HOW TO CULTIVATE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT (FULL VERSION )

 Amos 3:3 – can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

The lives of many believers can be compared to a man who owns a small farm. He works on the farm year in year out and gets just enough to live off this farm. Unknowingly to him or knowingly, underneath his farm is oil and if only he would dig deeper, he would become very rich and will be able to afford the good things of life but he prefers to just farm at the surface. The man represents many Christians today and the field represents the Holy Ghost. The oil represents the riches in Christ. If only we will dig deep we will have oil. Instead of been Christians in poverty we will be Christians with the riches of God.

Who is the Holy Ghost? Holy Ghost is the same as the Holy Spirit. The scriptures refer to the Holy Spirit as God, stating in Acts that lying to the Holy Spirit is lying to God, Acts 5:3-4 , and Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 3:16 that the temple of God is the temple of the Holy Spirit. He is coupled in equality with names of God in Christ, as Matthew writes, “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19-20). He is omnipotent, Luke 1:35. He is omniscient which Paul tells us saying, “The Spirit knowing all things, searching, even the deep things of God.” (I Corinthians 2:10-11). In Psalms 139:7- 10, David spoke of the Holy Ghost as been omnipresent because everywhere he went the Spirit was there. The Holy Ghost was part of creation.  Genesis 1:2 says and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Job said “the Spirit of God has made me”. (Job 33:4). Holy Spirit is responsible for Regeneration (John 3:5-8); Resurrection (Romans 8:11) and the distribution of spiritual gifts according to his will, 1 Corinthians 12: 4,7,11. The Holy Spirit is eternal, always existing as  Hebrews 9:14 calls Him the eternal Spirit. (E.g. Genesis 1:2; Revelations 22:17).
The Holy Spirit is a personality, not a ‘power ‘or a ‘force’ like electricity. We say someone has personality when he/she speaks and hears; thinks and reasons; feel and has emotions; and decides, has a will, and self determination. In John 16:13, we read that He both hears and speaks. (E.g. Revelations 2:7; Acts 10:19, 20; Matthew 10:20) His actions include helping us, interceding for us with a mind and will (Romans 8:26-27); leading us and giving us commands (Matthew 4:1; Romans 8:14 ; Acts 8:29); guiding and comforting us (John 16:12-13 ; Acts 9:31) ; appoints people for God’s work (Acts 13:2, 4, 20:28); testifies of Jesus (John 15:26; Acts 5:32; Hebrews 2:4, 10:15; Romans 8:16, 9:1; 1 John. 5:6-8); teaches believers and reveals things to them (John 14:26; Luke 12:12) ; being insulted or blasphemed (Matthew 12:31-32; Hebrew 10:29); being lied to, tempted, and resisted (Acts 5:3-4, 9, 7:51); and giving power (Acts 1:8; Luke. 4:14; Matthew 12:28).

The Holy Spirit also has emotions, He can be grieved or vexed (Isaiah 63:10; Ephesians 4:30) or pleased (Acts 15:28).

Why does the believer need the Holy Spirit today? The Holy Spirit gives the believer supernatural ability. The list of the supernatural ability that the Holy Spirit gives to the believer are:
1.      He gives supernatural power to be a witness for Jesus ( Acts 1:8; Luke 24:48; Romans 15:13-19)
2.      He gives supernatural ability to pray ( Romans 8:26-27; 1 Corinthians 14:14-15 ;Ephesians 6:18 ;Jude 20)

3.      He pours natural love unto our hearts (Romans 5:5,15:30)

4.      He gives supernatural anointing to recognize truth 1 John 2:20,27; 2 Corinthians 1:21)

5.      He is the supernatural sealing for eternal life, Ephesians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 4:30)

6.      He gives supernatural ability to cope with life , and endurance in trial and persecution ( Matthew 10:20;John 13:12-13 ; Acts 4:8,31;7:55-60)

7.      He is the gateway to the supernatural (Charismatic gifts 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Hebrews 6:4 and Revelations 1 Corinthians 2:10-11).

8.      He is the supernatural Teacher and “remembrance” of all things ( Luke 12:12 ; John 14:26 , 1 Corinthians 2:13)

9.      He is the supernatural comforter (translated –helper, intercessor, stand-by advocate, counselor, instructor, patron, John 14:16-17 ;Acts 9:31)

10.  He is God’s supernatural pledge , earnest, guarantee until  we receive our heavenly possession, 2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14)

11.  He gives supernatural leadership, supernatural guidance ( Luke 4:1;Romans 8:14,16,9:1;Acts 16:6-10)

12.  He gives supernatural (physical ) health ( Romans 8:11)

13.  He gives supernatural sanctification i.e. making us holy , (Romans 15:16 ; 1 Corinthians  6:11,19;3:16 ; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13 )

14.  He gives supernatural boldness and power of God in our lives ( John 16:14 ;7:39;15:26;Acts 2:32-35)

15.  He is the constant abiding presence and power of God in our lives, John 14:16-17 ; 1 John 2:27; Luke 12:12)

16.  He gives supernatural power of preaching – 1 Peter 1:12 and demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power – 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 1:5

17.  He gives supernatural insight and interpretation of scriptures – 2 Peter 1:20-21 and spirit of prophecy – Revelations 19:10

18.  He Is instrumental in conviction of sin, righteousness and judgment ( John 16:7-10)

This is by no means an exhaustive list. The Holy Spirit does much more than all these today in the life of the believer, the local church and the world.

Why do we need to cultivate a relationship with Him? First of all a relationship with Him can be cultivated because He is a personality. An experience of been filled with Holy Spirit is not sufficient enough to know Him. We can know Him better every day of our lives.

How does one cultivate a relationship with Him? Amos 3:3 says can two walk together except they agree? No. For two to walk together they need to do some agreeing . Firstly they need to agree on direction, if a man is going north and the other is going south they cannot walk together. They need to agree on destination and route. To walk with the Holy Ghost, there needs to be agreement on the direction, destination and route. It is either we want to go in His direction, to His destination following His route or not. The Spirit filled way is a holy way. He will never dwell in an unholy life. He does not require a Holy place to come in but He requires you be willing that the place should made holy after He comes in. The Holy Spirit does not come to a man to make him famous or make a celebrity out of him or reputation. He comes to make a man holy and make him gifted and enable him to witness, Acts 1:8. You can only be filled the Holy Spirit if you are willing to be meek, docile, and humble. The very desire to be a celebrity or publicity or to be known abroad cancels the work of God on man to destroy flesh and to make him whole. The greatest gift of the Holy Spirit is a meek and a docile heart. The Holy Spirit wants to educate, domesticate and meek you.
To walk with the Holy Spirit there should be oneness between us and the Spirit of God. One in outlook, hope and thought. Fellowship is oneness with the Holy Spirit. To cultivate a relationship with the Holy Ghost, you need to be one with Him (understand and surrender to Him).
How to cultivate a daily fellowship with the Holy Spirit?
1. Develop sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.  The dove (representing the Holy Spirit) from heaven is so gentle and sensitive, he will never force himself on you. Moses’ face shone and he did not know it (Exodus 34:29); the Lord left Samson and he did not know it, Judges. 16:20. In the same way, the Spirit comes as a dove to rest upon us and we need to spend time in his presence to detect what grieves or pleases him. He soothes, He comforts, calls us by name and can even give you a pet name. Daily times of devotion, silence and solitude are indispensable, Psalm 46:10. Practice living in God’s presence moment by moment.
2. Cultivate fellowship with the Spirit through conversation. Greet the Holy Spirit each morning. Ask him questions. Invite him to help you constantly as you face your challenges. Freely share your joys and sorrows with him. Build a habit of referring decisions to him. At first it may look awkward as you seem to hear no reply. Understandably, it will be slower for you to make decisions, but it is just because you have not yet learnt to identify his language and symbols. He communicates all the same, and you grow gradually into understanding what he is saying.
3. Grow in daily fellowship with the Spirit as you read and react to the scriptures. Invite him to open your understanding whenever you turn to the scripture. (Ephesians 1:17) Discipline yourself to have a daily quiet time of meditating on the scriptures. Satan blinds our understanding. (2 Corinthians 4:4) The Holy Spirit opens it. He gives deeper insight and conviction. Invite him to empower you to obey the scriptures.
4. Build intimacy with the Holy Spirit through prayer. Invite him to help your weakness during times of prayer. He knows and prays according to the will of God. Ask for his anointing to make two-way praying possible. He helps to intensify your prayer. Pray in the Spirit. (Jude 20, 1 Corinthians 14:2, 13-15)
5. Increase your friendship with the Holy Spirit through passion for him. Love God’s Spirit for Himself. Be more interested in the Spirit than in his gifts and what you can get out of him. Tell him you love him. Sing songs to him as you would to a friend. Enjoy his company. Get interested in His interests and avoid grieving and quenching him. Commit yourself to cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. Do not love the world.
6. Partner with the Holy Spirit in ministry. Invite him to minister with you as you preach, teach, witness, or lead the people of God. Ask for his anointing and words taught by the Spirit. (1 Cor. 2:3-5, 13) Co-operate with him concerning your fields of ministry. (Acts 16:6, 7; 8:29) Invite him to chair your meetings. (Acts 15:28) Spend time in the company of those filled with the Spirit. Let spiritual songs be around you and in your heart.
Cultivating daily fellowship with the Holy Spirit is an exciting adventure that takes time and effort but is worth it.

The first step into cultivating a relationship with the Holy Spirit is giving your life to Christ.

The bible said in Romans 3:23 that for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6 :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 3:16 , 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 10: 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 10:10 – For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with our mouth we confess and are saved. Prayer 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.

LET THE WIND BLOW

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Exodus 14:21 – Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea in dry land, and the waters divided.
BIBLE READING – Exodus 14:21 -28
What is the wind? The Wind is the Holy Spirit. The working of the Holy Spirit is compared to that of the wind. According to John 3:8, the wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it but cannot tell from where it comes and where it goes; So is everyone who is born of the Spirit. The way the Holy Spirit works is compared to that of the wind. Just as the wind is invisible to physical eye but its impact is visible on whatever it touches or goes near, so also is the Holy Spirit. He can not been seen but His impact is visible to the physical eye.  What happens when the wind of the Holy Spirit blows?

• 1.      Life is restored – Ezekiel 37:1-10. The wind that parted the Red Sea came from the nostrils of the Most High God – Exodus 15:8. After the Lord had formed man out of clay in Genesis 2:7, He sent the wind and the wind entered the nostril of Adam and he came alive. In Ezekiel 37:1 Ezekiel found himself in the valley of dry bones. Everything in that valley was considered very dead .In Ezekiel 37:9, the wind began to blow and by the time we get to Ezekiel 37:10 the dry bones had become a great army.   
• 2.      A way is created where there has never been a way – Exodus 14:21. Behind the children of Israel was the host of the Egyptians, to the sides were mountains and in front was the Red Sea. The wind blew and from nowhere, road surfaced inside the ocean. In 2 Kings 4:1-7, the creditors approached one of the wives of the son of the prophets to pay her debts. As there was no way of paying up, they told her they were going to take her children as slaves. She ran to the man of God and the wind blew. She did not only pay her debt but what was left was enough to feed her and her sons till she died. I remembered several years ago when I desired as a young man to come and study abroad. My father did not have any resources to make this happened so I went to the Lord in prayers. At that time there were some building works going on at our church so I joined as a laborer. From nowhere the wind blew and before I know it, I was on the aeroplane to study abroad.
• 3.      The impossible becomes possible. Prior to Exodus 14, it was considered impossible for a Sea to part in two but that night it parted. It was impossible for a virgin to conceive without a man but in Luke 1:31-37, the One who with nothing is impossible made the impossible possible – Mary became pregnant without knowing a man.
• 4.      Hope arises in hopeless situations – 1 Kings 18:30-46. The children of Israel found themselves in a hopeless situation. For three years it had not rained, the rivers and brooks began to dry up. Elijah the man of God prayed and the wind blew and then it rained. The Israelites were also in a hopeless situation been sandwiched in problems- behind was Pharaoh, to the sides were mountain and to the front was Red Sea. I am sure you will appreciate how hopeless the situation was and then the wind blew.
• 5.      Enemies are uprooted permanently –Exodus 14:27-29. The enemies of Israel were drowned in the Red Sea when the wind blew. Because you belong to God , your enemies automatically become the enemies of God. According to Jeremiah 23:19, the Lord sends the wind on the head of the wicked –His enemies. Jeremiah 22:22 says the Lord will use the wind to eat up the heads or rulers of His enemies.
• 6.      Secrets were released –Exodus 14:21. Prior to that day, no one knew what lie beneath the Red Sea. Immediately the wind blew, the mysteries that lie beneath the Red Sea were exposed. After Peter had spent time In the presence of Jesus in Luke 5:1-7, the wind blew and the secret of were his breakthrough lie was released to him.
• 7.      Complete deliverance – Exodus 14:29-30. After the Lord had dealt with Pharaoh, He unwillingly permitted the Israelites to leave. The Israelites were delivered but not completely delivered because Pharaoh was still alive .After the wind blew, the head of their enemy – Pharaoh and his hosts were drowned. In Mark 5:1-19, the mad man of Gadara saw Jesus and He ran to Him. As this man stood in the presence of Jesus, the wind blew and he received total deliverance from a legion demon. He became so free that he was now able to evangelize.
• 8.      Needs are met – Numbers 11:31 .The children of Israel had been eating manna for a while but they wanted meat. Immediately the wind blew, from nowhere came abundance of quails. The quails were so much it took them 36 hours to gather! In Matthew 14:13-21, a young boy gave five bread and two fishes and Jesus directed the wind towards him. After 5000 people had been fed, he went home with twelve baskets of breads and fishes. Sometimes back late evening I felt like soaking garri (garri is made from cassava) with honey and cashew nuts but I did not have the resources on me. So I casually mentioned it to a man that was around me and we both laughed. The next afternoon I was chatting with a man and he suddenly suggested we go to the local supermarket. I declined but He literally forced me to go so I went. When we got there, guess what I ordered? Honey and cashew nut … you got it right! The shocking thing was I have been working with this man for over three years and he had never suggested such before or bought me anything.
• 9.      Problems are solved – Genesis 8:1. After the Lord destroyed the world with water, He made the wind to pass over the earth and the waters subsided. Due to the stubbornness of Pharaoh’s heart, the Lord made Locust to go over the land and eat up every herb and fruit of the land. Pharaoh humbled himself before God and He caused the wind to blow and this wind took the Locust to the Red sea – Exodus 10:19.

We have talked about what happens when the blows. Let’s briefly look at what happens after the wind blows.
1.      Total freedom. After the wind blew in Exodus 14:1-31, the Israelites went from been slaves to been free men and women. In the case of the widow of the sons of prophet in 2 Kings 4:1-7, she became debt free. After the wind blew in Genesis 8:1, Noah who had been hiding in an ark could now walk about.
2.      One begins to sing a song of victory. The first thing the Israelites did when they got their victory was compose a new song. A country who had been singing - Lord deliver me, Lord deliver me , suddenly began to shout- He has given me victory , I will lift Him higher, Jehovah , I will lift Him Higher.
When you read through the scriptures, you will notice that before the wind blows, there is always a cry to heaven. Almost every time, a cry precedes the wind. A cry goes to heaven and God sends the wind. The Israelites cried in Exodus 14 and the wind followed. They cried again in Numbers 11 and the wind blew. Noah must have been crying to God in Genesis 7 before the wind blew. I do not believe He sat down in the ark doing nothing for 40 days. Today your cry must first ascend to heaven before the wind follows. I can assure you that as you cry to Him today, He will send the wind. Once the wind begins to blow everything against God will be uprooted and that is certain. If one is not a friend of God, am afraid the wind might uproot them once it begins to blow. Who are the friends of God? They are those who obey Him – John 15:14. If an individual is against God, the wind might not be favorable to them. How do you know those that love God? They obey Him – John 14:15. Luke 11:23 says He that is not with Me is against Me: and He that gathereth and not with Me scattereth. I remember several years ago after I had just given a big offering – big according to my standard then, maybe small to you .I began to pray that the Lord should send His wind and the Holy Spirit and said if the wind should be blow you will be the first to fall. Honestly back then, there were one or two people I had not forgiven and was not evangelizing. Now I am wiser.
If the wind should blow and you are still living in sin it can be disastrous.  If there is anyone reading this newsletter and is yet to give his or her life to Jesus or was once born again but has backslidded, Please come back to Christ today. He is faithful and just to forgive. Ezekiel 18:32 says “For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God “therefore repent and live!”
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 we confess and are saved. Prayer 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.

BEAUTY FOR ASHES

      

Isaiah 61:3 says to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes , the oil of joy for mourning , the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness , the planting of the Lord , that He may be glorified.

Ashes represent a lot of things .In 2 Samuel 13:6-19, it stands for shame, humiliation, disgrace and disappointment. After Tamar - the young virgin princess was raped by her step brother she sprinkled ashes on her head to mark her shame, disgrace, disappointment and embarrassment. Ashes can also mean a sad end or destruction. Most likely an end caused by fire. Malachi 4:3 says you shall trample the wicked for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet. Ashes at times indicate the presence of terrible sicknesses. After satan struck Job with painful boils in Job 2:7-8, he sat in ashes. Ashes can be used to define a man of no status or worth. Abraham compared himself to ashes and dust in Genesis 18:26-27, when he was appealing to God to have mercy on the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. Job also echoed the same words in Job 30:19, he said “He has cast me into the mire, and I have become like a dust and ashes. Ashes during fasting and prayers can signify a desperate cry for help. The appointed time for the liberation of Jerusalem had come and gone but nothing happened. In Daniel 9:3, Daniel covered himself in ashes and began to seek the face of God over the liberation of Jerusalem. A synonym for ashes is mourning.

In Isaiah 63:1 God promised that He will console those who mourn and will give them beauty for ashes, oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness that He may be glorified. God is not gloried in your predicaments. He is not glorified in your failure or sickness. He is not glorified when things are not going well for you.  He wants to help you and will help you in Jesus name, Amen.
Who is this God that promised to give beauty for ashes? How powerful is He? What are His limits? This God is known as the Most High, Psalm 99:2 .Psalms 97:9 says He is higher than the Highest. Luke 1:37 confirms that with Him nothing is impossible. According to 99:1, when He reigns the earth has no choice than to tremble. Psalm 97:5 says mountains melt like wax before Him. Matthew 3:9 says He is so powerful he can even bring children out of stones. Psalms 62:11 says power belongs to Him.  Isaiah 13:13 says  He is able to shake the heavens and the earth will move out of her place. Job 9:6 says He shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble.

This God is able to comfort in mourning. According to John 14:26, He is the comforter. Isaiah 66:13 says He is able to comfort like a mother .2 Corinthians 1:4 says He comforts in all troubles. The psalmist says His comfort delights souls, Psalm 94:19. Asides comforting people, He is able to turn situations around. Psalms 30:11 says He turns mourning into dancing and exchanges sackcloth with garment of gladness. Isaiah 61:3 says He is able to exchange mourning for oil of joy. Immediately Jesus raised the son of the widow in Luke 7:11-17, she went from mourning into dancing. In 2 Kings 4:18-37 is the popular story of great Shunamite woman. After her son died, she ran to the man of God and began to cry, she started rolling on the floor, begging the prophet to do something. She forgot she was highly respectable in the society , she just cried and cried and the Lord touched her son . Immediately the Lord brought the dead boy back to life and tears dried up and began to smile again. I pray that the Lord will touch your situation and turn it around in Jesus name.
Aside from turning mourning into dancing, He is able to turn sickness into health. Exodus 15:26 calls Him the great healer. Jeremiah 30:17 says He is able to restore health and heal wounds. According to Psalms 147:3, He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalms 103:3 says He heals all disease. In Luke 5:12-13, a man covered with leprosy fell before Jesus and began to implore him to have mercy and heal him. Jesus touched him and immediately his skin became like that of a new born baby soft, tender and began to shine. Also in Luke 13:10-17 is the story of a woman who had not stood straight for eighteen years. She had a problem with her spine and for eighteen years she remained bent. The woman went through great pains for eighteen years but immediately the great healer – Jesus laid His healing hands on her, right on the spot she was made straight. In John 5:1-16 is the story of a man who had been sick for thirty eight years. For thirty eight years his life was at a standstill. Jesus told him to take up his bed and walk. The man stood up as if nothing had happened to him. He did not stagger or anything. He just began to walk normally.

 He can also turn death to life .Only the living can resurrect the living. It is impossible for dead to raise the dead. Revelations 1:18 says Jesus is alive forever. According to John 11:25, Jesus is the resurrection and the life. John 14:6 says He is the way, the truth and life. John 1:4 says in Him was life. John 5:21 says He is able to give life. In Mark 2:1-12, a man whose body was dead was brought to Jesus. The only part of his body that was alive was his head, the other part was dead that was he was so heavy that four men were required to carry him around. Immediately Jesus prayed for him, life was restored to his entire body.The man that was carried in with four men suddenly stood up and began to walk. In John 11:1-45 is the story of Lazarus who was not only dead but brain dead. Immediately Jesus called his name, death let go of him and he came back to life. 
God is also able to restore victories to those who have been beaten down by life situation. He is able to help those that are burnt by life. Those that life has treated unfairly; victims of circumstances. He is also able to make a man victorious. Exodus 15:3 calls Him a Man of war. Isaiah 42:13 describes His moves like that of a mighty man. Psalms 24:8 calls Him the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. According to Psalm 46:7, He is the Lord of Host .Isaiah 59:19 says when the enemy comes in like a flood; the spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. Jabez was a man who life had been unfair to. Because of his name , life battered him daily but one day he cried to God in 1  Chronicles 4:9-10 and God came to his rescue. He changed his name and everything started moving on fine.
Asides all this, God is able to give new beginning and turn situations around. To those who see themselves as worthless, to those who the world sees as nobody, to those who have no voice in the family, to those who are invisible despite been amidst a crowd, God is able to turn situations around. He is able to make the one who the world ignores to become the one people will sit and listen to. He is able give you beauty for ashes. According Ecclesiastes 3:11, He is able to make a thing beautiful. The lame man at the beautiful gate was invisible all his life. No one really noticed him, because he was a nobody, sick and very very poor. One day in Acts 3:1-12, two servants of God walked to him, grabbed him by the hands and from that day onward people began to run to hear his story of victory. Why? Because the Most High had given  him beauty for his ashes.
Before the Lord promised to give a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, oil of joy for mourning, ashes to beauty, He first addressed the cause of ashes. He addressed the reason for spirit of heaviness and mourning. Isaiah 59:1 says behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save nor his ear heavy that it cannot hear. Isaiah 59:2 says but your iniquities have separated you from your God and your sins have hidden His face from you. Brethren, God is closer to us than the clothes we wear .It is sin that makes it look like He is miles away. It is sin that makes us cry for help and get no response.  Isaiah 30:19 says God will be gracious when we cry for help. As soon as He hears us, He will answer. Isaiah 65:24 says before they call, I will answer and while they are still speaking, I will hear. Sin blocks Him from hearing us. As we have read in Isaiah 59:2b it is sins that makes it look like He has hidden His face from His people. From time to time, Jesus will tell people go and sin no more, why? Because sin brings problems and disappointment.
If there is anyone reading this newsletter and is yet to give his or her life to Jesus or was once born again but has backslidded, Please come back to Christ today. He is faithful and just to forgive. Ezekiel 18:32 says “For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God “therefore repent and live!”
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 we confess and are saved. Prayer 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 of open doors

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, “These things say He is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”. Revelations 3:7

One of the names of our Lord Jesus Christ is the Door. John 10:9 says “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. Aside been the Door , He also possesses the key of David.

One of the delights of God is opening doors. Psalm 35:27 says God has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant. Ecclesiastes 3:13 says the gift of God is that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of his labor. Because He delights in opening doors, you can go to Him over any door and He will open it. Isaiah 45:11 says Ask me of things to come concerning My Sons, and concerning the work of My hands, you command Me. If the Lord decides to open a door, no one can stop Him. Isaiah 14:27 says For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hands is stretched out, And who will turn it back?

A door is used to keep what is inside in and what is outside out. Once a door is opened what is outside can come in and what is in can go out.

The Most High opens doors in different ways. He can do it physically. In John 9:1-9 is the story of a man who was born blind. The door of  promotion, happiness, progress, wealth to mention a little were shut at him. Just by anointing his eyes with clay made from mud and saliva,Jesus opened the doors that were shut at him. In Matthew 14:13-21, Jesus touched five loaves of bread and two fishes and the door of multiplication opened. Five loaves of bread and two fishes fed five thousand men not counting women and children and there were still twelve baskets left.

The Lord can command doors to open. Psalm 33:8-9 says the whole earth should fear the Lord because He spoke and it was done. Hebrews 4:12 says the word of God is living and powerful. Jeremiah 23:29 says the word of God is like a fire and a hammer. In John 11:1-45 is the story of Lazarus. This man was dead for four days. At this point, all the doors in the world were shut at him. Jesus commanded Lazarus to come forth and he did-all the shut doors were opened .For over seventy years, the door of fruitfulness was shut on Sarah but the Lord visited her in Genesis 18:1-16. While He was leaving He told Abraham, by this time next year Sarah will be a nursing mother and she became pregnant and gave birth at a very old age. In Mark 2:1-12, a paralytic man was brought to Jesus.  I do not need to tell you that the door to health was shut at this fellow .Jesus forgave him and told him to take his bed and walk and he did.

He can command animals to open doors. Psalms 50:10 says all the beast of the forest belongs to God.God gives understanding and wisdom to animals . According to Job 39:17, God made the ostrich forget her wisdom  and did not give her a share of understanding . Whilst famine ravished the land, God used ravens to open the  door of provisions  for Elisha. When you look at the species of birds , ravens are known as micers . They are even stingy to thier children .There favorite food is meat ,In 1 Kings 17:5-6, ravens brought him bread and meat  twice a day. In 2 Kings 2:23-25, God used two female bears to protect the dignity and respect of Elisha .After the bear incident no one ever looked down on Elisha or make fun of his baldhead till he died.

He can also use the enemies themselves to open doors .Proverbs 21:1 says the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, He turns it wherever He wishes. In Numbers 23:1-24, Balaak an enemy of Israel hired Balaam (another enemy of Israel) to curse the Israelites. Every time Balaam opened his mouth to curse this nation, blessings began to flow instead of curses. In Exodus 1:22, Pharaoh commanded that every son born to the Hebrews be cast into river so as to peg the growth of the Hebrews. When Moses was born, the Lord used the greatest enemy of male Hebrew children to raise him up.  By the time we get to Exodus 2:7-11, Moses was on his way to live with Pharaoh in the Palace. The resources of Pharaoh were used to raise Moses as a prince and the mother of Moses got full salary for raising her son -Moses.

Another way He opens doors is through His presence. According to Psalms 16:11, His presence can open the door of Joy. Psalms 21:6 says for You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence. The presence of God parted the red sea before the children of Israel. Exodus 15: 8 says at the blast of Your nostrils, The waters were gathered together; The floods stood upright like a heap; the depths congealed in the heart of the sea. In Acts 16:25-30, Paul and Silas began to pray and praise God and the Lord visited the prison. His presence caused an earthquake that rendered these men free.

Aside opening doors , he can also shut doors for example in 1 Kings 17:7-16 ,the door of poverty, death, loneliness was wide open to the widow of Zarapheth but the Lord sent Elijah to her and all the doors were shut. In 2 Kings 6:24-30, the Syrians besieged Samaria and this resulted in a terrible famine. The Lord took interest in the matter and used Elisha to shut the door of national recession, national sadness, and national darkness to mention a few.

Someone might ask what about broken doors? Well He can fix or replace a broken door. In Mark 5:25-.34 is the story of the woman with the issue of blood. The door that controls the flow of blood in her body was broken and blood began to flow nonstop for twelve years. Just by touching the hem of the garment of Jesus, She received a brand new door and was healed immediately.

This brings us to the question, what opens doors?

·         Holiness – Psalm 84:11 says no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Hebrews 12:14 says pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. Psalm 34:15 says the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their cry. Holiness is the key .Hebrews 1:9 says you have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness, there God, Your God, has anointed You with the Oil of gladness more than Your companions.

·         Obedience –Isaiah 1:19 say if you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. Exodus 23:22-26 says if you obey God, your enemies will be His enemies, you will be His special treasure and you will not be sick. Jeremiah 7:23 says if we obey God, He will be our God and we will be His people. Deuteronomy 28:1 says if you obey God, He will set you on high above nations.

·         Prayers –Psalm 91:5 says He shall call upon Me, and I will answer Him. Matthew 7:7 says Ask, and it will be given to you; Proverbs 8:17 says those who seek Me finds me. John 16:24 says ask and your will receive, and your joy will be complete.

·         Hard work –Proverbs 28:19 says he who tills his land will have plenty of bread. Proverbs 27:18 says whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit. Proverbs 10:4 says He who has a slack hand becomes poor but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

·         Words & Confession –Matthew 12; 37 says for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. Proverbs 6:2 says you are snared by the words of your mouth; you are taken by the words of your mouth. Remember Samson and Delilah, his words handed him to his enemy who plucked out his eye. Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue. Numbers 14:28 says say to them, ‘As I live’, says the Lord, ‘Just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you.

·         Forgiveness – when you forgive people, it will open the door of forgiveness for you too. Mark 11:26 says But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.

One thing to note is this; how you treat the doors the Lord has opened to you will determine if He will open more doors for you. The way you handle the doors He has opened matters a lot. That is why we have to take His errands or task very serious. When the Lord sends us on an errand it is for our good. The Most High God is not a user, He will always reward no matter how small the task is.  The question is this, how do you treat the task He has committed to you? Do you do them at your convenience, do you put all the strength you have into it or just do them rush rush.



Take for instance soul winning, how are you taking the door to share Christ? How about the door to be a blessing to a sister or brother in need or even the church? The door of tithes and offerings, how are you taking those doors? These are doors the Lord has opened for us to get blessed!

The doors of employment in your place of work, that business venture how are you taking those doors? Are you hardworking enough or procrastinating ?

There is a particular door the Lord has opened to everyone living and it is the door of Love. Matthew 22:37 says love your neighbor as yourself. 1 Peter 4; 8 says and above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins”. How are you handling this door talking of the door of love? God has opened the door to us to love our neighbor like ourself . Anything we do that is void of love is just an exercise and it has no reward.  1 Corinthians 13:1-13 points that whatever a man does or achieve outside the perimeter of Love is zero and God counts it as nothing .1 Corinthians 13:1 says if i speak in the tongues of men and of angels but do not have love, I have become a sounding piece of brass or a clashing cymbals. I pray that the Lord will not count your efforts as nothing in Jesus name.

How are you taking the door to love God? Proverbs 8:17 says I love those who love Me. Are you taking those doors serious? Are you maximizing them?

Anyone who wants the Lord to open doors for him or her must first open the door of their heart to Jesus. 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 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 He arises

Psalm 68 vs 1 – Let God arise ,Let His enemies be scattered:Let those also who hate Him flee before Him.

First of all , Our God is very powerful. Psalms 62 vs 11 says God has spoken once,twice I have heard this that power belongs to God. Psalm 66 vs 7 says He rules by His power forever. He is so powerful ,David said in Psalm 33vs7-8 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 commanded, and it stood fast . All God needs to do is speak and it is done .No wonder Jesus said God is able to bring children out of stones – Matthew 3 vs 9.

When God arises for a man , family or nation every from fear dissapears.Fear which is also lack of boldness hinders people from making  progress. The early Christians had this problem , they wanted to preach but lacked courage and besides they were constantly been persecuted for preaching the gospel. They cried to God and He arose for them  , the bible records in Acts 4 vs 31 that the place where they assembled together was shaken and they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness .

When He arises  chains and leashes  preventing you from fulfilling His plan for your life is broken.  In Acts 16 vs16-30 ,The people of Thyatira put Paul and Silas put in prison for delivering a girl possessed with the spirit of divination.The people of Thyatira did this to put an end to their ministries-careers. At night as Paul and Silas pray and sang to God,He arose and the foundations of the prison was shaken and their chains fell off. I pray today that God will arise for you and that thing preventing you from been what God wants you to be will be destroyed in the mighty name of Jesus , Amen.

When God arises mountains are moved. Psalms 114 vs 6 says mountains skip like rams and little hills like lambs before Him.Many of us have one thing or the other standing between us and our happiness. It could be poverty or debt ,sickness,barrenness but can i assure you that whatever it is will be moved when He arises for you &  He will arise today . One of the wives of the sons of prophet had a mountain- debt in  2 Kings 4 vs 1-7. Because she could not pay the debt her creditors resulted to selling her sons to pay her debts.  She ran to Elijah the prophet of God and God arose on her behalf. The little jar of oil  filled several vessels . She sold the oil and paid off her debt and she had enough money left to feed her children. Remember she obeyed the instructions from the man of God.

In Luke 13 vs 10-13 is the story of woman who was bent and could not stand straight.Most of us will find it difficult to stay bent for six hours but this woman was bent for eighteen years. I do not need to tell you she had a big mountain in her life, Jesus arose on her behalf and she was made straight.  If there are any mountain in your life i can assure that the Lord will move them and if it is impossible to move He can burn the mountain according to Jeremiah 51 vs 25 or simply turn them to plain Zechariah 4 vs 7.

When He arises storms are stilled. Psalm 65 vs 7 says He stills the noise of the sea , the noise of their waves and tumult of the people .Many a times the storms of life push us around ,we are harassed and bullied by forces than are more powerful  than us .By the special grace of God there will be an end to that in Jesus name,Amen. In Matthew 7 vs 23-27 Jesus was sleeping when  suddenly a great wind arose on the sea. The waves began to beat the boat, water began to fill the boat so they woke Jesus up. When He arose , He rebuked the winds and the sea and there was great calm. I rebuke every wind and storms in your life in the mighty name of Jesus.Amen .

When God arises everything the enemy has stolen from you will be restored. Could it be joy ,happiness ,peace of even freedom. Psalm 68 vs 20 says to God the Lord belong escapes from death. in other words even if death has stolen anything from you , If He arises death has no choice than to restore what it took from you. In Luke 7 vs 11-17 , death stole the only son of a widow and she was devastated. On their way to bury this boy Jesus met them and death had no choice than to give up what it took. 

The list of what happens when He arises is endless. He arose for the groom at the wedding in Cana – John 5vs 1-10 and his needs were met. On his wedding day the wine finished , imagine water and drinks finishing in the middle of a wedding ceremony and no means of getting more .Jesus arose for him and saved him of embarrassment especially in the front of the bride's family and special guest.

This brings us to the next question , how can I make God Arise for me ?

• Through praises and worship,Psalm 22 vs 3 says He inhabits the praises of His people. Psalm 100 vs 4 says enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. God loves worshipers.
• Fervent prayer & faith. James 5 vs 16 says the effective fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much. James 4 vs 2 says you do not have because you do not ask. When you ask, do with if faith because without faith it is impossible to please God- Hebrew 11vs 6 .All you need is a faith like mustard seed , if you tell a mountain to move it will -Luke 17 vs 6.
• Unusual offering-Luke 6 vs 38 says Give, and it will given to you; good measure,pressed down, shaken together , and running over will be put into your bosom. For the same measure that you use it will be measured back to you. A man of God once said , if you do what no man has ever done to God before , God will do to that individual what He has never done for anyone before. Is it not true with Solomon ? unusual offering births His unusual move.
• Living a life of righteousness- Psalm 84 vs 11 says no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 11 vs 7 says He loves righteousness ; His countenance beholds the upright. Psalm 5 vs 17 says for you o Lord,will bless the righteous ;with favor You will surround him as with a shield. Psalm 34 vs 15 says the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their cry. God loves righteousness

The second part of the Psalm 68 vs 1 says and His enemies are scattered. Every time we talk of God's enemies , what comes to mind is demons and anything competing for the glory of God in our lives and we are partially correct.

Do you know there are some of us who although are born again but still acting as His enemies? The reason why He has not acted is because He knows we do not know and that Is why He has made it possible for you to read this ? He said in 1 Samuel 2 vs 30 those who honor me I will honor meaning there are some people who do not honor Him. This is not talking of demons now , this is talking of His own children. He said in Proverbs 8 vs 17 , I love those who love Me which means there are some who do not love Him. The first commandment of God according to Matthew 22 vs 37 ,You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. If the Lord looks into your eyes and asks ,child have you loved me with all your heart , all your soul and mind what will your response be ? To be able to do this we must put him first , are we putting Him first ?

If we say we love Him , He will ask child when was the last time you gathered with me? Jesus said in Luke 11 vs 23 He who is not with me is against me , and he who does not gather with me scatters. We have been saved and all but when was the last time we spoke to people about Jesus is it a week ago, a month,year or cant even remember ?

The Lord is willing to arise for you but you need to invite Him. Why not make that decision today ,take that bold step to Him and He will arise for you .

The bible said in Romans 3 vs 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 vs 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 save ? 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 vs 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 vs 32 which says whoever confesses me before me , him I will confess before my father who is heaven.

What should we seek, fruit or gifts?

      The last few weeks I have reinvestigated the Gifts of the Spirit in these latter times and the Lord has brought to mind moments when I was involved in the Charismatic movement that were to my mind true acts of the Holy Spirit and our Lords grace. The most memorable was a particular Sunday night service when the Holy Spirit took control of the worship. The congregation became as one and the praise of God that was being sung sounded like chimes or handbells that echoed from one part of the crowd to another. It went around the room from the front to the back and to one side or another in no particular order. It was not anything that could have been repeated by the people present and none of us even understood how it was being done. It was joy unspeakable and the beauty of it was beyond description. Perhaps it was a taste of heaven when we will worship our Lord eternally. It did not come from any effort on our part, no beat of heavy music and repetition of words of praise, no babbling of tongues or falling down, no dancing, simply people with their arms raised worshipping their saviour and it is beyond my ability to describe. It was a truly unique experience one that I have not witnessed or participated in since.

Some years after I left the movement I was visiting another Baptist church, not my home church and when the pastor got up to preach it became obvious, to every true believer that the pastor was not speaking a sermon that was his. He was speaking as an oracle of God calling His people to repentance and renewed faith and warning them that the evil in the world would grow worse not better. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and I wanted to prostrate myself on the floor the Spirit of God was so powerfully on that preacher. That was the first time that happened and sadly I never heard that pastor preach that way again. I have heard sermons since that came close the power in that sermon but never equaled it. Odd that the SBC rejects, by in large, the Gifts of the Spirit, as manifested in the early church but the pastors I heard that were most moved and controlled by the Holy Spirit have been Southern Baptist. The best bible teacher and preacher I know is Southern Baptist and he does not believe in the Gifts of the Spirit as they were manifested in the early church.

When I was given the Gift of Tongues, I was not in a church and no one layed hands on me. I was in bed reading my bible and before I turned out the light to go to sleep I prayed and asked God to give me that gift and I immediatly begin to speak in an unknown language. He never took it away and I still pray in what I call my “prayer language.” Many believe that the Gifts of the Spirit did not operate in the church after the time of the Apostles but actually the Gifts were operative, at least tongues to some degree throughout church history. In some cases they were false gifts that only mimiced the real thing but some were true gifts. In the London Baptist Confessional of 1689. It states that speaking in an unknown tongue is for private use and not to be done in a public service per Paul’s instructions. The Gifts of the Spirit fell into disrepute and stopped being sought because of the abuse of those that practiced them, in particular tongues. That and the semi-hypnotic and ecstatic state that led to such bizarre and uninhibited behaviour but never truly edified, enlightened, or sanctified its followers. They imposed stringent codes of behaviour that they nor their leaders could follow. The real source of so much of this was not the Holy Spirit. The true Gifts of the Spirit operate without the need of any special “anointing” or wild, bizarre acts. They are given by the Holy Spirit to whom He will and do not impose tongues as evidence of salvation. In fact no where in scripture are Gifts of the Spirit evidence of salvation. With the exception of Cornelius the centurion and that was to convince the Jewish believers that the gospel was also for the gentiles.

No where in the teaching of Christ does He point to Gifts of the Spirit as evidence of a transformed life. He always points to the fruit. Seed that returns 30, 40 or a hundred fold. Giving when we are asked to give and joyfully. Love of the brethren who are our spiritual family. The association of fruit as evidence of a sanctified life are through out His teaching, “A good tree produces good fruit.” No where in His teaching are we to seek after “signs” seeking for signs is evidence of a faithless people. No where in His teaching are we to seek wealth or as He called it, “unrighteous mammon.” “Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and HIS righteousness.” “His” not ours because we have none. Fruit grows one day at a time and does not appear overnight. The production of good fruit takes judicious pruning, rain and fertilizer. It has to be cultivated and cared for. Like Adam tending the garden of Eden we must tend the garden of a new spirit that is planted by the Holy Spirit.

Living as sojouners and not residents in this life

There is nothing that can arise in this life so great as to compare to the glory that awaits us at Christ’s glorious coming. There is nothing so horrible that can happen in this life that will not be forgotten in an instant of time when we see Jesus Christ face to face. Nothing that goes on in this life, whether good or bad, is worthy to be compared to the eternal weight of glory that constitutes our hope.

I believe the epistles of Paul, Peter, Jude and John present a picture of our hope which not only gives us comfort during difficult times but great strength during times of stress, great encouragement during times of duress and great joy at all times. I believe that if all we have to live for is this life only, we of all people are most to be pitied.

When Paul could not endure any more hardship, God caught him away and showed him what is coming after Christ returns. Whatever Paul saw, provided him with the strength and focus to endure everything that arose the rest of his ministry. Paul lived and breathed not only to share the Gospel now, but with the burning hope that Christ would return any minute.

It is obvious that those who participated in the First Century church, lived each day with the burning realization the trumpet could indeed sound any minute and they would leave this life to spend an eternity with God. It was this firm conviction which allowed men and women to totally commit themselves to serving Christ in this life with no interest in accumulating earthy treasures or so afraid of death they could not live.

So much of our current society is built on either extending life a few extra years or finding that elusive fountain of youth that eliminates the aging process and keeps us looking and feeling like a teenager when we are 85 years old. Most of the products advertised in various media all promise to make one feel or look younger. With all the emphasis on this life and none on the future, of course there will be little emphasis placed on the spiritual side of things.

Solomon spoke extensively of vanity. When the emphasis of life is only what is best for “me”; that is vanity. When all of life’s endeavors are for self gain; that is vanity. When every dream and detail in life revolves around “me”; that is vanity. When there is nothing any greater to live for than this life; that is vanity.

We all really need to look in the mirror and think about WHY we are so hung up on this body of ours. Why do we spend so much time, energy and money trying to transform this flesh into a shining temple? Paul said these bodies we live in are earthly tabernacles that will be discarded when Christ returns. Of course we should seek to take care of ourselves but not because of vanity.

The day is fast approaching when the Lord Jesus will call us home, either through death or His return. In light of this, what is our purpose in living? What is our reason for what we do? What is the great aim of our heart and motive for what we live for? Is our time, energy and money really ours to hoard and spend only on ourselves? Is not all that we have in this life a gift from God to share with others?

I urge us all to spend a little time thinking about how we live and what we live for. It never hurts to make sure we have not fallen into the bottomless pit of vanity and the self serving pursuit of happiness. We have life because God gave it to us and that life is a gift to be shared with others in light of our short stay as sojourners in this life.

Remembering the Forgotten.

Psalm 115 vs 12 says The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel ; He will bless the house of Aaron.

It is a terrible thing to be forgotten. Proverbs 13 vs 12 says when hope is deferred the heart becomes sick .To be forgotten is like hope been deferred . When a man or woman is forgotten his or her destiny is put on hold. Jeremiah 29 vs 11 says for I know the plans that I have for you , says the Lord. “plans to prosper you and not to harm you ,plans to give you hope and a future. When an individual is forgotten every plans and agenda is suspended. For example God had big plans for Solomon .Before the birth of Solomon , God  sent Nathan to inform David of His plan to make Solomon king and establish his throne forever - 2 Samuel 7 vs 5-16. When the time came for David to choose his successor , He forgot all the prophet said about Solomon. Meanwhile Adonijah was making preparations to make himself king and this was brought to David's attention , instead of rebuking him , he kept quiet because the young man was good looking -1 Kings 1 vs 5-6 .Although the king kept quiet, the Lord did not . He inspired Nathan to speak to Bathsheba. By the time we get to 1 Kings 1 vs 28-40 , David had remembered Solomon and made him king.

In Mark 5 vs 1-20 is the story of the demoniac in Gadara . He was born to be a great evangelist but unclean spirits possessed him and put his destiny on hold. This demons made sure he lived among the dead (in the tomb). Proverbs 14 vs 20 says the poor is hated by his neighbor but the rich has many friends. If the poor is hated by his neighbor how much more a mad man who resides in the tomb. Proverbs 19 vs 4 says wealth brings many friends , but a poor man's friend deserts him. If the friends of the poor desert and forget about him , how much more a demonic man who cuts himself and cry day and night . The man was totally forgotten but the Most High remembered him and paid him a visit. All demons disturbing were sent out and this man started witnessing for Jesus. By the time we get to Mark 5 vs 20-21 , he had already won a whole nation for Jesus.

When a man is forgotten , his blessings and breakthrough are withheld . In 2 Samuel 9 vs 1-9, Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan,grand son of King Saul was stripped of all his belonging and Saul's estate. Mephibosheth was a prince and the only place you find princes are in palaces not a small house in Lo Debar. A prince sits at the King's table to eat with the king and other princes but Mephibosheth was eating lone in small hut . Whether a prince is lame or fit , when he wants to travel he uses royal chariots but people had to carry this prince .The Lord remembered this young prince and nudged the heart of the king. David suddenly felt a need to show kindness to the house of Saul and began to inquire if any one was left so that he could show kindness to him or her. As the Lord will have it , Mephibosheth was the only one left and David restored all that belonged to him .He began to sit and dine with the king of Israel .

The Lord told Abram that He was going to give his descendant the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession in Genesis 17 vs 1. This promise did not materialize until the Lord remembered the great grand children of Abraham in Exodus 2 vs 24 . The children of Israel were stuck in Egypt for four hundred and thirty years because they were forgotten . The Most High remembered them and He raised up Moses who led them out of Egypt and Joshua who took them to Canaan -the land flowing with milk and honey.

When a man is forgotten , he experiences stagnancy in all areas of his life. After Joseph had interpreted the dreams of the king's butler and baker in Genesis 40 vs 1-23 , he expected the butler to put a word for him in the presence of the King as agreed but the man forgot . Because the man forgot , Joseph remained in the prison for another two years . Throughout the two years , he did not make any progress ,even the bible had nothing to record about him because all he achieved in those years was zero . The Lord remembered him and caused Pharaoh to have a dream in Genesis 41 vs 1-40 . Pharaoh told his dreams to the palace officials and the butler remembered Joseph . The butler told the King about Joseph and he was asked to come and interpret the king's dream.  He interpreted the dream and from that day , Joseph never returned to the prison again.

When a man or woman is forgotten , if care is not taken he or she might miss the day of his or her breakthrough. The Lord told Prophet Samuel in 1 Samuel 16 vs 1-13 to fill his horn with oil and go to the house of Jesse to anoint one of his sons . When he got there , he asked to see the sons of Jesse and Jesse brought out his sons but forgot  David who was busy with the sheep in the field. It was until the Lord told Samuel that He had not chosen any of the seven that Samuel asked if there were other children before Jesse remembered his last born in the field . Imagine David missing the day he was meant to be made the number one citizen in the land of Israel. I pray that you will not miss the day of your breakthrough in the name of Jesus.

It is almost impossible for one who is forgotten to become fruitful . The Lord expects his children to be fruitful . The first blessing He gave man in the garden of Eden is to be fruitful and multiply – Genesis 1 vs 18 . The Second promised he gave to Abram in Genesis 12 vs 2 was to make him a great nation – make him fruitful. An individual who is forgotten might find it hard or impossible to be fruitful . Genesis 29 vs 31 says when the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren . While everyone around Rachel were becoming fruitful , Rachel was barren . The Lord remembered Rachel in Genesis 30 vs 32 and she became fruitful and gave birth to Joseph. Hannah saw hell in the hands of her rival – Peninnah because the Lord had forgotten her . In 1 Samuel 1 vs 6 , Peninnah took it upon herself to torment Hannah because she was barren but by the time the Lord remembered her , she became a mother of six – four boys and two girls , 1 Samuel 2 vs 21 .

When a man is forgotten , he will continue to face the same challenge again and again. This was the case of the man at the pool of Bethesda for thirty-eight years – John 5 vs 1-16 . The man's biggest problem was getting someone to put him into the pool when the water is stirred up by an angel. This man remained sick and in the same state for several years because there was no one to put him in the pool but the Lord remembered him and visited him. Before Jesus left the pool of Bethesda , his challenge was dealt with once and for all . The man never had the need to lie by the pool again.

When a man is forgotten , mercy is withdrawn from him. Lamentations 3 vs 22 says through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because of his compassions fail not. Jesus was approaching Jericho in Luke 18 vs 35 -43 when a blind man began to shout “ Son of David , have mercy on me !” . This man's life was devoid of mercy . While he was crying to Jesus , people began to tell him to be quiet . The people that were meant to help started telling him to shut up and keep quiet . No one around him was willing to show him mercy . Jesus remembered him and asked him to be brought over. Jesus spoke the word and he began to see .

Many are going through a challenge or two and are wondering if the Lord has forgotten us. We have prayed and fasted , sown seeds , attended night vigils and nothing seems to happen. Some of us are now at the stage when we begin to ask if the Lord actually cares The Lord has not forgotten you. Isaiah 49 vs 15-16 says can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget , yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before me. Deuteronomy 7 vs 9 says therefore know that the Lord your God , He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments. Job 23 vs 13 says but He is unique , and who can make Him change ? And whatever His soul desires , that He does . Job 36 vs 7 says He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous. The Lord has not forgotten you .

The reason why we are yet to break through or get our blessings could be the timing. God has a time and schedule for everything. Ecclesiastes 3 vs 1 says to everything there is a season . There is an appointed time for your blessings . Habakkuk 2 vs 3 says for the vision is yet for an appointed time , but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry , wait for it, because it will sure come, it will not tarry. In John 9 vs 1-12 , we see the disciples of Jesus asking Him whose sin it was that caused a man to be born blind and Jesus replied them that neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. There was an appointed time for this man's miracle. When the time came , Jesus walked by and he got his sight .

Another reason for unanswered prayers could be because we have stopped crying to God . Some of us are now fed up of crying to God , we have now accepted fate . We are  now comfortable with the challenges that we no longer cry to God for help . Although the children of Israel had over stayed their visit in Egypt the Lord did not fight on their behalf until they started to cry out for help . Whilst they were quiet the Lord held His peace but immediately they began to cry He remembered them- Exodus 2 vs 24 . If they had not cried , they probably will be there for another two hundred years. Are you now so comfortable in your place of work or ministry that you no longer cry to God for help ? Sir /Ma it is very dangerous.

Another reason could be the Lord has decided to forget about us . There are many who the Lord has purposely forgotten because they have forgotten to redeem their pledges , vows,e.t.c. Many have made promises to Him and forgotten . We told him that if only if He will deal with a particular challenge , we will give an offering , we will buy something for the church ,some said they will join the choir,others promised to serve Him for the rest of  their life , some even promised to live a life holiness but after He did it we forgot about the promises and pledges . Psalm 18 vs 24 says therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight. Psalm 18 vs 25-26 says with the merciful , He shew Himself merciful , with the blameless ,He shew Himself blameless , with the Pure, He shew Himself pure and with the devious , He shew Himself shrewd. If the Lord shows himself shrewd, with the devious what of those who have forgotten Him or their promises to Him ?

Proverbs 8 vs 17 says I love those who love Me , the Lord said in 1 Samuel 2 vs 30 , those who honor Me will I honor. Some have forgotten about our first love . We no longer yearn for the presence of God . Heaven and hell are no longer preached .The Lord wants us to know about heaven and hell . Many of us have forgotten to be grateful to Him , we complain about what He is yet to do and we forget about His mercies and what He has already done . One thing we all forget is that only the living has challenges , the dead In the grave has no challenges . If you having challenges just thank Him for the gift of life. Only the living fails an exam , the dead do not write exams .

Sin is leads to a shut heaven . At times things do not work out because of our disobedience to the Most High God. Psalm 66 vs 18 says if I regard iniquity in my heart , the Lord will not hear me . Romans 6 vs 1 says what shall we say then? Shall we continue In sin that grace may abound ?

The bible said in Romans 3 vs 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 vs 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 save ? 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 vs 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 vs 32 which says whoever confesses me before me , him I will confess before my father who is heaven.