KEY SCRIPTURE: Job 32:8 KJV” But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.”

From our former studies, we learned that man is a spirit who has a soul and lives within a body. The Spirit of man is described by Apostle Peter as the hidden man of the heart 1Peter 3:4 KJV” 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.” This hidden man of the heart has a form just like the outer man. He is not physical that could be seen by the optical eyes. He has hands, legs, eyes, and all the features that the outer man has.

At conversion, the spirit of man receives a new life or a new birth. It is not a renewal of the old man. This process of conversion is the greatest of all miracles. The old man dies with Jesus through baptism, and a new man is resurrected or taken over. Rom 6:4 KJV” Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life.” We see that we died with him, and so our spirit man who is one with the Spirit of Christ is the one who has taken over. Gal 2:20 KJV” I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”. This is amazing, we have a spirit nature, our true being which is the very nature of Jesus.2nd Corinth 5:17,18 narrates it that, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation, the old is gone, BEHOLD EVERYTHING has become new. All this new nature or creation is of God.

Our new man has nothing of the old nature or old man in him. Our souls remain the same. That is, the kind of ways we used to think, feel, and act may be the same. It must be taught to know, accept, and function with the new man. Jas 1:21 KJV” Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” It is the word of God that saves our souls. It is initiated by a renewal of our minds Rom 12:2. The soul, through the mind, must come to terms with the wealth of power, glory, and unsearchable riches of Christ. that his spirit man carries or is made of.

The body will also align properly when the truth is known by our souls. John 8:32.

PRAYER

Father, open my eyes of understanding to know your glorious deposit in me, that my ways, thoughts, and actions would reveal that glory you want to be seen in our world.

THOUGHT: OUR SPIRITS ARE SAVED AT CONVERSION, BUT OUR SOULS ARE SAVED THROUGH YIELDING TO THE WORD OF GOD

FURTHER STUDIES

John 8:32 KJV “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Phm 1:6 KJV” That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:1Th 5:23 KJV And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A good understanding of the nature of man will help us to walk effectively with the Spirit of God. Our key scripture shows us that, Man is a three-fold being. He is a spirit, soul, and body. From the book of beginnings, that is Genesis, God created man in the image and likeness of God Gen 1:26. The ‘image’ in this context talks about appearance as in the physical form, and the likeness talks about the nature of God. The physical appearance of God is like a man. The nature of God is a Spirit. John 4:24 KJV “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” If man is like God, then man is also spirit. Our spirit is fundamentally our true or real nature, for God cannot relate with our souls or bodies, but rather relates with our spirit. Pro 20:27 KJV” The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.”

God deals with man from his spirit. Job 32:8 KJV “But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.”

The body of man is an earthly house for his spirit which is immortal.  2Co 5:1 KJV For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. The body houses the senses. These

include,

1. Sight

2. Taste

3. Feeling

4. Hear

5. Touch

The state of the body determines how much the spirit can go in some instances. Matt 26:41 KJV “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” The body can be trained to cooperate with the Spirit.

We also saw from our key scripture that, man also has a soul. The soul is the self-conscious aspect of a man. It is made up of the mind, emotions and will. The soul is as immortal as the spirit. The spirit and soul are used interchangeably in certain portions of the scripture, yet there is a clear division between the two. 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.’ From this scripture the bible shows us, there is a division between the spirit and the soul. The soul and spirit function together, as the soul receives information and is processed in the mind, reacted on by the emotions, and acted on by the will. When the Spirit of God shows or tells the spirit an information, it is passed on to the soul, through the mind and the body through the brain becomes aware of it. To be continued.

PRAYER

Father, give us the understanding to know who we are and how to operate effectively with your Spirit, and the world around us, to bring glory to your name.

THOUGHT: MAN IS A SPIRIT, WHO POSSESSES A SOUL, AND LIVES WITHIN A BODY.

FURTHER STUDIES

Job 32:8 KJV” But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.”

James 1:21 KJV” Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Rom 12:11 KJV” Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”

In our previous study, we realised that our ability to win and conquer in life depends on the state of our spirit. A fervent spirit is very alert unto God, as well as dominates the actions of the individual. A dormant spirit needs to be awakened and set into proper motion. Please note, that you would pay dearly for it if your spirit is not awakened. Remember, Satan as a roaring lion, is roaming about, seeking whom he may devour. The devil cannot devour everyone, but can surely get those who are spiritually sleeping.  Stop sleeping. Rom 13:12 KJV “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”

What must one do to get into that fervency of spirit?

1.            Pray and repent of your spiritual dullness.

2.            If there is any known sinful way, ask God for forgiveness and repent, from it.        

3.            Pray with more urgency and a stronger desire.

4.            Take time to read the bible, study, and make notes. Take action points from your studies.

5.            Spend quality time worshipping and praising the Lord.

6.            Stay away from carnal friends or carnal Christians, whose communications do not spare you into a more intimate walk in the Spirit.

7.            Give yourself to sharing the good news of our Lord Jesus.

8.            You may also have a day in the week to fast and pray.

9. Refuse to let any need cause you anxiety. It is not bigger than our Lord Jesus. Rather declare that He is your shepherd and you would not want

Remember, life is spiritual, and the Spirit always dominates the natural. 1 Tim 4:8 KJV” For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” There are always evil activities seeking to put the righteous down. It is your alertness that will put you over. Psalms 11:2-3 KJV “For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

What shall the righteous do, if the foundations, that is the spiritual alertness is not there? Do not become a cheap meat for the enemy.

CONFESSION

Father, thank you for your love for me. Thank you, for stirring in me a new fire and a spiritual alertness. I awake out of every sleep to be whatever the spirit of God has ordained for me to be.

THOUGHT: PLUG YOURSELF INTO GOD AND STAY AWAKE.              

FURTHER STUDIES

Eph 5:18 KJV “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”

Eph 5:19 KJV “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;”

Gal 5:16 KJV This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Rom 12:11 KJV” Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”

Apostle Paul in his letter to the brethren in Rome gave the brethren several, very important practical counsels in Romans 12:9-21. Among the many words of wisdom, he gave them, he said the following in Romans 12:11 as follows: “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;” The state of the Spirit of a child of God is a big determinant of whether he would be successful in all his dealings in the physical and soulish realms. Man is a three-fold being. That is the spirit, soul, and body.1Th 5:23 KJV” And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The spirit of man is his means of relating with God. Prov 20:27 KJV “The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.” The state of a man’s spirit is what makes him either able to receive from God or resist the garbage of infirmities Satan tries to place on him. Prov 18:14 KJV “The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?” The word ‘sustain ‘, also means restrain, support, or seize. This means an agile spirit will dominate the evil condition and overpower it. The writer of the proverb added, but who shall bear a wounded spirit? Let’s also learn that our spirit is the only means to receive counsel, and instruction from the Spirit of God. That is what gives man an illumination from God to answer life matters. Job 32:8 KJV” But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.”

Knowing all that has been said above, one needs to have a very active spirit personality. Apostle Paul, through the agency of the Spirit, counsels all children of God to maintain a very fervent spirit. Sadly, many children of God do not know when their spirits have gone dormant, or are very inactive. How do you

 know your spirit has gone asleep?

1. When your appetite to stay in the word of God is gone.

• When prayer becomes a drag, and not bubbling from within.

• When praising and worshipping the Lord, is almost lost from you.

•   When you have no passion to win men for Christ

• When your heart is warm towards worldly ways but cold towards godly ways

• When you love to read and enjoy posts on social media that have no scriptural inspirations

• When you would read and listen to preaching, but will not read and meditate on the bible.

       8              When a sinful way has not been forsaken.

You need a fervent spirit now.

CONFESSION

Heavenly Father, stir in me a quickening of my spirit man. I cast away every practice or lifestyle that keeps me dull in the spirit. Father, I receive a fervent spirit now.

THOUGHT: NO FLY SITS ON HOT STOVES.

FURTHER STUDIES

1 Tim 4:8 KJV “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”

Luke 9:29 KJV” And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Pe 1:4 KJV” Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

The bible teaches us that, His word is His means of working on the earth. At creation, God spoke various things into existence. He said, let there be light and there was light. Heb 11:3 KJV “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” The Lord Jesus taught us that, the flesh profits nothing, it is the word that gives life, the words that speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” John 6:63.

Now knowing the word of God is Spirit, how does it produce results in us? When one hears the word of God and believes it, a transformation process takes place. The spiritual nature of the word transforms that individual from his ordinary natural human condition to whatever the word is talking about.2nd Peter 1:4, put it this way, 2Pet 1:4 KJV” Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” The above scripture says we become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Lust can mean, unbelieve, or any way we allow the flesh to dictate to us. When the heart of a man takes in the word, it imposes its supernatural impact on that person and makes the person the very thing the word is. He or she becomes a partaker of the divine state of the word.

The word of God also acts as a seed. If one believes in what it says, he has planted that seed in His heart. So long as unbelief or doubt does not fight out the word from the heart, it will surely grow to bear fruit in line with what it talks about. Isaiah 55:11 KJV” So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” The scripture calls on us to keep the word in our hearts. The Lord also taught that when the word is accepted into a good heart, that is the one which would not give up on the word because of difficult times or allow the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches or lust of the things in the world to choke the word. If he allows the word to grow freely it would surely produce results. Mark 4:15-19.

Do you need a miracle or a change in some aspect of your life?  Find what the word says about that particular thing. Keep it in your heart, by daily affirming that you have that thing. Refuse to yield to any contrary situation, you will surely have what you have believed.

CONFESSION.

God’s word is His means of relating with men on this earth. I accept His word on whatever matter of concern. I keep the word in my heart, saying and doing what it says. God’s word always produces whatever it talks about in me.

THOUGHT: THE WORD OF GOD HAS BOTH TRANSFORMING AND FRUIT-BEARING ABILITIES, KEEP IT IN YOUR HEART, BY BELIEVING IT.

FURTHER STUDIES

Mark 4:20 KJV And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

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.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:74 KJV” That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.”

Many have questioned privily in their hearts, asking, is life meaningful at all? What is the meaning of living? A good number of people have gone for pleasure, amusement, and what have you, yet like King Solomon wrote, all is vanity upon vanity. Many more have plunged themselves into absolute darkness by taking God, who is the cause and essence of life out of the picture. This is the misery of billions of humans who are only wanderers in this life.

Well, life is very meaningful if one comes to terms with the plans and programs of God. Rev 4:11 KJV” Thou art worthy, O Lord,) to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. God created all things for His pleasure. The joy, benefit or importance of any created thing, is to live out what it was made for. You can’t use your pen to slice plantain. A pen is only meaningful if it is used to write

Our key scripture gives us the order to live this meaningful life. That scripture is in two parts. First a deliverance from our enemies. Secondly, we are to serve God in holiness and righteousness.

Men, because of sin were under the bondage of our enemies, the devil, and his cohorts.  This was the reason, the Lord Jesus came; that He might deliver us from Satan’s bondage, through His death and resurrection. Everyone must access this liberty by accepting Jesus as Lord. The second part is to live in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives. If we have been delivered from Satan’s dominion, then it is just right that we live free from every control or influence of the wicked one. This is what holiness is about. Holiness is simply separation from Satan and everything he stands for and rather to live for God.

À meaningful life is to know God personally and do those things that glorify His name. We are the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God has ordained that we walk in them. A life dedicated to being a blessing would certainly be a happy and meaningful one. Refuse to be selfish ‘for selfishness is the mother of all sorrows ‘ E W Kenyon. According to Rev 4:11, GOD created us for His pleasure. We please Him if our lives please Him. It is in pleasing Him that we find meaning in this life.

A meaningful life is one dedicated to God serving Him in love and free from all satanic controls, both in actions and other forms of manipulations. Any form of satanic dominance in an individual’s life should not be tolerated and must be checked out.

CONFESSION

I am living a very meaningful life, for I am free from all satanic controls and have love for my heavenly father. I walk in uprightness and exercise dominion over every work of Satan in any shape or form. My life brings glory to the Father and I am blessed ultimately.

FURTHER STUDIES

Phi 2:15 KJV” That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”

Rom 12:2 KJV 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.

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Co 10:5 KJV” Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

Life keeps offering various forms of challenges. Various difficulties come along with the threat it may pose to us. These matters can leave many very fearful. No child of God should live under the fear of any condition. Luke 1:74 KJV” That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,” This is one of the reasons the Lord came. A number men live under the dread of certain diseases as they grow old. Some with certain hereditary diseases are also subjected to the fear of those things. No matter how real that condition might have been, your place in Christ means there should no more be any fear or dread of that thing. Isaiah 8:12 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.”

God alone should be our fear.

Fear is simply faith in the ability of the evil one. The answer to this is to place your faith in God.

The assurance of the scriptures for a change of any condition is as follows. Mark 9:23 KJV” Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” According to the Lord, that condition is never as hopeless as you may think. He says if you can believe in God and His word, you can have the results and the change you want. Hallelujah! Stop feeling hopeless and start feeling hopeful. God has further promised that “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11. said His word would prosper in the heart of anyone who keeps it there. The word about healing would prosper to give healing. The word about protection would prosper and bring protection. All it needs is to keep it firmly in the heart.

How can one keep the word in his heart? When you hear the word or you read the word, believe it. The next is to keep saying what you heard. It is agreeing with God about what he has said. Any time you repeat that word on your lips, your heart is strengthened about what you have believed, God hears what you are saying and responds positively, while Satan is shaken each moment he hears you say that word. Such an act keeps the word in your heart, and according to Isaiah 55: 10 and 11, it will surely prosper in you. Dearly beloved, let your heart be free from EVERY fear you have ever entertained or anticipated and enter into your realm of the miraculous in Jesus’ name.

CONFESSION

I have no fear in me. I have faith in God and His word. God’s word in my heart is active and powerful, fulfilling whatever it talks about. I am blessed in every way. Nothing is impossible to me in Jesus’ name.

THOUGHT: MAKE JESUS THE BIGGEST, AND EVERY OPPOSITION WOULD BE NOTHING.

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.”

Luke 1:45 KJV And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

TO FULLY BENEFIT FROM THIS STUDY, DO NOT JUST READ THROUGH IT ONCE, GO OVER IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, TILL YOUR HEART IS FILLED WITH THESE TRUTHS.

KEY SCRIPTURE:1Jn 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.”

The Bible is filled with about three hundred and sixty-five fear-nots. This means one ‘fear not’ is to go for each day. It also suggests fear is very dangerous, and should never be entertained by any child of God. What is fear? Fear is a feeling of insecurity as a result of an unfavourable condition or the mind just anticipating danger, whether real or not. Fear is also faith in the evil one. Or believing the ability of the evil one. We learnt in our last study that, when a man believes in a thing, he or she has received the condition into his heart, and could be described as planting the event in his heart. It will take a matter of time and that event will be materialised. In light of this, the man who fears about an evil event has also planted the event in his heart, waiting to be manifested in due time. Nobody wants to see the very things he or she is afraid of come to pass. Sadly, the event would surely manifest, if you do not kill it from your heart. This is what makes entertaining fear very dangerous.

Let’s consider the statement of righteous man Job, in Job 3:25,26.” For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet, yet trouble came.” Just consider what he said. The very thing he was afraid of has come into reality. Was it God who allowed it or it came out of his own doing? From our discussions Job had borne these issues in his heart and it only came to fruition when the time was due.

What must one do when fear seems to take hold of you? See fear as an enemy that has come to destroy you. Refuse it vehemently. Give no word to it. Job said he kept saying, I am not saved, and have no rest. He allowed such negative words of fear to be planted in his heart. The whole thing came to fruition when Satan took advantage of the situation. Please be careful about what you say, for death and life are in the power of the tongue (Prov 18:21).

If fear wants to take hold of you, go to the truth that the word says about that particular condition, and keep saying what the word says and not what you feel Decide to believe what the word says. Fear would soon give way to faith.

Sanctify the Lord in your heart. Each time fear seems to dominate you, remember the Lord is with you, and He is far greater and superior to every danger. Place your full trust in Him. He says: Isa 43:2 KJV When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Remember again that His faithfulness is unto all generations.

CONFESSIONS

I give absolute attention to the word of God. When fear seems to take the best of me, I refuse to allow it to control me. I give my attention to the word and keep declaring what the word says. I have nothing of the wicked one in me.

THOUGHT: FEAR IS NOT AUTOMATIC; IT IS A CHOICE. CHOOSE TO TRUST THE LORD.

FURTHER STUDIES

2Ti 1:7 KJV “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Jos 1:9 KJV “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: 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.”

It is the perfect will of God that every child of God is richly filled with the word of God. The word of God is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path Ps 119:105. The word keeps the darkness away helping us to make our way through life. The Bible calls Satan the God of this world. In light of this, the devil has influenced the systems of this world. People go into politics, and because of evil voodoo powers, they have to secure their positions by also getting these voodoo powers. The rule of the god of this world has permeated every aspect of our world. The only means to live above it is to guard your path according to the word of God.

The advice of scripture is to let the word of Christ feel you richly. Please note cramming the scriptures into your heart is not the main idea. It is all about knowing the word and being submitted and ready to believe what you have read or learned. THE SCRIPTURE YOU KNOW IS THE ONE YOU BELIEVED. Study, meditate, and listen to inspired messages, yet the scripture that fills you is the one you have believed. That is the scripture you would be ready to apply when Satan comes knocking on your door. The scripture said submit to God resist the devil, and he will flee

from you. James 4:7. It is the word in your heart that you have submitted to that the devil will flee when you apply.

During the Second World War, American soldiers visited a location that received some pounding of bombs from the German army. Everyone had vacated the area, yet they found a building with one room that was closed. They forced it open, only to find an old woman sleeping heartily. They woke her up and asked madam, are you not aware of the bombs that rocked this place, and you are fast asleep as if nothing is happening? She answered them, Why should I be awake when He who watches over me is awake? She in effect quoted, Psalms 121:3 KJV, “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.” This woman was richly filled with this very verse and so could not be moved. Get some scriptures and hang your life on them, and nothing will move or overcome you.

CONFESSION

I fill my heart with the word. As much as study the word in a broad sense, I keep what I study firmly in my heart, ready to apply it, in times of need.

THOUGHT: THE SCRIPTURES YOU HAVE BELIEVED, IS WHAT WILL PUT YOU OVER SATAN’S ATTACKS

FURTHER STUDIES

Psalms 119:130 KJV “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”

Psalms 119:11 KJV “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matt 11:12 KJV “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”

As we enter a new month and even stay in the new year, there will be lots of us praying or calling on the new month or the new year to bring along with it, good tidings and all kinds of good wishes. It is very good to wish for great and good things, yet wishing is always not enough. We must move from wishing to possessing those blessings. Our key scripture stated that since the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom of God has suffered violence. The word suffer is an old English word meaning ‘allow’. It should read, the kingdom of heaven has allowed violence, and violent men, take it by force.

How do they take it by violence? This is how believing and hoping comes into the issues of discussion. When we wish and pray that the new month brings blessings, this is hope. Hope is always an expectation or anticipation. Hope sees the issue in the future so that things may never be realised. What we need to do is that after wishing for a better month, or new year, we must reach out with our faith and take hold of what we anticipate to have in the future. To believe is to take hold of the thing in your heart. The principle of this life is sowing and reaping. When you believe, you have a thing, you possess that thing, like it has been planted in the heart. To wish for it means you only expect it, yet, you have not possessed it, and so it has not been planted in the heart. You cannot be certain about what you are wishing for, but you can be sure of having what you have believed in.

The scriptures said in Proverbs 4:23, that the issues of life proceed from the heart. Whatever you have believed has been planted in your heart, and so would surely come forth in due time. Please do not only wish for great tidings, you must also believe that you have them. After believing you can also take some practical actions to make it a reality. The following verse explains how these things function. Mark 4:26,28 KJV And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

Do possess your expectations and make them a reality for you.

CONFESSION

Thank God for the new month and the coming new year, I do not only wish for new blessed things, but I possess them through my faith in you. As I take hold of them, they manifest in my life and experience in Jesus’ name.

THOUGHT: DO NOT ONLY WISH FOR GOOD THINGS RECEIVE THEM IN YOUR HEART.

FURTHER STUDIES

Prov 4:23 KJV” Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Heb 11:1 KJV” Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”