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 will never cease. Each one will have his or her kind of them. The word of God teaches us our response and attitude to them as they show up. The scriptures teach us that, 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 has said, concerning that thing. Patience means maintaining your stand in the Word while 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; that 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 will want nothing, and the answer will 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.

THOUGHT: PATIENCE WORKS TO PERFECT US

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:2 Pet 1:6 KJV” And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;”

We learnt from our previous study that to stand strong in Christ, one ought to be diligent to add to his faith in Christ, knowledge, and to knowledge, temperance. Today we consider some extra qualities that we have to add up to make us strong and unmovable in our faith. Our key scripture says we add patience to temperance.

 Patience is the ability to bear or endure contrary situations without getting bitter, murmuring, or complaining, but with an inner assurance that through the power of God’s word, everything is well.

2 Thess 1:4 KJV “So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:” Patience is always based on the comfort of the word of God.

 To add patience to our faith, means, to accept whatever the word says or promises about any situation and to declare that, if the word says so, then it is settled. Hebrews 6:12.

In addition to patience is godliness. Godliness is the act of living by the counsel of the scriptures. It involves approaching every matter in life from the scriptural point of view.

 Godliness is simply, being scriptural in your dealings.

The call to add up godliness is to strictly adhere to biblical counsel in everything. Some people try to suggest that according to the scripture, we must give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s (Matt 22:21).

By this statement, they mean you can honour certain traditional demands even if it opposes God’s word.

This is a subtle work of Satan to deceive many. There should be no occasion you act contrary to God’s word. That scripture was ONLY referring to paying taxes to the government which was a godly act, and not to pour libation, or do any other things unto demon spirits, which is an ungodly act.

The scripture says further, that “And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (2 Peter 1:7). This time the word talks about brotherly kindness and love. Kindness and love are basically about the same thing. Kindness in the Greek language is brotherly love, or Philadelphia in the Greek language. This is to place a very high value on all persons and cherish them dearly.

 You can’t love what you treat as common.

It is the strong ones who go out of their way to support the weak.

 The selfish are very inward-looking and that leaves them with much sorrow.

This makes the selfish person very weak, vulnerable, and hurting. Free yourself from such bondage to genuinely love all persons, thereby stabilising your inner strength.

Dear one, if these qualities abound in you, you will be very fruitful and will never give up your grounds or faith in Christ.

THOUGHT: MAINTAIN YOUR LOVE FOR IT IS THE BOND OF PERFECTION.

FURTHER STUDIES

Hebrews 6:12 KJV” That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises”.

Hebrews 6:1 KJV” Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 6:67 KJV Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

Life events always offer us challenges that give us the option to make certain choices. Jesus’ disciples forsook him en mass after He talked about giving His flesh to the world. He then turned to the twelve and asked them, will you also go away? I believe this was a very pensive moment. “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.”  John 6:68. Simon Peter and the rest of the twelve were resolved to stand with Jesus and also knew the truth about the Lord, but the rest of the disciples did not know.

In the second epistle of Peter, he shared certain thoughts that would help every sincere follower of Jesus stand firm in Christ. 2 Peter 1: 5-11. He listed certain qualities that one must have.

 He added that if these traits stay in increasing measure in an individual, that person would never fall.

They are as follows.

1. Vrs 5: You must add virtue to your faith. Virtue is to have a sense of moral excellence. To do the right thing always, and do it well.

It is to maintain an upright attitude or a sense of giving your best to achieve the best in everything you do.

2. He must also add knowledge to the virtue. Knowledge means to be enlightened by the truth, so the darkness of the devil will not envelope you. The people who forsook Jesus did so because of a lack of knowledge which gave them a very wrong understanding, of Jesus’ teaching.

There are three main aspects of Christian knowledge that every child of God must have. These are

1.            A general knowledge of the bible. This is acquired by reading through the bible and other Christian literature.

2.            A knowledge of Christian apologetics. This is a knowledge of how to appropriately defend the faith. Knowing about the validity of scriptures, evidential truths about Christ, His birth, death resurrection.

3.            A knowledge of the power and presence of God. This comes through seeking the face of God and acting on His word, which allows God to reveal His power and presence to you. A man with these three aspects of Christian knowledge cannot be confused by adversity, people’s misdeeds, or those who wrongly attack the scriptures.

4.            The next trait that must be added to knowledge is temperance. Temperance is self-control or self-discipline. Temperance is to bring yourself to live within the stipulated rules. Failure to be disciplined could cause your ultimate disqualification from receiving your ultimate rewards in the presence of God.

 Temperance is gained by conditioning your mind with the scriptures, as well as taking certain physical actions like abstinence from certain places, books, videos, and persons, and rather undertaking practices like fasting, meditation, and controlling the mind to think scripturally always.

TO BE CONTINUED

THOUGHT:  TAKING DILIGENT STEPS TO STAND WILL HELP A LOT.

FURTHER STUDIES

2Peter 1:5 KJV” And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;”

2Peter 1:6 KJV “And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;”

Prayer has been defined as, uniting the natural with the supernatural to effect changes in the natural. Anytime the natural encounters the supernatural, the natural receives an impartation from the supernatural. There comes a transformation of the natural. Jud 1:20 KJV” But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost”, The call to build ourselves up is not talking about our physical body, but our spirit man. 1 Corinthians 14:14 KJV” For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful”. Our spirit does the praying when we pray in an unknown tongue.

We are built up spiritually as we pray. The Bible uses. The word ‘edify’, which means to build up. 1 Corinthians 14:4 KJV “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself, but he that prophesieth edifieth the church”. In the manifestation of the spirituals, we have those who function purely by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as those who have developed their spirit man such that they manifest the supernatural through their built-up spirit man (please note, all these are done by the agency of the Holy Ghost). Some people begin to receive the ability to see visions and do other supernatural abilities, after praying for some hours. Some start healing the sick after fasting and praying for many days. These abilities function in these people as a result of the sensitivity of a built-up spirit through prayer.

Evangelist Sadhu Sundar Singh who lived between 1889 to 1929, and was used mightily by the Lord, once taught that, praying as a Christian can be compared to a mother hen, brooding over the eggs. As the mother sits on the egg, it develops to become a chicken. He said the longer we stay in the presence of the Father His Spirit broods over us, making us more and more like Him. Don’t be lazy to spend time before the Lord in prayer. It is one of the avenues to build yourself up, to be used effectively in the Lord’s vineyard.

PRAYER

Thank you, Father, for the privilege of prayer. As I pray in the Spirit my spirit man is built up, making me more effective in the Spirit. As the physical man is built up through exercise, my spirit is also built up to do more as I pray.

THOUGHT: PRAY CONSISTENTLY TO BUILD YOURSELF

FURTHER STUDIES

Luke 6:12 & 13 KJV “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them, he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles”;

1 Corinth 14:2 KJV” For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries”.

KEY SCRIPTURE:1 John 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.”

 In this study, we consider faith in God perfected by our love for God. Our key scripture states that perfect love casts out fear. This simply means perfect love builds strong faith in God. Faith in God is maintaining our allegiance to God. The more we commit ourselves to loving the Lord the more we would maintain our allegiance to him. John 14:23 KJV” Jesus answered and said unto him, if a man loves me, he will keep my words: “. What is faith? The simplest definition for faith is believing what God’s word says, and  doing it.

Abraham is described as a man of great faith because he was a man who had grown in his love for God. He was described as a friend of God. James 2:23 KJV “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God”.  As fruits develop through proper cultivation so, when we keep a close fellowship with the Holy Spirit through prayer and Bible studies, we grow in our love for God, resulting in strong faith in Him. He said if you abide in me and my words abide in you, you will bear much fruit. (John 15:5)

The gift of faith as stated in 1 Corinth 12 is different from the fruit of the spirit manifesting faith. 1 Corinthians 12:9 KJV. To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;”

 The gift of faith is a manifestation of the spirit at a particular moment as the Holy Spirit wills (1 Corinth 12:9.) The gift may manifest mightily in a day-old Christian. This is not so with the fruit. It is not every child of God who may manifest the gift of faith, yet every child of God has the fruit of the Spirit that is love. This kind of faith takes time to grow through fellowship and obedience to the Word. Faith like a man’s muscles is made stronger through exercising your muscles for the consistent doing of the word of God.

CONFESSION

I abide in the Lord by letting His word abide in me. I bear the fruit of love for God and my faith in God grows. My faith is made stronger through my commitment to doing what the word of God says.

THOUGHT: A CONSISTENT WALK WITH GOD BUILDS STRONG FAITH IN HIM.

FURTHER STUDIES

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

1 John 4:17 KJV “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”

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

Our key scripture continues with some of the roles of the Holy Spirit in us. He is with us to glorify Jesus. He has come to make the Lord Jesus the centre of everything in our lives. If you have the desire to protect your self-image in any way and not Jesus and His name, then you are not under the influence of the Holy Spirit. As we learned in our previous study, He came in the name of Jesus, and so His mission is to exalt Jesus and His name through us.

 When a child of God lives to glorify Jesus, then that reveals the dominance or control of the Holy Spirit in all he does. Please note that every child of God is called to greatness. Greatness in this context is about manifesting the mighty deeds of God in your life such that men give glory to the Father.1Pet 2:9 KJV” But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” We were called out of the world to show forth, God’s mighty works through us.

Showing forth the praises of God is allowing the Lord to manifest His works in our lives, such that men give glory to God. When this happens men see God’s greatness through the vessel of God who avails himself for God to wrought such works. You cannot be treated ordinarily when God is magnified through you. If any child of God allows the Holy Spirit to fulfill His role of glorifying Jesus in Him, He or she would not be insignificant on this earth. Remember that God said to Abram, I am calling you, out of your nation and people, to make you great (Gen 12:1-3). So long as Abraham submitted to God, God made him great. Through God’s mighty works through Him, Abraham became great among the people he lived with.

THOUGHT: OUR LIVES BECOME VERY MEANINGFUL WHEN JESUS IS GLORIFIED

FURTHER STUDIES

Phi 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.”

James 4:10 KJV “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 15:26 KJV “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:”

In the verses before the key scripture, the Lord Jesus explained much about the attitude of the world to Him.  He said He told them the truth about Himself, yet they hated Him.  He performed miracles that no man did, even then they continued to seek to kill Him. Such unfounded hatred is an influence of the Spirit of darkness.

Today, many hate Jesus because He said He is the way, the truth, and the life. They question why He claims He is the only way to God. My question is, did the Lord Jesus ever tell a lie? He said He would be killed and on the third day rise from the grave. He did not fail in all that He said. In the full glare of His disciples, He was taken up to heaven. What proves the validity of these reports? The disciples who brought these messages showed that they were telling the truth, by dying for what they knew was the truth.

Jesus never told a lie for He is the truth. The Lord after much discussion about all those who hated Him, said there is one who is called to be with us or by our side, that is the Holy Spirit. The word one to be by us is another word for Comforter. He is always by our side. He added that the Holy Spirit had come to testify of Him. He has come to help us love Him in a better way, by knowing the truth about Jesus and serving Him effectively. The Holy Spirit shows the Lord to us in certain moments He gives the appearance and presence of Jesus to the people of God.

One other way of revealing Jesus is to expound on the word of God to us. It is through the medium of the word that the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to us. Through the agency of the word, we can practically walk with Jesus as we believe the word and act on it. In such a way, we see Jesus in action as He works miracles through us. Mark 16:20 KJV” And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”

THOUGHT: THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH US IS JESUS WITH US.

FURTHER STUDIES

2Corinth 3:17 KJV” Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

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.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:  2 Kings 2:9 WEB “When they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be on me.”

The anointing of the Holy Spirit is the presence of the Holy Spirit upon a person to help him or her do what his or her natural abilities could not easily achieve.

The anointing of the Holy Ghost is needed by every child of God. Throughout the scriptures, God has anointed various persons to perform different acts to His glory. Children of God are called to show God’s praise in all they do. The anointing is needed in every aspect of life. If you are a businessman, you need it. If you are a footballer, you need it. If you are a minister in songs, you need it. 1st Peter 2:9. The anointing distinguishes the Christian from all other men, and it brings glory to God. Although God will want all to have it, it is not obtained on a silver platter. God gives to the hungry and not those who are satisfied. Luke 1:53 KJV “He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.” Please note also that God’s anointing is an act of His grace.

What is the price for the anointing? One can understand the price of the anointing by coming to terms with the implications of the anointing. The anointing is solely to reveal the glory of God. Since God anoints to reveal His glory, one must be dedicated to bringing glory to the Lord. Luke 14:26 WEB “If anyone comes to me and doesn’t disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be my disciple. ” The Lord is saying by this statement that we are to live for Him and for His glory alone. The implication of being anointed is to bring glory to Him.

 The price for the anointing is death to self and the pursuit of His glory.

The Lord said in John 12:24, 25 “Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.  He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.” The Spirit of God comes on selfless vessels who are pursuing God’s glory. During the dispensation of the law, the high priest presents blood on the mercy seat. The moment the blood sacrifice is poured on the mercy seat, the fire appears on the mercy seat, from which the Lord communicates to the high priest.

One may ask what is the place of prayer and fasting in obtaining the anointing on one’s life. Prayer and fasting would release that special grace on your life, if the primary motive is right. That is, dying to self and seeking the exaltation of the name and glory of God. Some fast and pray for strive and competition. These are all selfish ambitions, motivated by soulish desires. James 4:1-4.

CONFESSION

I was created to bring pleasure to the heavenly Father. I commit my life to seeking His glory, and so He anoints me to serve Him more effectively.

THOUGHT: A SACRIFICED LIFE WILL RECEIVE FIRE FROM ABOVE TO SHINE BRIGHTER.

FURTHER STUDIES

Rom 12:1 WEB “Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.”

1 Sam 26:9 WEB “David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against Yahweh’s anointed, and be guiltless?”

KEY SCRIPTURE: 2 Tim 3:16 KJV All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

The breath of God is the very source of our personality. The Bible says God breathed into the lifeless man, and man became a living soul. The breath of God is God’s ability to make us qualified to do whatever He requires of us. God has made available a means of contacting His breath for daily strength to overcome every challenge or difficulty that we may encounter. The scripture says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: The word inspiration of God, also means the breath of God. The breath of God goes into action and effect when we submit ourselves to it or believe it. Now, to believe means you cast your life on it.

When we believe the scripture, we have swallowed what it says, placing our very dependence on it. It is at this moment that life in the word is released. The breath of God is yours for every engagement that you may find yourself. Give attention to the word of God. Meditate on the word and give a renewal to your mind concerning all life issues. The Bible says it is life to those who find them and medicine to all their flesh. Proverb 4:21,22.

Decide to give more time to the word of God this year. Let your heart be filled with joy and satisfaction any time you have to sit by the word of God. Make every truth you learn a special prophecy from the mouth of God. Know that so long as you receive that word, you have accepted into your system, the very breath of God. In this new year, make it a year of celebrating the word of God, by giving the word the highest and most prestigious place in your life and heart.

CONFESSION

The word of God is my life and my light. It is my power to conquer this life. I give my attention to it, and allow my whole life to be controlled by the word. I see success all around me.

THOUGHT: RECEIVING THE WORD, GIVES YOU THE POWER TO LIVE BY IT

FURTHER STUDIES

Heb 4:12 KJV” For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

1Thess 2:13 KJV” For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Rom 12:1 KJV” I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

The relationship between our spirit and body is as a man, living in a house or room. It is the man who gives expression to the room. The state of the room would depend on the state and condition of the man. Your spirit represents the man, while the room represents the body. In the experiences of most children of God, it is their bodies that lords itself over their spirits. The body or flesh which is the outer nature is the one giving expression. The body or the flesh rules many. The Bible calls it carnality. In these days of information, people are overwhelmed by their mobile phones. They would spend most of their time doing something on the phone. Lust of the flesh and eyes is what controls some.

When the flesh is master his spirit is silenced. His spiritual senses become dead or dull. He will not be able to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. His desire for prayer and reading or studying the word would either go down or nonexistent at all. The other sad thing that will happen to him, is, that he will not be able to understand the scriptures. 1 Cor 2:14 KJV” But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

A man in such a condition would surely have a very weak soul. His mind will be dominated by lots of carnal things. Rom 8:6 KJV” For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” A mind fed with mundane things in this life will result in an emotion, which is very unstable. It will be fearful, easily worried, quick-tempered, and as the bible says many foolish emotions, that would make him a threat to others and himself.

According to Romans 8:9, you are not in the flesh, to live after the flesh, but in the Spirit. Repent and turn and let the Spirit take charge. Now note this: The spirit takes charge when you allow the word of God to determine your actions.

CONFESSION

Thank you, dear Lord Jesus. My spirit controls me in all I do. I keep the flesh under. My spiritual senses remain alert, and so I can always receive from God’s spirit and not be lost in the deceit of the flesh.

FURTHER STUDIES

Rom 8:9 KJV” But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

1Cor 9:27 KJV” But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”