LEADERSHIP WITH THE MIND OF CHRIST-Phil.2:1-18
(Talk delivered by Dele Kolade at the Pastors – Deacons’ Retreat Barnawa Baptist Church)
The call to lead the flock of God is the greatest privilege anyone can have in this world. It therefore becomes necessary that we recognize the dynamics involved in Christian leadership and run according to the set “rules”(I Cor.9:24-27). The greatest challenge of Christian leadership today is meeting the standard of God and building to the divine pattern. WE MUST KNOW THAT FUNCTION MUST FOLLOW FORM. What must inform our philosophy of ministry must be right theology. In this retreat, our attention is drawn towards providing Christian leadership with the mind of Christ.
We shall employ certain censoring tools and indicators to evaluate the nitty gritty of leading and ministering with the mind of Christ. Jesus Christ remains our highest authority in every area of life and ministry and the example he set must be followed even to the “punctuation”.( I Cor.3:10-11).
(1) MARKAN’S MINISTRY MAP - Mark 3:13-15
In this Markan passage, Jesus sets the tone of ministry by ordering the priority of calling into Christian leadership. According to the text, God does not call anyone to “do” but first to “be”. The “come ye” precedes the “go ye”. Again is the fact that the concept of election must be understood in order to discover the individual specific divine placement.
(2) MOTIVE OF MINISTRY - Phil. 2:3
There are objective and subjective factors and motives of ministry and leadership. Some times the motives for leading and ministering may be very remote but we must remember that God will try all heart.
In this verse, two negatives and two positives motives are clearly identified:
Strife - expression of simplicity
Vain glory - preferential promotion of others
Again is the fact that we are called into ministry and leadership first to know and believe Him (Isa 43 : 10, Phil 3 :10- 11). Also is the fact that our motive for ministry and leadership must be to magnify Christ (Phil.1:20) and please him (II Tim.2:3-4).
Finally, the overarching motive of Christian leadership is SERVICE. The kind of leadership that will be in tandem with Christ’s mind is servant leadership ( Jn 13:12-16, Mt. 20:26-28).
(3) MINISTRY CONCERNS
Two major keys are identified to be our ministry concerns:
Approving ourselves (II Cor.6:3-10, 4:8-10).
Faithfulness to God (I Cor. 4:1-2, Act 20:24).
(4) METHODS OF MINISTRY
Incarnational (Phil.2:7).
Relational (Phil. 2:2-4).
Transformational (Rm. 12:2).
Motivational (Mt.14:26-33).
Delegational (Lk.10:1-12, Mt 4:19, Jn.4:2).
(5) MESSAGE AND MISSION (II Sam 18:19-32)
Finally, the OVERARCHING motive of Christian leadership is SERVICE.
The kind of Leadership that will be in tandem with Christ mind is servant leadership
(Jn. 13:12-16, Mt.20:26-28)
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
DIVINE DEFENCE (11KG 6:8-20)
DIVINE DEFFENCE (11 KG.6: 8-20)
The scripture is full of testimonies of God’s ability to defend His people. He is our defense ( Ps. 5:11, 31:1-3, Isa. 31:5, 37: 35, Zec. 9:15, 12: 8), our hiding place (Isa. 32:2, Ps.17:8, 27: 5, 32: 7, 64:2, 119: 114), our fortress (Na 1:7, 2 Sam. 22:2, Ps. 18: 2, 91: 2, 114: 2) , our refuge (Ex. 33:22, Deut. 33: 27, Ps. 27: 5, 31: 20, Prov. 14: 26, Isa. 25: 4, Zec. 9: 12) and our shield (Gen. 15:1, Deut. 33: 29, Ps. 33:20, 84: 11, 115: 9, Prov. 30:5).
You are better secured in Christ for he has an insurance policy for you that can never fail. In the days of Elisha the prophet, God repeatedly demonstrated that He could safely secure His people. In the midst of great tension, God gave attention to His loved ones. Elisha was a watchman over Israel, guiding and instructing the land with divine counsel. The enemies of Israel could not penetrate the defense of the land because the Lord was watching over the words of His servant to perform them. In the vocal text of our exposition, certain truth must be clearly understood and these must inform our strategic prayers.
SYRIAN WARRED AGAINST ISREAL (VS 8)
It was specifically started that the Syrian king warred against Israel. It was a battle between kingdoms. As a child of God, you must recognize the fact that you have a battle to fight and a land to posses. There is no one without battle, and the war is between kingdoms. If you have a clearly defined position, then you must be prepared for opposition. You need to define your opposition in as well as you understand your position. Your warfare prayers must clearly target your own “Syrian Army”.
HE TOOK COUNSEL WITH HIS SERVANTS (VS. 8)
Syrian king took counsel with his servants to determine where their trap camp will be. We are fighting against an elaborate and well organized network of evil. The devil is attacking with his cohort and there are evil deliberations to short circuit you and mortgage your destiny. Thank God, there is an irrevocable divine decree concerning you that the counsel of darkness over you and over your portion will never stand. In prayers, you must seek out where the enemy’s camp really is in your life. Enemies must not settle down in your territory. You must declare a “no place for the devil” war. No waiting, no parking for the devil for your life is a no go area to him.
The Syrian’s plot was exposed to the king of Israel through the prophetic Ministry of Elisha (Vs 9). You need not wait until the enemy strike before you declare war, you must be proactive. Heaven is ready to pre warn you against the intension of the devil if only you will open your eyes to see and your ears to hear. There is always a divine beckoning on you not to fall prey to the trap of the enemy. You need the prophetic anointing and counsel. You must pattern your warfare campaign to allow for investigatory prayers. Your prayers should not only be God do, God give me, but God show me the way I should pass. The eyes of the Lord will follow you every where you go and will expose your enemies to you. Greater portion of your problem is that you are not aware of where the enemies are striking from. Your prayers are against wrong targets. From today, the Lord will give you clear revelation of the detail of your situation and specific steps you are to take to prevent and arrest your problems.
Because the Lord thwarted the evil counsel of the Syrian King, he became sore trouble (vs.11). Trouble, heart break, confusion, disgrace, failure and disappointments are not meant for you, they belong to the enemies of your soul. If you will let God fight for you, devil’s pressure will go high.
SPIES were dispatched to fish out Elisha (Vs. 13) because he has now become the only threat to the evil ambition of the Syrian King. If you have a position in Christ, then you must understand that evil eyes are on you, watching you to locate your secret, identify your weak point and season, so that they could strike you down. You must prophesy against every evil eyes and demonic spies detailed against you and your destiny to fall and die! They will search for you but they can not get you because your defense is Jehovah. When the Syrian discovered Elisha to be at Dothan, they sent emissaries of army well equipped against him. They came by NIGHT and COMPASSED the city about (Vs.14). You must pay special attention to the timing of their coming; in the night, Jesus told a parable of a rich man who planted a vineyard of good vine but in the night, his enemies came and sowed weeds. The devils will always want to strike at the dark hours of the night when you will least expect. Thank God that we have a defender who does not sleep nor slumber; Jehovah is His name. The Syrian came in the night and compassed the city about, thinking they have trapped the man of God inside. That you are besieged does not mean you are deceased. The power that have surrounded you will surrender to you in Jesus Name. The servant of the prophet, waking up early in the morning and seeing the huge presence of the Syrian around the city cried out in desperation and frustration (Vs. 15) HOW SHALL WE DO?. What you need to know is that you can not figure out and think through the solution to the difficulties you are currently facing. The arm of flesh can in no way help. What to do and how to do what to do is none of your business, for God is already in charge. Many of us fail to overcome devil because we don’t see God in our negative situations. There is a thing God is already working out, you only need to see it. Do not blow your problem beyond its proportion that you do not see God any longer. The encompassing enemies are numerous but God is more present than the negative things you are seeing.
Elisha prayed that his servant should see beyond the natural scene and situation (Vs.17). You too need more than just the natural sight, you need a new vision. Many have sight but no vision, the scale of ignorance is coming off your eyes for you to clearly see what the Lord is doing even in that seemingly negative situation. You need a touch that will take you beyond yourself. What the servant of the prophet was seeing was the many chariots of human army but when his spiritual eyes opened, he saw more than the chariots of men, he saw chariots of fire driven by angels. The chariots of fire, for your information were not there just because of the Syrian, they have always being there ever before this time. There is a divinely guaranteed security provision for you even when there seems to be no problem in sight.
When the Syrian army eventually came to the prophet, they were already BLINDFOLDED that they could not even recognize him any longer (Vs.18). I decree that you will become invisible to every evil eyes trying to harm you. God will attack your enemies with blindness that you may proceed into your place of honor and blessings. When the Syrian came down to the prophet, he was fully in charge. He told them, that is not the way. The anointing on you will cause your enemies to take orders from you. The man, the Syrian came purposely to arrest now became the enforcement officer, for he eventually arrested them since he had the higher warrant paper. I see you no more as complainer but rather as the commander in-chief who is fully on top of every situation. None of your words will fall to the ground in Jesus name, all of your enemy and your situation shall take order from you from today. There is the anointing coming upon you that will make you to be feared dreaded.
NAVIGATING PRAYERS
1) Lord expose every hidden battle of my life to me.
2) Open my spiritual eyes and ears to see, hear and fully be aware of the detail of my situation and condition.
3) I foil and completely destroy every evil counsel and conspiracy against my soul and destiny.
4) I command devil and his cohort, no parking, no waiting in and around my portion in Jesus name.
5) Me, my family, and my properties are a no go area for the devil.
6) I receive grace to disgrace all of my enemies in Jesus name.
7) I decree that from today, my enemies will continue to make mistake that will advance my cause in Jesus name.
8) I transfer from my life to the enemies of my soul, trouble, heartbreak, confusion, disgrace, failure, and disappointments.
9) Every evil spy dispatched against my life should fall and die in Jesus name.
Every demonic monitoring installation, and instrument flagged to monitor my life should be burnt in Jesus name.
Every arrow fired against me day or night should backfire in Jesus name.
I decree every siege over my life over in Jesus name.
I defeat fear and frustrate the storm of panic in my life in Jesus name.
Lord help me to see beyond my fear and trouble, to see you in all of my situation.
Surround me with your chariot of fire and angelic troop.
Let your anointing powerfully come upon me to make me be in charge.
10) I command confusion to overtake all my enemies in Jesus name.
I command my enemies disarmed and completely rendered incapacitated.
11) Frustrate the counsel of the devil over my life.
12) All my enemy, fall and die in Jesus name!
The scripture is full of testimonies of God’s ability to defend His people. He is our defense ( Ps. 5:11, 31:1-3, Isa. 31:5, 37: 35, Zec. 9:15, 12: 8), our hiding place (Isa. 32:2, Ps.17:8, 27: 5, 32: 7, 64:2, 119: 114), our fortress (Na 1:7, 2 Sam. 22:2, Ps. 18: 2, 91: 2, 114: 2) , our refuge (Ex. 33:22, Deut. 33: 27, Ps. 27: 5, 31: 20, Prov. 14: 26, Isa. 25: 4, Zec. 9: 12) and our shield (Gen. 15:1, Deut. 33: 29, Ps. 33:20, 84: 11, 115: 9, Prov. 30:5).
You are better secured in Christ for he has an insurance policy for you that can never fail. In the days of Elisha the prophet, God repeatedly demonstrated that He could safely secure His people. In the midst of great tension, God gave attention to His loved ones. Elisha was a watchman over Israel, guiding and instructing the land with divine counsel. The enemies of Israel could not penetrate the defense of the land because the Lord was watching over the words of His servant to perform them. In the vocal text of our exposition, certain truth must be clearly understood and these must inform our strategic prayers.
SYRIAN WARRED AGAINST ISREAL (VS 8)
It was specifically started that the Syrian king warred against Israel. It was a battle between kingdoms. As a child of God, you must recognize the fact that you have a battle to fight and a land to posses. There is no one without battle, and the war is between kingdoms. If you have a clearly defined position, then you must be prepared for opposition. You need to define your opposition in as well as you understand your position. Your warfare prayers must clearly target your own “Syrian Army”.
HE TOOK COUNSEL WITH HIS SERVANTS (VS. 8)
Syrian king took counsel with his servants to determine where their trap camp will be. We are fighting against an elaborate and well organized network of evil. The devil is attacking with his cohort and there are evil deliberations to short circuit you and mortgage your destiny. Thank God, there is an irrevocable divine decree concerning you that the counsel of darkness over you and over your portion will never stand. In prayers, you must seek out where the enemy’s camp really is in your life. Enemies must not settle down in your territory. You must declare a “no place for the devil” war. No waiting, no parking for the devil for your life is a no go area to him.
The Syrian’s plot was exposed to the king of Israel through the prophetic Ministry of Elisha (Vs 9). You need not wait until the enemy strike before you declare war, you must be proactive. Heaven is ready to pre warn you against the intension of the devil if only you will open your eyes to see and your ears to hear. There is always a divine beckoning on you not to fall prey to the trap of the enemy. You need the prophetic anointing and counsel. You must pattern your warfare campaign to allow for investigatory prayers. Your prayers should not only be God do, God give me, but God show me the way I should pass. The eyes of the Lord will follow you every where you go and will expose your enemies to you. Greater portion of your problem is that you are not aware of where the enemies are striking from. Your prayers are against wrong targets. From today, the Lord will give you clear revelation of the detail of your situation and specific steps you are to take to prevent and arrest your problems.
Because the Lord thwarted the evil counsel of the Syrian King, he became sore trouble (vs.11). Trouble, heart break, confusion, disgrace, failure and disappointments are not meant for you, they belong to the enemies of your soul. If you will let God fight for you, devil’s pressure will go high.
SPIES were dispatched to fish out Elisha (Vs. 13) because he has now become the only threat to the evil ambition of the Syrian King. If you have a position in Christ, then you must understand that evil eyes are on you, watching you to locate your secret, identify your weak point and season, so that they could strike you down. You must prophesy against every evil eyes and demonic spies detailed against you and your destiny to fall and die! They will search for you but they can not get you because your defense is Jehovah. When the Syrian discovered Elisha to be at Dothan, they sent emissaries of army well equipped against him. They came by NIGHT and COMPASSED the city about (Vs.14). You must pay special attention to the timing of their coming; in the night, Jesus told a parable of a rich man who planted a vineyard of good vine but in the night, his enemies came and sowed weeds. The devils will always want to strike at the dark hours of the night when you will least expect. Thank God that we have a defender who does not sleep nor slumber; Jehovah is His name. The Syrian came in the night and compassed the city about, thinking they have trapped the man of God inside. That you are besieged does not mean you are deceased. The power that have surrounded you will surrender to you in Jesus Name. The servant of the prophet, waking up early in the morning and seeing the huge presence of the Syrian around the city cried out in desperation and frustration (Vs. 15) HOW SHALL WE DO?. What you need to know is that you can not figure out and think through the solution to the difficulties you are currently facing. The arm of flesh can in no way help. What to do and how to do what to do is none of your business, for God is already in charge. Many of us fail to overcome devil because we don’t see God in our negative situations. There is a thing God is already working out, you only need to see it. Do not blow your problem beyond its proportion that you do not see God any longer. The encompassing enemies are numerous but God is more present than the negative things you are seeing.
Elisha prayed that his servant should see beyond the natural scene and situation (Vs.17). You too need more than just the natural sight, you need a new vision. Many have sight but no vision, the scale of ignorance is coming off your eyes for you to clearly see what the Lord is doing even in that seemingly negative situation. You need a touch that will take you beyond yourself. What the servant of the prophet was seeing was the many chariots of human army but when his spiritual eyes opened, he saw more than the chariots of men, he saw chariots of fire driven by angels. The chariots of fire, for your information were not there just because of the Syrian, they have always being there ever before this time. There is a divinely guaranteed security provision for you even when there seems to be no problem in sight.
When the Syrian army eventually came to the prophet, they were already BLINDFOLDED that they could not even recognize him any longer (Vs.18). I decree that you will become invisible to every evil eyes trying to harm you. God will attack your enemies with blindness that you may proceed into your place of honor and blessings. When the Syrian came down to the prophet, he was fully in charge. He told them, that is not the way. The anointing on you will cause your enemies to take orders from you. The man, the Syrian came purposely to arrest now became the enforcement officer, for he eventually arrested them since he had the higher warrant paper. I see you no more as complainer but rather as the commander in-chief who is fully on top of every situation. None of your words will fall to the ground in Jesus name, all of your enemy and your situation shall take order from you from today. There is the anointing coming upon you that will make you to be feared dreaded.
NAVIGATING PRAYERS
1) Lord expose every hidden battle of my life to me.
2) Open my spiritual eyes and ears to see, hear and fully be aware of the detail of my situation and condition.
3) I foil and completely destroy every evil counsel and conspiracy against my soul and destiny.
4) I command devil and his cohort, no parking, no waiting in and around my portion in Jesus name.
5) Me, my family, and my properties are a no go area for the devil.
6) I receive grace to disgrace all of my enemies in Jesus name.
7) I decree that from today, my enemies will continue to make mistake that will advance my cause in Jesus name.
8) I transfer from my life to the enemies of my soul, trouble, heartbreak, confusion, disgrace, failure, and disappointments.
9) Every evil spy dispatched against my life should fall and die in Jesus name.
Every demonic monitoring installation, and instrument flagged to monitor my life should be burnt in Jesus name.
Every arrow fired against me day or night should backfire in Jesus name.
I decree every siege over my life over in Jesus name.
I defeat fear and frustrate the storm of panic in my life in Jesus name.
Lord help me to see beyond my fear and trouble, to see you in all of my situation.
Surround me with your chariot of fire and angelic troop.
Let your anointing powerfully come upon me to make me be in charge.
10) I command confusion to overtake all my enemies in Jesus name.
I command my enemies disarmed and completely rendered incapacitated.
11) Frustrate the counsel of the devil over my life.
12) All my enemy, fall and die in Jesus name!
NEW CRUSE AND SALT (11KG 2:19-22)
NEW CRUSE AND SALT ( 11 KG.2: 19-22)
Every one of us needs a revolutionary touch of the divine in one aspect of our life or the other. If you are truly in an uncomfortable situation, you will be desperate in your yearning for the desired change. This was the case of the people of Jericho when they encountered the freshly anointed prophet Elisha on his way from beyond Jordan where he was officially commissioned and empowered for the miraculous. There is something divine you will encounter as you carefully observe the transformational revelation from this scriptural text.
REALISATION:- Revelation is a prelude to transformation. If you are not rightly informed you can not be transformed. In experiencing God. You must first come to term with the truth about your situation. You need a clear understanding and definition of your situation before you can have a change of your condition. Someone went out to preach and he said “Jesus is the answer” and the one he was preaching to asked “ so what is the question?”. You can not be looking for the answer when you don’t really know the question. You can not rightly seek for solution of your problem when you have not gotten the situation right. You need to first clearly know what your problems are before you can rightly find solution to them. The people of Jericho knew exactly what their problems were, so when they came to Elisha they went straight to the main issue of their concern (Vs.19) It is not enough that you are prayerful, it is necessary that when you ask in prayer you do not ask amiss. Your prayers must hit the right target in other for it to produce good result. You need to ask yourself “what actually are my problems?” If you have not gotten your situation right, then you must embark on investigatory prayers for the Lord to show you where the issues truly are. According to the men of Jericho the location of Jericho was not the problem, but the bitter taste of the water and the barrenness of the land that defied all scientific explanation. There must then be a supernatural provision in Jehovah God to solve the scientifically unsolvable riddles of Jericho’s bitter water and barren land.
RESOLUTION:- Solution can not come when there is no resolution to go all out for the solution. You have a part to play in making sure that you truly experience that radical emancipation you are yearning for. If your attitude does not show that you are truly interested in the high altitude, you may remain the same place. The people of Jericho did not stopped at the realization and definition of their problems, but they were equally resolute in making sure solution is found. I could see in that community, harmony; one voice and one vision. They demonstrated right and burning passion towards their pursuit. They showed seriousness and determination. They concluded within themselves what they really wanted. If I may also ask you as Jesus asked the blind man, “what do you really want God to do for you?” some people know their problem but they are not fully ready to receive the solution. When Moses and Aaron asked Pharaoh “When do you want God to take away the frogs from the land?” Pharaoh foolishly replied “Tomorrow” Answer to this question before you proceed with the reading of this material, “what do you really want God to do about your case and when do you want Him to do it?”
ACTION:- Pass me not gentle savior is not a Hymn to be sang kneeling down or in idleness, it is a song you have to sing while racing towards the savior. You can not sit at one place and expect everything to come to you, you must get up and pursue something. Some of us waste away in our dream land. You must not just be dreaming you must be doing. It is not enough to have great vision about tomorrow you must have a mission today. As you plan your work you must work your plan. You need to tell yourself again and again “do something”. If you are not “doing” then you are “dieing”. You must do something to get something. If you do not sow, it does not matter how long or how fervent you pray for harvest, you will reap nothing. Jericho men did not stopped at knowing and talking about their problem, they went all out for the solution. There is a definite something the Lord want you to do right now about your issue, I decree an accelerated anointing to come upon you now and propel you into positive and emancipatory actions.
RESTORATION:- Elisha was dramatic in his response to the complaints of the people of Jericho (Vs.20-21). He asked for a NEW CRUSE and SALT. This is what I call dramatic, symbolic, prophetic prayer. The man of God began his prophetic action from the very materials he asked for. The taste of the water was not the only problem, but the source of it. If you look at the load a crooked legged man is carrying and you say the load is bent then you are mistaken, the problem is not the load but the crooked legs. If you straighten the crooked legs the load will straighten up automatically.
The NEW CRUSE the man of God asked for represents the place, or the source and the SALT represent the cure. What Elisha was saying is that there should be a total transformation for the land and the water. No wonder he went straight to the source of the water and there prophesied a definite positive change. Permanent solution came to the problems of Jericho because Elisha addressed the problem from its very root. I pray that the Lord will get into the very root of your situation and command a definite, permanent, positive, change. The reason why many a time we do not see result is because the situations are not dealt with from the very root. You need to begin from the foundation. If the foundation is bad what shall the righteous do?. I think the righteous will have to effect order right from the foundation. You can not continue to build on a faulty foundation.
NAVIGATING PRAYERS
1) Lord, open my eyes to the hidden truth about my situation.
2) Give me a new vision that will generate in me positive energy, and that will propel me into positive actions.
3) Let a yearning arise in me, a determination to be more than a conqueror indeed.
4) Let my attitude from today be in tandem with the high altitude the Lord is sending me into.
5) I decree my dreams translated into right actions that will bring them into tangible manifestations.
6) Lord, let your accelerated anointing come upon me, and propel me into positive and emancipatory actions and realizations.
7) I decree seed and manifestation of barrenness in my life to give way to supra-abundant fruitfulness.
8) I decree every seed and manifestation of bitterness to vanish from my life and give way to divine flavor, favor and sweetness.
9) Every evil from my root should wither and disappear.
10) I move into my season of fulfillment and greatness in Jesus name.
Every one of us needs a revolutionary touch of the divine in one aspect of our life or the other. If you are truly in an uncomfortable situation, you will be desperate in your yearning for the desired change. This was the case of the people of Jericho when they encountered the freshly anointed prophet Elisha on his way from beyond Jordan where he was officially commissioned and empowered for the miraculous. There is something divine you will encounter as you carefully observe the transformational revelation from this scriptural text.
REALISATION:- Revelation is a prelude to transformation. If you are not rightly informed you can not be transformed. In experiencing God. You must first come to term with the truth about your situation. You need a clear understanding and definition of your situation before you can have a change of your condition. Someone went out to preach and he said “Jesus is the answer” and the one he was preaching to asked “ so what is the question?”. You can not be looking for the answer when you don’t really know the question. You can not rightly seek for solution of your problem when you have not gotten the situation right. You need to first clearly know what your problems are before you can rightly find solution to them. The people of Jericho knew exactly what their problems were, so when they came to Elisha they went straight to the main issue of their concern (Vs.19) It is not enough that you are prayerful, it is necessary that when you ask in prayer you do not ask amiss. Your prayers must hit the right target in other for it to produce good result. You need to ask yourself “what actually are my problems?” If you have not gotten your situation right, then you must embark on investigatory prayers for the Lord to show you where the issues truly are. According to the men of Jericho the location of Jericho was not the problem, but the bitter taste of the water and the barrenness of the land that defied all scientific explanation. There must then be a supernatural provision in Jehovah God to solve the scientifically unsolvable riddles of Jericho’s bitter water and barren land.
RESOLUTION:- Solution can not come when there is no resolution to go all out for the solution. You have a part to play in making sure that you truly experience that radical emancipation you are yearning for. If your attitude does not show that you are truly interested in the high altitude, you may remain the same place. The people of Jericho did not stopped at the realization and definition of their problems, but they were equally resolute in making sure solution is found. I could see in that community, harmony; one voice and one vision. They demonstrated right and burning passion towards their pursuit. They showed seriousness and determination. They concluded within themselves what they really wanted. If I may also ask you as Jesus asked the blind man, “what do you really want God to do for you?” some people know their problem but they are not fully ready to receive the solution. When Moses and Aaron asked Pharaoh “When do you want God to take away the frogs from the land?” Pharaoh foolishly replied “Tomorrow” Answer to this question before you proceed with the reading of this material, “what do you really want God to do about your case and when do you want Him to do it?”
ACTION:- Pass me not gentle savior is not a Hymn to be sang kneeling down or in idleness, it is a song you have to sing while racing towards the savior. You can not sit at one place and expect everything to come to you, you must get up and pursue something. Some of us waste away in our dream land. You must not just be dreaming you must be doing. It is not enough to have great vision about tomorrow you must have a mission today. As you plan your work you must work your plan. You need to tell yourself again and again “do something”. If you are not “doing” then you are “dieing”. You must do something to get something. If you do not sow, it does not matter how long or how fervent you pray for harvest, you will reap nothing. Jericho men did not stopped at knowing and talking about their problem, they went all out for the solution. There is a definite something the Lord want you to do right now about your issue, I decree an accelerated anointing to come upon you now and propel you into positive and emancipatory actions.
RESTORATION:- Elisha was dramatic in his response to the complaints of the people of Jericho (Vs.20-21). He asked for a NEW CRUSE and SALT. This is what I call dramatic, symbolic, prophetic prayer. The man of God began his prophetic action from the very materials he asked for. The taste of the water was not the only problem, but the source of it. If you look at the load a crooked legged man is carrying and you say the load is bent then you are mistaken, the problem is not the load but the crooked legs. If you straighten the crooked legs the load will straighten up automatically.
The NEW CRUSE the man of God asked for represents the place, or the source and the SALT represent the cure. What Elisha was saying is that there should be a total transformation for the land and the water. No wonder he went straight to the source of the water and there prophesied a definite positive change. Permanent solution came to the problems of Jericho because Elisha addressed the problem from its very root. I pray that the Lord will get into the very root of your situation and command a definite, permanent, positive, change. The reason why many a time we do not see result is because the situations are not dealt with from the very root. You need to begin from the foundation. If the foundation is bad what shall the righteous do?. I think the righteous will have to effect order right from the foundation. You can not continue to build on a faulty foundation.
NAVIGATING PRAYERS
1) Lord, open my eyes to the hidden truth about my situation.
2) Give me a new vision that will generate in me positive energy, and that will propel me into positive actions.
3) Let a yearning arise in me, a determination to be more than a conqueror indeed.
4) Let my attitude from today be in tandem with the high altitude the Lord is sending me into.
5) I decree my dreams translated into right actions that will bring them into tangible manifestations.
6) Lord, let your accelerated anointing come upon me, and propel me into positive and emancipatory actions and realizations.
7) I decree seed and manifestation of barrenness in my life to give way to supra-abundant fruitfulness.
8) I decree every seed and manifestation of bitterness to vanish from my life and give way to divine flavor, favor and sweetness.
9) Every evil from my root should wither and disappear.
10) I move into my season of fulfillment and greatness in Jesus name.
FROM GRAVE TO GLORY (JN 11)
FROM GRAVE TO GLORY ! (John. 11)
This Lazarus’ resurrection encounter is only captured by Apostle John. It’s a great demonstration of Jesus’ supremacy over all things and a testimony that as far as God is concern nothing is too late.
The first fascinating thing in this passage is the identity of the man who was sick and who eventually died. Lazarus of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Mary and for that matter the “one Jesus love”. The question I ask myself is How come Jesus friend fell sick? I think in life situation today we ask similar questions when we discover people we think are committed to God going through sufferings and afflictions. You may be wondering also about the reason why you are going through what you are going through. This account from John settles the issue, in the Bible, the one Jesus Love was also sick to the point of death. This story directly speaks to the recent wrong theology being propounded by some extreme “faith preachers” who create the impression that once you are a child of God you are immune from problems. There are some who propound the sweet ‘divine health’ doctrine. To them there is a faith dimension you get into where you do not need divine healing any longer because at this level you can even not fall sick again. All these
‘faith propositions’ are not in tandem with the whole truth of biblical teaching. There is no where the Bible teaches that you can never fall sick, the only promise is that even when we are sick, there is the healing balm in Christ. Lazarus was Jesus well known friend, but he was sick and died of the sickness.
Another unusual thing is Jesus response to the emergency message sent to him about the sickness of Lazarus. When he was told, he stayed two more days where he was. One would have expected that he will get up and go to Bethany immediately he was told his friend is sick. There are certain things you urgently consulted God about but it seem God is delaying. Every seemingly delay situation in your life may be for a purpose, for every purpose of God is married with the timing of God so that all things may be beautiful in its time. We live at a time when waiting and patience are now becoming outdated. There are several ‘fast food’ prayer canteen everywhere where God is given ultimatum to respond to people’s request. There is nothing wrong in being prayerful, but prayer is never a means to force God to do what you want. Powerful prayer is built on strong relationship with God. A powerfully prayerful Christian is someone who is completely submissive to the will of God. God makes everything beautiful in His own time. There are times we pray for something and expect quick response from God, but God’s timing may not tally with our own. We must learn to trust God even when what we are expecting is not forthcoming on time, for even when it tarries it will come at the time when it will be most beautiful.
Another important issue in this passage is the conflict of definitions. Jesus told the disciples “our friend Lazarus is fallen asleep but I am going there to wake him up” (Vs 11). What a strange description of the situation! Lazarus was already dead for about 4 days and the master said he was only asleep. Do you know that sometimes the way you define your situation is different from how God sees it? God’s definition of your situation is beyond the locus of human reasoning, and you must believe the report of the Lord. When you have concluded and resigned to fate God may see the case only as a specimen for miracle. You need not give up yet, for even in the grave there can still be hope.
Lazarus died and he was abandoned to the grave by those who loved him.
It is interesting that as loving as Martha was she did not want Jesus to go near the dead Lazarus. Lazarus has now become a past tense. Do you know that there are situations where people you cherish now can’t offer you any help? There are situations where your wife, husband parents , friends and relatives become completely insignificant. The interesting thing is that this same people may be the reason why you are not serious with God. It’s only Jesus who can go with you anywhere anytime and in any situation. When Jesus got there he was told, don’t go near the grave for he is now smelling bad! Do you know that with all your beauty, riches and connections, one day people will say the same thing to you? About Lazarus’ situation everyone concluded that it was too late and it was all over. They deserted him and abandoned him to a closed grave. Where you are abandoned and deserted the Lord will relocate you and bring you up to fame and glory again.
Whenever Jesus set into any situation he brings about radical changes that will glorify God. Jesus went to the entrance of the grave and the only perfect high priest who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities cried because of Lazarus despite the fact that he knew Lazarus will live again. Expression of emotion is not a sign of no or little faith. Denial of realities by suppression of emotion is neither a demonstration of a strong faith. Faith does not deny natural realities, it only sees beyond it. Jesus ordered that the stone at the entrance be rolled away. Every ‘stone’ hindering your breakthrough must give way at the site and commands of Jesus. He cried out to Lazarus to come forth. From every prison of limitation you will come forth! When the death that killed Lazarus heard the voice of Jesus, it gave up Lazarus instantly. Every evil power holding you down will give you up to allow you march into your blessings and fulfillment. The man who was dead 4 days got up! I declare that right now you will get up! Jesus ordered that he be loosed and let go! The scripture describes him as been bound hands and legs with his face covered with napkin. These three areas described are physically and spiritually very significant. Legs represent mobility, hand ability, and eyes visibility. Even if one is living but has problem in these three major areas is just like one is dead. Anything hindering you from moving into your place of blessing will be cleared from your life. Whatsoever is affecting your ability to become whom God wants you to become will be taken away from your life. There are many people with sight but with no vision. May be you also need a word for the restoration of your vision. The evil napkin tied on your face is removed that you may have a new vision that will turn your situation around for the best. The Lord will visit you right away and you will be loosed and let go. I SAY THE SAME THING TO YOU NOW THAT YOU BE LOOSED AND GO INTO YOUR FULFILMENTS IN THE NAME OF JESUS!
NAVIGATING PRAYERS
1) Lord, draw me close to yourself and cause your banner to be upon me.
2) I cry to you in distress, let my prayer never fall on the ground.
3) Turn my negative situation into specimen for divine miracle.
4) Lord make me understand your purpose and timing for my life
5) I decree by anointing, any of my burial ground to become my lifting spot in Jesus name.
6) Any stone rolled against me, my progress and destiny be broken into irreparable pieces in Jesus name.
7) Every obstruction and destruction my way should give way.
8) Speak resurrection words to my situation in Jesus name.
9) I command my hands released from the shackles of darkness.
10) I decree evil scale to fall off my eyes in Jesus name.
11) I command my legs to move into my divine allotment in Jesus name.
12) I move from grave to glory in Jesus name.
This Lazarus’ resurrection encounter is only captured by Apostle John. It’s a great demonstration of Jesus’ supremacy over all things and a testimony that as far as God is concern nothing is too late.
The first fascinating thing in this passage is the identity of the man who was sick and who eventually died. Lazarus of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Mary and for that matter the “one Jesus love”. The question I ask myself is How come Jesus friend fell sick? I think in life situation today we ask similar questions when we discover people we think are committed to God going through sufferings and afflictions. You may be wondering also about the reason why you are going through what you are going through. This account from John settles the issue, in the Bible, the one Jesus Love was also sick to the point of death. This story directly speaks to the recent wrong theology being propounded by some extreme “faith preachers” who create the impression that once you are a child of God you are immune from problems. There are some who propound the sweet ‘divine health’ doctrine. To them there is a faith dimension you get into where you do not need divine healing any longer because at this level you can even not fall sick again. All these
‘faith propositions’ are not in tandem with the whole truth of biblical teaching. There is no where the Bible teaches that you can never fall sick, the only promise is that even when we are sick, there is the healing balm in Christ. Lazarus was Jesus well known friend, but he was sick and died of the sickness.
Another unusual thing is Jesus response to the emergency message sent to him about the sickness of Lazarus. When he was told, he stayed two more days where he was. One would have expected that he will get up and go to Bethany immediately he was told his friend is sick. There are certain things you urgently consulted God about but it seem God is delaying. Every seemingly delay situation in your life may be for a purpose, for every purpose of God is married with the timing of God so that all things may be beautiful in its time. We live at a time when waiting and patience are now becoming outdated. There are several ‘fast food’ prayer canteen everywhere where God is given ultimatum to respond to people’s request. There is nothing wrong in being prayerful, but prayer is never a means to force God to do what you want. Powerful prayer is built on strong relationship with God. A powerfully prayerful Christian is someone who is completely submissive to the will of God. God makes everything beautiful in His own time. There are times we pray for something and expect quick response from God, but God’s timing may not tally with our own. We must learn to trust God even when what we are expecting is not forthcoming on time, for even when it tarries it will come at the time when it will be most beautiful.
Another important issue in this passage is the conflict of definitions. Jesus told the disciples “our friend Lazarus is fallen asleep but I am going there to wake him up” (Vs 11). What a strange description of the situation! Lazarus was already dead for about 4 days and the master said he was only asleep. Do you know that sometimes the way you define your situation is different from how God sees it? God’s definition of your situation is beyond the locus of human reasoning, and you must believe the report of the Lord. When you have concluded and resigned to fate God may see the case only as a specimen for miracle. You need not give up yet, for even in the grave there can still be hope.
Lazarus died and he was abandoned to the grave by those who loved him.
It is interesting that as loving as Martha was she did not want Jesus to go near the dead Lazarus. Lazarus has now become a past tense. Do you know that there are situations where people you cherish now can’t offer you any help? There are situations where your wife, husband parents , friends and relatives become completely insignificant. The interesting thing is that this same people may be the reason why you are not serious with God. It’s only Jesus who can go with you anywhere anytime and in any situation. When Jesus got there he was told, don’t go near the grave for he is now smelling bad! Do you know that with all your beauty, riches and connections, one day people will say the same thing to you? About Lazarus’ situation everyone concluded that it was too late and it was all over. They deserted him and abandoned him to a closed grave. Where you are abandoned and deserted the Lord will relocate you and bring you up to fame and glory again.
Whenever Jesus set into any situation he brings about radical changes that will glorify God. Jesus went to the entrance of the grave and the only perfect high priest who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities cried because of Lazarus despite the fact that he knew Lazarus will live again. Expression of emotion is not a sign of no or little faith. Denial of realities by suppression of emotion is neither a demonstration of a strong faith. Faith does not deny natural realities, it only sees beyond it. Jesus ordered that the stone at the entrance be rolled away. Every ‘stone’ hindering your breakthrough must give way at the site and commands of Jesus. He cried out to Lazarus to come forth. From every prison of limitation you will come forth! When the death that killed Lazarus heard the voice of Jesus, it gave up Lazarus instantly. Every evil power holding you down will give you up to allow you march into your blessings and fulfillment. The man who was dead 4 days got up! I declare that right now you will get up! Jesus ordered that he be loosed and let go! The scripture describes him as been bound hands and legs with his face covered with napkin. These three areas described are physically and spiritually very significant. Legs represent mobility, hand ability, and eyes visibility. Even if one is living but has problem in these three major areas is just like one is dead. Anything hindering you from moving into your place of blessing will be cleared from your life. Whatsoever is affecting your ability to become whom God wants you to become will be taken away from your life. There are many people with sight but with no vision. May be you also need a word for the restoration of your vision. The evil napkin tied on your face is removed that you may have a new vision that will turn your situation around for the best. The Lord will visit you right away and you will be loosed and let go. I SAY THE SAME THING TO YOU NOW THAT YOU BE LOOSED AND GO INTO YOUR FULFILMENTS IN THE NAME OF JESUS!
NAVIGATING PRAYERS
1) Lord, draw me close to yourself and cause your banner to be upon me.
2) I cry to you in distress, let my prayer never fall on the ground.
3) Turn my negative situation into specimen for divine miracle.
4) Lord make me understand your purpose and timing for my life
5) I decree by anointing, any of my burial ground to become my lifting spot in Jesus name.
6) Any stone rolled against me, my progress and destiny be broken into irreparable pieces in Jesus name.
7) Every obstruction and destruction my way should give way.
8) Speak resurrection words to my situation in Jesus name.
9) I command my hands released from the shackles of darkness.
10) I decree evil scale to fall off my eyes in Jesus name.
11) I command my legs to move into my divine allotment in Jesus name.
12) I move from grave to glory in Jesus name.
BY THIS TIME TOMMORROW (11KG 6:24-27}
BY THIS TIME TOMMORROW (II KG 6: 24-27)
How can a horrible terrible negative situation be turned around to become positive and admirable one? What are some of the divine principles to turn our negative situation around for the best? We shall textually explore II kings 6 and 7 to identify the timeless radical revolutionary ideas that will help us unlock the hidden virtues and potential in us which can accelerate our breakthrough, and catapult us to the level God wants us to attain. We shall take a retrospective excursion to (Samaria) the capital of Israel in the days of Elisha the prophet and see how power of God can turn negative situation to positive one.
The Shakings are for your makings:- One of the problems we have is getting the right definition of our situation, and understanding what we are passing through. Sometimes we wrongly conclude that every negative situation we go through are meant for our destruction, but the truth of the matter is that some shakings are for our makings. Jesus’ comment on the man who was born blind, that his situation was meant to glorify God was not only a misnomer but also a big challenge to the popular world view of his day. Jesus is by this comment bringing a new perspective to the way we see situation and interpret events. Some seemingly negative situations are meant to accelerate our progress. Some of the challenges you are going through rather position you well to receive the supernatural touch of God. Your current problem makes you the right specimen for miracle. Let’s get down to Samaria to X-ray the situation and the intervention.
Besieged but not Deceased:- Samaria was besieged by the Syrian army, the resources from the outside seized, and the movement of the people curtailed. The intention of the enemy was not only to limit the people but to also psychologically suffocate them and reduce them to less than nothing. The Samaritans were surrounded but they never surrendered. You can not know all you are capable of doing until you are squeezed beyond your limit. Hunger and sufferings in Samaria revealed the cannibalism in some people, some mothers, in order to survive went as far as eating their own babies. It is problem that can separate disciples from the multitude. Values and morals are better revealed in problem situations.
Why this and why me?:- In the midst of problems, actions are taken and questions are asked. The questions of why becomes very prominent as people try to understand what is going on with them. One important thing about the Samaria situation is the fact that the problem was not linked to any particular sin of Israel. It was not that they sinned against the Lord that they were besieged. The question of sin is out. There are things you go through that are not as a result of some sins committed. It is good that we ask questions in our problem situation but is better we wait for divine answers to those questions also.
Intervention by Information:- If there will be a release there must first be a decree. Right information is a prelude to transformation. The first verse of the chapter seven introduces a radical transition by an authoritative declaration of the prophet. “Thus says the Lord” is the key to unlocking the transition and the transformation. It doesn’t matter what others says, including your reasoning, what matters most is what the Lord says. What you are saying, what friends are saying, what doctors and scientist are saying are only hypothesis, it’s only God who have the final say. What God says will surely stand, and no one can decrease what God decrees. We shall believe the report of the Lord and not the comments of men, for God watches over His words to fulfill them even to the punctuations. Divine submissions may sometimes not fit well into your human “logarithm” of doing things; it can simply blow up your mind. The unnamed prime minister of Samaria who disbelieved was cut off the provision of God because he ignorantly underestimated the divine ability. You can not figure out what God can do or limit Him based on your human understanding. He works beyond the locus of human reason.
Tomorrow by this time:- No matter the situation, if you are by God’s side, there will surely be a dawn of a new era, a new beginning and a turn of the tide. There will be a sanction from heaven, that your sorrow must end with an immediate effect. God gave a 24 hours ultimatum to the Samaria’s sorrow, and that settled it. Be rest assured, no matter how humanly absurd it may sound, God will not start a thing He has not finished. What is written in His word is settled and finished already, it is only left for you to proclaim and claim the provisions in His word. God is not limited by time or by space, but because we live in time and space, He has married His purpose with His time. To experience God, you must know Him, know His purpose, and understand His timing. You need to wait for Him for He will not tarry. Hasting brings wasting, but those who know their God will patiently wait on Him for He makes everything beautiful in His time.
Lepers by the Gate:- One of the things we do when we encounter difficulties is to compare and complain. We are tempted to think that we are going through the most difficult situation in the world, but the truth of the matter is that w are not alone; there are people with bigger trouble than we have. We have a lot to discover and learn from the situation and action of these 4 lepers by the gate of Samaria. There are some key things we must discover from the lepers before we can recover the divine supplies for us. Let’s examine them succinctly
Their situation: We must first note that these lepers seems to be the most disadvantaged. They couldn’t stay in the city because they are socially unfit to even stay inside the besieged city. Their problems seem to appear in the capital letters. They are outcast, voiceless, and in human terms most hopeless.
Their location:- The issue of location is of a great importance when it comes to receiving your divine allocation. Transition and transformation are relevantly related to locations. In human terms, the lepers were in a more dangerous location, given the fact that they were not within the security wall of the city. In reality, although they stand the danger of many things, they were closer to the blessings than those within the walled city. Strangely enough, the first hard lesson we have to learn here is that most of the things that keep us from God’s touch are things that we rather think secure us from danger. We are not yet ready for the divine move until we are ready to let go out “ self”, “shell” and “wall”. The confines must be removed to enjoy the divine. There is nothing more limiting than the self made wall we have constructed around our own selves. The threat of the enemies without is not as powerful as the wall we build around ourselves. Deliverance from self is more challenging than deliverance from demons. What you seriously need to urgently discover as an individual is the self made wall you have made around yourself . It may be an ideology or an habit that God will first want you released from.
Their question:- The lepers engaged themselves in self interrogative conversation. They questioned themselves, their actions and values. The popular saying that an unevaluated life is not worth living is a strong assertion. You need to ask yourself questions about your values, position and actions. Sameness is a cancer that must be eradicated for progress to commence. Some of the problems we have are problems of the mind and perception. Some of us need a complete overhauling of our worldview, mind set, and perception. Why do we do what we do? Why are my not getting results? Instead of asking ourselves questions we are comfortable with shifting blame of our failure on others. Any time there is a problem we tend to immediately look without instead of first looking within. The lepers did well in that they were frank to challenge themselves instead of blaming others for their woes. Their question was not about the city that is closed against them or the army ahead of them but rather about their own action and position. Those who grumble only stumbles. You are your own biggest enemy, and not until you conquer yourself, you will not be able to move forward.
Their Options:- Every day we make choices, and it is these choices we daily make that determine the direction and situation of our lives. The fact still remain that you choose what you become. Even when the beginning is rough, you can maintain the roughness or change the tide with your choices. You can choose to be a looser or choose to be a champion. The lepers had three options, to go back and force their way into the city and die of famine, to sit still and still die or to move on and either be killed by the Syrian army or be spared by them. Usually, in most situations, we are faced with similar options to move on, go back or do nothing. It will interest you that indecision is also a decision; it means you have chosen to sit still. When you withdraw into yourself the meaning is that you have gone back into the city where you stand the danger of being killed by famine. Some people, when they fall, they make their falling ground to become their burial ground, they throw up their hands and easily give up any attempt to get up and get going. Life is about challenges options and choices and it is your decision that determines your direction and condition in life.
Their Action:- We sometime fail, not because of lack of dream or vision, but because of lack of action. It is not enough to wish or dream, it is necessary we take action when required. It is one thing to plan our work and another thing to work our plans. Large numbers of people are still where they are because they are living in the dream land and busy planning to be and to do without actually reaching out to work out their dream. Procrastination is a liability that disguises as an asset. It has been described as a thief of time but it is also a destroyer of vision and aspiration. It is a waster that must be fought with all whims. The lepers were not just day dreaming, but in a twilight, they really got up and practically went forward. There is an action the Lord wants you to take now and you must discover it NOW.
Their Assumption was an illusion:- Do you know that most of what we are afraid of, in reality don’t even exist. What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of being afraid or trying out a new things? Do you know that those who are afraid of death are not qualified to live? What is stopping you from reaching forth is not in existence, it is a fiction and figment of mere imagination. The reason why you don’t know it does not exist is simply because you have not yet taken a step forward. Your fear will fizzle out as you reach out of your cocoon. Hear this, “And when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold there was no man there” What a great discovery to the lepers! Your fear do not exist, that is the reality, but it will take a walk of faith forward to discover this. You can not know until you move.
The Divine Intervention:- It is most soothing to know at the time you feel lonely that afterwards you are not alone. Before you set off, the Lord has set in already. In this journey of life, you must know that you are not alone. Loneliness is not the same as aloneness. There is a power beyond you that is around you to both protect and fulfill you. The lepers were not alone, for the Lord had already fixed the problem before they reached the camp. What was the arrangement here? God made the Syrian go round, gather a lot of resources from nations around, and dump them at Israel’s door. When God sets into a negative situation, He turns it around for our positive promotion.
The Lepers’ Propagation:- It is not enough to be blessed by God, the blessings must make you go beyond yourself. Life is what you can give and not just what you can grasp. You must be able to impact others with what you are given by the Lord. Abraham was blessed by the Lord and he also became a blessing to others. Have you ever thought of what you can also share that you are not sharing? You must proclaim what you have discovered, recovered and acquired for the benefit of the whole humanity. Not until you begin to proclaim and impact others you have not yet attained.
NAVIGATING PRAYERS.
Based on what you have learnt so far from the passage, navigate in prayers to appropriate divine touch and blessings with the following prayer points:
Lord help me understand who I am and What I am going through currently.
Help me see the positives in my negatives.
Bring an end to my pain and sorrow.
Speak into my situation oh Lord!
Help me oh Lord to make right decision that will accelerate my breakthrough .
Let all set backs of my life become set up for my greater breakthrough.
Take me beyond myself and make me positively relevant to others.
How can a horrible terrible negative situation be turned around to become positive and admirable one? What are some of the divine principles to turn our negative situation around for the best? We shall textually explore II kings 6 and 7 to identify the timeless radical revolutionary ideas that will help us unlock the hidden virtues and potential in us which can accelerate our breakthrough, and catapult us to the level God wants us to attain. We shall take a retrospective excursion to (Samaria) the capital of Israel in the days of Elisha the prophet and see how power of God can turn negative situation to positive one.
The Shakings are for your makings:- One of the problems we have is getting the right definition of our situation, and understanding what we are passing through. Sometimes we wrongly conclude that every negative situation we go through are meant for our destruction, but the truth of the matter is that some shakings are for our makings. Jesus’ comment on the man who was born blind, that his situation was meant to glorify God was not only a misnomer but also a big challenge to the popular world view of his day. Jesus is by this comment bringing a new perspective to the way we see situation and interpret events. Some seemingly negative situations are meant to accelerate our progress. Some of the challenges you are going through rather position you well to receive the supernatural touch of God. Your current problem makes you the right specimen for miracle. Let’s get down to Samaria to X-ray the situation and the intervention.
Besieged but not Deceased:- Samaria was besieged by the Syrian army, the resources from the outside seized, and the movement of the people curtailed. The intention of the enemy was not only to limit the people but to also psychologically suffocate them and reduce them to less than nothing. The Samaritans were surrounded but they never surrendered. You can not know all you are capable of doing until you are squeezed beyond your limit. Hunger and sufferings in Samaria revealed the cannibalism in some people, some mothers, in order to survive went as far as eating their own babies. It is problem that can separate disciples from the multitude. Values and morals are better revealed in problem situations.
Why this and why me?:- In the midst of problems, actions are taken and questions are asked. The questions of why becomes very prominent as people try to understand what is going on with them. One important thing about the Samaria situation is the fact that the problem was not linked to any particular sin of Israel. It was not that they sinned against the Lord that they were besieged. The question of sin is out. There are things you go through that are not as a result of some sins committed. It is good that we ask questions in our problem situation but is better we wait for divine answers to those questions also.
Intervention by Information:- If there will be a release there must first be a decree. Right information is a prelude to transformation. The first verse of the chapter seven introduces a radical transition by an authoritative declaration of the prophet. “Thus says the Lord” is the key to unlocking the transition and the transformation. It doesn’t matter what others says, including your reasoning, what matters most is what the Lord says. What you are saying, what friends are saying, what doctors and scientist are saying are only hypothesis, it’s only God who have the final say. What God says will surely stand, and no one can decrease what God decrees. We shall believe the report of the Lord and not the comments of men, for God watches over His words to fulfill them even to the punctuations. Divine submissions may sometimes not fit well into your human “logarithm” of doing things; it can simply blow up your mind. The unnamed prime minister of Samaria who disbelieved was cut off the provision of God because he ignorantly underestimated the divine ability. You can not figure out what God can do or limit Him based on your human understanding. He works beyond the locus of human reason.
Tomorrow by this time:- No matter the situation, if you are by God’s side, there will surely be a dawn of a new era, a new beginning and a turn of the tide. There will be a sanction from heaven, that your sorrow must end with an immediate effect. God gave a 24 hours ultimatum to the Samaria’s sorrow, and that settled it. Be rest assured, no matter how humanly absurd it may sound, God will not start a thing He has not finished. What is written in His word is settled and finished already, it is only left for you to proclaim and claim the provisions in His word. God is not limited by time or by space, but because we live in time and space, He has married His purpose with His time. To experience God, you must know Him, know His purpose, and understand His timing. You need to wait for Him for He will not tarry. Hasting brings wasting, but those who know their God will patiently wait on Him for He makes everything beautiful in His time.
Lepers by the Gate:- One of the things we do when we encounter difficulties is to compare and complain. We are tempted to think that we are going through the most difficult situation in the world, but the truth of the matter is that w are not alone; there are people with bigger trouble than we have. We have a lot to discover and learn from the situation and action of these 4 lepers by the gate of Samaria. There are some key things we must discover from the lepers before we can recover the divine supplies for us. Let’s examine them succinctly
Their situation: We must first note that these lepers seems to be the most disadvantaged. They couldn’t stay in the city because they are socially unfit to even stay inside the besieged city. Their problems seem to appear in the capital letters. They are outcast, voiceless, and in human terms most hopeless.
Their location:- The issue of location is of a great importance when it comes to receiving your divine allocation. Transition and transformation are relevantly related to locations. In human terms, the lepers were in a more dangerous location, given the fact that they were not within the security wall of the city. In reality, although they stand the danger of many things, they were closer to the blessings than those within the walled city. Strangely enough, the first hard lesson we have to learn here is that most of the things that keep us from God’s touch are things that we rather think secure us from danger. We are not yet ready for the divine move until we are ready to let go out “ self”, “shell” and “wall”. The confines must be removed to enjoy the divine. There is nothing more limiting than the self made wall we have constructed around our own selves. The threat of the enemies without is not as powerful as the wall we build around ourselves. Deliverance from self is more challenging than deliverance from demons. What you seriously need to urgently discover as an individual is the self made wall you have made around yourself . It may be an ideology or an habit that God will first want you released from.
Their question:- The lepers engaged themselves in self interrogative conversation. They questioned themselves, their actions and values. The popular saying that an unevaluated life is not worth living is a strong assertion. You need to ask yourself questions about your values, position and actions. Sameness is a cancer that must be eradicated for progress to commence. Some of the problems we have are problems of the mind and perception. Some of us need a complete overhauling of our worldview, mind set, and perception. Why do we do what we do? Why are my not getting results? Instead of asking ourselves questions we are comfortable with shifting blame of our failure on others. Any time there is a problem we tend to immediately look without instead of first looking within. The lepers did well in that they were frank to challenge themselves instead of blaming others for their woes. Their question was not about the city that is closed against them or the army ahead of them but rather about their own action and position. Those who grumble only stumbles. You are your own biggest enemy, and not until you conquer yourself, you will not be able to move forward.
Their Options:- Every day we make choices, and it is these choices we daily make that determine the direction and situation of our lives. The fact still remain that you choose what you become. Even when the beginning is rough, you can maintain the roughness or change the tide with your choices. You can choose to be a looser or choose to be a champion. The lepers had three options, to go back and force their way into the city and die of famine, to sit still and still die or to move on and either be killed by the Syrian army or be spared by them. Usually, in most situations, we are faced with similar options to move on, go back or do nothing. It will interest you that indecision is also a decision; it means you have chosen to sit still. When you withdraw into yourself the meaning is that you have gone back into the city where you stand the danger of being killed by famine. Some people, when they fall, they make their falling ground to become their burial ground, they throw up their hands and easily give up any attempt to get up and get going. Life is about challenges options and choices and it is your decision that determines your direction and condition in life.
Their Action:- We sometime fail, not because of lack of dream or vision, but because of lack of action. It is not enough to wish or dream, it is necessary we take action when required. It is one thing to plan our work and another thing to work our plans. Large numbers of people are still where they are because they are living in the dream land and busy planning to be and to do without actually reaching out to work out their dream. Procrastination is a liability that disguises as an asset. It has been described as a thief of time but it is also a destroyer of vision and aspiration. It is a waster that must be fought with all whims. The lepers were not just day dreaming, but in a twilight, they really got up and practically went forward. There is an action the Lord wants you to take now and you must discover it NOW.
Their Assumption was an illusion:- Do you know that most of what we are afraid of, in reality don’t even exist. What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of being afraid or trying out a new things? Do you know that those who are afraid of death are not qualified to live? What is stopping you from reaching forth is not in existence, it is a fiction and figment of mere imagination. The reason why you don’t know it does not exist is simply because you have not yet taken a step forward. Your fear will fizzle out as you reach out of your cocoon. Hear this, “And when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold there was no man there” What a great discovery to the lepers! Your fear do not exist, that is the reality, but it will take a walk of faith forward to discover this. You can not know until you move.
The Divine Intervention:- It is most soothing to know at the time you feel lonely that afterwards you are not alone. Before you set off, the Lord has set in already. In this journey of life, you must know that you are not alone. Loneliness is not the same as aloneness. There is a power beyond you that is around you to both protect and fulfill you. The lepers were not alone, for the Lord had already fixed the problem before they reached the camp. What was the arrangement here? God made the Syrian go round, gather a lot of resources from nations around, and dump them at Israel’s door. When God sets into a negative situation, He turns it around for our positive promotion.
The Lepers’ Propagation:- It is not enough to be blessed by God, the blessings must make you go beyond yourself. Life is what you can give and not just what you can grasp. You must be able to impact others with what you are given by the Lord. Abraham was blessed by the Lord and he also became a blessing to others. Have you ever thought of what you can also share that you are not sharing? You must proclaim what you have discovered, recovered and acquired for the benefit of the whole humanity. Not until you begin to proclaim and impact others you have not yet attained.
NAVIGATING PRAYERS.
Based on what you have learnt so far from the passage, navigate in prayers to appropriate divine touch and blessings with the following prayer points:
Lord help me understand who I am and What I am going through currently.
Help me see the positives in my negatives.
Bring an end to my pain and sorrow.
Speak into my situation oh Lord!
Help me oh Lord to make right decision that will accelerate my breakthrough .
Let all set backs of my life become set up for my greater breakthrough.
Take me beyond myself and make me positively relevant to others.
OVERCOMING CURSE (1CHRON 4:9-10)
OVERCOMING CURSE ( 1 CHRON. 4:9-10)
In the midst of a long and dull genealogical record is the story of Mr. Jabez, who experienced a radical emancipation and liberation from an unusual curse. In this simple two verses is a story of personal revolution through prayer which has no equal in the whole of the scripture. This text attest to the fact that after each test, for those who will lean on God, is a testimony. In God, there is a sure cure for every curse. The truth in this passage is that it is not the situation that you find yourself that really matters but what you do with the situation.
The following observation are noticed from the passage and they will surely inform the way the interpretation and application of the text will be done.
1. The end at the beginning: The story of this man is simply strange both in content and in arrangement. Thank God that the beautiful thing about it is that the end precedes the beginning. The good end of the man swallowed up the bad and the rough beginning he had. That he was more honorable than his brethren was the end of the matter. It does not therefore matter how you began, your good end will swallow up your rough beginning. The end of a thing is better than the beginning thereof. The truth that your end will be great should motivate you to keep keeping on. If you have the end in view, you will not give up now, for there is hope and great destiny for you in Christ. I see your story positively changing for the best in Jesus name.
2. Conditioned Condition:- Because the situation of the mother was bad at the time he was born, she overshadowed the destiny of the baby by her own personal experience. Sorrow became his name because the mother was experiencing sorrow when he was born. There are people in similar situation conditioned and been controlled by others. Every limitation set over you by your family or the environment where you live will give way to the transforming power of God that is ordering your great destiny. The Lord will release you from every negative condition struggling to overshadow your destiny.
3. The mother named him:- Another strange thing about this naming is the person who gave him name. It is a misnomer for a woman to name the child. The father of Jabesh was never mentioned. The beginning of the negatives in the life of Jabesh began with the wrong person giving the name. There are people who have been wrongly named by wrong people. There is no doubt that the scriptures recognize the spiritual significance of name, no wonder God Himself has to change the name of Abram to Abraham to correspond with his destiny. Jesus dealt with the display instability in Simon by changing his name to Peter. There is a great deal in the name you respond to, for it can either hinder or enhance your destiny in this life. What ought to be in your life but are not will be re-ordered by God.
4. Greater authority:- Jabesh sent his appeal to the supreme court of the universe where God himself is seated as the Chief Judge. The mother called him sorrowful but he knew God has the final say, so he cried to God directly. You have a place you can appeal to in life if anything is wrong. God is our final authority in all situations.
5. Aggressive Prayers:- There is no progression without aggression. Jabesh prayed one of the most radical and revolutionary prayer in the scripture. If indeed you are expecting radical emancipation to reclaim your lost glory, you must get serious with God and pray like Jabesh.
NAVIGATING PRAYER.
Lord I need a change, a positive change indeed.
I destroy every childbirth and rite of passage evil.
I destroy every representational covenant and curse over my life.
Any evil pronouncement over my life are terminated in Jesus name.
God bless me indeed.
Enlarge my coast oh Lord!
Let your hands be u[on me for good oh Lord.
Deliver, protect and preserve my life.
In the midst of a long and dull genealogical record is the story of Mr. Jabez, who experienced a radical emancipation and liberation from an unusual curse. In this simple two verses is a story of personal revolution through prayer which has no equal in the whole of the scripture. This text attest to the fact that after each test, for those who will lean on God, is a testimony. In God, there is a sure cure for every curse. The truth in this passage is that it is not the situation that you find yourself that really matters but what you do with the situation.
The following observation are noticed from the passage and they will surely inform the way the interpretation and application of the text will be done.
1. The end at the beginning: The story of this man is simply strange both in content and in arrangement. Thank God that the beautiful thing about it is that the end precedes the beginning. The good end of the man swallowed up the bad and the rough beginning he had. That he was more honorable than his brethren was the end of the matter. It does not therefore matter how you began, your good end will swallow up your rough beginning. The end of a thing is better than the beginning thereof. The truth that your end will be great should motivate you to keep keeping on. If you have the end in view, you will not give up now, for there is hope and great destiny for you in Christ. I see your story positively changing for the best in Jesus name.
2. Conditioned Condition:- Because the situation of the mother was bad at the time he was born, she overshadowed the destiny of the baby by her own personal experience. Sorrow became his name because the mother was experiencing sorrow when he was born. There are people in similar situation conditioned and been controlled by others. Every limitation set over you by your family or the environment where you live will give way to the transforming power of God that is ordering your great destiny. The Lord will release you from every negative condition struggling to overshadow your destiny.
3. The mother named him:- Another strange thing about this naming is the person who gave him name. It is a misnomer for a woman to name the child. The father of Jabesh was never mentioned. The beginning of the negatives in the life of Jabesh began with the wrong person giving the name. There are people who have been wrongly named by wrong people. There is no doubt that the scriptures recognize the spiritual significance of name, no wonder God Himself has to change the name of Abram to Abraham to correspond with his destiny. Jesus dealt with the display instability in Simon by changing his name to Peter. There is a great deal in the name you respond to, for it can either hinder or enhance your destiny in this life. What ought to be in your life but are not will be re-ordered by God.
4. Greater authority:- Jabesh sent his appeal to the supreme court of the universe where God himself is seated as the Chief Judge. The mother called him sorrowful but he knew God has the final say, so he cried to God directly. You have a place you can appeal to in life if anything is wrong. God is our final authority in all situations.
5. Aggressive Prayers:- There is no progression without aggression. Jabesh prayed one of the most radical and revolutionary prayer in the scripture. If indeed you are expecting radical emancipation to reclaim your lost glory, you must get serious with God and pray like Jabesh.
NAVIGATING PRAYER.
Lord I need a change, a positive change indeed.
I destroy every childbirth and rite of passage evil.
I destroy every representational covenant and curse over my life.
Any evil pronouncement over my life are terminated in Jesus name.
God bless me indeed.
Enlarge my coast oh Lord!
Let your hands be u[on me for good oh Lord.
Deliver, protect and preserve my life.
Friday, October 24, 2008
PROPHETIC VOICE FOR THE "MBER" MONTHS OF 2008
PROPHETIC VOICE FOR THE "MBER" MONTHS.
In God’s agenda, there is a purpose for every person at each season. The greatest thing one can discover is the purpose of God for one’s life. This time of the year you are not left in the dark as far as God’s purposes are concern. The last quarter of the year 2008 that you are now in is pregnant with positive divine purpose for you. The year 2008 is prophetically significant, since it is the year that follows the sabbatical year. The Hebrew word translated eight in the Bible literally means ‘surplus beyond the perfect’. God says you are entering into your season of surplus and super abundance provisions.
The divine inspiration of this prophetic mandate will position you at the place to freely access your divine allocation. This divine inspiration will equally insulate you against expiration, for those who are not inspire will spiritually expire. I decree by God’s anointing that you will not expire. This is a prophetic blue print for the “mber months” of the year 2008. Your pain will give way for praise and your weeping for reaping. You are entering into an unprecedented supernatural encounter with God that will break open all doors of blessing previously wrongly locked against you.
You now have a divine decree to increase in supra-geometric progression. All your set backs shall become set ups for your breakthrough and greater glory. In this season, God will give a divine blow to all your woes and tread into extinction all of your trouble. Your problems are rebuked that you may proceed into your ordained destiny. You will be strengthen from within to achieve your divinely inspired desire. God will convert your disappointments into new appointments and anything that has left your life will create space for greater things to take over.
In this season, the Lord says “for thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited “Isa 54:3.
“For I will look on you favorably, and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm my covenant with you” Lev 26:9
“In righteousness shall thou be established: thou shall be far from oppression; for thou shall not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee” Isa.54: 14.
“And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not” Isa. 58:11.
“The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, the city of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy one of Israel” Isa 60:14.
“I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gate of brass and cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give thee the treasurers of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel’’ Isa.45:2-3.
“As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem (You); defending also he will deliver it, and passing over he will preserve it” Isa. 31:5.
“Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read, no one of these shall fail ……” Isa.34:16.
As you hook yourself to the words of this prophetic mandate, heaven will unleash on you uncommon favor and supersonic blessings that will take you beyond yourself and set you among kings and princes. Everything that belongs to you will locate you. You are fully covered and connected in Christ.
In God’s agenda, there is a purpose for every person at each season. The greatest thing one can discover is the purpose of God for one’s life. This time of the year you are not left in the dark as far as God’s purposes are concern. The last quarter of the year 2008 that you are now in is pregnant with positive divine purpose for you. The year 2008 is prophetically significant, since it is the year that follows the sabbatical year. The Hebrew word translated eight in the Bible literally means ‘surplus beyond the perfect’. God says you are entering into your season of surplus and super abundance provisions.
The divine inspiration of this prophetic mandate will position you at the place to freely access your divine allocation. This divine inspiration will equally insulate you against expiration, for those who are not inspire will spiritually expire. I decree by God’s anointing that you will not expire. This is a prophetic blue print for the “mber months” of the year 2008. Your pain will give way for praise and your weeping for reaping. You are entering into an unprecedented supernatural encounter with God that will break open all doors of blessing previously wrongly locked against you.
You now have a divine decree to increase in supra-geometric progression. All your set backs shall become set ups for your breakthrough and greater glory. In this season, God will give a divine blow to all your woes and tread into extinction all of your trouble. Your problems are rebuked that you may proceed into your ordained destiny. You will be strengthen from within to achieve your divinely inspired desire. God will convert your disappointments into new appointments and anything that has left your life will create space for greater things to take over.
In this season, the Lord says “for thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited “Isa 54:3.
“For I will look on you favorably, and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm my covenant with you” Lev 26:9
“In righteousness shall thou be established: thou shall be far from oppression; for thou shall not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee” Isa.54: 14.
“And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not” Isa. 58:11.
“The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, the city of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy one of Israel” Isa 60:14.
“I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gate of brass and cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give thee the treasurers of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel’’ Isa.45:2-3.
“As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem (You); defending also he will deliver it, and passing over he will preserve it” Isa. 31:5.
“Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read, no one of these shall fail ……” Isa.34:16.
As you hook yourself to the words of this prophetic mandate, heaven will unleash on you uncommon favor and supersonic blessings that will take you beyond yourself and set you among kings and princes. Everything that belongs to you will locate you. You are fully covered and connected in Christ.
DISCOVER TO RECOVER, THE PROPHETIC VOICE
BAPTIST PROPHETIC VOICE
DISCOVER TO RECOVER ( I SAM. 30)
There is a prophetic mandate you are given in Christ to retract and retrieve all of your divinely ordained possessions wrongly and illegally confiscated by the enemies of your destiny. None of what belong to you can be taken by satanic cohort for they have God’s stamp on them specifically addressed to you. The scriptural text we are exploring this month gives us the detailed information as to how we are to go about recovering our lost portion from the hands of the enemies that has wrongly taken them.
If you are going to really recover your divine portion you must first come to term with the truth from I Sam. Chapter 30. There is a Davidic key that will supernaturally unlock your blessings in supra-geometric dimension to you but the prelude to your recovery is to first discover the truth in this text.
BATTLE FROM BEHIND ( VS 1- 2)
David and his men were more than shocked when they returned to their base only to discover they have been attacked and their properties and families taken away. There is a kind of battle that allows one to go forth and conquer but come from behind to pack all you have acquired away suddenly. Any power wishing to come against you from behind is rebuked and incapacitated in Jesus name. Any attempt of the devil to naked you is frustrated by anointing in Jesus name. I decree that God’s anointing build sure coverage for you, your family and possession. The first truth is for you to have clear understanding of the evil tactics of your enemy. You must not be ignorant of devil’s devices, for he always aim at attacking from behind. The enemy will never be successful over your life. God’s grace that will disgrace the enemy is coming upon you right now in Jesus name. Hold your head and prophesy “I am covered and protected from every demonic insurrection and arrow from behind in Jesus name”
BATTERED AND BITTER ( VS. 4- 6)
A beaten and battered man will surely be bitter. Your season of sorrowing can never make for the loss of your life. If you keep murmuring and grumbling you will further stumble and crumble. Blaming someone for your lost is not the solution. God say I should announce to you to stop complaining and start commanding. The company of David cried until they had no strength left to cry. Why do you waste your remaining energy analyzing and shifting blame because of what has happened to you?. The best such analysis will do is further paralysis. Concentrate your energy on the positive and not the negative for there is a way out for you. Bitterness is a baulk to your best.
BECKONING ON THE DIVINE ( VS. 6-8)
To get better instead of bitter you need to beckon on the Divine. When you encounter the divine power, every limitation associated with your humanity will simply phase out. In the midst of your trouble, if you are looking within, you will get depressed, and if you are looking around you will get suppressed, but if you look up you will be helped. You can not carry on when you are only crying, but if you cheer up in God you will surely go up. David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. If there is no encouragement around there is sure encouragement in Christ. In the midst of your trial and tension what you need is divine attention.
David sought the Lord and a divine decree was issued for him to pursue, overtake and recover all. A word is coming against your enemy’s wall, and an overtaking anointing is coming upon you in an accelerated manner that will take you a head of your enemy to retrieve and recover all that belongs to you. I see you ahead and fulfilled! You have to get going for you are meant to be a head ! You are the head and you must be ahead. Although the enemy fought you from behind but you are going a head and in fullness recover. David asked if he could overtake his enemies but God gave a reply that took David beyond his request. God said “You will not only pursue and overtake but you will also recover ALL”. I see God taking you beyond your dream and imagination. You will leave the company of fighters and become more than a conqueror. There are many gathering of Christians today ,all they do is to only fight- and truly they are pursuing and overtaking but they are not really recovering – but I decree by anointing that you will not only overtake you will surely recover ALL. It is the divine decree that can not be decreased!. As you beckon on the divine your beacon of victory will surface.
BEYOND BESOR (VS 9-10)
In overtaking and recovering there are bends to negotiate and rivers to cross. If you can not cross your Besor you can not crush your enemies. When David and his men got to Besor 200 out of the 600 men could not break through the brook. Besor separated “men” from “boys”. Where you are now is not your last stop – You must pass over the brook for your testimony is at the other side. If you give up you can not go up. Even if you are fallen, your fallen ground must not become your burial ground, but your lifting spot. When the battle seems toughest that is when the victory is closest. Do not step aside but step up, keep moving, there is breakthrough at the other side of Besor. The anointing for passing over be released upon you now in Jesus name !.
BREAKTHROUGH OF BENIGNITY (VS. 11-16).
Many of us are at the door of our great blessings but we are not using the right key to open the door. Prayer and fasting without right actions will only take you to the door of your destiny but can’t open the door for you. Don’t be too pre-occupied with your suffering that you don’t help others who are suffering. In helping others you will also be helped. If David never stop to help this dieing Egyptian with bread and drink he would have suffered more. The dieing man was the key to David’s full recovery.. There are people at strategic junctions of life that heaven want you to assist so that greater doors of blessings can be opened unto you, if you fail to assist you will also roam for long without finding your road to success. A stingy and selfish person can never reach his peak in life. Invest in others and you will be blessed. As David pursued, overtook, rescued and recovered all his lost people and properties, I decree this season and month to be your time of full recovery. As you have discovered, now RECOVER IN JESUS NAME!.
DISCOVER TO RECOVER ( I SAM. 30)
There is a prophetic mandate you are given in Christ to retract and retrieve all of your divinely ordained possessions wrongly and illegally confiscated by the enemies of your destiny. None of what belong to you can be taken by satanic cohort for they have God’s stamp on them specifically addressed to you. The scriptural text we are exploring this month gives us the detailed information as to how we are to go about recovering our lost portion from the hands of the enemies that has wrongly taken them.
If you are going to really recover your divine portion you must first come to term with the truth from I Sam. Chapter 30. There is a Davidic key that will supernaturally unlock your blessings in supra-geometric dimension to you but the prelude to your recovery is to first discover the truth in this text.
BATTLE FROM BEHIND ( VS 1- 2)
David and his men were more than shocked when they returned to their base only to discover they have been attacked and their properties and families taken away. There is a kind of battle that allows one to go forth and conquer but come from behind to pack all you have acquired away suddenly. Any power wishing to come against you from behind is rebuked and incapacitated in Jesus name. Any attempt of the devil to naked you is frustrated by anointing in Jesus name. I decree that God’s anointing build sure coverage for you, your family and possession. The first truth is for you to have clear understanding of the evil tactics of your enemy. You must not be ignorant of devil’s devices, for he always aim at attacking from behind. The enemy will never be successful over your life. God’s grace that will disgrace the enemy is coming upon you right now in Jesus name. Hold your head and prophesy “I am covered and protected from every demonic insurrection and arrow from behind in Jesus name”
BATTERED AND BITTER ( VS. 4- 6)
A beaten and battered man will surely be bitter. Your season of sorrowing can never make for the loss of your life. If you keep murmuring and grumbling you will further stumble and crumble. Blaming someone for your lost is not the solution. God say I should announce to you to stop complaining and start commanding. The company of David cried until they had no strength left to cry. Why do you waste your remaining energy analyzing and shifting blame because of what has happened to you?. The best such analysis will do is further paralysis. Concentrate your energy on the positive and not the negative for there is a way out for you. Bitterness is a baulk to your best.
BECKONING ON THE DIVINE ( VS. 6-8)
To get better instead of bitter you need to beckon on the Divine. When you encounter the divine power, every limitation associated with your humanity will simply phase out. In the midst of your trouble, if you are looking within, you will get depressed, and if you are looking around you will get suppressed, but if you look up you will be helped. You can not carry on when you are only crying, but if you cheer up in God you will surely go up. David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. If there is no encouragement around there is sure encouragement in Christ. In the midst of your trial and tension what you need is divine attention.
David sought the Lord and a divine decree was issued for him to pursue, overtake and recover all. A word is coming against your enemy’s wall, and an overtaking anointing is coming upon you in an accelerated manner that will take you a head of your enemy to retrieve and recover all that belongs to you. I see you ahead and fulfilled! You have to get going for you are meant to be a head ! You are the head and you must be ahead. Although the enemy fought you from behind but you are going a head and in fullness recover. David asked if he could overtake his enemies but God gave a reply that took David beyond his request. God said “You will not only pursue and overtake but you will also recover ALL”. I see God taking you beyond your dream and imagination. You will leave the company of fighters and become more than a conqueror. There are many gathering of Christians today ,all they do is to only fight- and truly they are pursuing and overtaking but they are not really recovering – but I decree by anointing that you will not only overtake you will surely recover ALL. It is the divine decree that can not be decreased!. As you beckon on the divine your beacon of victory will surface.
BEYOND BESOR (VS 9-10)
In overtaking and recovering there are bends to negotiate and rivers to cross. If you can not cross your Besor you can not crush your enemies. When David and his men got to Besor 200 out of the 600 men could not break through the brook. Besor separated “men” from “boys”. Where you are now is not your last stop – You must pass over the brook for your testimony is at the other side. If you give up you can not go up. Even if you are fallen, your fallen ground must not become your burial ground, but your lifting spot. When the battle seems toughest that is when the victory is closest. Do not step aside but step up, keep moving, there is breakthrough at the other side of Besor. The anointing for passing over be released upon you now in Jesus name !.
BREAKTHROUGH OF BENIGNITY (VS. 11-16).
Many of us are at the door of our great blessings but we are not using the right key to open the door. Prayer and fasting without right actions will only take you to the door of your destiny but can’t open the door for you. Don’t be too pre-occupied with your suffering that you don’t help others who are suffering. In helping others you will also be helped. If David never stop to help this dieing Egyptian with bread and drink he would have suffered more. The dieing man was the key to David’s full recovery.. There are people at strategic junctions of life that heaven want you to assist so that greater doors of blessings can be opened unto you, if you fail to assist you will also roam for long without finding your road to success. A stingy and selfish person can never reach his peak in life. Invest in others and you will be blessed. As David pursued, overtook, rescued and recovered all his lost people and properties, I decree this season and month to be your time of full recovery. As you have discovered, now RECOVER IN JESUS NAME!.
Monday, April 21, 2008
FORM FOR THE NEW MEMBER
GLOBAL DELIVERANCE TEAM (GLODET)
P. O BOX 1215 OYO TOWN NIGERIA
E-mail: kolade2002@yohoo.com
Website: www.delekolade.blogspot.com
Tel: 08059426557/08038565127
MEMBER’S BIO-DATA AND MINISTRY RESUME
SECTION A
FULL NAME …………………………………….
CURRENT ADDRESS……………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………
PERMANENT HOME ADDRESS………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
TELEPHONE & E-MAIL……………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………
SEX…………………...DATE OF BIRTH………………………………………………
MARITAL STATUS (a) MARRIED (b) SINGLE (c) ENGAGED
NATIONALITY……………………CHURCH/DENOMINATION……………………
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION……………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
NEXT OF KIN (NAME & FULL ADDRESS)……………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
SECTION B
GIVE A BRIEF & COINCISE DESCRIPTION OF YOUR SALVATION EXPERIENCE(add new sheet)
WHAT AREAS OF MINISTRY ARE YOU CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN AT YOUR LOCALCHURCH?................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
WHICH SPIRITUAL GIFT(S) DO YOU OPERATE IN?..................................................
………………………………………………………………………………………………
HOW WERE YOU INTRODUCED TO THIS MINISTRY (GLODET)?...........................
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
DO YOU CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THE VISION AND MISSION OF GLODET?.....
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
I,………………………………………………………………….wholeheartedly filled this form upon a firm conviction that the Lord will want me to represent, articulate, demonstrate and fulfill the vision and mission of the above named ministry. I will commit myself to actualising the vision of the ministry. I will always put Christ first, and commit myself to a life of purity. I desire to learn and apply the Word of God. I will commit myself to the programs of this ministry and lead others to as the Lord will direct me. God help me.
________________________ ________________________ Signature of the member
including date
P. O BOX 1215 OYO TOWN NIGERIA
E-mail: kolade2002@yohoo.com
Website: www.delekolade.blogspot.com
Tel: 08059426557/08038565127
MEMBER’S BIO-DATA AND MINISTRY RESUME
SECTION A
FULL NAME …………………………………….
CURRENT ADDRESS……………………………………………………………………
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PERMANENT HOME ADDRESS………………………………………………………
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TELEPHONE & E-MAIL……………………………………………………………….
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SEX…………………...DATE OF BIRTH………………………………………………
MARITAL STATUS (a) MARRIED (b) SINGLE (c) ENGAGED
NATIONALITY……………………CHURCH/DENOMINATION……………………
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION……………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
NEXT OF KIN (NAME & FULL ADDRESS)……………………………………………
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SECTION B
GIVE A BRIEF & COINCISE DESCRIPTION OF YOUR SALVATION EXPERIENCE(add new sheet)
WHAT AREAS OF MINISTRY ARE YOU CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN AT YOUR LOCALCHURCH?................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
WHICH SPIRITUAL GIFT(S) DO YOU OPERATE IN?..................................................
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HOW WERE YOU INTRODUCED TO THIS MINISTRY (GLODET)?...........................
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DO YOU CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THE VISION AND MISSION OF GLODET?.....
………………………………………………………………………………………………
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I,………………………………………………………………….wholeheartedly filled this form upon a firm conviction that the Lord will want me to represent, articulate, demonstrate and fulfill the vision and mission of the above named ministry. I will commit myself to actualising the vision of the ministry. I will always put Christ first, and commit myself to a life of purity. I desire to learn and apply the Word of God. I will commit myself to the programs of this ministry and lead others to as the Lord will direct me. God help me.
________________________ ________________________ Signature of the member
including date
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
HASTING BRINGS WASTING !!!
PLEASE DON'T BE HASTE IN DOING THINGS THIS YEAR!(copied from my e-mail)
There is a legend of a woman who had a faithful dog. This
dog was so faithful that the woman could leave her baby
with it and go out to attend other matters. She always
returned to find the child soundly asleep with the dog
faithfully watching over him.
One day something tragic happened. The woman as usual,
left the baby in the "hands" of this faithful dog and went
out shopping. When she returned, she discovered rather a
nasty scene. There was a total mess. The baby's cot was
dismantled and his nappies and clothes torn to shreds with
bloodstains all over the bedroom where she had left the
child and the dog. Shocked, the woman wailed as she began
looking for the baby. Presently, she saw the faithful dog
emerging from the under the bed. It was covered with blood
and licking its mouth as it had just finished a delicious
meal.
The woman went berserk and assumed that the dog had
devoured her baby. Without much thought she clubbed the dog
to death. But as she continued searching for the "remains"
of her child, she beheld another scene. Close to the bed
was the baby who, although lying on bare floor was safe. And
under the bed the carcass of a jackal torn to pieces in
what must have been a fierce battle between it and the dog
which was now dead. Then the reality hit the woman who now
began to understand what took place in her absence. The
dog fought to protect the baby from the ravenous jackal. It
was too late for her now to make amends because in her
impatience and anger, she had killed the faithful dog.
How often have we misjudged people and torn them to shreds
with harsh words and even with physical assault before we
have had time to evaluate the situation? A little patience
can drastically reduce major life long errors.
Famous Sayings!!!
A ship in harbor is
safe, but that is not what ships are built for!
Intelligence is like underwear. It is important that you have it, but
not
necessary that you show it off!
If your dreams determine your future, why
not go to sleep now?
When the only tool you own is a hammer, every
problem begins to look like a nail !
Never test the depth of the water
with both feet.
This post was sent to my e-mail by a friend.
There is a legend of a woman who had a faithful dog. This
dog was so faithful that the woman could leave her baby
with it and go out to attend other matters. She always
returned to find the child soundly asleep with the dog
faithfully watching over him.
One day something tragic happened. The woman as usual,
left the baby in the "hands" of this faithful dog and went
out shopping. When she returned, she discovered rather a
nasty scene. There was a total mess. The baby's cot was
dismantled and his nappies and clothes torn to shreds with
bloodstains all over the bedroom where she had left the
child and the dog. Shocked, the woman wailed as she began
looking for the baby. Presently, she saw the faithful dog
emerging from the under the bed. It was covered with blood
and licking its mouth as it had just finished a delicious
meal.
The woman went berserk and assumed that the dog had
devoured her baby. Without much thought she clubbed the dog
to death. But as she continued searching for the "remains"
of her child, she beheld another scene. Close to the bed
was the baby who, although lying on bare floor was safe. And
under the bed the carcass of a jackal torn to pieces in
what must have been a fierce battle between it and the dog
which was now dead. Then the reality hit the woman who now
began to understand what took place in her absence. The
dog fought to protect the baby from the ravenous jackal. It
was too late for her now to make amends because in her
impatience and anger, she had killed the faithful dog.
How often have we misjudged people and torn them to shreds
with harsh words and even with physical assault before we
have had time to evaluate the situation? A little patience
can drastically reduce major life long errors.
Famous Sayings!!!
A ship in harbor is
safe, but that is not what ships are built for!
Intelligence is like underwear. It is important that you have it, but
not
necessary that you show it off!
If your dreams determine your future, why
not go to sleep now?
When the only tool you own is a hammer, every
problem begins to look like a nail !
Never test the depth of the water
with both feet.
This post was sent to my e-mail by a friend.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
EXPLORING THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
THE CHARISMATA
EXPLORING THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
GLOBAL DELIVERANCE TEAM (GLODET)
CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND MISSIONS
P.O BOX 1215 OYO TOWN NIGERIA
TEL 08059426557/08038565127
WEBSITE – www.delekolade.blogspot.com
Written by – Rev Dele Kolade
This material is the sole property of the GLOBAL DELIVERANCE TEAM (GLODET). Unless special permission is given by the president, it must not be recopied by any means by anybody.
EXPLORING SPIRITUAL GIFTS
INTRODUCTION
The body of Christ primarily functions through the divers grace given gifts she is blessed with. The ministry role of believers in the church is rooted in spiritual gifts. The church cannot actively function according to the divine structure unless we acknowledge the spiritual giftedness of the members. The scope of this study is (therefore) to dispel ignorance concerning spiritual gifts and to help participants discover and rightly use their God’s given gift of grace.
As our working definition, spiritual gifts are special abilities given by Christ through the Holy Spirit to empower believers for the body ministry. Since the gifts are given by Christ through the Holy Spirit, we shall do well to locate the unfolding presence, power and actions of the Holy Spirit through ages:
HOLY SPIRIT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ERA
1. His presence and action in creation – Gen. 1:1-2 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form and void;…and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the water.” It is interesting that the Scriptures began with the fact of the active presence of the Holy Spirit right in creation. When the beginning began, it met the Holy Spirit already in existence and at work. In the episode of creation, He was actively present. He is indeed God in action.
2. He was the Old Testament Instructor of the saints. Neh. 9:20 “Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct them…” Israel as a nation was distinct from any other nations in that they had divine instruction and direction through the Holy Spirit. Indeed, the Old Testament church had the Holy Spirit as her instructor.
3. Spirit’s unction for function – Jud. 3:10 “And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he judged Israel…” The Holy Spirit enabled men and women in the Old Testament to function in various capacities. The anointing of the Spirit is not new, it has been active through ages in fulfilling divine counsel, through men and women of faith.
4. Holy Spirit equipped people in the Old Testament for vocational and creative abilities – Ex. 31:1-4 “And the Lord spake to Moses saying see I have called by name Bezaleel…and I have filled him with the Spirit of God…in all manner of workmanship.” The Holy Spirit is an expert in every field. Apart from “Spiritually” oriented functions, he also equipped people to variously function in other aspects of life sometimes considered secular.
5. Holy Spirit, the life changer – 1 Sam. 10:6 “And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee…and shalt be turned into another man.” There is no person in the scriptures who had encounter with the Holy Spirit that did not experience radical change of life.
From the New Testament era, the activities of the Holy Spirit has become pronounced. Many scholars of the scriptures has described this age as the age of the great manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Some of activities of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament include the following:
1. Holy Spirit, the revealer of divine mysteries. 1 Cor. 2:10 “But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit for the spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” It is clearly evident that the Holy Spirit unveils the counsel and the mysteries of God to the saints.
2. He convicts us of sin. Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart and said unto Peter and brethren, what shall we do? Jn. 16:8 “And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin.”
3. The Holy Spirit regenerates life. Titus 3:5 “…by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.” 2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold all this are become new.”
4. Holy Spirit is our witness. Rom. 9:1 “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost.” Rom. 8:16 “The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.”
5. Holy Spirit adopts us unto God’s family. Gal. 4:6 “And because ye are sons, God hath senth forth the Spirit of his son into your hearts, crying Abba father” (Rom. 8:15).
6. He delivers us from the curse of law of sin and death. Rom 8:2 “For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath sep me free from the law of sin and death”.
7. Helps us in prayer. Rom. 8:26-27 “Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought…” (Jude 1:20. Zech. 12:10)
8. He fills us with Joy Peace and boldness. Rom. 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost.” (2 Tim 1:17).
9. Holy Spirit; our sanctifier. 1 Pet. 1:22 “Seeing ye have purified our soul in obeying the truth through the Spirit into unfeigned love of the brethren…” 2 Thess. 2:13 “…God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit…” (Rom. 15:16, Rom. 1:4).
10. He will quicken our mortal bodies. Rom. 8:11 “But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
11. He is our comforter. Jn. 14:26 “But the comforter, which is the holy Ghost whom the father will send in my name…”
12. He intercedes for the Saints. Rom. 8:27 “…because He maketh intercession for the saint according to the will of God.”
13. He teaches. Jn. 14:26 “…He shall teach you all things…”
14. He empowers believers. Lk 24:49 “…tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endowed with power from on High” (Acts 1:8).
15. He confirms the gospel. Heb. 2:3-4 “…God also bearing them witness, both with sign and wonders and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost according to His own will.”
16. Fills believers with love. Rom. 5:5 “…because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
17. He justifies. 1 Cor. 6:11 “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God”.
18. He seals us till the day of redemption. Eph. 4:30 “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” Eph. 1:13 “…ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.”
19. Holy ghost commissions. Acts 13:2 “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work where unto I have called them.”
20. Helps us to bear fruit. Gal. 5:22-23.
21. He inspires worship and adoration of God. Jn. 4:23-24, Phil. 3:3.
22. He puts Satan to flight. Jn. 4:7
23. He authored the scriptures. 2 Pet. 1:20-21
24. He interprets the scriptures. Jn. 16:14.
FOUNDATIONAL THOUGHTS ABOUT THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
It is necessary that we set the paradigm of understanding the gifts of the Holy Spirit right so us as to have sound and firm foundation. We should keep in mind that it is our understanding that determines ours standing. To have a right and strong standing, we must have a right understanding. The following truths are fundamental to a right discovery and use of the gifts that we are studying.
1. As you are born of the Spirit you must be filled with the spirit to be able to manifest spiritual gift. As it was necessary for the disciples to tarry at Jerusalem to be endued with the spirit power in order to be effective witnesses for Christ, you must also be clothed with the same power to be able to function effectively for Christ. Let’s explore the following scriptures together: Jn 14:17, Acts 2:38, Acts 8:14-17, Acts 19:1-6.
2. Spiritual gifts are “given” and not won. It must be well understood that the prerogative of whom to be given what gift rest solely on the Christ/the Holy Spirit Himself. 1 Cor. 12:11, Heb. 2:4. nevertheless, spiritual gifts can be desired genuinely by believers (1 Cor. 12:31). The place of impartation of the gifts by a spirit led minister can also not be ruled out (2 Tim 1:6).
3. Gifts operate at different levels depending on the unction given and the level of faith of the recipient of the gifts Rom. 12:6.
4. There are differences or varieties in spiritual gifts, meaning that we are variously gifted. No Christian is a carbon copy of another (Rom. 12:6-8, 1 Cor.12:7-11). There is no one who is a member of the body of Christ that does not have a gift. The use of the Greek word ‘hekasto’ really means ‘each’ of us is gifted.
5. Apart from the fact that there are diversity of gifts – that gifts differ from one another, they also fall into distinct categories. The Greek pronouns “allo” and “hetero” translated another in 1 Cor. 12:8-10 clearly shows the three categories of the listed gifts marked off by the twofold occurrence of “hetero” (“allo” – another of the same kind, “hetero” another of a different kind). In this sense, spiritual gifts can be categorized into groups like: power, utterance, revelation, and auxiliary.
6. The concept of differences in administration of the gifts must also be well understood and appreciated (1 Cor. 12:5-6). It is possible for two people to have the same kind of a gift of the Spirit but operate and administer it differently. That we have the same kind of a gift of the Spirit does not mean we must administer it exactly the same way. Nevertheless, all operations and administrations must be in agreement with the written word of God.
7. The manifestation of the gift of the spirit is what brings the profit to the recipient of the gift and the entire body of Christ at large. A gift that is discovered and developed but not deployed will soon be “destroyed” (1 Cor. 12:7).
The Greek’s noun “phanerosis” translated “manifestations” can literally render the text “To each one the Spirit – produced exhibition is given” especially if it is seen as subjective genitive of “tou pneumatos.” It can also be rendered as “Gifted individuals show forth the Holy Spirit through their charismatic acts.” If it is seen as objective genitive of “tou pneumatos.” The principal thought conveyed through the use of “phanerosis” is the element of display – an outgoing activity that touches other lives. The idea is that the manifestation must be seen, head or in some manner experienced by at least one person other than the gifted one. The manifestation is “of the spirit” and must be for the common good.
There is the possibility of having dormant spiritual gifts in some people and this is not the full counsel of God. We must bear in mind that spiritual gifts are not just for ‘knowing’ but also for ‘using’.
8. The believer has the responsibility to seek to develop and enhance his/her spiritual gifts. Through spiritual exercises, right association with other gifted people of God, service in the house of God, and faithfulness to God, the disciple can enhance him/herself in the particular area of giftedness. There is the need to “stir up” or “fan to flame” the gifts of the spirit that you have (2 Tim. 1:6). It will be improper to neglect the gift of God in one’s life (1 Tim. 4:14).
9. The under girding principle for using the gifts should be the motive of love. If we seek to discover gift without the motive of love, even our seeking will be hindered. Gift and ministries without love are worth nothing. ( 1Cor 13:1-3).
10. Gifts are better discovered and enhanced in the chamber of prayer. you do not have because you do not ask (Jam. 4:2). We should ask in prayer for good gifts (Lk. 11:13) and God is committed to answering us if we ask according to His will (1 Jn. 5:14).
Apart from the foundational thoughts about the discovery and use of the spiritual gift, the gifted believer must equally beware of the following pitfalls in the exercise of spiritual gifts.
1. Gift projection syndrome – This is a situation where Christians who think their particular gifts are more important project these gifts outwardly to make others feel inferior to them (1 Cor. 12:14-20).
2. Gift denigration – this is a “put him down syndrome.” Some members of the church that are regarded “weak” or “feeble” may be looked at like having no significant gift and the overly confident and overly independent members may fail to see how much they need to be ministered to by the so called weaker members (1 Cor. 12:21-25).
3. Over-Individualization – That the gifts are given to the individual does not mean they are given for private use. Gifts are given for the common good and the edification of the entire body of Christ. The community of faith must act as the controlling context for the exercise of spiritual gifts. The kind of spiritual maturity encouraged is maturity in community and not maturity in isolation (Eph. 4:12-13).
4. Consumer mentality syndrome – There is the danger of “parasitism” – a situation where some believers only think of receiving and never giving. There are contexts where only pastors are the performers and the members are spectators. This mentality must be discouraged and all members must see themselves as contributors and participants.
5. Institutionalism – One of the problems the church faced before the sixteenth century reformation was that some of the gifts became associated only with the clergy consequently rendering church members passive and uninvolved. Through leadership legalism in the church, the danger is still very much there today that some gift may be discounted by the leaders in the church.
6. Rationalism _ The liberalizing trends of the 18th century is playing down the supernatural elements of the Christian faith. The problem with many is that they equate spiritual gifts with natural aptitude and talents. This problem of rationalism has partly made some conclude that power and revelation gifts are no more in existence today.
7. Emotionalism – This is another extreme situation where the gifted person focuses attention more on personal experience rather than the objective dictates of the scripture. Charismatism and Pentecostalism face more problem of emotionalism than any other groups of believers.
For the purpose of clarity, the gifts of the Spirit shall be discussed under four categorizations. It must be well stated here that the identified gifts under these headings may not be exhaustive of all the gifts in the new testament but that there is no gift aside these can not fit into those so identified. In each of the gift observed, a definition of the gift will be given, scriptural explanation, characteristics of the user and potential pitfalls.
REVELATORY GIFTS 1COR. 12:4-11
A. WORD OF KNOWLEDGE – Bob Whitaker is right in describing this gift in the following words “Is not about intellectual ability or learning; it is an inner knowing or intuition such as was seen in Jesus ministry when he knew what his critics were thinking, feeling or plotting and then spoke in response as though he had read their minds” (Mk. 2:8, Lk 6:8, 7:36-47;9:47). The Greek word used to describe this gift literally mean “deep knowing.” It must be understood that this kind of knowledge is not parallel to that special revelation of the Bible. It is not intended to add to the scriptures. This is a divine, special, and supernatural revelation of facts through the Holy Ghost, about situation, people or thing which otherwise or depending upon carnal mind could not have been known. Lets examine the following scriptures to know the gift better: Gen. 2:21-23, Acts 5:1-4, Lk 4:17-19, 2 Kgs 5:20-27, 2Kg 6:32-33, Jn 4:17-18.
The pitfalls to beware of as a recipient of this gift is the tendency to become puffed up because of insights discerned and messages revealed. The other danger is communicating publicly a word of knowledge that was meant to be private. Some may even go the extreme by faking the word of knowledge when no revelation has come.
B. WORD OF WISDOM
This is a special spirit given ability to see situations and issues from God’s perspective and to apply God-given insight to specific areas of need.
Genesis 41 presents a good example of the demonstration of this gift. In Jesus’ ministry, the word of wisdom shone through in the perspective answers he gave those who tried to implicate him (Matt. 21:23-27; 22:23-33, Lk. 20:20-26). The recipient of this gift is able to apply spiritual knowledge in practical ways. Solomon sorting out the quarrel between the two women fighting over the living baby is another good example of the demonstration of this gift. The recipient of the gift are usually good as a member of a counseling team and can guide the church through a troublesome time.
The dangers potentially inherent in the use of the gift is the tendency for the user to become over confident, think of himself more highly than he ought to or become impatient with those who do not listen to his/her sayings.
C. DISCERNING OF THE SPIRIT.
This is a special Spirit-ability to distinguish or differentiate between spirits. Put in a different way, it is the ability to know whether a particular word, action or motive has its source in God, sinful flesh or Satan. Let’s explore the following passages of the scripture to understand the operation of this gift better: Matt. 16:23, Acts 8:9-25; 16:16-18, 1Tim. 4:1, 2Pet. 2:1-2, 1Thess. 5:21.
The potential liabilities of this gift include tendency for the user to become overzealous heresy hunter, overcritical about everything or withdraw from church to church.
POWER GIFTS
A.GIFT OF FAITH 1 COR. 12:9 – The gift of faith is the first gift in the category of the power gifts and it provides the unifying factor in this new group. The gift of faith is not the same as the saving faith possessed by every Christian (Rom. 3:22; 5:1). It is a special Spirit-given ability to know with certainty that God wills to do something and is certain to do it. Simply put, knowing what God want to do, coupled with the utter confidence that He will do it. Let’s observe the manifestations of this gift from the scriptures: Gen. 22:8, Jn. 11:23, Matt. 14:29, Acts 27:21-26. the potential problem usually associated with people operating this gift is the tendency to exercise the gift without love (1 Cor. 13:2) or be impatient with those who are quite cautious.
B. GIFTS OF HEALINGS
It is a special ability given by the Holy Spirit to serve as an instrument to bring physical, emotional and spiritual healing in an extraordinary way. What should be specially noted in regards to this gifts is the plural words used, and this suggests a variety of abilities relating to various maladies and diseases, 38 recorded scenes of healing in Jesus’ earthly ministry is given in the New Testament and 17 in the book of Acts by Apostle Paul and others. It is epistemologically fraudulent for anyone to conclude that this gift has seized. Let’s explore the scriptures: Ex. 15:26; 23:25, Ps. 103:3, Matt. 9:35, Mk. 6:56, Acts 10:38, Heb. 2:4, 2Kg 20:1-7, 1Tim. 5:23, Jn 14:11-14. the identified liabilities of the person’s using the gift include:
• Trying to heal at any time without discerning spirit guidance
• Use of rigid methods not confirmed in the scriptures
• Making healing dependent on the sick person’s faith
• Becoming impatient when healing does not happen.
C.WORKINGS OF MIRACLES – 1 Cor. 12:10
This is a display of divine extraordinary power, overturning the law of nature to express the power and presence of God in the affairs of man. We are still very much in the age of the miraculous and there are men and women of faith so gifted in this display of God’s power. The following scriptural texts attest to the demonstration of this gift. Acts 13:8-11, Acts 2:22, Mk. 6:2, Lk. 10:13, Gal. 3:5, 2Cor. 12:12, Matt. 12:28, Jn. 2:1-10, Mk.. 4:35-41, Mk 5:21-43, Lk 7:11-17, Jn. 14:12-14, Heb. 2:3-4. exorcism of demons is within the context of the gift of workings of miracles.
The potential liabilities of the user of this gift include the tendency to want to operate without Spirit guidance and taking personal credit for what really belong to God
UTTERANCE GIFTS
A. GIFT OF PROPHECY – 1Cor 12, 1 Thess. 5:20, Matt. 7:15-16
This is a special spirit-given ability to receive and communicate a message from God so that believers may be edified, encouraged and convinced 1 Cor 14:3-5. prophecy has a dual nature of revelation and utterance. The Greek word for prophecy literally means “to speak forth.” There is the dimension of “forth telling” and the “fore telling” Acts 11:27-28; 21:10-11; 13:1-3, 1 Tim. 1:18, Rev. 1:3, Rom. 12:8. prophecy is in three dimensions of “edification,” “encouragement” and “consolation” (counseling) 1 Cor. 14:3,9. That you have the gift of prophecy does not necessarily mean that you are a prophet. The pitfalls to watch out for include:
• Pride
• Deviation from the scripture
• Being too blunt or ministering without wisdom
Prophecies must be tested using scriptural litmus Deut. 18:20-22
B. DIVERS KINDS OF TONGUES – This gift seems to be the most controversial among all the gifts of the spirit. If this gift is not put in the right perspective it can be disruptive and divisive. It can simply be put as a special spirit-given ability to speak in utterances previously unknown or unlearnt by the speaker. You should take a special look at the plural form it is put in 1 Corinthians 12. From the text of the scripture the following should be observed:
• 120 believers spoke in tongues on the Pentecost day Acts 1:15; 2:4.
• Family of Cornelius after responding to Peter’s sermon Acts 10:46.
• A group of Ephesians’ believers Acts 19:6
• Paul also spoke in tongues 1 Cor. 14:5,18
• There is the “tongue” that is solely ministering to God (private).
• There is the “tongue” that is meant for ministering to men. This seems o spoken of in 1 Corinthians 12 (public) study 1 Corinthians 14 very carefully.
• Observe the tongues of “men” or of “angels” in 1 Corinthians 13. The person with this gift must beware of:
• Exercising the gift without love
• Making tongues the norm for spiritual maturity
• Using the gift for self glory.
C. INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES 1 Cor. 12:10
This is a special spirit-given ability to interpret into known language a message spoken in tongues. The interpretation may be supplied by the tongue-speaking person (1 Cor. 14:5,13) or by another person (1 Cor. 14:27). When interpretation is given the tongue spoken edifies not only the tongue-speaker but also all who are present. The interpretation may not be word for word translation but rather giving sense of the message. Tongues, once interpreted, are basically equivalent to prophecy. The pitfalls to avoid is giving words not from the Holy Spirit, taking glory for the manifestation of the gift or feeling superior to others who do not have this gift.
AUXILIARY GIFTS
A. ADMINISTRATION/LEADERSHIP 1 Cor.12:28, Rom. 12:8
This gift consists of a special skill in administrative direction that enables the gifted one to steer the flock of God into channels of effective service. The Greed word translated administration in 1 Cor. 12:28 means “one who guides or directs towards a goal.” Through the leadership skill the user sees and sets the goals and through the administrative skills he devises the plans to accomplish the goals. Explore the following texts of the Bible: 1 Thess. 5:12, 1Tim. 5:17, 1Pet. 5:2-3, 1Tim. 4:14, Heb. 13:7,17,24. The user of this gift must beware of the tendency for “using” people and thinking of projects and programs more than people.
B. ENCOURAGEMENT/COUNSELLING (Rom. 12:8).
This is the spirit-given ability to effectively encourage, comfort, challenge, or rebuke others to help them live lives worthy of God. The Greek term “parakaleo”, translated encourage in Rom. 12:8 denotes “standing-alongside another person to encourage, support or console as well as to challenge, urge or rebuke, where necessary, for spiritual growth and to spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24). For further insight, study: Acts 14:21-22; 4:36; 11:25-26; 13:5; 15:37-39, Lk. 22:32, 2Tim. 4:2 and Jn. 14:16.
The danger are that the user may:
• Create inappropriate dependencies by getting too involved in people’s lives
• Neglect his/her spiritual life in the bid to help others.
C. GIFT OF GIVING (Rom. 12:8)
This is contributing significant personal, and material resources to the Lord’s work. The Greek word used in Rom. 12:8 places emphasis on “giving or sharing of ourselves” as we give. Examples in the scriptures include the poor widow (Lk. 21:1-3), and Dorcas (Acts 9:36-39) 1 Thess. 2:8.
Possible liabilities include
• Being proud of giving
• Condemn those who do not give sacrificially
• Unduly critical of how others spend their money
D. HOSPITALITY
Spirit given grace to love, welcome and graciously serve guests and strangers so that they feel at home 1 Pet. 4:9-10, Acts 16:15, 1Tim. 3:2; 5:10, 3Jn 5_8, Rom. 16:23.
Potential dangers associate with this gift is the tendency for the user of the gift to allow people take undue advantage of him/her, and also not being able to say no when ought to.
E. SHOWING MERCY (Rom. 12:8)
Ability to feel genuine empathy and compassion for hurting people and translating that feeling into cheerful acts of service. Some dangers of the user include:
• Being over sympathetic without objective censoring
• Over protective of those cared for
• Guided more by feeling and emotion rather than facts and scriptures w.
With what attitude should this gift be used? Rom. 12:8.
Explore the use of this gift from Lk 4-8. what can we learn from Acts 9:36, Lk 6:36 and Jm. 2:15-16, Matt. 25:35-45
This material is the sole property of the GLOBAL DELIVERANCE TEAM (GLODET). Unless special permission is given by the president, it must not be recopied by any means by anybody.
Written by Rev Dele Kolade
EXPLORING THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
GLOBAL DELIVERANCE TEAM (GLODET)
CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND MISSIONS
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Written by – Rev Dele Kolade
This material is the sole property of the GLOBAL DELIVERANCE TEAM (GLODET). Unless special permission is given by the president, it must not be recopied by any means by anybody.
EXPLORING SPIRITUAL GIFTS
INTRODUCTION
The body of Christ primarily functions through the divers grace given gifts she is blessed with. The ministry role of believers in the church is rooted in spiritual gifts. The church cannot actively function according to the divine structure unless we acknowledge the spiritual giftedness of the members. The scope of this study is (therefore) to dispel ignorance concerning spiritual gifts and to help participants discover and rightly use their God’s given gift of grace.
As our working definition, spiritual gifts are special abilities given by Christ through the Holy Spirit to empower believers for the body ministry. Since the gifts are given by Christ through the Holy Spirit, we shall do well to locate the unfolding presence, power and actions of the Holy Spirit through ages:
HOLY SPIRIT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ERA
1. His presence and action in creation – Gen. 1:1-2 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form and void;…and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the water.” It is interesting that the Scriptures began with the fact of the active presence of the Holy Spirit right in creation. When the beginning began, it met the Holy Spirit already in existence and at work. In the episode of creation, He was actively present. He is indeed God in action.
2. He was the Old Testament Instructor of the saints. Neh. 9:20 “Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct them…” Israel as a nation was distinct from any other nations in that they had divine instruction and direction through the Holy Spirit. Indeed, the Old Testament church had the Holy Spirit as her instructor.
3. Spirit’s unction for function – Jud. 3:10 “And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he judged Israel…” The Holy Spirit enabled men and women in the Old Testament to function in various capacities. The anointing of the Spirit is not new, it has been active through ages in fulfilling divine counsel, through men and women of faith.
4. Holy Spirit equipped people in the Old Testament for vocational and creative abilities – Ex. 31:1-4 “And the Lord spake to Moses saying see I have called by name Bezaleel…and I have filled him with the Spirit of God…in all manner of workmanship.” The Holy Spirit is an expert in every field. Apart from “Spiritually” oriented functions, he also equipped people to variously function in other aspects of life sometimes considered secular.
5. Holy Spirit, the life changer – 1 Sam. 10:6 “And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee…and shalt be turned into another man.” There is no person in the scriptures who had encounter with the Holy Spirit that did not experience radical change of life.
From the New Testament era, the activities of the Holy Spirit has become pronounced. Many scholars of the scriptures has described this age as the age of the great manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Some of activities of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament include the following:
1. Holy Spirit, the revealer of divine mysteries. 1 Cor. 2:10 “But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit for the spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” It is clearly evident that the Holy Spirit unveils the counsel and the mysteries of God to the saints.
2. He convicts us of sin. Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart and said unto Peter and brethren, what shall we do? Jn. 16:8 “And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin.”
3. The Holy Spirit regenerates life. Titus 3:5 “…by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.” 2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold all this are become new.”
4. Holy Spirit is our witness. Rom. 9:1 “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost.” Rom. 8:16 “The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.”
5. Holy Spirit adopts us unto God’s family. Gal. 4:6 “And because ye are sons, God hath senth forth the Spirit of his son into your hearts, crying Abba father” (Rom. 8:15).
6. He delivers us from the curse of law of sin and death. Rom 8:2 “For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath sep me free from the law of sin and death”.
7. Helps us in prayer. Rom. 8:26-27 “Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought…” (Jude 1:20. Zech. 12:10)
8. He fills us with Joy Peace and boldness. Rom. 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost.” (2 Tim 1:17).
9. Holy Spirit; our sanctifier. 1 Pet. 1:22 “Seeing ye have purified our soul in obeying the truth through the Spirit into unfeigned love of the brethren…” 2 Thess. 2:13 “…God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit…” (Rom. 15:16, Rom. 1:4).
10. He will quicken our mortal bodies. Rom. 8:11 “But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
11. He is our comforter. Jn. 14:26 “But the comforter, which is the holy Ghost whom the father will send in my name…”
12. He intercedes for the Saints. Rom. 8:27 “…because He maketh intercession for the saint according to the will of God.”
13. He teaches. Jn. 14:26 “…He shall teach you all things…”
14. He empowers believers. Lk 24:49 “…tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endowed with power from on High” (Acts 1:8).
15. He confirms the gospel. Heb. 2:3-4 “…God also bearing them witness, both with sign and wonders and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost according to His own will.”
16. Fills believers with love. Rom. 5:5 “…because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
17. He justifies. 1 Cor. 6:11 “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God”.
18. He seals us till the day of redemption. Eph. 4:30 “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” Eph. 1:13 “…ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.”
19. Holy ghost commissions. Acts 13:2 “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work where unto I have called them.”
20. Helps us to bear fruit. Gal. 5:22-23.
21. He inspires worship and adoration of God. Jn. 4:23-24, Phil. 3:3.
22. He puts Satan to flight. Jn. 4:7
23. He authored the scriptures. 2 Pet. 1:20-21
24. He interprets the scriptures. Jn. 16:14.
FOUNDATIONAL THOUGHTS ABOUT THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
It is necessary that we set the paradigm of understanding the gifts of the Holy Spirit right so us as to have sound and firm foundation. We should keep in mind that it is our understanding that determines ours standing. To have a right and strong standing, we must have a right understanding. The following truths are fundamental to a right discovery and use of the gifts that we are studying.
1. As you are born of the Spirit you must be filled with the spirit to be able to manifest spiritual gift. As it was necessary for the disciples to tarry at Jerusalem to be endued with the spirit power in order to be effective witnesses for Christ, you must also be clothed with the same power to be able to function effectively for Christ. Let’s explore the following scriptures together: Jn 14:17, Acts 2:38, Acts 8:14-17, Acts 19:1-6.
2. Spiritual gifts are “given” and not won. It must be well understood that the prerogative of whom to be given what gift rest solely on the Christ/the Holy Spirit Himself. 1 Cor. 12:11, Heb. 2:4. nevertheless, spiritual gifts can be desired genuinely by believers (1 Cor. 12:31). The place of impartation of the gifts by a spirit led minister can also not be ruled out (2 Tim 1:6).
3. Gifts operate at different levels depending on the unction given and the level of faith of the recipient of the gifts Rom. 12:6.
4. There are differences or varieties in spiritual gifts, meaning that we are variously gifted. No Christian is a carbon copy of another (Rom. 12:6-8, 1 Cor.12:7-11). There is no one who is a member of the body of Christ that does not have a gift. The use of the Greek word ‘hekasto’ really means ‘each’ of us is gifted.
5. Apart from the fact that there are diversity of gifts – that gifts differ from one another, they also fall into distinct categories. The Greek pronouns “allo” and “hetero” translated another in 1 Cor. 12:8-10 clearly shows the three categories of the listed gifts marked off by the twofold occurrence of “hetero” (“allo” – another of the same kind, “hetero” another of a different kind). In this sense, spiritual gifts can be categorized into groups like: power, utterance, revelation, and auxiliary.
6. The concept of differences in administration of the gifts must also be well understood and appreciated (1 Cor. 12:5-6). It is possible for two people to have the same kind of a gift of the Spirit but operate and administer it differently. That we have the same kind of a gift of the Spirit does not mean we must administer it exactly the same way. Nevertheless, all operations and administrations must be in agreement with the written word of God.
7. The manifestation of the gift of the spirit is what brings the profit to the recipient of the gift and the entire body of Christ at large. A gift that is discovered and developed but not deployed will soon be “destroyed” (1 Cor. 12:7).
The Greek’s noun “phanerosis” translated “manifestations” can literally render the text “To each one the Spirit – produced exhibition is given” especially if it is seen as subjective genitive of “tou pneumatos.” It can also be rendered as “Gifted individuals show forth the Holy Spirit through their charismatic acts.” If it is seen as objective genitive of “tou pneumatos.” The principal thought conveyed through the use of “phanerosis” is the element of display – an outgoing activity that touches other lives. The idea is that the manifestation must be seen, head or in some manner experienced by at least one person other than the gifted one. The manifestation is “of the spirit” and must be for the common good.
There is the possibility of having dormant spiritual gifts in some people and this is not the full counsel of God. We must bear in mind that spiritual gifts are not just for ‘knowing’ but also for ‘using’.
8. The believer has the responsibility to seek to develop and enhance his/her spiritual gifts. Through spiritual exercises, right association with other gifted people of God, service in the house of God, and faithfulness to God, the disciple can enhance him/herself in the particular area of giftedness. There is the need to “stir up” or “fan to flame” the gifts of the spirit that you have (2 Tim. 1:6). It will be improper to neglect the gift of God in one’s life (1 Tim. 4:14).
9. The under girding principle for using the gifts should be the motive of love. If we seek to discover gift without the motive of love, even our seeking will be hindered. Gift and ministries without love are worth nothing. ( 1Cor 13:1-3).
10. Gifts are better discovered and enhanced in the chamber of prayer. you do not have because you do not ask (Jam. 4:2). We should ask in prayer for good gifts (Lk. 11:13) and God is committed to answering us if we ask according to His will (1 Jn. 5:14).
Apart from the foundational thoughts about the discovery and use of the spiritual gift, the gifted believer must equally beware of the following pitfalls in the exercise of spiritual gifts.
1. Gift projection syndrome – This is a situation where Christians who think their particular gifts are more important project these gifts outwardly to make others feel inferior to them (1 Cor. 12:14-20).
2. Gift denigration – this is a “put him down syndrome.” Some members of the church that are regarded “weak” or “feeble” may be looked at like having no significant gift and the overly confident and overly independent members may fail to see how much they need to be ministered to by the so called weaker members (1 Cor. 12:21-25).
3. Over-Individualization – That the gifts are given to the individual does not mean they are given for private use. Gifts are given for the common good and the edification of the entire body of Christ. The community of faith must act as the controlling context for the exercise of spiritual gifts. The kind of spiritual maturity encouraged is maturity in community and not maturity in isolation (Eph. 4:12-13).
4. Consumer mentality syndrome – There is the danger of “parasitism” – a situation where some believers only think of receiving and never giving. There are contexts where only pastors are the performers and the members are spectators. This mentality must be discouraged and all members must see themselves as contributors and participants.
5. Institutionalism – One of the problems the church faced before the sixteenth century reformation was that some of the gifts became associated only with the clergy consequently rendering church members passive and uninvolved. Through leadership legalism in the church, the danger is still very much there today that some gift may be discounted by the leaders in the church.
6. Rationalism _ The liberalizing trends of the 18th century is playing down the supernatural elements of the Christian faith. The problem with many is that they equate spiritual gifts with natural aptitude and talents. This problem of rationalism has partly made some conclude that power and revelation gifts are no more in existence today.
7. Emotionalism – This is another extreme situation where the gifted person focuses attention more on personal experience rather than the objective dictates of the scripture. Charismatism and Pentecostalism face more problem of emotionalism than any other groups of believers.
For the purpose of clarity, the gifts of the Spirit shall be discussed under four categorizations. It must be well stated here that the identified gifts under these headings may not be exhaustive of all the gifts in the new testament but that there is no gift aside these can not fit into those so identified. In each of the gift observed, a definition of the gift will be given, scriptural explanation, characteristics of the user and potential pitfalls.
REVELATORY GIFTS 1COR. 12:4-11
A. WORD OF KNOWLEDGE – Bob Whitaker is right in describing this gift in the following words “Is not about intellectual ability or learning; it is an inner knowing or intuition such as was seen in Jesus ministry when he knew what his critics were thinking, feeling or plotting and then spoke in response as though he had read their minds” (Mk. 2:8, Lk 6:8, 7:36-47;9:47). The Greek word used to describe this gift literally mean “deep knowing.” It must be understood that this kind of knowledge is not parallel to that special revelation of the Bible. It is not intended to add to the scriptures. This is a divine, special, and supernatural revelation of facts through the Holy Ghost, about situation, people or thing which otherwise or depending upon carnal mind could not have been known. Lets examine the following scriptures to know the gift better: Gen. 2:21-23, Acts 5:1-4, Lk 4:17-19, 2 Kgs 5:20-27, 2Kg 6:32-33, Jn 4:17-18.
The pitfalls to beware of as a recipient of this gift is the tendency to become puffed up because of insights discerned and messages revealed. The other danger is communicating publicly a word of knowledge that was meant to be private. Some may even go the extreme by faking the word of knowledge when no revelation has come.
B. WORD OF WISDOM
This is a special spirit given ability to see situations and issues from God’s perspective and to apply God-given insight to specific areas of need.
Genesis 41 presents a good example of the demonstration of this gift. In Jesus’ ministry, the word of wisdom shone through in the perspective answers he gave those who tried to implicate him (Matt. 21:23-27; 22:23-33, Lk. 20:20-26). The recipient of this gift is able to apply spiritual knowledge in practical ways. Solomon sorting out the quarrel between the two women fighting over the living baby is another good example of the demonstration of this gift. The recipient of the gift are usually good as a member of a counseling team and can guide the church through a troublesome time.
The dangers potentially inherent in the use of the gift is the tendency for the user to become over confident, think of himself more highly than he ought to or become impatient with those who do not listen to his/her sayings.
C. DISCERNING OF THE SPIRIT.
This is a special Spirit-ability to distinguish or differentiate between spirits. Put in a different way, it is the ability to know whether a particular word, action or motive has its source in God, sinful flesh or Satan. Let’s explore the following passages of the scripture to understand the operation of this gift better: Matt. 16:23, Acts 8:9-25; 16:16-18, 1Tim. 4:1, 2Pet. 2:1-2, 1Thess. 5:21.
The potential liabilities of this gift include tendency for the user to become overzealous heresy hunter, overcritical about everything or withdraw from church to church.
POWER GIFTS
A.GIFT OF FAITH 1 COR. 12:9 – The gift of faith is the first gift in the category of the power gifts and it provides the unifying factor in this new group. The gift of faith is not the same as the saving faith possessed by every Christian (Rom. 3:22; 5:1). It is a special Spirit-given ability to know with certainty that God wills to do something and is certain to do it. Simply put, knowing what God want to do, coupled with the utter confidence that He will do it. Let’s observe the manifestations of this gift from the scriptures: Gen. 22:8, Jn. 11:23, Matt. 14:29, Acts 27:21-26. the potential problem usually associated with people operating this gift is the tendency to exercise the gift without love (1 Cor. 13:2) or be impatient with those who are quite cautious.
B. GIFTS OF HEALINGS
It is a special ability given by the Holy Spirit to serve as an instrument to bring physical, emotional and spiritual healing in an extraordinary way. What should be specially noted in regards to this gifts is the plural words used, and this suggests a variety of abilities relating to various maladies and diseases, 38 recorded scenes of healing in Jesus’ earthly ministry is given in the New Testament and 17 in the book of Acts by Apostle Paul and others. It is epistemologically fraudulent for anyone to conclude that this gift has seized. Let’s explore the scriptures: Ex. 15:26; 23:25, Ps. 103:3, Matt. 9:35, Mk. 6:56, Acts 10:38, Heb. 2:4, 2Kg 20:1-7, 1Tim. 5:23, Jn 14:11-14. the identified liabilities of the person’s using the gift include:
• Trying to heal at any time without discerning spirit guidance
• Use of rigid methods not confirmed in the scriptures
• Making healing dependent on the sick person’s faith
• Becoming impatient when healing does not happen.
C.WORKINGS OF MIRACLES – 1 Cor. 12:10
This is a display of divine extraordinary power, overturning the law of nature to express the power and presence of God in the affairs of man. We are still very much in the age of the miraculous and there are men and women of faith so gifted in this display of God’s power. The following scriptural texts attest to the demonstration of this gift. Acts 13:8-11, Acts 2:22, Mk. 6:2, Lk. 10:13, Gal. 3:5, 2Cor. 12:12, Matt. 12:28, Jn. 2:1-10, Mk.. 4:35-41, Mk 5:21-43, Lk 7:11-17, Jn. 14:12-14, Heb. 2:3-4. exorcism of demons is within the context of the gift of workings of miracles.
The potential liabilities of the user of this gift include the tendency to want to operate without Spirit guidance and taking personal credit for what really belong to God
UTTERANCE GIFTS
A. GIFT OF PROPHECY – 1Cor 12, 1 Thess. 5:20, Matt. 7:15-16
This is a special spirit-given ability to receive and communicate a message from God so that believers may be edified, encouraged and convinced 1 Cor 14:3-5. prophecy has a dual nature of revelation and utterance. The Greek word for prophecy literally means “to speak forth.” There is the dimension of “forth telling” and the “fore telling” Acts 11:27-28; 21:10-11; 13:1-3, 1 Tim. 1:18, Rev. 1:3, Rom. 12:8. prophecy is in three dimensions of “edification,” “encouragement” and “consolation” (counseling) 1 Cor. 14:3,9. That you have the gift of prophecy does not necessarily mean that you are a prophet. The pitfalls to watch out for include:
• Pride
• Deviation from the scripture
• Being too blunt or ministering without wisdom
Prophecies must be tested using scriptural litmus Deut. 18:20-22
B. DIVERS KINDS OF TONGUES – This gift seems to be the most controversial among all the gifts of the spirit. If this gift is not put in the right perspective it can be disruptive and divisive. It can simply be put as a special spirit-given ability to speak in utterances previously unknown or unlearnt by the speaker. You should take a special look at the plural form it is put in 1 Corinthians 12. From the text of the scripture the following should be observed:
• 120 believers spoke in tongues on the Pentecost day Acts 1:15; 2:4.
• Family of Cornelius after responding to Peter’s sermon Acts 10:46.
• A group of Ephesians’ believers Acts 19:6
• Paul also spoke in tongues 1 Cor. 14:5,18
• There is the “tongue” that is solely ministering to God (private).
• There is the “tongue” that is meant for ministering to men. This seems o spoken of in 1 Corinthians 12 (public) study 1 Corinthians 14 very carefully.
• Observe the tongues of “men” or of “angels” in 1 Corinthians 13. The person with this gift must beware of:
• Exercising the gift without love
• Making tongues the norm for spiritual maturity
• Using the gift for self glory.
C. INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES 1 Cor. 12:10
This is a special spirit-given ability to interpret into known language a message spoken in tongues. The interpretation may be supplied by the tongue-speaking person (1 Cor. 14:5,13) or by another person (1 Cor. 14:27). When interpretation is given the tongue spoken edifies not only the tongue-speaker but also all who are present. The interpretation may not be word for word translation but rather giving sense of the message. Tongues, once interpreted, are basically equivalent to prophecy. The pitfalls to avoid is giving words not from the Holy Spirit, taking glory for the manifestation of the gift or feeling superior to others who do not have this gift.
AUXILIARY GIFTS
A. ADMINISTRATION/LEADERSHIP 1 Cor.12:28, Rom. 12:8
This gift consists of a special skill in administrative direction that enables the gifted one to steer the flock of God into channels of effective service. The Greed word translated administration in 1 Cor. 12:28 means “one who guides or directs towards a goal.” Through the leadership skill the user sees and sets the goals and through the administrative skills he devises the plans to accomplish the goals. Explore the following texts of the Bible: 1 Thess. 5:12, 1Tim. 5:17, 1Pet. 5:2-3, 1Tim. 4:14, Heb. 13:7,17,24. The user of this gift must beware of the tendency for “using” people and thinking of projects and programs more than people.
B. ENCOURAGEMENT/COUNSELLING (Rom. 12:8).
This is the spirit-given ability to effectively encourage, comfort, challenge, or rebuke others to help them live lives worthy of God. The Greek term “parakaleo”, translated encourage in Rom. 12:8 denotes “standing-alongside another person to encourage, support or console as well as to challenge, urge or rebuke, where necessary, for spiritual growth and to spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24). For further insight, study: Acts 14:21-22; 4:36; 11:25-26; 13:5; 15:37-39, Lk. 22:32, 2Tim. 4:2 and Jn. 14:16.
The danger are that the user may:
• Create inappropriate dependencies by getting too involved in people’s lives
• Neglect his/her spiritual life in the bid to help others.
C. GIFT OF GIVING (Rom. 12:8)
This is contributing significant personal, and material resources to the Lord’s work. The Greek word used in Rom. 12:8 places emphasis on “giving or sharing of ourselves” as we give. Examples in the scriptures include the poor widow (Lk. 21:1-3), and Dorcas (Acts 9:36-39) 1 Thess. 2:8.
Possible liabilities include
• Being proud of giving
• Condemn those who do not give sacrificially
• Unduly critical of how others spend their money
D. HOSPITALITY
Spirit given grace to love, welcome and graciously serve guests and strangers so that they feel at home 1 Pet. 4:9-10, Acts 16:15, 1Tim. 3:2; 5:10, 3Jn 5_8, Rom. 16:23.
Potential dangers associate with this gift is the tendency for the user of the gift to allow people take undue advantage of him/her, and also not being able to say no when ought to.
E. SHOWING MERCY (Rom. 12:8)
Ability to feel genuine empathy and compassion for hurting people and translating that feeling into cheerful acts of service. Some dangers of the user include:
• Being over sympathetic without objective censoring
• Over protective of those cared for
• Guided more by feeling and emotion rather than facts and scriptures w.
With what attitude should this gift be used? Rom. 12:8.
Explore the use of this gift from Lk 4-8. what can we learn from Acts 9:36, Lk 6:36 and Jm. 2:15-16, Matt. 25:35-45
This material is the sole property of the GLOBAL DELIVERANCE TEAM (GLODET). Unless special permission is given by the president, it must not be recopied by any means by anybody.
Written by Rev Dele Kolade
Friday, February 01, 2008
A VAST ARMY; AN EXEGESIS OF EZEK 37
A VAST ARMY, AN EXEGESIS OF EZEKIEL 37
Introduction – Ezekiel, the priest prophet in this chapter had a dramatic encounter with God, a record of which we want to carefully examine in the light of our contemporary situation. The chapter can be described as a prophetic excursion that reaffirms the fact that with God nothing is impossible and that there is not right off or hopeless situation. As we wait on God for a radical revival, let’s be guided by the prophetic, panoramic principles set forth in this great chapter.
Discover to Recover – Vs 1 “The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the Spirit of the Lord….” The prophetic restoration in this chapter of the Bible began with a revelation and the fact that discovery is the first principle to experiencing revival or a positive change in life. If a situation will change, the change will start with a new vision. Revelation precedes liberation and restoration. God gave Ezekiel a prophetic projection of the divine intension for the house of Israel. In life, if you don’t discover you can not recover. A true and holistic discovery must begin with epistemological humility, an admission of the fact that what you know is far less than what you don’t know. This vision shown to Ezekiel, I belief must be beyond his human imagination. There are so many things you don’t know about what you are going through unless God reveal them to you. As human being, you are limited to the existential realities around you but God can unveil the metaphysical truth that is beyond you to you. There are things you don’t know and you know that you don’t know them, but greater ignorance is in things you don’t know and you don’t even know that you don’t know them. You need a connection and prophetic excursion with the Holy Spirit like Ezekiel to be able to have a broader and clearer perspective of life. May the hand of the Lord rest on you today to take you beyond yourself.
From the Familiar to the Unfamiliar – Vs 1 “…and carried me out…and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones.” There is no bigger obstacle to having revival or experiencing positive change than the problem of ‘sameness’ or indifference. Exposure brings expansion, so a man this is not positively exposed is caged. When you are exposed you will begin to appreciate new things but men who have nothing new to appreciate will eventually depreciate. You must pray for a release from the cocoon of indifference you are into. Get familiar with the godly unfamiliar. The emphasis here is the ‘carried out’ of the prophet. Note the word ‘out’; it has a sense of beyond and newness. Ezekiel was taken from where he was to a new place he never dreamt of. God is intending to take you out of somewhere and set you down in a new setting. For your prophetic change to be translated to real testimony, you need a corresponding transition from where you are to where you ought to be.
The Site – It will interest you to know that there is no way you can fully understand a situation if you don’t understand its attendant connection with its location. There is a connection between where you are and who you are. The description of the blessed man in Psalm one centers first on where he does not walk, stand, or sit all describing location. You can not fully understand a situation when you do not first investigate the location. The first recorded question God ever asked man borders on location – ‘Adam where are you’. The setting of this vision is as important as the situation described in the revelation that ensued. It was a ‘valley’ setting. This, I must say does not surprise me because after all God created the place before He created the people. I think David will have to be consulted to better understand the significance of being in a VALLEY. David, in Psalm 23 recounts his valley experience. I must also say that the situation at hand in Ezekiel vision is superlatively different from that of David in Psalm 23. David walked through the valley but the bones in Ezekiel’s account describe those who could not walk through it. What David experienced or saw was a shadow of death but what Ezekiel saw was REAL DEATH and not a shadow. All the same David has helped us to discover that valley is a picture of danger and evil and this was where God led Ezekiel the prophet into. Where are you now? May be in the valley, but wait, all hope is not lost for there is hope even for the obituary.
The Situation – Vs 2 “…there were very many in the open valley; and lo, they were very dry.” The emphasis here is on the population of those involved and the propensity of the problem at hand. Can you imagine seeing in a dream very many human dried bones; I guess you will simply force to wake up from such a dream. What Ezekiel saw was terribly ugly and from the human point of view HOPELESSNESS IN CAPITAL LETTERS. The valley was full of decayed, disintegrated, and widely dispersed human bones. When human dead body is left unburied in the open, the site of it must be terrible. The prophet was given a full picture of the valley by making him to move all around the place. There is a need for a clear understanding of what is going on before a solution can be sort for. A problem you do not understand well you can not deal well with. Someone said ‘Jesus is the answer’, and someone asked him ‘what is the question?’ The issue is that we seem to have many answers when we do not even understand the questions. Ezekiel had a clear picture of the situation. May the Lord open your eyes to understand the situation you are in, and may He empower you to deal with it with His anointing.
The Question – Vs 3 “…Can these bones live?....” What a multi million Dollars’ question? The Immortal was asking the mortal if the rotten, stinking, disintegrated and widely dispersed human bones could come back to life. Ezekiel, I believe, was still grappling with the shock of the site when the unexpected question came. The question was too much for the prophet and his response was simply an expression of epistemological humility. Ezekiel’s response that only God knows is recognition of God’s sovereignty and omnipotence. You need to allow God to take the lead and show the way.
The Solution – If you allow God to show the way you will see tremendous and great results. We need to observe the process of the recovery and restoration in this passage.
Divine – Human Collaboration – We must not loose the sight of the fact that Ezekiel was divinely assigned a role in the process of the recovery. He was the mouth piece of God who was doing the commanding. In this project of your total emancipation and full restoration you have an active role to play. God has anointed you to take charge and to do exploit in life.
Divine backing – You must be aware than you are not going in your own strength or ability, there must be a divine decree backing you. Going all out without God will spell a doom but following divine order will bring victory and testimony. Ezekiel was acting on specific divine instructions. He was not speaking his own words, but that which he received from God. You need a specific, divinely directed word and mandate from God on what you are currently going through. No one can decrease what God decrees.
The shakings, trembling, and rattling – At the voice of the anointed man of God, there was an aggressive demonstration and reactions on the scattered bones. Sometimes when God set into our situation, there may be the initial shakings, trembling and the rattling. The shaking is for your making. It is a response to the order of restoration and not a signal of destruction. You need to differentiate the shakings engineered by God from the tearing organized by the devil.
Bone to its bone – The concept of ‘fitly joined together’ captured in Eph 4:16 can best be appreciated in the wonders of human skeleton. God brought bone to its bone in the process of restoration in this passage. Can you imagine if the bones were wrongly fitted, the site would have been very ugly. Many of us need a re- ordering of our lives because bones are not to the right bones in our lives. Some are suffering from what I call orderly disorder and they need an urgent reordering of their lives.
Sinew, flesh, and skin – As wonderful as the human skeleton is, without flesh it may be very frightening. The beauty of life is better seen through the addition of flesh and skin to the human body. You need the sinew, flesh and skin in your life. You need the beauty of the Lord in your life for you to attract success and breakthrough.
Breath/Spirit – The peak of the dramatic, prophetic, spirito-surgical operation at this valley was the coming of the Spirit upon the fresh but lifeless bodies. No matter how fresh and well looking dead body may be, it is still as useless as rotten bone. What some of us need is the coming of the Spirit of God into our lives. It is one thing to be existing and another to be living, just as being well is not the same as well being. You must not just be existing, you must start living and fulfilling your destiny in Christ. You can only do this by the power of the Spirit. You can not stand up unless you are filled up by the Spirit of God. What a great thing to discover that the once scattered, shattered, useless dried bones are now ‘A VAST AND EXCEEDING GREAT ARMY’ Rev. Dele Kolade
E-Mail : kolade2002@yahoo.com
Website: www.delekolade.blogspot.com
www.glodetmission.blogspot.com
Introduction – Ezekiel, the priest prophet in this chapter had a dramatic encounter with God, a record of which we want to carefully examine in the light of our contemporary situation. The chapter can be described as a prophetic excursion that reaffirms the fact that with God nothing is impossible and that there is not right off or hopeless situation. As we wait on God for a radical revival, let’s be guided by the prophetic, panoramic principles set forth in this great chapter.
Discover to Recover – Vs 1 “The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the Spirit of the Lord….” The prophetic restoration in this chapter of the Bible began with a revelation and the fact that discovery is the first principle to experiencing revival or a positive change in life. If a situation will change, the change will start with a new vision. Revelation precedes liberation and restoration. God gave Ezekiel a prophetic projection of the divine intension for the house of Israel. In life, if you don’t discover you can not recover. A true and holistic discovery must begin with epistemological humility, an admission of the fact that what you know is far less than what you don’t know. This vision shown to Ezekiel, I belief must be beyond his human imagination. There are so many things you don’t know about what you are going through unless God reveal them to you. As human being, you are limited to the existential realities around you but God can unveil the metaphysical truth that is beyond you to you. There are things you don’t know and you know that you don’t know them, but greater ignorance is in things you don’t know and you don’t even know that you don’t know them. You need a connection and prophetic excursion with the Holy Spirit like Ezekiel to be able to have a broader and clearer perspective of life. May the hand of the Lord rest on you today to take you beyond yourself.
From the Familiar to the Unfamiliar – Vs 1 “…and carried me out…and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones.” There is no bigger obstacle to having revival or experiencing positive change than the problem of ‘sameness’ or indifference. Exposure brings expansion, so a man this is not positively exposed is caged. When you are exposed you will begin to appreciate new things but men who have nothing new to appreciate will eventually depreciate. You must pray for a release from the cocoon of indifference you are into. Get familiar with the godly unfamiliar. The emphasis here is the ‘carried out’ of the prophet. Note the word ‘out’; it has a sense of beyond and newness. Ezekiel was taken from where he was to a new place he never dreamt of. God is intending to take you out of somewhere and set you down in a new setting. For your prophetic change to be translated to real testimony, you need a corresponding transition from where you are to where you ought to be.
The Site – It will interest you to know that there is no way you can fully understand a situation if you don’t understand its attendant connection with its location. There is a connection between where you are and who you are. The description of the blessed man in Psalm one centers first on where he does not walk, stand, or sit all describing location. You can not fully understand a situation when you do not first investigate the location. The first recorded question God ever asked man borders on location – ‘Adam where are you’. The setting of this vision is as important as the situation described in the revelation that ensued. It was a ‘valley’ setting. This, I must say does not surprise me because after all God created the place before He created the people. I think David will have to be consulted to better understand the significance of being in a VALLEY. David, in Psalm 23 recounts his valley experience. I must also say that the situation at hand in Ezekiel vision is superlatively different from that of David in Psalm 23. David walked through the valley but the bones in Ezekiel’s account describe those who could not walk through it. What David experienced or saw was a shadow of death but what Ezekiel saw was REAL DEATH and not a shadow. All the same David has helped us to discover that valley is a picture of danger and evil and this was where God led Ezekiel the prophet into. Where are you now? May be in the valley, but wait, all hope is not lost for there is hope even for the obituary.
The Situation – Vs 2 “…there were very many in the open valley; and lo, they were very dry.” The emphasis here is on the population of those involved and the propensity of the problem at hand. Can you imagine seeing in a dream very many human dried bones; I guess you will simply force to wake up from such a dream. What Ezekiel saw was terribly ugly and from the human point of view HOPELESSNESS IN CAPITAL LETTERS. The valley was full of decayed, disintegrated, and widely dispersed human bones. When human dead body is left unburied in the open, the site of it must be terrible. The prophet was given a full picture of the valley by making him to move all around the place. There is a need for a clear understanding of what is going on before a solution can be sort for. A problem you do not understand well you can not deal well with. Someone said ‘Jesus is the answer’, and someone asked him ‘what is the question?’ The issue is that we seem to have many answers when we do not even understand the questions. Ezekiel had a clear picture of the situation. May the Lord open your eyes to understand the situation you are in, and may He empower you to deal with it with His anointing.
The Question – Vs 3 “…Can these bones live?....” What a multi million Dollars’ question? The Immortal was asking the mortal if the rotten, stinking, disintegrated and widely dispersed human bones could come back to life. Ezekiel, I believe, was still grappling with the shock of the site when the unexpected question came. The question was too much for the prophet and his response was simply an expression of epistemological humility. Ezekiel’s response that only God knows is recognition of God’s sovereignty and omnipotence. You need to allow God to take the lead and show the way.
The Solution – If you allow God to show the way you will see tremendous and great results. We need to observe the process of the recovery and restoration in this passage.
Divine – Human Collaboration – We must not loose the sight of the fact that Ezekiel was divinely assigned a role in the process of the recovery. He was the mouth piece of God who was doing the commanding. In this project of your total emancipation and full restoration you have an active role to play. God has anointed you to take charge and to do exploit in life.
Divine backing – You must be aware than you are not going in your own strength or ability, there must be a divine decree backing you. Going all out without God will spell a doom but following divine order will bring victory and testimony. Ezekiel was acting on specific divine instructions. He was not speaking his own words, but that which he received from God. You need a specific, divinely directed word and mandate from God on what you are currently going through. No one can decrease what God decrees.
The shakings, trembling, and rattling – At the voice of the anointed man of God, there was an aggressive demonstration and reactions on the scattered bones. Sometimes when God set into our situation, there may be the initial shakings, trembling and the rattling. The shaking is for your making. It is a response to the order of restoration and not a signal of destruction. You need to differentiate the shakings engineered by God from the tearing organized by the devil.
Bone to its bone – The concept of ‘fitly joined together’ captured in Eph 4:16 can best be appreciated in the wonders of human skeleton. God brought bone to its bone in the process of restoration in this passage. Can you imagine if the bones were wrongly fitted, the site would have been very ugly. Many of us need a re- ordering of our lives because bones are not to the right bones in our lives. Some are suffering from what I call orderly disorder and they need an urgent reordering of their lives.
Sinew, flesh, and skin – As wonderful as the human skeleton is, without flesh it may be very frightening. The beauty of life is better seen through the addition of flesh and skin to the human body. You need the sinew, flesh and skin in your life. You need the beauty of the Lord in your life for you to attract success and breakthrough.
Breath/Spirit – The peak of the dramatic, prophetic, spirito-surgical operation at this valley was the coming of the Spirit upon the fresh but lifeless bodies. No matter how fresh and well looking dead body may be, it is still as useless as rotten bone. What some of us need is the coming of the Spirit of God into our lives. It is one thing to be existing and another to be living, just as being well is not the same as well being. You must not just be existing, you must start living and fulfilling your destiny in Christ. You can only do this by the power of the Spirit. You can not stand up unless you are filled up by the Spirit of God. What a great thing to discover that the once scattered, shattered, useless dried bones are now ‘A VAST AND EXCEEDING GREAT ARMY’ Rev. Dele Kolade
E-Mail : kolade2002@yahoo.com
Website: www.delekolade.blogspot.com
www.glodetmission.blogspot.com
2008'S PROPHETIC X-RAY
THE PROPHETIC X-RAY AND DECLARATION FOR 2008
To know others takes intelligence, to know about an issue or event takes insight, to know about yourself takes wisdom but to know about the future requires metaphysical foresight. Your vision about the future will define your direction, location, association, function, destination and situation (condition). For this year, you are not left in the dark for God has a prophetic package for the saints in the year 2008. You need a clear vision of God’s agenda to be able to access the prophetic package for 2008.May the Lord grant you a divine placement in this great agenda. God has a covenant budget for each year, and every child of His has a portion in that budget. I will surely get my own share of the budget this year 2008. 2008, being a leap year is a very strategic year. I will enjoy divine surplus this season. Every thing good will come my way in excess this year. Any location I am I will get my own divine allocation. The Lord will connect me with the right people that will help me achieve my divine mandate in life. I will be strengthened from on high to achieve my divinely inspired desire. The divine inspiration will insulate me against expiration. I will be lavished with grace and bombarded with blessings. May you have a clear vision of His days in 2008 in Jesus name.
Every purpose (agenda) of God is married with His timing. A purpose without a direction leads to infection. A life without a clear direction is surely in confusion and when there is confusion there will be frustration and failure. A life void of divine vision will settle down for imitation, but imitation brings limitation and intimidation.
God says the year 2008 is MY YEAR TO EXPERIENCE GOD’S FAVOUR AND SKYROCKETING INCREASE. The mandate unlocking this is in Lev.26: 9- “For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm my covenant with you”.2008 is the beginning of my season of “breaking forth” (Isa.54: 3). In this season, God will give a divine blow to all of my woes, and tread into extinction all of my troubles. Your problems are rebuked that you may proceed into your ordained destiny. Mathematically speaking, eight is a representation of justice. Eight (8) is the first cube after one (1)and its seen as a number of justice because it divides evenly into 4 and 4, which in turn divides into 2 and 2, which in turn divides into 1 and 1. This year, the Lord will fight for me and I will have divine justice. My pains will be translated into gains. God says all my setbacks will become setups for my breakthroughs. I have a divine decree to increase and be all-round fruitful. All I see this year is high fecundity and prolificacy.
In fully accessing God’s entire blessing in 2008, you need to personally apply these eight divine principles.
You must fear not for dread will drown you. Fear is a weapon to sabotage your vision and mandate. Flush out your fear with the word of faith. “Thus says the Lord who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you: ‘Fear not, O Jacob my servant; and you Jeshurun whom I have chosen”(Isa.44: 2)
“Fear not, for I am with you; be note dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isa.41: 10).
Look “up”, not down and not around. When you are under tension what you need is a divine attention. Ps.121: 1-2, Isa.6: 1-3, Josh.5: 13, 2Cor.3: 18
Step out of your “convenient zone” for new attempts will bring new attainments. Every disappointment must be converted into new appointments (Matt.14: 29, 1Chro.28: 20)
Stop crying and complaining, start commanding and claiming. (Gen.14: 15)
Walk through your problem, not around or away from it. There is no progression without aggression. Walking through your opposition will bring you into your desired position. This year 2008, God says, “…go forward” (Exd.14: 13-15, Phil.3: 12-14).
“Go in and possess” (Deut.1: 6-8). There are people who pursue but don’t possess. Chasing is not the same as taking. In this year, you will not only overtake but will also take, and as you pursue you will possess. God is saying that as you discover you will equally recover. 1Sam.30: 8.
Expand your mind and free yourself from tyranny of self limitation. If you don’t see beyond yourself you have not started to see. Tune to the divine frequency where there is no limitation. Isa.43: 18-19, Phil.4: 1-6
This year 2008 you must not be a duplicate. You are created an original. You must not follow the “crowd” but the “cloud” (Num.10: 34-35)
As you anchor yourself to the words of this prophecy, you will experience a major shift that will bring your desired lifting.
’Dele Kolade
E-Mail : kolade2002@yahoo.com
Website: www.delekolade.blogspot.com
www.glodetmission.blogspot.com
To know others takes intelligence, to know about an issue or event takes insight, to know about yourself takes wisdom but to know about the future requires metaphysical foresight. Your vision about the future will define your direction, location, association, function, destination and situation (condition). For this year, you are not left in the dark for God has a prophetic package for the saints in the year 2008. You need a clear vision of God’s agenda to be able to access the prophetic package for 2008.May the Lord grant you a divine placement in this great agenda. God has a covenant budget for each year, and every child of His has a portion in that budget. I will surely get my own share of the budget this year 2008. 2008, being a leap year is a very strategic year. I will enjoy divine surplus this season. Every thing good will come my way in excess this year. Any location I am I will get my own divine allocation. The Lord will connect me with the right people that will help me achieve my divine mandate in life. I will be strengthened from on high to achieve my divinely inspired desire. The divine inspiration will insulate me against expiration. I will be lavished with grace and bombarded with blessings. May you have a clear vision of His days in 2008 in Jesus name.
Every purpose (agenda) of God is married with His timing. A purpose without a direction leads to infection. A life without a clear direction is surely in confusion and when there is confusion there will be frustration and failure. A life void of divine vision will settle down for imitation, but imitation brings limitation and intimidation.
God says the year 2008 is MY YEAR TO EXPERIENCE GOD’S FAVOUR AND SKYROCKETING INCREASE. The mandate unlocking this is in Lev.26: 9- “For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm my covenant with you”.2008 is the beginning of my season of “breaking forth” (Isa.54: 3). In this season, God will give a divine blow to all of my woes, and tread into extinction all of my troubles. Your problems are rebuked that you may proceed into your ordained destiny. Mathematically speaking, eight is a representation of justice. Eight (8) is the first cube after one (1)and its seen as a number of justice because it divides evenly into 4 and 4, which in turn divides into 2 and 2, which in turn divides into 1 and 1. This year, the Lord will fight for me and I will have divine justice. My pains will be translated into gains. God says all my setbacks will become setups for my breakthroughs. I have a divine decree to increase and be all-round fruitful. All I see this year is high fecundity and prolificacy.
In fully accessing God’s entire blessing in 2008, you need to personally apply these eight divine principles.
You must fear not for dread will drown you. Fear is a weapon to sabotage your vision and mandate. Flush out your fear with the word of faith. “Thus says the Lord who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you: ‘Fear not, O Jacob my servant; and you Jeshurun whom I have chosen”(Isa.44: 2)
“Fear not, for I am with you; be note dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isa.41: 10).
Look “up”, not down and not around. When you are under tension what you need is a divine attention. Ps.121: 1-2, Isa.6: 1-3, Josh.5: 13, 2Cor.3: 18
Step out of your “convenient zone” for new attempts will bring new attainments. Every disappointment must be converted into new appointments (Matt.14: 29, 1Chro.28: 20)
Stop crying and complaining, start commanding and claiming. (Gen.14: 15)
Walk through your problem, not around or away from it. There is no progression without aggression. Walking through your opposition will bring you into your desired position. This year 2008, God says, “…go forward” (Exd.14: 13-15, Phil.3: 12-14).
“Go in and possess” (Deut.1: 6-8). There are people who pursue but don’t possess. Chasing is not the same as taking. In this year, you will not only overtake but will also take, and as you pursue you will possess. God is saying that as you discover you will equally recover. 1Sam.30: 8.
Expand your mind and free yourself from tyranny of self limitation. If you don’t see beyond yourself you have not started to see. Tune to the divine frequency where there is no limitation. Isa.43: 18-19, Phil.4: 1-6
This year 2008 you must not be a duplicate. You are created an original. You must not follow the “crowd” but the “cloud” (Num.10: 34-35)
As you anchor yourself to the words of this prophecy, you will experience a major shift that will bring your desired lifting.
’Dele Kolade
E-Mail : kolade2002@yahoo.com
Website: www.delekolade.blogspot.com
www.glodetmission.blogspot.com
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