We have to develop godly habits to express what God’s grace has done in us. It is not just a question of being saved, but of being saved so that “the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our lives.” And it is adversity that makes us exhibit His life in our mortal flesh. Is your life exhibiting the essence of the sweetness of Christ? The only thing that will enable you to go through adversity is your eagerness of allowing the life of Christ to be evidence itself in you. No matter how difficult something may be, I must say, “Lord, I am delighted to obey You in this.” I must say this is the point where many Christians fail it; they tend to see things as they are instead of the way God is seeing and saying it.  If you allow God to take control, believe me, God will move to the forefront of your life and manifest.

Obedience is paramount in the life of Christians. The moment you obey God, His light shines through you in that very adversity; but if you debate with God, you grieve His Spirit (see Ephesians 4:30). You must keep yourself in proper condition to allow the life of Christ to be manifested in you, and you cannot keep yourself fit if you give way to self-pity because it will lead to depression. Our circumstances are the means God uses to exhibit just how wonderfully perfect and extraordinarily pure His Son Jesus Christ is. It is one thing to choose adversity, and quite another to enter into adversity through the orchestrating of our circumstances by God’s sovereignty. And if God puts you into adversity, He is adequately sufficient to “supply all your need” (Philippians 4:19)

Keep yourself properly conditioned to manifest the life of Christ. Never live on your memories of past experiences, but let the Word of God always be living and active in your life so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect in His plan and purpose for you.

Excerpts from utmost.org 14/05/19

What makes grass grow thick and green? Would you believe that part of the answer is lightning? The main ingredient in most fertilizers is nitrogen, and the air is full of it. But grass can’t access the nitrogen in the air until lightning moves through it. Lightning heats the air and splits nitrogen into separate molecules. The molecules of nitrogen then join with oxygen and hydrogen and fall as rain—nourishing the vegetation. Who knew that lightning is one of God’s messengers to make the world green? Learning about lightning makes me wonder what else God is doing behind the scenes in my life and people’s lives just like in the time of Queen Esther in the whole book of Esther. I love to hear miraculous stories of healing, surprise checks in the mail, and bullets that somehow miss from point-blank range. The God of wonders can do spectacular things. But His “ordinary” acts of providence are equally wonderful. It’s funny you see people these days don’t attribute these acts of miracles to God rather they give the credit to men.

Psalm 104 lists some of the ways God quietly provides for us. He “placed the world on its foundation” and “set a firm boundary for the seas” (Psalm 104:5,9). He sends rain to nourish the earth and grow “plants for people to use” (Psalm 104:14). He “made the moon to mark the seasons” and uses the sun to create a rhythm of work and rest for all His creatures (Psalm 104:19). “They all depend on [Him] to give them food” (Psalm 104:27). The one that got me thinking is the one said in verse 21 that then the young lions roar for their prey, stalking the food provided by God. Consider the many ways God silently sustains your life. Thank Him for the various systems within your body and for the outside world that provides you with family, friends, and meaningful work. Praise Him for the many provisions—like lightning for our lawns—that you may not even know about. There are countless ways God secretly cares for us! Tell Him thanks for the ways He cares for you that you aren’t even aware of. What an amazing, creative, compassionate God we serve!

Do you know why the devil is having a loud laugh at Christians? Because the church is busy fighting and quarrelling over who should sing or preach on Sunday service or midweek service, whose church building is bigger and who can outshine the other person during prayer session or during workers meeting. Lord have mercy! Competition! Competition! Competition! Everywhere you look is competition and packaging all in the name of “anointing”. This is why the church is dead and dry just like the fig tree Jesus cursed in Mark 11: 12 – 14. Now note the following statement before Jesus cursed fig tree, “Because it was not the season for figs.” Yet Jesus went on ahead to cursed it. Beloved, if it’s not your season please give way for other rising stars in the church, your own time is coming. Everyone in this life has his season but the moment you want to come out before your time, what happens is that you become competitive and impatience lacking leadership qualities that can help you lead well as God’s shepherd. The believer must not be a new Christian because he might be proud of being chosen so soon, and pride comes before a fall. Satan’s downfall is an example (1 Timothy 3:6 TLB version). Such was what the arch-enemy of Christians did before he was thrown down.  He went for God’s throne and when he couldn’t, he rallied supporters and fought God. The same thing is happening in the church today.

Now it can be that you are young like Timothy who was full of God’s anointing and given leadership to lead because God has seen your heart, and all hell broke loose in your department or the entire church. You don’t need to fight at all. Oh yes! David had the same challenges when he was chosen by God. His brother despised him and the sitting king who was Saul was so obsessed with killing David. His obsession made him take the lives of priests who were all in their priestly garments, then he destroyed Nob, the city of the religious leaders, with the sword. He killed men and women, children and babies, cattle, donkeys and sheep, with the sword. (1 Samuel 22: 17 – 19). He took three thousand soldiers to pursue one man. Yet when it was in the hand of David to kill Saul, he showed Saul mercy. Learn to hand your worries, troubles, and challenges to God. Fighting and quarrelling won’t get you anywhere, rather it shows one’s folly. I tell you, the same people who would want to steal from you or may have denied you your rightful position will definitely see or hear you a crowned king tomorrow. When you become obsessed about anything or anyone, pray for God to deliver you because it is one of the quickest ways for a man to lose his vision. The purpose of God in a man’s life is lost, the gifts and anointing wasted (Matthew 25: 18, 25 – 30). What do you think will happen to a church that quarrels and fights all the time? The glory of the Lord will depart – Ichabod.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us (Ephesians 3:20). The world we are in today suffers not only from physical needs but also from spiritual brokenness. This has brought about the decadence in the church that made the church to succumb to so much garbage found in the world. Christians find it hard to believe the miracles of God because where there is garbage you see vultures, chicken and rats etc. How then can God’s power manifest in such places except there is a spiritual cleansing?  Please don’t mistake magic for miracles or false men of God to true men of God. We must watch out for those false preachers and people who come into the church as members whereas they are wolves in sheep clothing who smile a lot, chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t be impressed with their charisma; rather look for the character. A genuine preacher or church member will “never” exploit your emotions or your pocket. Many people today get weary of the church because there are many wolves in the church as members and many half-baked men/ herbalists on the altar. How do you except the church to grow powerfully with such mixed multitude? Social media is where people get their information about God, His will and His purpose. It is so sad and sickening seeing the power of God made less true than it appears to be. People believe in magic and run down miracles as if it’s just manipulation in the church. Beloved, miracles do happen (Matthew 9:35 – 38). I don’t need to write down the whole quotation just for you to see it. God is still in the business of doing signs and wonders using His true followers to bring it into manifestation. Because you see people leaving their hair like that of a madman and call it fashion doesn’t mean that there is no hair salon. How far can you see? This has got nothing to do with education or title. My dear what kind of picture are you painting for yourself and where do you want to be in life here and after. All these determine the way you react to things, how you see God for yourself, and most especially what you ask and your obedience to God in “all matters”. It’s kind of funny when you see people who are highly anointed, they receive promises from God and great revelations but they are too stubborn to God by refusing to obey Him completely which have caused them to be stunted in growth financially and in their area of calling. Whereas you see those who may not be as gifted yet they are obedient to God and are successful in their calling.

This brings us to allow the Spirit of God work deeply within us and gently without fuss like the stubborn mule (Psalm 32:9). Many believers are conversant with the word of God but lack the “Revelation of God’s Word”. God deals with all His children in two ways – by the word (which is one having a revelation of God’s word) and by the dealings of His Spirit (which is by our day to day walk with the Holy Spirit as we go through challenges). If you happen to grow in one and deficient in the other, the less God uses you but when you grow in both areas then you will be a vessel of honour fully fit for the Master’s use (2 Timothy 2: 20 – 21).  Many times believers misunderstand some of the dealings of the Holy Spirit for the attacks from the enemy hence the need to key in and begin to see things from God’s own point of view (Romans 12:2). Having a closer relationship and a consistent walk with the Lord is the key to know how far you can be able to ask and what you can receive. Many go about claiming God’s promises yet rejecting the terms and conditions. How then will the promises come true? This is why so many become impatient, then they become frustrated. They now lash out to friends, family or anyone close to them and more especially to God (2 Timothy 3:5). Jesus came to meet that need and challenge. He has also incorporated we His followers to join Him in this work (Matthew 9:37 – 38). God wants to release His power only to those who can be able to use it reach out to the world and win souls and not those who will gratify their selfish desire by destroying others and themselves. Thus the need to grow in grace, spiritual strength and become better acquainted with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ so as to enable us not to feed on junk from the world system and the false information from social media.

Going through adversity should be a thing of joy for every child of God (James 1: 2 – 4). You grow spiritually and become mature as you keep your eyes focused on Jesus. But when you complain and grumble you attract God’s judgment rather than His mercy and grace. Our Father sees all our afflictions and assures us that He will be with us all the way (Psalm 23:4), and He will also comfort us so that when we overcome we can be able to comfort those who are on that same road (2 Corinthians 1: 4 – 7) in order to come out victoriously. Have you ever wondered why believers spend so much time trying to solve problems, overcome challenges, and come out from trials and temptations victoriously?  The natural sense teaches us to first tackle the issue at hand and see how you can correct and amend things but the kingdom way is to take it to God in prayer and to ask how you go about the situation and what you need to learn from it. Today believers are too focused on the end point which is the blessings rather than the process. Take, for example, a parent who is taking his child to school needs to concentrate more on the road and make sure they arrive safely. When he gets to the traffic no matter how busy the road may be and if there are construction going on, he won’t try to beat the red light when he knows he is supposed to give way for other road users. Obedience to traffic laws, patience and self-control so as not to go over the speed limit is needed in order to arrive safely. You don’t drive recklessly and endanger other road users because you have an appointment to keep.

The same thing goes to every believer on earth irrespective of the country you are in don’t try to handle that situation by yourself. Involve God the Holy Spirit, this will help you make things easier, go through the situation with a joyful heart even in pain. The process is where the gain is because our character is being moulded. Some of us may be lacking in patience and you see yourself most times dealing with impatient people, what is the lesson there – learn to be patient and for you to persevere in an unfriendly environment. The same thing goes when you are in lack and in need of money, you find needy people around you. Would you be able to share the little you have with others or will you say when I have enough? If you can’t give when you have little, you will find it difficult to give when you have in abundance and when you do, you give in order to get the praises rather than to honour God. Just like the people of Israel complained and grumbled time after time despite them seeing God’s power in action they have refused to wholeheartedly trust God to bring them out of their situation. The same thing applies to some believers today. How then do you expect to grow and handle God’s blessings when you can’t trust Him? Is it good for us to receive from God and then refuse to trust Him with our lives – is this your philosophy, idea or what? No believer can grow beyond the revelational knowledge he/she has from the scriptures and applying it as well. Many have a head knowledge of God’s word but no revelation. Beloved bear in that God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us (Ephesians 3:20). Note the word “working” in us. When you allow the Holy Spirit direct your path irrespective of your feelings or what people may think, you will begin to see more of His manifestation in your life as He uses you more often to encourage other believers who are weak in faith and to win more souls.

As I journey through life, I have come to appreciate every process God has taken me through – every twist and turn, roundabouts, bends and corners, etc. Studying and pondering over the Book of Exodus (the Israelites journey through the wilderness) has helped my spiritual journey in the area of trials and suffering for the name of Christ. I so planned my life that I was seeing how I will live by the time I retire but all that was messed up the moment I told God to take charge of my life. I believe some of us have experienced this the moment we are weaned enough to start handling solid food as Christians (Hebrews 5:11 – 14). I thought it strange when things started falling apart I never knew that God was tearing the wall I built (sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these), and was about to rebuild it with His own materials (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control).

The more you get closer to God the less of you (Matthew 3:11). Because we were born in sin that nature must be torn down and the only way is the way of the Cross: carrying your cross daily (Luke 9: 22 – 23). This is the only way, and no one chooses the way his own trials and sufferings, the way it will be or how long it will take. I never knew all this before until now. I never knew that what God was doing, He was renewing my mindset as I studied and pondered over His word “day and night”. Revelation comes thereby causing my faith to increase and as the light in God’s word shines on my path, my eyes of heart becomes enlightened causing me to understand my calling, the God I serve, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the body of Christ, and where God has placed me in the whole picture of the church (Ephesians 1: 17 – 19). Beloved this thing I am writing comes from a “long rigorous walk with God” on the narrow road and this walk is still on. As I began to see things the way God sees things (Romans 12:2) just like Isaac who was put on the table of sacrifice and he never struggled with his father, I struggle less every day until I could struggle no more. Trials and sufferings are indeed a blessing to every child of God just as James 1: 2 – 4 says, “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colours. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way (Message Bible).

Note the word “gift.” Trials and sufferings are tools God uses to prunes us, strengthen our faith, and to bring us into spiritual maturity (1 Peter 1: 6 – 9). Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it dies, it bringeth forth much fruit (John 12:24 NKJV). If you refuse to yield yourself and submit under the yoke of the Holy Spirit, you will remain hardened and not used as a vessel of honour by God (2 Timothy 2:21). Trials and sufferings are not meant to kill us rather put the flesh to death on a daily basis. Your complaints and refusal to face these light afflictions shows you can deny the Master and sell your birthright over a bowl of porridge. Having the mind to go through trials and sufferings is what the Lord considers as one who will endure till the end (Revelation 2:26a). Oh yes! Your dedication to Christ makes you look like a fool, but wise in His eyes! You may be weak, but you are so powerful! You are honoured, but we are ridiculed. You may go hungry and thirsty, without enough clothes to keep warm and no permanent roof over your head yet God uses you to be a blessing to many. You may be sick yet you pray for the sick and they are healed. Now I believe this may sound familiar so you should not see it as a strange thing when such things happen, many others believers around the world.

Beloved, don’t go praying for trials and sufferings to come or you do things on purpose that will bring sufferings to your life. Believers suffer most times because they lack knowledge. When God makes provisions and you refuse it because of “what people would say” or because He sent your enemy to give you a help (Exodus 3:22; 12: 35 – 36) if you refuse definitely you will be the one to suffer because of disobedience. Accept the help given to you and don’t go about making a mockery of the body of Christ thinking you are suffering for the Lord’s sake. Having the mind to suffer is what Christ wants to see in us (John 12:25).  We can flourish in the face of hardship because of His power at work within us. Like the pumpkin that withered, we may feel the wear and tear of our trials. But the joy of Jesus in us can continue to grow in spite of our trials and sufferings. Don’t deny yourself this spiritual growth and spiritual muscles that God is building in you. Bear in mind that it is in the place of John’s suffering that the Book of Revelation was birthed.

Trials are part of life and they are also part of the education given in the school of Christ to purify God’s children from the dross of earthiness. Christ Himself entered this school of affliction (trial) as an example to us who must follow His way and do His will (Hebrews 5:8). God has always tried His people in the furnace of affliction (trials). It is in the heat of the furnace that the dross is separated from the true gold of the Christian character (Malachi 3:3). The interesting thing about the trials we Christian go through is that Jesus watches the whole process; He knows what is needed to purify us that we may reflect the radiance of His love. It is by close testing trials that God disciplines His children. In His providence, God brings us into positions that test our character, and reveal defects and weaknesses that have been hidden from our own knowledge. God then gives us the opportunity to correct these defects and to fit ourselves for His service. He shows us our own weakness, and teaches us to lean on Him for He is our only help and safeguard (Psalm 37: 39 – 40).

Trials are the greatest blessings God has bestowed on His children. It is a gift bestowed upon those who choose to serve God faithfully. God permits us to encounter obstacles, persecution, and hardships not as a curse but as to develop in us the precious graces in His Spirit. Every temptation resisted, every trial bravely borne, gives us a new experience and advances in the work of character building, and also reveals to the world and to the heavenly, the universe of the grace of Christ. The cultivation of the virtue – patience, forms an integral part of our training success. For with the trials, defects in our character can be corrected. Patience must have its perfect work or we cannot be perfect and completely developed in our faith, not deficient in any way (James 1:4). Trials are an indication that God sees value in us just as a refiner sees something precious in an unrefined metal (Job 23:10; Isaiah 48:10). Next time you see yourself facing any trial, the question should be….. “Lord show me what you want me to learn that I may do so to enable me to be fit you’re your own use.” You will be asking what if the trials comes frequently what would be the response. Pray this prayer:

O Lord as I go through this trial I ask that You help me overcome and any other trial that is coming my way as a burden from the devil avert it in Jesus name…..Amen!!!

Have you ever wondered why you see a small church that is supposed to have grown and broken-through in their season yet they remain stagnant all the way? The answer is stubbornness and the energy of the flesh in doing/running a church. Have you ever seen and wondered why a Christian who is supposed to be mature in the Lord acting like he has not seen the gate of a church before? The answer is still stubbornness and the energy of flesh in serving God.

The flesh – this is your carnal views and desires, and the literal understanding of God’s Word.  

Profits nothing – it would not be of real need to man.

I don’t believe that most people who start up a church or a ministry do so in flesh but when the pressure of laying the foundation sets in gradually, some ministers will begin to act based on their feelings or outcome of the day (the advice they get from a friend or an interested member). Sometimes this stubbornness and energy of the flesh start when a handful of people start attending service and it seems like the church is growing. No potter can do anything whatever with clay that continually resists the potter’s attempt to shape it. If the potter cannot make the kind of vessel he wants to make, the reason is that there is something in the clay that resists his touch (Jeremiah 18: 1 – 4). So it is with your life and mine. If God is going to use us for His honour and glory, if He is going to bless our evangelistic and soul-winning ministry, then our lives must be placed absolutely at His disposal (2 Timothy 2:21). As long as we want to have our own way – by the energy of the flesh rather than be led by the Spirit of God in the ministry, then be sure that God will do little with us. Many, struggle in ministry because they go by the way of the flesh.

For since the world through all its (earthly) wisdom has failed to recognize God, how and why should we depend on this same wisdom to produce the best out of what God has called us to do? God is Spirit and those who worship Him must do so in the Spirit and in truth (John 4:24). God in His wisdom was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached (regarding salvation) to save us who believe (in Christ and welcome Him as Saviour). Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. When a pastor loses sight of this he loses sight of everything. Dear servant of God, why are you in the ministry if not to live and glorify our Lord Jesus Christ? Or are you in the ministry because of the money, or because it is a respectable thing to do and because it will give you prestige and influence? I pray that you will return to the right path, the highway of salvation (Isaiah 35:8).

Deal with sin and not just the fruit of sin (jealousy, rebellion, stubbornness, bitterness, greed, etc). When you deal with sin (the root cause of man’s fall) by crucifying the flesh daily (Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:24), you will live a victorious life. Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh (guided by the situations and the way the world reason); but those who live according to the Spirit (guided in faith by the power of God) set their minds on the things of the Spirit (God’s will and purposes).

A father and mother were drugged, beaten and stabbed by their two sons who then went ahead to set the house on fire. If not for the intervention of the police on hearing the distress call of the mother, both she and the husband would have died in the hands of their sons. The parents pleaded with the Judge to be lenient with them that they have forgiven their children and that they still love them. The truth is that this can only be the love of God in action that made the parents to forgive their children and are willing to take them back as if nothing happened.

The story above is just like the father of the prodigal son who when his son returned home to his father – and while the boy was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.  His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.  “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.  And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began (Luke 15: 20 – 24). Forgiving a person is one thing, forgetting it (acting as if it never happened is another. Note how the father ran to meet the son and his reaction when the son was apologising of his sins. His father’s reaction – he was happy and in a feasting mood. This is how Christ say we should react whether they are our children or not, biological brothers or not, biological sisters or not, biological parents or foster parents.

The Bible says that God is love, which makes it the perfect source to learn how to love others, even those who are difficult for us too. Our world has skewed the meaning of true love but God’s Word remains a steadfast, true source of knowledge on how to love. As Christians and followers of Jesus Christ, the Bible tells us that the world will know us by our love. The greatest testimony that we can be is to love those around us – whether family, friends or stranger. God puts no limits on love. God is love! If we want the perfect example of love, it is in our creator God. Often, God’s love is referred to as agape love which is the highest form of love that is selfless and sacrificial. It is steadfast, unchanging, and unconditional. The only way we can express this kind of love is by following in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus. When your joy, happiness is in the Lord rather than in material things, the Lord makes it easier for you to love. The idea of loving and forgiving our enemies sounds completely ridiculous at times. It is our human nature to want to defend ourselves and fight back. However, if we are called to be like Jesus, we are called to forgive those who hurt us. Doing good doesn’t show true love but what shows true love is the motive behind the good you do. Loving your enemy is less about reconciling a relationship and more about the condition of your heart!

Mockery, attacks, distraction, and temptation to sin are bound to come from our neighbours, colleagues at work, a brother or sister in the church, a relation at home – all is to enable us to trust God, and grow to become like Jesus. But no matter what our situation or the hard times we might be facing, we still can choose to focus on what God says. He reminds us, “Love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). Love covers any shade of grey, every uncertainty, and all worries or fears. It’s greater than any obstacle or struggle we face in this life. The powerful love of Christ wins every time against the enemy’s lies of defeat. We don’t have to let him win. We can choose the better way. We can choose whose voice we listen to. We can choose to walk in truth. We can choose to walk in love, that way we grow and allow God’s love to saturate our hearts.

God’s love is perfect, faithful, unconditional, forgiving, all-encompassing, pure, lasting, sacrificial, strong, enduring, refreshing, redeeming, everlasting, lavish, full, inspiring, hope-filled, gracious, and so much more. It’s never based on us, our abilities, or striving to ever be good enough. A heart soaked love is found in Christ, His character, and it knows no boundaries and has no limits. There’s no place too deep that His love can’t reach.