone and move into the places where Satan has kept men captives and set them free with the word of God.

The following statement is the Lord’s commission to us as the ambassadors of heaven. Act 26:18 KJV “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” .You have heaven’s full support and provision to get this task done. Your engagement in it set forth every provision for both security and success in your mission. Remember that every ambassador has special supplies, protection and privileges. That is exactly what you have, so get into proper representative roles as heaven’s ambassador.

 CONFESSION

I am HEAVEN’S ambassador. I represent my father’s kingdom on the earth. I commit myself fully to my assignment of winning the lost, since I have the same assignment as my Lord Jesus. God’s throne is solidly behind me.

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Corinthians 6:1 KJV” We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain”.

Hebrews 1:14 KJV” Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”