THE BELOVED

Matthew 3:17 and suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in who I am well pleased.”

Names are very important. Proverbs 22:1 says a good name is to be chosen rather than great riches. According to Ecclesiastes 7:16, a good name is far more precious than precious ointment or perfumes. Proverbs 18:10 calls the name of the Lord a strong tower. Joel 2:32 points out that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Acts 4:12 says for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. At the mention of the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, Philippians 2:10. There are various uses of names .God uses His names to introduce Himself. When God physically visited Moses, the bible records in Exodus 34:6-7 that the Lord passed before Moses and proclaimed, “the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding n goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and fourth generation.” According to Exodus 6:2, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob knew God by his name ‘Almighty God’ (Almighty means All – sufficient or El-Shaddai). He did not reveal Himself to them by His name ‘Lord’ (Lord meaning owner of the whole universe or the One who rules over all things).

God also uses names to describe the type of relationship He has with people. There are a group of people who He has no relationship with. He refers to them as fools or unwise. Psalm 14:1 says a fool has said in his heart there is no God. According to Proverbs 13:19, the fools delights in doing evil and Proverbs 13:20 has promised that the companion of fools will be destroyed. Also in this group are the proud. God resist the proud but gives grace to the humble, James 4:6. Not only does He resist the proud, a proud look is an abomination to Him, Proverbs 6:16-17. A high look and a proud heart is sin before God, Proverbs 21:4.In this same group, you find the wicked. Proverbs 24:20 has assured us that the lamp of the wicked will be put out. People in this group, do not fear God. Proverbs 16:6 says by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil. Proverbs 8:13 says the fear of the Lord is to hate evil. According to Exodus 20:20, the fear of the Lord prevents people from going into sin. God is not obliged to hear them when they cry. John 9:31 says now we know that God does not hear sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of God and does His will, He hears them. The psalmist says if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me, Psalm 66:18. Out of this group, very few try and live a righteous life. They have good morals, don’t steal or cheat but the bible compares this form righteousness to filthy rags before God, Isaiah 64:6.

There is another group of people who God calls My people. He calls them His people because He has a relationship with them. According to Deuteronomy 7:6, He chose them out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people.2 Chronicles 7:14 say that they are His people because they are called by His name. Who are these people? The Christians – Christ like. According to Galatians 3:7, they are the spiritual Israelites i.e. those of faith. They are known as new creation.2 Corinthians 5:17 say therefore, anyone in Christ is a new creation; old things have passed away and all things have become new. They have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and savior. They have experienced the re-birth experience i.e. born of water and spirit, John 3:5.At salvation this people receive the Holy Spirit, John 3:5-16. When they call on God, He Is obliged to listen to them. According to 2 Chronicles 7:14 , every time His people humble themselves and pray and depart from evil, He will hear from heaven , forgive them and heal their land. Isaiah 58:9 says when they call, He will answer; when they cry, He will say “here I am”. According to Mark 16:17-18, signs follow them: In the name of Jesus they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues ;they will take up serpents and if they drink anything deadly , it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick , and they will recover. One important thing to note here is they have a relationship with God.

Out of this group of people who have a relationship with God, there is a smaller group who are not satisfied with a basic relationship with God so they go further. They understand that the Lord loves them and they reciprocate this love back to God. They enjoy a deeper walk with God. Proverbs 8:17 says I love those who love Me and those who seek Me shall find Me. They have sought for a special relationship with God and they have found it. Whatever they do for God, they do it with their whole heart. The bible records in 2 Samuel 6:14 that David danced with all his might. The psalmist says bless the Lord oh my Lord and all that is within me, Psalm 103:1.When it comes to giving, they will never give God an offering that never costs them. They are full of wisdom, why? Because they are soul winners. Proverbs 11:30 says he that wins souls is wise. According to Proverbs 3:35, the wise inherits glory. Daniel 12:3 says that those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. Luke 11:23 says that he who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. They have proved from time to time that they are with Jesus by their sowing towards kingdom project. They are God’s battle- ax and weapons of war; He uses them to destroy the kingdoms of darkness, Jeremiah 51:20. They love God and He loves them in return. He refers to them as ‘apple of His eyes’. According to Zechariah 2:8, whoever touches them touches the apple of His eye. He refers to them as men after His own heart. Because this group of people fears the Lord, they dwell in prosperity, Psalm 25:12-13. Because they take time to study, meditate and do all that is written in the bible they enjoy good success, Joshua 1:8 .According to Psalm 5:12, He surrounds them with favor.

Out of the group of people He refers to as men after His own heart, there is this smaller group He calls friends. Between friends there are no secrets. The Lord shares His secrets with His friends. Amos 3:7 says surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. When the Lord wanted to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, the only person He shared this secret with was Abraham –His friend, Genesis 18:17 -21. In Genesis 15:13-16, we see the Lord sharing secrets of what was going to happen about six hundred years later. He is very generous to His friends. He said to Abraham; look from the place where you are northward, southward, eastward and westward; for all the land which you see I will give it to you and your descendants, Genesis 13:14-17.His friends are allowed to make any requests to Him. No matter how impossible, He will grant them. Moses requested to see the glory of God and the Lord granted his request, Exodus 33:17-19.If His friends ask Him to part the red sea, He will part it, Exodus 14:13-31. If His friends ask Him to shut the heaven for three years, He will do that, 1 Kings 17:1-3.He visits His friends and eats at their houses, Genesis 18:1-16.He speaks to His friends face to face. Exodus 33:11 says so the Lord spoke to Moses face to face as a man speaks to his friends. His friends spend time with Him. Moses was with God praying and fasting - forty days and forty nights, Deuteronomy 9:9-11.

Asides His friends, there is another group He calls sons and daughters. The difference between a friend and a son is that a son has more access to the father than the friends. The sons has unlimited access to the Father. The sons are the carrier of His presence. The sons are carriers of His power. John 1:12 says as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. Acts 10:38 says how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. He fills His sons with the Holy Ghost to the extent that signs and wonders happens everywhere they go to. The sons have no ambition of their own. The sons share the same ambition with the Father. Their business is the business of the Father. When we get to heaven, the sons will share thrones with Jesus, Revelations 3:21.

Revelations 3:20 says behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with Me. The difference between those He dines with and those He does not dine with is decision.Anyone that decides to open the door to Him, He will dine with them.Friends ,we decide the names He calls us. We can decide to move out of the group of people that He has no relationship with to His people by giving our life to Jesus.We can decide to become the apple of His eyes by loving Him in return. We can decide to take our relationship with Him to the level of been His friends. We are filled to the level of our thirst. The more of Him we yawn for, the more of Him we get.

The bible says in Romans 3:23 that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. What is this gift? John 3:16 says for God so the loved the world that He have His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. What can I do to be saved? Romans 10:9 say if you confess with your mouth, that Jesus s Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:10 says for it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with our mouth we confess and saved. Pray this prayer from your heart today!

Dear Jesus, I believe that You died for me and rose again on the third day. I confess I am a sinner. I need your love and forgiveness. Come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I receive Your eternal life. Confirm You love by giving me peace, joy and supernatural love for others, Amen.

Welcome to Christ brethren, Please join a bible believing church

Samuel Oluwatoki

Please forward this newsletter to a friend, family or colleague. Remember Matthew 10:32 which say whoever confesses me before me, him I will confess before my father who is heaven.

BE PREPARED

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Gen 9, Matt 9, Ezra 9, Acts 9

Proverbs 24:27 prepare your outside work, make it fit for yourself in the field; afterward build your house.

Success in any endeavor requires preparation. The elders have saying ‘those who fail to prepare, prepare to fail’. The preparation could be spiritual, physical, emotional, financial or material. Why does one need to prepare for success? Well, every form of success brings its own responsibilities. A single fellow is responsible for only himself. Once he gets married and starts having children, his responsibilities doubles. He now needs to look after himself, wife and the children. The same thing happens when one is promoted at work, gains admission, starts a new business or a ministry. Buried in these responsibilities are also challenges. In other words the more the responsibilities the more the challenges. This is why we all need to remember our leaders (spiritual, political and all) because they have a lot of responsibilities and are faced with a lot of challenges.

When we talk of preparation, the most important form of preparation needed is a spiritual one. The spiritual runs the physical. John 6:63 says it is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing. One needs to prepare in fasting, praying and studying of the word of God. When David was just an ordinary shepherd boy responsible for only the sheep he had little or no challenges. Immediately the man of God anointed him king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:13), his responsibilities double and out of nowhere challenges started coming. First it was the lion that took a lamb out of the flock; next it was the bear; after the bear came Goliath; immediately after Goliath was Saul; just as he was celebrating the death of Saul came his flesh and so on. Despite all these challenges David kept on making progress. What was his secret? Firstly bible studies – David hid God’s word in his heart so as not to sin against God, Psalm 119:11. Secondly praying and fasting – David fasted until his knees was weak and his flesh was feeble from lack of fatness, Psalm 109:24. Samson on the other hand refused to prepare for success. When the promotion came and he became the judge in Israel, he just ate and drank. Before he knew it, the enemies caught him and took out his two eyes. Asides spiritual preparation one needs to learn self discipline – discipline in conduct, words, character, time keeping, finances to mention a few. Many have lost major breakthroughs through poor timekeeping. I know of a brother who despite the fact that the answers he provided during a job interview was not satisfactory still got the job all because he came an hour early for the interview. The manager was so impressed by his timekeeping that he decided to ignore the late comers that gave correct answers and offer him the job. Part of preparation for success is having integrity. David succeeded as king because of his integrity. Psalm 78:72 said he shepherd Israel with the integrity of his heart.

KEY WORD: He who fails to prepare, prepares to fail

ACTING ON THE WORD

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Gen 8, Matt 8, Ezra 8, Acts 8

Matthew 14:29 so He said, “come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

BIBLE STUDIES –Matthew 14:22-33

We have been exploring the subject of Peter walking on water and how to walk on water. Walking on water to mean achieving something major in the Lord or walking on challenges (water connotes challenges of life). Present in the boat that day were twelve disciples faced with the same challenges but one way or the other Peter managed to walk on water. Also on that day were twelve men with the same opportunity to make history for Jesus but only Peter managed to achieve that. Why? Peter acted on the word of Jesus. Despite the weather, storms, anxiety and the opinions of other disciples, Peter took a bold a step to act on the word of Jesus. Anyone who will achieve something major in Jesus or walk on his challenges must be ready to act on the word of God. When you search through the scriptures, you will notice that everyone who achieved something major acted on the word of God. In Genesis 26:1-14 there was a big famine in Gerar, Isaac was about to leave for Egypt when the Lord told him to remain in a land ravaged by farming. Common sense will suggest that Isaac leaves Gerar for Egypt but he acted on the word of God and remained. The result was that in the same Gerar, Isaac prospered to an extent whereby a whole country began to envy him. When it comes to acting on the word of God, one needs to first discard common sense. One factor that has hindered so many from breakthroughs is common sense. In 2 Kings 5:1-17 is the story of Naaman the Leper. He came to the man of God and that one advised him to go and dip himself in river Jordan seven times. How can any leper in his right senses go and dip himself in a muddy river. Naaman acted on the word of the prophet of God and he was healed. In 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 is the story we all know. Two mighty nations (the Moabites and Ammonites with some Meunites) came to wage war against a Jehoshaphat (a king over a small tiny city). He ran to God and God spoke through His prophet that Jehoshaphat should go to war with only choirs; no armies or chariots. How can a man go to war with choirs? We are talking of a war not a concert! Jehoshaphat acted on the word of God and we know the end of the story. 

Why should I discard common sense and act on the word of God? Hebrew 4:12 says the word of God is life and Power. The word of God is a lamp to our feet and light to our path, Psalms 119:105 .According to Jeremiah 23:29, the word of God can be likened to a fire that consumes and a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces. Isaiah 40:8 says at the end grass will wither, flowers will fade but the word of God stands forever. Most importantly, the Lord who does not need to swear swore by Himself that the word that goes out of His mouth will not return void,Isaiah 45:23. Everyone who acted on the word of God ignored their fear and anxiety and took actions. Instead of failing, they succeeded. Colossians 1:27 says Christ in you the hope of glory.

PRAYER POINT: Father I am ready to act on every your word, please send your word to me today!

Controller of Season

                   

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says to everything there is season, a time for every purpose under heaven.

According to Ecclesiastes 3:2-9 , there are different types of seasons for example a time be born and a time to die ,a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance to mention a few. One major difference between heaven and earth is that in heaven there is only one season. Why? Because the Sun of righteousness (Malachi 4:2) resides in heaven. Also the Bright and Morning star (Revelations 22:16) resides there. Psalm 16:11 says in the presence of God is fullness of joy.

According to Daniel 2:21, the Controller of Season is God. There are few things we need to know about the Controller of Season. He is very powerful. Psalms 62:11 says power belongs to Him. He is so powerful He can shake the heavens and the earth will move out of its place – Isaiah 13:13.Luke 1:37 says with Him there is no impossibility. When He says yes no one can say no- Psalms 33:9.  

His presence alone can change seasons. Psalm 16:11 says in the presence of God is the fullness of joy. Psalm 21:6 says in His presence is exceeding gladness. His presence can put an end to a season of fruitless effort. In Luke 5:1-7, Peter fished all night and caught nothing but immediately Jesus jumped on his boat he cast his net and caught so much fish to the extent two boats began to sink. His presence puts an end to a season of death. In 2 Kings 2:19-22, the presence of Elisha (man of God) cured water that was synonymous with death. Also His presence puts an end to a season of lack. The widow in 1 Kings 17:7-16, had only a meal left to eat and die during famine. Immediately Elijah stepped into her house, she was not only able to feed her herself and her son but to feed an extra mouth through the period of famine.

His words can change seasons. Psalms 33:9 says once He speaks it is done. In Genesis 1:3, He said let there be light and there was light. His word can heal. Psalm 107:20 says He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. In John 5:1-16, Jesus told a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years to rise up and walk and the man did immediately. His word can deliver. In Mark 5:1-20 is the story of the terror of Gadara. A man who was so possessed that he could break chains .Jesus simply issue the word and all the demons in Him left.

Also His touch can change seasons. Malachi 4:2 says present in His wings are healing virtue. Anyone who touches Him or anyone He touches is made whole immediately. In Mark 5:25-34 a woman who had hemorrhage touched the hem of his garment and she was healed on the spot. His touch can bring multiplication In Matthew 14:13-21, Jesus touched five loaves of bread and two fishes and multiplication began. After 5000 men had been fed not counting the women and children, there were twelve baskets left.

There are several ways He can change our seasons. He can inspire us to do something specific that will lead to our breakthrough. He inspired Solomon to give a thousand burnt offering in 2 Chronicles 1:6,Solomon obeyed and He moved from been an ordinary king to become the richest king that ever lived. He inspired the great Shunamite woman in 2 Kings 4:8-17 to begin to feed a man of God, she obeyed and her seasons changed. She went from been a barren woman to a mother of a baby boy.

By showing us mercy our seasons automatically changes .Psalm 103:11 says as the heavens are high above the earth so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him. Jeremiah 42:12 says when He shows a man mercy, the whole world will begin to show such a man mercy. He can use fire to change season. In 1 king 18:1-46, God used fire to change the season in Samaria. Because they disobeyed God the heaven was shut, for three years there was no rain. After Elijah called down fire on Mount Carmel, the next thing that followed was rain.

He can use wind to change seasons. In Exodus 14:21, He used a strong east wind to part the red sea for the Israelites. Immediately the Israelites crossed to the other side a new season of freedom began. In Numbers 11; 31, God used wind to bring quails for the children of Israel when they requested for meat. Asides wind He can use earthquake to change seasons. The early church after the day of Pentecost went through a season of fear. The lack boldness but when they gathered in Acts 4:31 to request for boldness, there was an earthquake and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and the spoke the word of God with boldness. Paul and Silas found themselves in a season of bondage in Acts 16:25. The Most High sent an earthquake and their chains were broken in immediately.

There are factors that affect the seasons in our life. One of them is our mentality. Romans 12:2 says be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Gideon saw himself as a nobody. He remained in the season of been a nobody until the angel of the Lord told Him he was somebody in Judges 6:11-15. So also Saul, he saw himself as a tall farm boy .He did not walk into his season of kinship until Samuel told him there was more to him than just been a tall guy.

Another factor is laziness. It does not matter how prayerful a man is, if he is lazy things will not change. Proverbs 10:4 says lazy hands makes a man poor. Proverbs 22:29 says a man who see is diligent will stand before king. Jeroboam was born as a common man but because he was hardworking, Solomon promoted in 1 kings 11:28 to the officer in charge of the all the labor force of the house of Joseph. By the time we get to 1 Kings 12:20, the whole nation of Israel gathered and made him king.

One major factor is sin. Sin is terrible Jeremiah 5:25 say sin withholds good from us. David went from the palace to living in caves all because of adultery. Uzziah went from the palace to leper’s colony all because of pride – 2 Chronicles 26:20-21.

The Controller of seasons is alive. Luke 20:38 calls Him the God of the living and all the living live to Him. Revelations 22:13 calls Him the First and the Last, Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending.

Another thing to note is that the Controller of Seasons wants to help you. Jeremiah 29:11 describes His thoughts towards us as thoughts of peace and to give us an expected end. Psalms 40:5 says His plans for us are too many to count. One thing that hinders God is sin. Isaiah 59:1-2 says Behold the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you.

The first step to deal with sin is by giving our life to Christ so that He can wash us clean from our sins and put in us the spirit of God. If you have not given your life to Christ or you have before in times past but you have back slidded, please return to Him today.

The bible said in Romans 3 v 23 that for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6 s 23 says for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The gift was explained in John 3 v 16 , For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. What shall we do to be saved? The bible says in Romans 10vs 9 that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10 v 10 – For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with our mouth that you confess and are saved.

Pray this prayer from your heart today!

Dear Jesus, I believe that You died for me and rose again on the third day. I confess I am a sinner. I need your love and forgiveness. Come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I receive Your eternal life. Confirm You love by giving me peace, joy and supernatural love for others, Amen.

Welcome to Christ brethren, Please join a bible believing church.

Samuel Oluwatoki

Please forward this newsletter to a friend, family or colleague. Remember Matthew 10 v 32 which say whoever confesses me before me, him I will confess before my father who is heaven.

Do you love me

    Do you love me?

Songs of Solomon 3:4 says Scarcely had I passed by them, when I found the one I love, I held him and would not let him go , until I had brought him to the house of my mother, and into the chamber of her who conceived me.

When we mention the word love, a lot of things come to mind for example giving. The bible says in John 3:16 that for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son. Love is not only about giving but it is about giving one’s best. That was what the Lord gave, His son – His best, it’s really not about giving one’s best but it is about giving all. The bible says He gave His only begotten son. The only Son He had He gave. No wonder the bible says He loves us with great love in Ephesians 2:4

Another thing that comes to mind when we talk of love is forgiveness.1 Peter 4:8 says love will cover a multitude of sins. Proverbs 10:12 says love covers all sins. Love does not only forgive but it forgets. Proverbs 17:9 says He who covers transgressions seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friend.

Also love is kind and patient. Colossians 3:12 says therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering. Ephesians 4:32 says and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave. There is a lot to learn from love. According to 1 Peter 1:22 love is from the heart.  1 Peter 4:8 says love is fervent. 1 Timothy 1:5 says love is from a pure heart, good conscience and sincere faith.

There are different grades of love .One of the grades is found in Mark 12:31 which says love your neighbor as yourself. What you want for yourself is what you want for your neighbor. Many of us do not take alcohol because we are Christians but we do not mind buying it for people or entertain our guest with them. That is the highest level of hypocrisy and wickedness. If Salvation is good for us, it should be good for our neighbors, friends and families, how come we are reluctant to share Christ with our friends and family. Remember, we can only claim to know God when we show love to our neighbors 1 John 4:8 

Another grade is the one between couples .Ephesians 5:24 says just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. The submission of the church to Christ is total. This is the standard God expects from a Christian wife. Ephesians 5:25 says husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for her. Jesus did not only give Himself for the church, He sacrificed Himself for the church. A man that demonstrated this was Jacob in Genesis 29:18-20.Out of love for Rachel, he served Laban for seven years and the bible records that the seven years looked like days. This is the standard God expects from husbands .

The highest grade of love is found in Matthew 22:38-39, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with your entire mind. This is not only a grade of love but it is a commandment. Paul demonstrated this in Acts 21:1-13. While everyone was telling Paul not to go to Jerusalem or else he will be arrested. Paul told them he is not only ready to be arrested but to die for Jesus.

In what way can we express our love to Him? Through our obedience to His commandments. Jesus says in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep My commandments”. John 15:10 says if you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I kept My father’s love and abide in His love. Our love is measured by our obedience to His words. We cannot say we love Jesus and refuse to evangelize.  Luke 11:23 says he who is not with Him is against Him, he who does not gather with Him scatters. Jesus says in John 14:21 “he who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he, who loves Me, and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father and I will love him and manifest myself to him”.

To proof our love for Him, we must walk according to His commandments. 2 John 1:6 says this is love that we walk according to His commandment. If we say we love Him, what are willing to do to please Him? Our love for Him is measured by what we are willing to go through for Him. What are we willing to suffer for Him?

Our love for Him is measured by what we are willing to sacrifice for Him? Paul sacrificed his status – a prestigious Pharisee to follow Christ, Peter gave up his fishing profession to follow Christ, and Elisha gave up his father’s farm to follow Elijah. Our love is measured by the level of insult we are willing to take for His sake. Also our love is measured by what we are willing to give to Him, Abraham gave Him Isaac in Genesis 22:1-19, Jesus gave His life to Him.

Our love is measured by what we are willing to give up for Him, I know of a brother who gave up a job that pays around 1400 pounds for a job that pays around 600 pounds just to have time for church, help in opening and closing the Church. Our love is measured by the price we are willing to pay to be with Him, what we are willing to do support His projects. Jesus told Peter if you love me , feed my sheep , John 21:17 .How many of his sheep have we fed ?I know of people who have sold their cars to support Kingdom projects. Sometimes back in other to show our gratitude to Him and express our love to Him, in a single day we shared tracts from house to house (telling the world about his faithfulness) for over ten hours with no break or rest.

Someone might ask, what is in it for the individual who is prepared to love the Lord? Proverbs 8: 17 say He loves those who love Him. What happens when He loves a man? Well an example could be found in 1 Kings 3:4-12. He told Solomon to ask, after he asked, He gave him his request and what he did not ask for. If you love Him, He will tell you to make a request , out of His generosity He will grant your request and also give to you what you did not even ask for

The first step to love Him is by giving one’s life to Christ. If you have not given your life to Christ or you have before in times past but you have back slidded, please return to Him today.

The bible said in Romans 3 v 23 that for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6 s 23 says for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The gift was explained in John 3 v 16 , For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. What shall we do to be saved? The bible says in Romans 10vs 9 that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10 v 10 – For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with our mouth that you confess and are saved.

Pray this prayer from your heart today!

Dear Jesus, I believe that You died for me and rose again on the third day. I confess I am a sinner. I need your love and forgiveness. Come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I receive Your eternal life. Confirm You love by giving me peace, joy and supernatural love for others, Amen.

Welcome to Christ brethren, Please join a bible believing church.

Samuel Oluwatoki

Please forward this newsletter to a friend, family or colleague. Remember Matthew 10 v 32 which say whoever confesses me before me, him I will confess before my father who is heaven.

TRADING IT TO SIT WITH JESUS

    

Psalm 16:11 says You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right are pleasures for evermore.

Anyone in search of fullness of joy should do everything possible to earn a place at the side of Jesus. One of the things we all wish for is an opportunity to meet or sit with the queen of England or the king of Spain or meet the president of our nation or the U.S president. Jesus is more than a king, according to Revelations 19:16, He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

He owns everything. John 3:35 says the Father loves the son and has given all things into His hands. He says in Matthew 28:18, “all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth”. No one can do anything without Jesus; Proverbs 8:15 says by Me kings reign and rulers decree justice, why? Because Jesus is the wisdom from God, 1 Corinthians 1:30.According to John 13:3, God had given all things in His hands.

To really know what it is, to sit with Jesus, we have to study the lives of those who sat with Him in the bible.  To better under gist, we will look at the lives of the twelve disciples. One thing we will notice is there was no record of sickness among the twelve disciples. Why? According to John 15:5, He is the vine and any branch connected to Him will receive health from His body. If a vine withers automatically the branch will wither but because Jesus remained in perfect health everyone connected to him remained in perfect health. Do you know that because Jesus never failed, if you are connected to him you will never fail? Because Jesus conquered the world and death and was victorious, you will emerge a victor in life? You will in Jesus name. According to Exodus 15:26 He is the great healer, and Malachi 4:2 says healing is present in His wings. You cannot sit with Jesus and not receive a touch from Him.

There was no record of lack among those who sat with Jesus, they lived in abundance. Studying Matthew 14:13-21, you will agree with me that a man living in lack cannot feed 5000 men not counting women and children and still had 12 baskets left. Where did you think Judas was stealing from? From the money box –John 13:29, although the money box was used to buy gifts for the poor according to John 13:29.Even when He had no physical cash on Him, He was able to tell Peter to go to the sea and catch a fish, inside the fish was a gold coin-Matthew 17:24-27.This He did when He was asked to pay for temple tax.There is a gold coin in the mouth of every every fish you catch for Jesus, fishing for Jesus is evangelizing.

Also those that sat with Jesus enjoyed maximum protection. Most of the time we trust the police or legal system to protect us but we fail to remember that the police officer coming to protect you  has wives and kids at home, he is scared of dying just as you are scared. So also the armies, they do not go to war to die? They go to live that is why they undergo several training on how to stay alive at boot camp. Is there any man on earth who can save you from having  nightmares? Any that can rescue you when a dog is chasing  you or someone is beating you up in the dream? No one can save from sickness or failure except Jesus. Jesus told David in Psalm 110:1 “sit at My right hand until I make your enemies a foot stool”.

The disciples enjoyed round the clock protection from the host of heaven while they sat with Jesus. Jesus at the point of His arrest could have easily called for backup from heaven, the bible says in Matthew 26:53, that a back up means sending up to 12 legions of angels to defend Jesus. If a legion is over 10,000, 12 legions will be around 123,000 of angels. According to the bible an angel is able to take care of 185,000 armies not civilians –Isaiah 37:36. If one out of the 123,000 angels could handle 185,000 soldiers can you guess what 123,000 of those will be able to do? Thank God He didn’t because if He had done that there will not be salvation for men. Elisha saw a glimpse of the host of the angels standing on guard in 2 Kings 6:8-18.

Also amidst the twelve, there was no record of failure instead there was little effort producing massive results. In Luke 5:1-7, Peter cast his net once, and he caught a great number of fish to the extent two boats began to sink. Before the arrival of Jesus, he casted his nets all night and caught absolutely nothing. Also the same peter preached a message and 3000 souls were won In Acts 2:41.With Jesus, little effort brings maximum results. Hannah had been trying all her life and there was nothing to show for it. Immediately God got involved, every effort yielded result no wonder between 1 Samuel 1 and 1 Samuel 2, Hannah went from been barren woman to become a mother of six. Do you know that as you sit with Jesus a little effort will bring great results?

Also those who sat with Jesus received life. Everything dead thing in their life came back to life. Why? Because they sat with Jesus and heard His words. According to John 6:63, the words that come out of the mouth of Jesus are spirit and life. The word is also a hammer and fire according to Jeremiah 23:29. We know that fire consumes and hammer breaks rocks. Anything preventing the glory of God in your will be broken as you sit with Jesus hearing His words.

According to John 8:12, Jesus is the light of the world. When light shines, darkness disappears. Every darkness in the life of those who sat with Jesus disappeared because His light radiated into their life. The mad man of Gadara mentioned in Mark 5:1-14, was filled with darkness .Inside him was a legion demons but immediately he came near Jesus those demon ran away. Mary Magdalene was one of those who sat with Jesus. Before sitting with Jesus, she had 7 demons in her life- Luke 8:2. Light came in and the darkness in her life vanished. As you sit with Jesus, those dark forces will disappear.

One thing with those who sit with Jesus was they became like Jesus. Acts 4:13 says when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled and they realize they had been with Jesus. Because they sat with Jesus, the glory of God was visible in their lives. Those who sat with Jesus were called Christians- Acts 11:26 .Christian means Christ like or like Christ.

What God did through Jesus, He did through them. Jesus told those that sat with Him in John 14:12 that they would do greater things than He had done. The evidence is found in Acts 19:11-12 where God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. We know that the shadow of Peter was healing the sick in Acts 5:15.

Those who sat with Jesus got new names, Saul became Paul, Samuel Fatoki became Samuel Oluwatoki .Fatoki means Ifa (Yoruba god) is worthy to be adored and Oluwatoki means The Most High God is worthy to be adored. Let somebody shout Hallelujah. Evil spirits were subject to those who sat with Jesus; those who sat with Jesus moved from people no one recognized to people the whole world knew-nobody becoming somebody.

Their names were written in heaven, Jesus says in Luke 10:20 nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. Those that sit with Jesus will get a crown of life- Revelations 2:10.Those who sat with Jesus also had unusual wisdom; we know that Jesus is the wisdom from God.

To sit with Jesus one must be willing. Secondly one must be prepared. The bible is full of stories of people who were willing but not prepared to sit with Jesus. One of such is the rich man mentioned in Mark10:17-25, He was willing but was not prepared to part away with worldly goods-riches. Anyone who wants to sit with Jesus must be prepared to put Him first. Thirdly the one who wants to sit with Jesus must be committed. The bible is full of this group too, they would walk with Jesus today and tomorrow they were gone. Where were the 5000 men that were fed when Jesus was having the last supper with the twelve? They were not committed. They put pleasure and money before Jesus.

 Anyone who wants to sit with Jesus must be committed; you cannot sit with Jesus and still be making dirty jokes. You cannot sit Jesus and still have people you don’t greet, you cannot sit with Jesus and be fighting with your parents, you cannot sit with Jesus and attend service only on Sundays, you cannot sit with Jesus and not be witnessing. The way you dress must change, you cannot continue to give people visa to hell by the way you dress, wearing tight fitting trousers and skirts  to show your body shape or worse still wear short skirts or even show cleavage and you say you are a Christian ? Although every man looking will be punished but the one who has caused them to look will not be spared.

Those who sat with Jesus received forgiveness, Judas was forgiven so many times but he did not repent from his sins. Jesus kept on forgiving him but at last his sin caught up with him. To sit with Jesus, the first step is giving your life to Christ.

The bible said in Romans 3 v 23 that for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6 s 23 says for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The gift was explained in John 3 v 16 , For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. What shall we do to be saved? The bible says in Romans 10vs 9 that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10 v 10 – For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with our mouth that you confess and are saved.

Pray this prayer from your heart today!

Dear Jesus, I believe that You died for me and rose again on the third day. I confess I am a sinner. I need your love and forgiveness. Come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I receive Your eternal life. Confirm You love by giving me peace, joy and supernatural love for others, Amen.

Welcome to Christ brethren, Please join a bible believing church.

Samuel Oluwatoki

Please forward this newsletter to a friend, family or colleague. Remember Matthew 10 v 32 which say whoever confesses me before me, him I will confess before my father who is heaven.

WHEN A MAN’S WAY PLEASES GOD…

And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 1 John 3:22

One thing to take from 1John 3:22 is that there is a reward for pleasing God. Our God loves to give reward. Hebrews 11:6 calls God a Rewarder. Reward is a thing given in recognition of a service, effort or achievement. Jeremiah 17:10 says I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. Jesus says in Revelations 22:12 “and behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give everyone according to his work. For everything we do there is a reward.

 According to James 4:8, the reward for drawing near to God is that He will draw near to you. The reward for honoring God is that He will honor you in return - 1 Samuel 2:30.1 John 3:22 say when we please God whatever we ask we receive from Him. When we please God He gives up peace all around. Proverbs 16:7 says when a man’s ways please the Lord; He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

A typical example of what happens when a man’s way pleases God is found in 1 Samuel 27:1-7. Of all places to run to, David ran to Gath when Saul began to seek to kill him. Earlier he had killed Goliath, Gath’s champion – 1 Samuel 17:4.Because David’s way was pleasing to God, Achish the king of Gath allowed David to live with him .David lived In the country of the Philistine for sixteen months and no one raised a finger against him even Goliath’s four giant brothers were at peace with him while he stayed In Gath.

How does God make one’s enemy to be at peace with him?

·         He makes the enemy favorable disposed to the individual. He gives them favor in the sight of the enemy. According to Leviticus 26:9-11, God’s favor brings fruitfulness, multiplication, abundance, His presence, signs and wonders. The favour of God brought more than peace to the Israelite. Exodus 12:36 says and the Lord had given favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

·         He makes His fear fall on the enemy. Psalms 33:8-9 says let all the earth fear the Lord and the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him, for He spoke and it was done. Psalms 68:1 says let God arise, let His enemies be scattered. It is His fear that causes His enemy to run when He arises. Jehoshaphat lived in peace because the fear of God fell on his enemies.  2 Chronicles 17:10 says and the fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.

·         He can make the leader or boss of your enemy to order your enemy to look after you. Jeremiah found himself at the mercy of Nebuzaradan in Jeremiah 39:8-14.Nebuzaradan was the captain in charge of the captives from Jerusalem and Jeremiah was not his friend. The Lord made Nebuchadnezzar (king of Babylon) to order Nebuzaradan to take Jeremiah and look after him. He specifically warned him not to harm Jeremiah but do to him just Jeremiah says. Nebuzaradan had no choice than to take care of Jeremiah. I pray that the Lord will make the boss of your enemy to command him to take good care of you in Jesus name.

·         He can make your enemy be at peace with you by showing you mercy. Lamentations 3:22 says through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fails not. Psalm 103:11 says for as the heavens are high about the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear him. The Lord’s mercy on a life causes the whole world to show such a life mercy. The Lord told Jeremiah in Jeremiah 42:12 that He would show him mercy so that the king of Babylon will have mercy on him.

·         He can also touch the heart of your enemy. Esau hated Jacob with a passion because he stole his blessings. He hated him to the extent he planned to kill Jacob and Rebekah heard of the plan in Genesis 27:41-42.She advised her son and that one ran away. Several years later, Jacob decided to return home. Esau heard of his coming and he took four hundred bodyguards to go and meet Jacob on the road and consume him. On his way the Lord touched the heart of Esau and when he saw his brother he began to cry. Genesis 33:4 says but Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.

·         Another way He makes one’s enemy to be at peace with him is by personally warning the enemy. Hebrew 12:29 says our God is a consuming fire. Exodus 15:3 calls Him a man of war. Psalm 97:3 says fire goes before Him and consumes His enemies. Laban did everything in his power to keep Jacob with him because he knew that the Lord blessed him for the sake of Jacob –Genesis 30:27.Because of this, Laban wanted Jacob to be in his house forever and serve him as his slave. Anyway Jacob decided to leave with his children and wives .Laban heard of this and went after Jacob. Because Jacob’s way pleased the Lord, He personally went and warn Laban. Genesis 31:24 says but God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, “be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad”.

The Lord can make one’s enemy to be at peace with him or her in various ways .Isaiah 55:9 says for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. One way the Lord gives peace is by keeping one’s enemy busy. Once your enemy is busy and occupied, you will have peace. That is why Jesus admonishes us to pray for our enemies in Matthew 5:44. An idle enemy is a terrible one to have because he or she will keep himself or herself busy with causing us grief. Every time Saul closed in on David, the Philistines would invade the land and Saul would have to return to war against the Philistines-1 Samuel 23:26-29. The Lord adopted this method to give David peace. Once the Philistine s left he would return to chase David again. I pray that the Lord will keep your enemy permanently busy so you that can peace in the name of Jesus, amen.

This brings us to an important question, how can I please God? How can I make my ways pleasing to him? 

1.    By working according to the rule of His word. Joshua 1:8 says this book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written it. For you then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

2.    By walking after the spirit not after the flesh. Romans 8:5 says those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the spirit. Romans 8:7 say carnal mind is enmity against God. Romans 8:14 says those who are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

3.    By walking by faith. Hebrew 11:6 says it is impossible to please God without faith. Romans 1:17 says the just shall live by faith. Genesis 15:6 says Abraham believed in the Lord and the Lord accounted it to him for righteousness .Romans 14:23b says whatever is not from faith is sin.

4.    When our actions and ways are directed to the glory of God.

The glory of God should be the motivating factor for our actions. We must do things to glorify God. Jesus says In John 10:17 “therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  The death of Christ was for the glorification of God. Colossians 1:20 says and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. The death of Christ was to bring us to Himself. 2 Corinthians 5:19 says God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not inputting their trespasses to them.

The bible said in Romans 3 v 23 that for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6 s 23 says for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The gift was explained in John 3 v 16 , For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. What shall we do to be saved? The bible says in Romans 10vs 9 that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10 v 10 – For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with our mouth that you confess and are saved.

Pray this prayer from your heart today!

Dear Jesus, I believe that You died for me and rose again on the third day. I confess I am a sinner. I need your love and forgiveness. Come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I receive Your eternal life. Confirm You love by giving me peace, joy and supernatural love for others, Amen.

Welcome to Christ brethren, Please join a bible believing church.

Samuel Oluwatoki

Please forward this newsletter to a friend, family or colleague. Remember Matthew 10 v 32 which say whoever confesses me before me, him I will confess before my father who is heaven.

Fear Not

When we study creation ,looking at Genesis 1 and 2 ,one will come to the conclusion that our God is always prepared .

Before He created the mouth, He created what the mouth will eat first. He prepared the lands where legs will walk on before creating legs. Before creating eve, He had gotten ready a man who had dominion over everything on earth .

Do you know that long before you were born , God had arranged all your needs to be met till you sleep in the Lord ? Long before that challenge you are going through now , My Father in heaven had provided solutions . Fear Not!

if God is For us

    IF GOD IS FOR US?

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

Who is the God that is been referred to in Romans 8:31? According to Lamentations 3:35, He is the Most High. Psalms 113: 5 says the Lord our God dwells on high .Psalm 97:9 says He is the most high above all the earth, exalted above all gods. He Is the Commander-in –Chief of all the forces in heaven and on earth. Jeremiah 11:17 calls Him the Lord of Host. Songs of Solomon calls Him the Chief among ten thousand. When it comes to war, He is not gentle at all. Exodus 15:3 says the Lord is a man of war, the Lord is His name.

He is also very powerful. Mark 14:62 calls Him Power. Psalm 62:11 says power belongs to God. This God Is so powerful, Isaiah 13:13 says He can shake the heavens and earth will move out her place. Psalms 77:16 says the waters saw Him and they were afraid, the depths trembled.1 Chronicles 16:25 says He Is to be feared above all gods. Psalm 33:8-9 says let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him, for He spoke and it was done; He spoke and it stood fast.

Psalms 10:14 calls Him the Helper of the Fatherless, Jeremiah 17:17 calls him the Hope in the day of doom. According to Psalm 18:3, He alone can save from enemies. Psalm 113:7-8 says He raises the poor out of the dust that He may seat him with princes. Psalm 145:15 says He feeds the whole world. According to Psalms 99:8, He is the God who forgives.

If this God is for us, every door shut against us will be opened. According to Revelations 3:7, He possesses the key of David, He opens and no one shuts and shuts and no one opens. In Exodus 14:21-28, Red Sea parted before the Israelites because the Lord was with them. In John 9:1-7, is the story of a man whose doors were shut from birth. Because the door of his eyes was shut, he lived in darkness all his life. Jesus got involved in his matter and the door that had been shut from birth opened. The door of provision was shut at the widow of Zarapheth courtesy of the famine in the land and  her resources began to dwindle until she was left with her last meal-1 Kings 17:7-16.Thank God for his mercies ,He sent His prophet-Elijah and the door was opened all through the famine.

If God is for us, our victory is guaranteed.  It does not matter, the physical size of the enemy, their numbers, experience or resources. As far as the Lord is for you , victory is guaranteed, Goliath was bigger than David, had more experience ,definitely came with more resources but at the end the bible records that David stood over the philistine – 1 Samuel 17:51. In Judges 7:1-25, Gideon went to war against an army who the bible describes as numerous as locust and their camels without numbers, as the sand of seashore with three hundred civilians. Because God was for them, this three hundred chased the armies of two great nations –Amalekites and Midianites.

When God is for you, you can be rest assured that you will fulfill destiny .The Lord says in Isaiah 55:11 that the words that go forth from His mouth will not return to Him void but shall accomplish what He pleases and shall prosper in the thing which He sent it. Numbers 23:19 says God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should repent. Has he said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken and will He not make it God?

Regardless, you will fulfill destiny. Saul tried to kill David, he threw spears at him - 1 Samuel 18:11, he gave him an impossible task of providing one hundred foreskins of the Philistine for the hands of Michal in marriage- 1 Samuel 18:20-27,he chased David until he ran to the land of the Philistine yet David return to Israel as king. The brothers of Joseph were aware of the plans of God for his life, they sold him to slavery to thwart the plan of God  –Genesis 37:3-36 , the wife of Portiphar lied against him – Genesis 39:7-21 , those that promised to help him forgot him Genesis 41:9-13 despite all this Joseph emerge as the prime minister in Egypt.

When the Most High is for you, every weapon fashioned against you shall not prosper.  Isaiah 54:17 says that No weapon formed against you shall prosper and every tongue that rises against you in judgment He shall condemn. Nebuchadnezzar commanded that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be thrown into the fire because they refused to bow to a golden image – Daniel 3:1-28.Because God was for them, they came out unhurt. In 2 Kings 1:9 -15, the king sent a captain and fifty men to go and arrest the man of God, Elisha called down fire and they were roasted. This happened three times. The third time, the captain was smart; he knelt down and politely asked the man of God to go with them.

When the Lord is for you, you will have the last laugh. Peninnah took it upon herself to make life unbearable for Hannah because she was barren – 1 Samuel 1:6-7.By the time we get to 1 Samuel 2:21, Hannah had become a mother of six. When Hagar saw that she had conceived her mistress became despised in her eyes - Genesis 16:4 .Because God was for Sarah,  she gave birth at the age of ninety, she was so full of laughter that she named the boy Isaac meaning laughter. I prayed that you will have the last laugh in the mighty name of Jesus.

When God is for you, success is sure. Psalm 75:6-7 says for exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south but God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another. Psalm 60:12 says through God we will do valiantly.  Deuteronomy 8:18 says the power to get wealth comes from Him. Because God was for Isaac, he sowed during famine and reaped in the same year a hundred fold – Genesis 26:12.In 2 Chronicles 26:1-19 is the story of a prince who became king at the age of sixteen. Because the heavens were for him, God made him prosper. He was very rich and the bible described in military terms as been strong. What adults could not achieve, He achieved it. King Uzziah had three hundred and seventy five thousand (375,000) active military personnel in 750 BC and today Israel has around one hundred and seventy six thousand, five hundred(176,500) active military personnel in 2012.

This brings us to the question, what can I do to qualify for God’s backing?

Be humble, James 4:6 says God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.1Peter 5:6 says therefore  humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.  Another thing to do is evangelize. Luke 11:23 says He who is not with Me is against Me, and he does not gather with Me scatters. Evangelism is a way of gathering with Him. If you gather with Him, He will back you.

Anyone who wants the Lord to be for Him must be hardworking. The Lord hates laziness, Jesus says in John 5:17, “My father is always at His work to this very day and I too am working”. Proverbs 10:4 says lazy hands makes a man poor. God is love -1John 4:8, anyone who wants God to be for him must also have love in his heart. God dwells where there is love .God is always for givers .Proverbs 11:25 says the generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself. Proverbs 19: 17 says He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what He has given.

If you are obedient to God, He will be for you. Exodus 19:5 says if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all the people for all the earth is Mine. The Lord says in Jeremiah 7:23 obey Me, I will be your God and you will be My people.  Anyone who wants God to be for Him must first become a worshipper. Psalm 22:3 says God inhabits the praises of His people. The Psalmist says in Psalm 47:1-3, clap your hands, all you people, shout to God with the voice of triumph! He will subdue all the people under us and the nations under our feet.

When we study Romans 8:31, we will notice that the question was not answered, why? It is because it is a rhetorical question. We know nobody can be against us except our self. Just like people can decide to turn down help, so also we can turn down God’s help. It is true God loves the prosperity of His children – Psalm 35:27, but He needs our cooperation to prosper us. Revelations 3:20 says “behold I stand at the door and knock, if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him which means we can hear His voice and refuse to open. No wise man or woman will hear the voice of the creator of heaven and earth and ignore Him.

God is saying  to you, I want to be for you .I want to fight for you, I want to be your God, are you willing to take  His offer? If you are willing why not give your life to Christ today .Jesus says in John 14:6 says I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through the son. Is there anyone who has backslidded? God wants you back too , please  come back to Christ today .

The bible said in Romans 3 v 23 that for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6 s 23 says for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The gift was explained in John 3 v 16 , For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. What shall we do to be saved? The bible says in Romans 10vs 9 that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10 v 10 – For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with our mouth that you confess and are saved.

Pray this prayer from your heart today!

Dear Jesus, I believe that You died for me and rose again on the third day. I confess I am a sinner. I need your love and forgiveness. Come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I receive Your eternal life. Confirm You love by giving me peace, joy and supernatural love for others, Amen.

Welcome to Christ brethren, Please join a bible believing church.

Samuel Oluwatoki

Please forward this newsletter to a friend, family or colleague. Remember Matthew 10 v 32 which say whoever confesses me before me, him I will confess before my father who is heaven.

God has a sense of humor

Wow! How can one make such a statement?

Friends, God is not a comedian and He does not tell jokes- that’s more like it , but what do you mean by God has a sense of humour then?

Well, might I implore you to suspend your judgments and opinions on my topic just for a second? Will you? Cheers!

Couple of years back, the children of Israel were going to war with a town called Jericho. The ONE WHO HAS NEVER LOST A BATTLE picked interest in the war and advised Joshua to march around Jericho for six days with priests playing trumpet and on the seventh day repeat the exercise seven times and shout; awesome. What! You mean they were asked to march around a city they wanted to attack, playing trumpets? Common, I thought if you going to war you need to be tactical which means plan on strategies to attack. Strategies that include hiding and attacking when they least expect not match around the city playing trumpets, trumpets of all instrument not even a flute.
Ok, doing this once is understandable at least the enemies will have this impression that these guys don’t really mean any harm-look at them entertaining us, but doing that for six days and on the seventh day repeat  the  exercise seven times and shout? Guess what! They did just that and what happened? The walls of Jericho collapsed. I bet the next time someone says praise the Lord; your HALLELUJAH will be the loudest. Hallelujah collapses the walls of your problem.

Not too long ago, Elijah was advised by the GREAT PROVIDER to go a widow in Zarephath and stay there during famine. Really, who goes to a widow’s house to stay during famine? A widow normally is not very rich; no man to provide and cater for her not to talk of during famine. Let me ask you a question, someone who is struggling on a normal day will pray for recession in it? Capital no.
Anyway Elijah obeyed. When he got to Zarephath he saw the widow gathering sticks to prepare the last meal for herself and her son. Elijah did not know how to go about it because as a man of God you pray for people every time and you understand what it is to be a widow not to talk of coming to stay with one during famine. After he exchanged greetings with her, he requested for a jug of water put it in mind that it has not rained in months. The widow said ok, she turned around to go and fetch him a jug of water. Elijah said in a low voice “can you add small bread please”. I believe if you were in his shoes, you will not tell a widow during famine to fetch you jug of water with bread with a big grin on your face. Will you utter such words with the great enthusiasm? She turned around pretending not to be angry and said the sticks over there are more my last meal. Actually when you came in I was preparing to go and make my last meal for myself and my son
and die, so do you still want the water or not? Ok she didn’t ask if he still wanted the water but asking will not be rude because as a man on God, he should know better- you know I have enough problems as a widow and you are asking me to prepare my last meal for you. To cut the long story short she complied with the man of God and the GREAT PROVIDER multiplied the bread. I hope you are not planning to stop paying your tithe because of recession or half your offerings the next time you go to church.

Recently, a blind man encountered JESUS CHRIST .He was expecting a miracle from him but the next thing he heard was someone spitting on the ground and making mud. I bet, the thought on the blind man’s mind was did I just hear someone spit? I know it can be Jesus, why will he spit on the ground .Wait a minute, is he actually rubbing mud on my eyes? It must be a dream.
Come to think of it , mud don’t have healing properties, even our eyes are built to shut when a foreign object is coming to too close may be spec of sand or something. Spitting on the ground and making mud of it and rubbing it on a blind man’s eyes, you mean Jesus actually rub mud on a blind man’s eye? He must have a great sense of humour. Well guess what, the man got his sight back!!!

We can go on and on, is it Elijah and prophet of Baals? After flooding the altar with water called for fire from heaven to burn the sacrifice or Elisha who threw a stick in a river expecting the axe head that mistakenly fell into water to automatically float .A stick to float an axe head made of iron?

Friends whatever God has asked you to do, just do it because He means every word. It might sound funny, ridiculous, foolish or counter productive .Please just do it and you will reap the reward of obedience. Remember Isaiah 1:19 , If you are willing and obedient , ye shall eat the good of the land.

If you have not giving your life to Christ, it’s not too late. He will forgive all your sins, did I hear ALL? Yes all.

Pray this prayer from your heart today!

Dear Jesus, I believe that You died for me and rose again on the third day. I confess I am a sinner. I need your love and forgiveness. Come into my heart. Forgive my sins.I receive Your eternal life . Confirm You love me by giving me peace ,joy and supernatural love for others. Amen .

Once you do so join a living church.

NB. Stories are excerpts from the bible (John 9:1-6 ,1 kings 17:7-12,Joshua 6:1-20,1 kings 18:16-40,2 kings 6;1-6)

Shalom

AT THY WORD

Read Luke 5:1-10
 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”Luke 5:5
The Most High God is particular about how we treat His words and His name.
Names are very important, Proverbs 22:1 says a good name is to be chosen rather than great riches. Psalm 105:3 says the name of the Lord is Holy. Proverbs 18:10 calls His name a strong tower where the righteous runs to and he is saved. There is safety in His name, Joel 2:32 says whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  According to Philippians 2 :9-11 , His name is above every other name and at the mention of the name every knee whether in heaven, earth or underneath the earth should bow and every tongue must confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Demons are driven out with the name and miracles are performed too – Matthew 7:22.
 In Acts 3:1-14, Peter and John used the name to solve a forty years old problem. Just by applying the name of Jesus to the man’s situation, he went from been invisible to someone the whole community sought to see. A man who had been stagnant all his life suddenly began to make progress. The man who had never had any reason to be happy talk less of dance suddenly began to dance and rejoice. I apply that name to your situation in Jesus mighty name, Amen.
According to Psalm 138:2, He has more than one name and the kind of names you call Him will decided what He will do for you. He says in Number 14:28 as you have spoken in mine ears, so I will do to you meaning He will act according to what He has heard you call Him for example if you say He saves from enemies –Psalm 18:3, He will save you from your enemies; If you call Him the Hope in the day of doom- Jeremiah 17:17, He will be a hope in the day of your trouble; If you call Him the great Physician according to Psalm 103:3, He will heal you; if you call Him your rock, fortress, deliverer, strength, horn of your salvation and stronghold- Psalm 18:2, He will be your rock, fortress, deliverer, strength and stronghold; If you call Him a God of wonders- Psalm 77:14,He will do wonders in your life; If you call Him a man of war- Exodus 15:3 , you can be rest assured that He will drown all your enemies; if you call Him an helper , He will help you. As you have called Him so shall He do to you.
There is something yet greater than His name, it is His words. Psalm 138:2 says God has exalted His words above His name. Once He speaks, consider it done. Psalm 33:9 says for He spoke and it was done. Psalm 107:20 says He sent His words and the words healed them. Hebrew 4:12 says His word is living and powerful, sharper than any two –edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit.
Isaiah 40:8 says grass withers, the flower fades but the word of God stands forever. Jeremiah 23:29 says His word is fire and a hammer that breaks  rock into pieces.
The word of God can put an end to long term barrenness. He told Abraham this time next year Sarah will have a baby boy- Genesis 18:10, Sarah laughed but the word of God cancelled her unbelief and she became pregnant at the age of ninety. Hannah cried day and night and Peninah her rival did not help matters. The word of God came out through Prophet Eli and she conceived and gave birth to a baby boy. By the time we got to 1 Samuel 2:11-21, she had given birth to only six children.
His words can also put an end to chronic poverty. In 2Kings 4:1-7, a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets found herself in huge debts and the creditors decided that since she could not pay, they decided to take her sons as slaves. She ran to the prophet of God and he spoke the word. He told her to go and borrow empty vessels and pour the little jar of oil into the vessels. She obeyed and by the end of that day she had settled all her debts and had something left to cater for her sons.
The Syrians besieged Samaria and a terrible famine broke out – 2Kings 6:24-30. The famine was so terrible that the people ate their children. God intervened and spoke through His prophet that in twenty –four hours there will be so much that the price of everything will drop .One of the professors and economist of that time doubted the word of God. Twenty-four hours later, he saw it with his eyes but did not taste out it- 2 Kings 7:1-20
The word can heal sickness. In Luke 5:12-14, a man suffering from chronic leprosy approached Jesus. The bible records that this man was full of leprosy. The man told Jesus there is no doubt that you can heal, if you are willing please heal me and Jesus said be healed and immediately the leprosy left him. In John 5:1-18, Jesus met a man who had been sick for thirty–eight years. He was lying down by the pool of Bethesda. Jesus told him to arise and take his bed and immediately he was healed. T
This word can bring back to life dead cells and tissues. In Mark 2:1-12, four men brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus. He was paralyzed (neck downward). Although the man was alive, his body was dead no wonder they needed four men to carry him. Jesus told him his sins are forgiving that he should stand and go and immediately he took his bed and walked. In Luke 7:11-15, Jesus was visiting Nain when He saw a large crowd of people escorting a widow to bury her dead son. He told the widow to stop crying and asked them to open the coffin. He told the corpse, “young man, I say to you, arise and the boy arose immediately.
With the same words, Jesus conquered the devil when he was tempted in Matthew 4:1-11.He told the devil, it is written quoting the word of God. In Genesis 1 :1-31 , the Lord used His own words to create the world.
Friends, the word of God is alive and living till today. 1 Peter 1:23 says the words of God lives and abides forever. The word of God still carries power and authority. The same God who was during the days of Moses and Elijah is still the same God present today. Malachi 3:6 says for I am the Lord, I do not change:
Do you know your words are powerful too? Yes, they are powerful because we gods. Psalm 82:6 says I said” you are gods, and your entire are children of the Most High. With our words we can create or destroy ,no wonder the bibles says death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will it eat its fruits – Proverbs 18:21. There is power in your tongue and with it you can call abundance out of lack, employment out of joblessness. Romans 4:17 says God calls those things which do not exist as though they did. You too can to do that, call yourself a mother of twins whilst looking to God for the fruit of the womb or Mrs, despite been single.
Anyone who wants to breakthrough in this world needs the word of God. If the Most High God depended on His own words to create the world, and Jesus depended on the word of God to conquer the devil, where does a man without the word stand?
This brings us to the question, how do I deal with a prophecy or a word from God? We will look at how the mother of Samson dealt with the word from God in Judges 13:6-24
·         Firstly, she believed the angel of the Lord-Judges 13:3-5. By believing the angel of the Lord she believed God. Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 10:40 that he who receives them, receives Him and receives God who sent Him. Believing a prophet or man of God means believing in the God who called him or sent him.
·         Secondly, she believed the prophecy –word of God –Judges 13:6-7. She didn’t argue with the angel, she didn’t ask question, she just believed. Peter believed the word despite it made no sense to him. Although he had fished all night and caught nothing, still at the word he let down his net-Luke 5:5.Faith in God is faith in His words. Once He says it considers it done. If He says fear not, for I am with you- Isaiah 41:10, do not entertain fear! He has told you Christ in you the hope of Glory – Colossians 1:27 believe it because as far as Christ dwells in you, you will not know shame.
·         Thirdly, she began to seek the face of God over the prophecy .She also prayerfully put the prophecy in the hands of God-Judges 13:8-9. Many a times we receive prophecies or God speaks to us through a bible verse and we just leave it that; we need to prayerful seek God over the prophecy or dream.
·         Fourthly,she gave an offering to God-Judges 13:19-20. Once we receive a word from God through prophecy or dreams we need to thank Him for that. We need to appreciate and thank Him for speaking to us. This is another area we need to work on. Many a times we receive the word and do not even bother thanking Him.
·         Lastly, her obedience was total-Judges 13:24-25 .She neither touched wine nor eat anything unclean as instructed. Because she obeyed God fulfilled His words and filled Samson with the Holy Spirit.
These are the five things to do when receiving a word from God, be it through a dream, vision, audible voice, prophecy or even reading the bible. Believe God the author of the message, believe the message, seek God prayerfully over the message, thank Him for the message and ensure your obedience is total.
The word will not work for us if our obedience to His word is not complete. God Is a responsible father and he will not reward any form of disobedience to His words. If he says be Holy, for I am Holy please be Holy. If He says this is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, hear Him – Matthew 17:5, you have to hear what the Son says. The Son says in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Believe the Son; the only way to the father is through the Son. If you have not accepted Jesus (the son) into your life I will employ you to do so now because that is the only way to Him.
The bible said in Romans 3 v 23 that for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6 s 23 says for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The gift was explained in John 3 v 16 , For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. What shall we do to be saved? The bible says in Romans 10vs 9 that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10 v 10 – For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with our mouth that you confess and are saved.

Pray this prayer from your heart today!

Dear Jesus, I believe that You died for me and rose again on the third day. I confess I am a sinner. I need your love and forgiveness. Come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I receive Your eternal life. Confirm You love by giving me peace, joy and supernatural love for others, Amen.

Welcome to Christ brethren, Please join a bible believing church.

Samuel Oluwatoki

Please forward this newsletter to a friend, family or colleague. Remember Matthew 10 v 32 which say whoever confesses me before me, him I will confess before my father who is heaven.