Tuesday, August 31, 2010
GREAT JOY!
“And there was great joy in that city.” (Act 8:8)
There are no two ways to it; when there is joy in a city, it cannot be hidden as it bears directly on the inhabitants and even a stranger just coming into the city can touch it in the air. A man filled with joy cannot be stopped from expressing it as it radiates out of him automatically.
This by prophetic agenda is your season of great joy, a time of unexplainable joy.
“…though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” (1Pet 1:8b)
Every great joy is preceded by great sacrifices and to partake of this great joy God has promised us this year and beyond, we must be willing to offer unto the Lord unusual sacrifices that our rejoicing may overflow.
“Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.” (1Ch 29:9)
This is a joy provoked by Him, which only Him can sustain and rejoice over.
Great joy is visible; it’s like a great light. This joy is made by God and it is contagious; can as well be seen and heard even from afar. In this season, your joy shall be heard from afar from afar in Jesus name.
“Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.” (Neh 12:43)
This joy God is speaking of here in this season turns the heart of kings to favour you.
“And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.” (Ezr 6:22)
In this season, kings, men in high places and your enemies will favour you for good in Jesus name. it was this joy that made Modeccai not to bow down to the oppressor called Hamman, the enemy of the Jews who for the joy God has placed on Modeccai, Hamman his enemy was made to hurriedly decorate Modeccai to the throne and even sound the trumpet trumpet of his arrival.
“Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.” (Est 6:10-11)
Your joy will not be aborted in Jesus name. This is your season of joy.
“The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.” (Est 8:16-17)
Joy attracts people to you, through you; many shall become Jews (Christians) in Jesus’ name. From today, your months and years are turned from sorrow into joy forever in Jesus name.
“As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.” (Est 9:22)
There are things/people you see that gives you great joy, joy unspeakable.
“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” (Matt 2:10)
In this season, you will see and meet people that will give you joy, great joy.
There are people you meet and they steal joy out of your life, they are joy killers; from henceforth, joy killers shall be far from you in Jesus name. God will surround you with joy, exceeding joy. This joy makes you sensitive to God and well tuned; your spirit is free from undue and negative thoughts and burden, you are free and transparent to Him so you can hear His voice.
When your joy shall appear every eye will see it and they will gather to celebrate with you.
“Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.” (Neh 12:43)
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
I’M AFRAID TO LOVE!
There are chances of experiencing some deep hurts in love, this is because love gives the other person access to the very fragile, tender and sensitive part of you. The founder of Campus for Christ, one of the father of Pentecostal Christianity, C.S Lewis says ‘To love at all is to be vulnerable.’
But, because of fear of being hurt again, many shrink back into their shell and keep to themselves. If Joseph had said he will not interpret the dream of his fellow prisoner because it was the dream he had that took him to prison and his dream would not have been interpreted too and he would have stayed longer in prison if ever he comes out. Gen. 37:19-20; Gen 40: 12-18
Do not fail to love because you were hurt before, to love is for your good. Remember, that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. Confronting your fears and allowing yourself and the other person the right to be human; to make mistakes and make amendments can paradoxical make you a far more happier and more productive person. Perfect love damns the consequences of hurt. Love is our access link to constant victory and the thorns in love are there to deter those who are not ready for true success and enduring relationships. If you are not ready to be hurt, you can’t breakthrough in life.
Perfect love does not see hurts he sees beyond, he sees the glory and the beauty ahead.
I John 4:18
“There is no fear in love – dread does not exist; but full-grown love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love-is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection.”
Do not let your fear choose your destiny. The fear of loving has destroyed many destinies; remember you can’t have a rose plant without thorns. The same plant that brought the rose flower has thorns with it.
“Love is like a precious plant, you can’t just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it’s going to get on by itself. You’ve got to keep watering it. You have to really look after it and nurture it” John Lenon
Love is a heart activity and as such, there will be actions or responses you may never be able to fully explain and some feelings you may never be able to put into words. What the Lord has not given to you to know, you will never know. Deut 29:29
To really love, we must crucify suspicion, trust blindly and go ahead in believing all things. Alexander Dumas (1802-1870) says, “pure love and suspicion cannot dwell together, at the door where the latter enters, the former makes it exit.”
I feel strongly that, the thorns or the hurts we experience in love are meant to deter us from destiny. Jesus in John 14:15
“If you love me you will keep My commands”
It takes love for God and Christ to obey His commandment and obeying His commandment is what determines our success or failure in life (Deut. 28,.John 1:5-9). The enemy does not want us to love knowing the importance of love to our soul and destiny. The answer you need may be in the hands of someone hatred had separated you from – church its time to love.
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Monday, August 23, 2010
THE OTHER SIDE OF LOVE II
In this world of make believe, make easy, robots, the synthetic or artificial, imitating this and that and of recent the hybrid etc. we may raise a generation of people who may never know that a natural rose comes with thorns, and that means they will not be aware of the other side of rose (love).
Rather than seek God to understand why He designed the rose with thorns and gave man such a universal acceptance of it as a symbol of love. Some of us even try to justify our parochial view and ignorantly debase this precious gift – love.
Rose plant, from where we get rose flower has thorns, even though I have never seen thorns in the roses love birds carry, the point is that, if rose plants do not have thorns on it, it is only a resemblance and not a rose plant. This other side of love is what makes it durable, strong and real. If all we know is the good side of love, we will continue to throe it out of the window any day it shows up its other side. Love is like the truth, sometimes it soothes, and sometimes it hurts. Love is sacrificial but also pleasing to God.
The other side of love is the one that always require some spoonful of foolishness, brief blindness and choosing to be trampled upon. Lord Dewar says ‘love is an ocean of emotion entirely surrounded by expenses.’ It is in the other side of love, we find the price tag and this is very expensive. If we will get the best of love, we must know how to handle the other side. If you are waiting to love a perfect person, you will always be wounded and disappointed. Sam Keen said, ‘ you come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly.’
The popular side of love is the giving side, true love gives, the other side of love is the forgiving, the one that accepts the other person in his/her mess, the one that says sorry even when he is right, the one that endures, accept insult and bear been misunderstood. We can measure the amount of love you have for a person by how readily you can forgive the person, the more the love the easier it is to forgive. It takes love to cover multitude of offence or evil, men will do to you.
“Hatred stirs up contentions, but love covers all transgressions.” (Proverbs 10:12)
And
“Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one anther, for love covers a multitude of sins-forgives and disregards the offences of others.” (1 Peter 4:8)
Where love is thick, faults are thin. “Love doesn’t makes the world go round, it is what makes the ride worthwhile.” Franklin P.Jones
Love is a sacrifice that is well pleasing to God but because of the thorns many are scared, that is not to deny the fact that many have been hurt. Bear in mind that Christ did not die for us while we were saints but while we were yet in sin. Don’t love the saints only, love the sinner but hate his sin.
“Well then, are we superior and better of than they? No, not at all. We have already charged that all men, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin- held down by and subjected to its power and control. As it is written, none is righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, no, not one. No one understands-no one intelligently discerns or comprehends; no one seeks out God. All have turn aside; together they have gone wrong and have become unprofitable and worthless; no one does right, not even one! Their throat is a yawning grave; they use their tongues to deceive-to mislead and to deal treacherously. The venom of asps is beneath their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and misery mark their ways. And they have no experience of the way of peace-they know nothing about peace, for a peaceful way they do not even recognize. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:9-18)
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
THE OTHER SIDE OF LOVE I
“Do not forget or neglect to do kindness and good, to be generous and distribute and contribute to the needy, [of the church as embodiment and proof of fellowship] for such sacrifices are well pleasing to God.” Hebrew.13: 16
“Looking back, I have this to regret, that too often when I loved, I did not say so.” David Grayson.
In life we are presented with two sides of an issue or things, ups and down, good or bad, etc. The human tendency is to want the only good or the pleasant side of an issue and which often is not the case because, that’s not the way the creator of the Universe designed it. Amazingly, the some of the conditions we least desire are the ones that are most needful for our system to be balanced.
Love is one factor that most of us don’t seem to prefer the other side, but we cannot stop nor change the other side of love. It is better therefore to quit the cycle of frustration that comes with wanting to change things we cannot. I believe, it is because of the other side of love that people seem not to enjoy the ministry of love. But if people have a better understanding of this other side of love, they will be positively disposed to accommodating and enjoying it. Man is created with an instinct that craves for love, therefore it is a legitimate and holy appetite that makes our human nature unique. The Yearning for attention, recognition and appreciation we all experience from time to time is basically a craving for love.
When we desire and seek to be understood, accommodated, allowed and permitted to ‘Be’ we are simply exercising a very pure and natural instinct called love.
Because not much has been said about the other side of love, the enemy has been capitalizing on this preponderance of ignorance to mess up many relationships. The analogy that readily comes to mind is that of the rose plant. Love like roses exist with many thorns (i.e. certain unpleasant and unattractive occurrences). The path to true happiness lies in learning to manage the thorns, while enjoying the rose. It is in knowing the other side of love we get to realise that love is expensive. It cost more to love than to do any other thing else. Though love is a product every one need, we find it difficult to differentiate between true love and deceit. Lust in many cases at first, dress itself as love, every strong emotional passion tends to be labeled as love and that is why we have a lot of people emerging from certain experiences saying ‘ I was deceived’, ‘I thought she really love me’ only very few end up saying ‘ I am not disappointed, I know he really loved me’.
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Monday, August 16, 2010
LOVE – THE SECRET TO SUCCESS PART IV
It pays to love there is a great dividend in loving, there is no evil done to you that love cannot erase (forgive) For love covers multitude (not few) of evil (prov….)
If you will succeed and enjoys victory in life, you must love. A man that loves is a man of joy, a man of peace. He will be focused; he is a man of vision, clear vision.
“ Better is a little that the righteous man has, than the abundance of many who are wrong and wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken; but the Lord upholds the righteous.” (Psalm 37:16-17)
He is not a man given to fear, his conscience is clear. “They shall not be put to shame in the time of evil, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as fat of lambs, and as the glory of the pastures. They shall vanish; like smoke shall they consume away.” (Psalm 37:19 – 20)
Beloved, love is the key to real success in life as your steps are directed and ordered by God (psalm 37:23)
Agape love (the God kind of love) is the power that moves the world; it makes you the master of every situation. As long as you walk in love, you cannot be hurt and you cannot fail. All that God needed to conquer the devil and its agents was to submit to love. The psalmist said in psalms 37:25 “ I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging bread.”
To love is to build a future, a guaranteed future for your descendants. No one has the power to hurt you or your feelings because you are not governed by feelings but by God’s love. E.W Kenyon tagged this Agape love “a new kind of selfishness”; you no longer seek your own success, yet your success is guaranteed this love is revolutionary. If we fully understood the great return from living God’s love, we’d probably be competing with each other, each of us trying to love one another the more and everyone will emerge as a winner!
For love is truly the only sure secret to our success.
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
If you will succeed and enjoys victory in life, you must love. A man that loves is a man of joy, a man of peace. He will be focused; he is a man of vision, clear vision.
“ Better is a little that the righteous man has, than the abundance of many who are wrong and wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken; but the Lord upholds the righteous.” (Psalm 37:16-17)
He is not a man given to fear, his conscience is clear. “They shall not be put to shame in the time of evil, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as fat of lambs, and as the glory of the pastures. They shall vanish; like smoke shall they consume away.” (Psalm 37:19 – 20)
Beloved, love is the key to real success in life as your steps are directed and ordered by God (psalm 37:23)
Agape love (the God kind of love) is the power that moves the world; it makes you the master of every situation. As long as you walk in love, you cannot be hurt and you cannot fail. All that God needed to conquer the devil and its agents was to submit to love. The psalmist said in psalms 37:25 “ I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging bread.”
To love is to build a future, a guaranteed future for your descendants. No one has the power to hurt you or your feelings because you are not governed by feelings but by God’s love. E.W Kenyon tagged this Agape love “a new kind of selfishness”; you no longer seek your own success, yet your success is guaranteed this love is revolutionary. If we fully understood the great return from living God’s love, we’d probably be competing with each other, each of us trying to love one another the more and everyone will emerge as a winner!
For love is truly the only sure secret to our success.
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Friday, August 13, 2010
LOVE – THE SECRET TO SUCCESS PART III
“Love never fails – never fades out or become obsolete or comes to an end. As for prophecy, it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
(1 Corinthians 13:8)
“You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly.” Sam Keen
Love is the most powerful force on earth, the most powerful positive force known to man. The bible says it as strong as death and that many waters cannot quench love. Songs .Of. Solomon 8vs 6. Françoise Mocuriac said “ No love, no friendship can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever.”
Love is the bedrock of our faith – faith that works by love (Gal 5:6) “For if we are in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love.”
Love never fails, nothing works without it and there is no failure with love so when you live by love, you cannot fail. When you practice love by faith and refuse to seek your own, you put the Father into action on your behalf because He will allow no man to do you wrong I chronicles 16vs22.
As long as you stay in love, God seeks your own, He sees to it that you never fail,
“The steps of a good man are directed and established of the Lord, when He delights in His way [and He busies Himself with his every step]. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasp his hand in support and upholds him.” (Psalm 37: 23 – 24)
Walking in love is to your own advantage and that of your children. The wicked plots against the righteous man – the upright in right standing with God; he gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at [the wicked]; for He sees that their own day [of defeat] is coming. . (Psalm 37:12-13)
The evidence of your Christianity is the love you show and may I say people need your love the most when they least deserve it. Loving is an eternal investment, the one that loves enjoys peace, is at peace and fears no evil. The bible enjoins us to depart from evil and love.
“Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for ever [securely].” (Psalm 37:27)
The Lord does not forsake nor abandon a man of love in the hand of his oppressor – Ps. 37:33. Even though verse 32 “The wicked lies in wait for the righteous, and seek to put him to death.” yet verse 29, and “his steps shall never slide” verse 31.
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
CHARACTERISTICS OF LOVE
Vs 4 “Love endures long and it is patient and kind ;love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy; is not boastful or vainglorious , does not display itself haughtily.”
Vs 5 “It is not conceited – arrogant and inflated with pride; it is not rude (unmannerly), and does not act unbecomingly. Love does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it – pays no attention to a suffered wrong.”
Vs 6 “ It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.”
Vs 7 “Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances and it endures everything [without weakening].”
Vs 8 “Love never fails – never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end. As for prophecy, Holy Father, keep in your name them whom you have given Me, that they away.”
(1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Beloved, we are love creatures, created in the image of love. He has sent His love Spirit to live in you to teach you how to love as He loves. You can live the love life – it is far better than a borrowed life of hatred, strife, unhealthy competition, malice, jealousy, fighting etc. Be love conscious. Man of God, don’t you think it is difficult to love? Yes, it is a sacrifice that is worth the price but let me warn you, there would be times when you would rather do anything than allow love to rule, there will be times it will look as if it is better to get mad and blow it than to love, to seek your own and retaliate.
“Do not forget or neglect to do kindness and good, to be generous and distribute and contribute to the needy, [of the church as embodiment and proof of fellowship] for such sacrifices are well pleasing to God.” Hebrew.13:16
Note that, Love is directly opposed to the senses. Human sense have been trained to put itself and its desires above everything else (flesh), It has been trained to selfishly seek its own way. But love does not seek its own way. To walk in love, you must demand that your senses (flesh) be subjected to the word. Make a definite decision and commit yourself to God’s love now, so that when temptation comes you will remember the decision you have made to obey love. I choose to love and I have discovered that atimes, those to be loved least deserve it.
I end by quoting David Grayson “looking back, I have this to regret, that too often when I love, I did not say so”.
Every thing may fail but love never fails. If you do not want to fail you must love, keep loving and you must begin now.
Watch out for part II of love – The Secret of Success (The other side of Love)
(All scriptures quoted are from the Amplified Bible)
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Vs 5 “It is not conceited – arrogant and inflated with pride; it is not rude (unmannerly), and does not act unbecomingly. Love does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it – pays no attention to a suffered wrong.”
Vs 6 “ It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.”
Vs 7 “Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances and it endures everything [without weakening].”
Vs 8 “Love never fails – never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end. As for prophecy, Holy Father, keep in your name them whom you have given Me, that they away.”
(1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Beloved, we are love creatures, created in the image of love. He has sent His love Spirit to live in you to teach you how to love as He loves. You can live the love life – it is far better than a borrowed life of hatred, strife, unhealthy competition, malice, jealousy, fighting etc. Be love conscious. Man of God, don’t you think it is difficult to love? Yes, it is a sacrifice that is worth the price but let me warn you, there would be times when you would rather do anything than allow love to rule, there will be times it will look as if it is better to get mad and blow it than to love, to seek your own and retaliate.
“Do not forget or neglect to do kindness and good, to be generous and distribute and contribute to the needy, [of the church as embodiment and proof of fellowship] for such sacrifices are well pleasing to God.” Hebrew.13:16
Note that, Love is directly opposed to the senses. Human sense have been trained to put itself and its desires above everything else (flesh), It has been trained to selfishly seek its own way. But love does not seek its own way. To walk in love, you must demand that your senses (flesh) be subjected to the word. Make a definite decision and commit yourself to God’s love now, so that when temptation comes you will remember the decision you have made to obey love. I choose to love and I have discovered that atimes, those to be loved least deserve it.
I end by quoting David Grayson “looking back, I have this to regret, that too often when I love, I did not say so”.
Every thing may fail but love never fails. If you do not want to fail you must love, keep loving and you must begin now.
Watch out for part II of love – The Secret of Success (The other side of Love)
(All scriptures quoted are from the Amplified Bible)
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Monday, August 9, 2010
LOVE: THE SECRET OF SUCCESS II
Love is our defense and protection from an evil world that hates us. Many believers are even confused about love and seem to judge love as they do in the world, they love as the world does; they only love those who can love them back, help those that can help them and give to those who can give them back. We do not have to love those who can love us back, no! Jesus admonish us to love and give to those who cannot pay us back otherwise,
It is trade by barter but it is not trade by barter. Give me I give you, attend my ceremony and I will attend yours, that is not love that is trade by barter.
The word of God clearly reveals what love is.
“And what this love consist in is this, that we live and walk in accordance with and guided by His commandments – His orders, ordinances, precepts, teaching. This is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that you continue to walk in love – guided by it and following it. (2 John 1:6)
The bible is God’s love manual. You can have the love of God abiding in you and allow this love to work through you and reach other people. Like faith, love becomes active through knowledge of the word. That’s why Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi,
“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight – that is, that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment;
(Philippians 1:9)
The love of God is released in your life by acting on the knowledge of God’s word. Without revelational knowledge backed by action, love lies undeveloped and selfishness continues to reign supreme in you – even though you are a new creature (born again)
“But he who keeps His word – who bears in mind His precepts, who observes His message in its entirety – truly in him has the love of and for God been perfected. By this we may perceive and know and recognize and be sure that we are in Him:
(1 John 2:5)
As you act on God’s word, the love of God will be perfected in you. That is when love will begin to flow from you to others. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that is more important than learning to love, in fact, how accurately you perfect the love walk, will determine how much the perfect will of God you accomplish. This is because every other spiritual force derives its action from love, faith works by love. Prayer is almost impossibility when a believer steps outside love and refuse to forgive or is in strife with his brother. Every other Christian character is nothing where there is no love.
“if I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love[that reasoning, intentional, spiritual , devotion such as inspired by God’s love for and in us], I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.(1 Corinthians 13:1)
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
LOVE: THE SECRET OF SUCCESS I
“Love never fails – never fades out or become obsolete or comes to an end. As for prophecy, it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
(1 Corinthians 13:8)
“Looking back, I have this to regret, that too often when I loved, I did not say so” – David Grayson
Love, you hear a lot about it, but the truth is, very few people really know or understand what love is. For most, it’s an emotional phantom that appears and disappears without warning. Illusive and indefinable, forever sought but rarely found. And to many they have different, strange concept and mindset about love and this has led to the various misunderstanding and crisis among people due to wrong interpretation given to love. To some, any closeness to the opposite sex is love – (well in a way) and to some it automatically means going to bed or about to go to bed for an immoral act with somebody, it is not so – the devil is a liar.
The devil is fighting against true love in the church and among the brethren, the devil perhaps knows more than some brethren that our strength lies in our love one for another. One weapon the devil cannot fight is love, no wonder the bible says God is love (I John 4vs 8) and Jesus earnestly and passionately prayed to our father in John 17:11
“And I am no more in the world, but these are in the world and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep in your name them whom you have given Me, that they may be one, as we are one.”
(John 17:11)
Our strength to prevail, succeed and have victory against the devil is in our unity bounded by love, we cannot be one without love; for perfect love cast out fear. The devil knows that it is what two or three of us agree upon not disagree on earth, that shall be done. It is where two or three of us are gathered together in love that is where God is. So the devil through his agents, which are often human, wants to destroy our unity and love. We suspect every move and everybody, suspect every greeting, accuse one another and speak evil of one another- this in away weakens our strength for battle and expose the body of Christ to ridicule and this, is of no gain to God and Jesus who paid a costly price for the church. Oh! If only the church will understand true love, love and keep on loving. The world hates us enough let us not hate one another,
I have given and delivered to them your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world – do not belong to the world as I am not of the world.(John 17:14)
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
(1 Corinthians 13:8)
“Looking back, I have this to regret, that too often when I loved, I did not say so” – David Grayson
Love, you hear a lot about it, but the truth is, very few people really know or understand what love is. For most, it’s an emotional phantom that appears and disappears without warning. Illusive and indefinable, forever sought but rarely found. And to many they have different, strange concept and mindset about love and this has led to the various misunderstanding and crisis among people due to wrong interpretation given to love. To some, any closeness to the opposite sex is love – (well in a way) and to some it automatically means going to bed or about to go to bed for an immoral act with somebody, it is not so – the devil is a liar.
The devil is fighting against true love in the church and among the brethren, the devil perhaps knows more than some brethren that our strength lies in our love one for another. One weapon the devil cannot fight is love, no wonder the bible says God is love (I John 4vs 8) and Jesus earnestly and passionately prayed to our father in John 17:11
“And I am no more in the world, but these are in the world and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep in your name them whom you have given Me, that they may be one, as we are one.”
(John 17:11)
Our strength to prevail, succeed and have victory against the devil is in our unity bounded by love, we cannot be one without love; for perfect love cast out fear. The devil knows that it is what two or three of us agree upon not disagree on earth, that shall be done. It is where two or three of us are gathered together in love that is where God is. So the devil through his agents, which are often human, wants to destroy our unity and love. We suspect every move and everybody, suspect every greeting, accuse one another and speak evil of one another- this in away weakens our strength for battle and expose the body of Christ to ridicule and this, is of no gain to God and Jesus who paid a costly price for the church. Oh! If only the church will understand true love, love and keep on loving. The world hates us enough let us not hate one another,
I have given and delivered to them your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world – do not belong to the world as I am not of the world.(John 17:14)
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
DO TO OTHERS AS YOU WANT MEN TO DO TO YOU LK. 6: 31 Part II
The Bible in different ways and at different times showed to us how to live healthy and prosperous. We must avoid the works of the flesh.
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal 5:19-21)
We should therefore embrace the life of the spirit, a lifestyle which keeps us healthier and joyful.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Gal 5:22-23)
If we live according to the fruit of the spirit, we will love our neighbour as ourselves which is the greatest commandment. If we love our neighbour as ourselves, we will not hate, envy, be jealous-of or speak evil of anybody but wish everyone well. Jesus puts it clearly in Luke 6:31,
“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” (Luk 6:31)
To live a peaceful life, we should do to others as we want others to do to us. This is a golden rule for a life of peace and prosperity. If you dislike people speaking negative things about you, then do not do it to anybody.
If you hate being gossiped, don’t gossip others. If you hate being evil spoken of, don’t speak evil of others; if you like receiving, give also to others. If you love being smiled at, smile at others.
If you do unto others as you want men to do unto you, the world will be a better and more prosperous place.
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal 5:19-21)
We should therefore embrace the life of the spirit, a lifestyle which keeps us healthier and joyful.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Gal 5:22-23)
If we live according to the fruit of the spirit, we will love our neighbour as ourselves which is the greatest commandment. If we love our neighbour as ourselves, we will not hate, envy, be jealous-of or speak evil of anybody but wish everyone well. Jesus puts it clearly in Luke 6:31,
“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” (Luk 6:31)
To live a peaceful life, we should do to others as we want others to do to us. This is a golden rule for a life of peace and prosperity. If you dislike people speaking negative things about you, then do not do it to anybody.
If you hate being gossiped, don’t gossip others. If you hate being evil spoken of, don’t speak evil of others; if you like receiving, give also to others. If you love being smiled at, smile at others.
If you do unto others as you want men to do unto you, the world will be a better and more prosperous place.
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
DO TO OTHERS AS YOU WANT MEN TO DO TO YOU LK. 6: 31 Part I
“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” (Luk 6:31)
Sometime ago, I preached for a long time from Psalm 37: 1-3 & 25 on a topic “Do good” which was also published in our monthly publication. Today, it has been impressed on me by the Holy Spirit to write us on a similar topic as above.
The Bible calls our generation a crooked and perverse one; but in it He said we should live as light. “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” (Phil. 2:15)
Recently, I read from some medical journals that how we feel, think, things we think about, say and how we react to people’s joy/reasons for joy affects our health and that infact, most sicknesses especially high blood pressure, ulcer, diabetes, headache, cancer etc are related to our feelings. That if we avoid certain attitudes and reactions we could live healthier life. Also, such negative attitude affects our sleeping patterns. I can’t agree less.
God wants us to live a healthy and prosperous life. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3John 1:2)
The Garden of Eden was a quiet, serene place satisfied with all that man needed for comfort but the moment man admired what the serpent seems to be enjoying which was not his portion, sickness and poverty came into the world and the life of man. Today, we do not admire what the serpent has as it were, but we do not only admire what others have which we do not have, we do it with jealousy, envy and a thought of “why should he/she have it and not me”. This often leads to our speaking against what we want and love; speaking against the people we love and helpers of our destiny because an evil seed is sown in our heart.
The human thought is so powerful and very controlling and this why Apostle Paul counsels us in Rom. 12:2
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Rom 12:2)
That if we are to be transformed and be a better person in health and prosperity, we must renew our mind. The apostle Paul also in admonishing his son Titus on how elders should live.
“Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” (Tit 1:14-16)
Once a man’s thought and imagination is wrong, everything about him will be wrong. He will believe and say wrong things and even when you joke, he gets you wrong; he reads wrong meaning to situations, suspects every thing to be evil, yet profess to be more spiritual than the spirit.
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Sometime ago, I preached for a long time from Psalm 37: 1-3 & 25 on a topic “Do good” which was also published in our monthly publication. Today, it has been impressed on me by the Holy Spirit to write us on a similar topic as above.
The Bible calls our generation a crooked and perverse one; but in it He said we should live as light. “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” (Phil. 2:15)
Recently, I read from some medical journals that how we feel, think, things we think about, say and how we react to people’s joy/reasons for joy affects our health and that infact, most sicknesses especially high blood pressure, ulcer, diabetes, headache, cancer etc are related to our feelings. That if we avoid certain attitudes and reactions we could live healthier life. Also, such negative attitude affects our sleeping patterns. I can’t agree less.
God wants us to live a healthy and prosperous life. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3John 1:2)
The Garden of Eden was a quiet, serene place satisfied with all that man needed for comfort but the moment man admired what the serpent seems to be enjoying which was not his portion, sickness and poverty came into the world and the life of man. Today, we do not admire what the serpent has as it were, but we do not only admire what others have which we do not have, we do it with jealousy, envy and a thought of “why should he/she have it and not me”. This often leads to our speaking against what we want and love; speaking against the people we love and helpers of our destiny because an evil seed is sown in our heart.
The human thought is so powerful and very controlling and this why Apostle Paul counsels us in Rom. 12:2
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Rom 12:2)
That if we are to be transformed and be a better person in health and prosperity, we must renew our mind. The apostle Paul also in admonishing his son Titus on how elders should live.
“Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” (Tit 1:14-16)
Once a man’s thought and imagination is wrong, everything about him will be wrong. He will believe and say wrong things and even when you joke, he gets you wrong; he reads wrong meaning to situations, suspects every thing to be evil, yet profess to be more spiritual than the spirit.
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
ENCOUNTER – YOUR LINK TO THE NEXT LEVEL II
A VITAL REQUIREMENT
Until you do the required, you won’t get the desired. “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards Him” (2 Chro. 16:9).
The condition of your heart determines your condition on the earth. Your heart must be fixed on God so He can fix men’s heart on you. But if your heart is far from Him, He will make men’s heart far from you. Be warned!
God knows everything done in the secret or in the open and God can engineer and enforce the fulfillment of your destiny. He can and will reward every deed of the heart.
NOT JUST ANYBODY
What you need is in the hand of somebody but not everybody. Your answer and your change are in the hands of a man. God is able to make your path to cross.
Your encounter for the next level is not just with your colleague but somebody that has what you don’t have. The greater can bless the lesser and the lesser can be an instrument for the greater. Locate who your access to the throne is, the one that has the word to turn your life around.
In the case of Saul, Samuel was a prophet of God who hears God and had insight into the future. It was Elijah for Elisha and Elisha for Naaman. Somebody who will lift you up, look up please!
THE BARRIER OF POOR PR
In John 5:1-7, we saw the encounter a man who had been at the pool of Bethsida for 38yrs had with Jesus the agent of his change. Jesus asked him “wilt thou be made whole? The man answered him, sir, I had no man.” He had no man not because there was no man or because no man was willing to offer him his needed help. But because he probably had a very poor public relationship.
For 38yrs, this important man had nobody to push him into the pool; no one could even have pity on him to allow him take his place neither could the agents of others who were made whole help him. What a pity!
Next level is fundamentally possible by connection. Your connection determines your introduction and your introduction determines your ascension into the new realm of life. Good relationship is very important to our rising in life, form a culture to be recommendable, and for people to be willing to pay a price for your lifting. It’s time to go out and associate with people more exposed than you are, people more daring, more determined and courageous than you are. Meeting them will have a great influence on your reasoning and attitude to life and be ready to learn from them. Your PR is highly important to your next level. You have to be accommodating, nice and kind, humble and accessible. Until you choose to make friend with the right kind of people, you will remain a local champion.
IT’S TIME TO GO HIGHER
“And Samuel answered Saul and said, I am the seer, go up before me unto the high place for ye shall eat with me today and tomorrow I will let thee go and will tell thee all that is in thine heart”(I Sam. 9:19).
You may not know how to get to the higher place of life but God has there prepared somebody for you. All you need is an encounter with him. Samuel ushered Saul into the high place and made him sit in the chiefest place and made him eat portion reserved only for him (I Sam. 9:22-24). Beloved, it’s time to have a change of place, diet, taste and value. It’s only at the next level – higher place of life that your taste and value change. It’s time to be introduced into the corridor of power and start to company with the power brokers.
I don’t know how it will happen but it will happen anyhow. It’s either you meet the man or he meets you. But anyhow your path must cross.
I declare in the name of Jesus:
• Your status will change
• Your circle of friendship will change
• Your language will change
• Your God will change your identity
• Saul the seeker of assesses became another man – the king of Israel. It’s your time and turn.
• You will attract favour
• You will attention
• Your good will speak for you
• You will be remembered
Welcome to your next level
Rev. Mrs. Fola Achudume
Wife of the General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on royalladiesintl@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Until you do the required, you won’t get the desired. “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards Him” (2 Chro. 16:9).
The condition of your heart determines your condition on the earth. Your heart must be fixed on God so He can fix men’s heart on you. But if your heart is far from Him, He will make men’s heart far from you. Be warned!
God knows everything done in the secret or in the open and God can engineer and enforce the fulfillment of your destiny. He can and will reward every deed of the heart.
NOT JUST ANYBODY
What you need is in the hand of somebody but not everybody. Your answer and your change are in the hands of a man. God is able to make your path to cross.
Your encounter for the next level is not just with your colleague but somebody that has what you don’t have. The greater can bless the lesser and the lesser can be an instrument for the greater. Locate who your access to the throne is, the one that has the word to turn your life around.
In the case of Saul, Samuel was a prophet of God who hears God and had insight into the future. It was Elijah for Elisha and Elisha for Naaman. Somebody who will lift you up, look up please!
THE BARRIER OF POOR PR
In John 5:1-7, we saw the encounter a man who had been at the pool of Bethsida for 38yrs had with Jesus the agent of his change. Jesus asked him “wilt thou be made whole? The man answered him, sir, I had no man.” He had no man not because there was no man or because no man was willing to offer him his needed help. But because he probably had a very poor public relationship.
For 38yrs, this important man had nobody to push him into the pool; no one could even have pity on him to allow him take his place neither could the agents of others who were made whole help him. What a pity!
Next level is fundamentally possible by connection. Your connection determines your introduction and your introduction determines your ascension into the new realm of life. Good relationship is very important to our rising in life, form a culture to be recommendable, and for people to be willing to pay a price for your lifting. It’s time to go out and associate with people more exposed than you are, people more daring, more determined and courageous than you are. Meeting them will have a great influence on your reasoning and attitude to life and be ready to learn from them. Your PR is highly important to your next level. You have to be accommodating, nice and kind, humble and accessible. Until you choose to make friend with the right kind of people, you will remain a local champion.
IT’S TIME TO GO HIGHER
“And Samuel answered Saul and said, I am the seer, go up before me unto the high place for ye shall eat with me today and tomorrow I will let thee go and will tell thee all that is in thine heart”(I Sam. 9:19).
You may not know how to get to the higher place of life but God has there prepared somebody for you. All you need is an encounter with him. Samuel ushered Saul into the high place and made him sit in the chiefest place and made him eat portion reserved only for him (I Sam. 9:22-24). Beloved, it’s time to have a change of place, diet, taste and value. It’s only at the next level – higher place of life that your taste and value change. It’s time to be introduced into the corridor of power and start to company with the power brokers.
I don’t know how it will happen but it will happen anyhow. It’s either you meet the man or he meets you. But anyhow your path must cross.
I declare in the name of Jesus:
• Your status will change
• Your circle of friendship will change
• Your language will change
• Your God will change your identity
• Saul the seeker of assesses became another man – the king of Israel. It’s your time and turn.
• You will attract favour
• You will attention
• Your good will speak for you
• You will be remembered
Welcome to your next level
Rev. Mrs. Fola Achudume
Wife of the General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on royalladiesintl@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
INGRATITUDE, NO! GRATITUDE
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” (Pro 17:22)
History has shown that men of gratitude or men that show gratitude are men of good will. The bible also shows that men of gratitude always find favour with God and men. Gratitude is an act of appreciation to someone for what he/ she has done, what he/she stands for, what he/she is, the value or worth placed on which is well appreciated.
Gratitude is also shown to one who has done you good or done good to someone close to you. Also to someone who has shown you kindness or someone you would wish to show kindness but couldn’t. Gratitude is rejoicing with those who rejoice and it comes out of the heart of excitement. Men of gratitude are not selfish.
“Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age. And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.” (1Sam. 2:29-34)
The compact Oxford English dictionary defines gratitude as thankfulness; appreciation of kindness. Thanksgiving brings promotion to a man’s life; it brings lifting and also brings gratitude. The scripture above says ‘for them that honour me I will honour,’
Unfortunately, we do not know how to show gratitude to God because we consider the numerous things we have not achieved either they are in our will or not, kill us or not and the devil who you have made your friend is very good at showing you the things God has not done, but will not show you His mercies and benefits but rather makes you accuse God.
The compact Oxford English dictionary defines ingratitude as a discreditable lack of gratitude. Many do not appreciate little mercies like comrade Deji Odunlami always say ‘thank God for his little mercies’ they do not appreciate these little kindness. So no matter what favour done to them they expect the source of the kindness could and should do more and as a result are not satisfied with what was done to them and that produces the spirit of ingratitude which closes door of favour. Don’t forget it was seven (7) loafs and little fish Jesus gave thanks on that multiplied and also produced left-over after feeding the multitude.
“And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brakes them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children. And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.” (Mat 15:36-39)
Learn to give thanks it brings multiplication, be appreciative. An ingrate seems to have an imaginary level of favour somebody has and compares what was given to him/her to the level of favour the person has shown him/her. This act on its own is evil and devilish; be appreciative of every little kindness and do not forget such little kindness are done to many others so, appreciate it and seek also to do same for people. Somebody said ‘what goes round comes round’. Sometimes an ingrate compares what was done to him to what was done to others, this is also evil.
Dear child of God, honour is comely, as we come to the end of a year and the beginning of another; gratitude to all should be our watch word and especially to God who has saved you and I from evil and destruction we didn’t see and also has greater promises for our lives. A song writer says “Count your blessings and name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done”. Don’t compare yourself with another; thank God for yourself and what you will become. Whatever has happened to you even if it seems evil it is for your good; you may not fully understand but it’s for your good.
In the year 2005, a sister was to get married, all was set and on the day of the traditional marriage, the husband to be could not be found, the cloud of water began to form on the sister’s face until it dawned on all that the bridegroom will not come, she brought shame and embarrassment to the whole family. For a season she could not walk on the streets, she couldn’t explain; before that day all was well, it was like a dream to her but it is real. She has to carry her supposed cross and live on, thanking God who knows better. Three months later the unexpected news came, her husband to be that disappointed her died. Different thoughts began to run across her mind. Is it that God prevented the marriage? If they had gotten married as planned won’t people say she killed her husband and that a curse is on her? Many things would have been said against her.
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Pro 14:12)
There are many things we think we desperately need but God knows the end. He knows what tomorrow may bring and since He knows the end, nothing can stop the package from coming. In this we cry that He has not answered unknown to us that it is for our good. ‘In all things give thanks’
“Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;” (Eph 1:16)
Infact, in everything that happens the first thing to do is to give thanks
“For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” (1Tim. 2:2)
We must learn the act of appreciation; it is not in man’s nature. Man naturally is evil and is never satisfied, this has not done man good but has produce frustration, hypertension and evil deeds. St. Francis De Sales said ‘you learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working, in just the same way, you learn to love by loving” and if I may add you learn gratitude by showing gratitude. Clement Stone said, “When thinking won’t cure fear, action will”. Don’t wait; begin to appreciate those that have added value to your life, spiritually and physically. Jacob Bohrne said, “Open your eyes and the whole world is full of God”; celebrate God in people’s life and give God praise.
“Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;” (1Chro. 16:8-15)
Beloved, with what will you thank God? Do you belong to the ever ungrateful lot, ever unsatisfied, ever complaining not remembering His marvelous works – look back at the things He has done. I pray you don’t do what is normal in your thanksgiving this year as we prepare for our jubilee and seven year of harvest, I pray you will honour God indeed.
“A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts. And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.” (Mal 1:6-9)
Many times, we take God’s blessings, protection and provision for granted. Your been alive is by His grace, you can’t boast about it. I read the interview of the couple that lost their three children in the last Sosoliso plane crash in the Vanguard of Nov. 25th 2006
Vanguard: Kindly share some of the lessons the incident taught your family?
Ans: (Dr. Andy & Mrs. Ify Ilabor): Before now, I used to take some things for granted. That you wake up in the morning and after your days activity you go to bed. But not anymore! What I mean is that for each day you live on earth, you should give glory to God. It is a bonus from God and nothing more. It has nothing to do with your good works or whatever…
They once asked Jesus ‘why is he blind, is it because of his sin, or his mother or father’s sin? Jesus said, no but that God will be glorified. Church, be wise and give Him thanks for your good and that of your children. As you prepare for thanksgiving we shall pray.
“Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.” (1Ch 29:10-13)
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
History has shown that men of gratitude or men that show gratitude are men of good will. The bible also shows that men of gratitude always find favour with God and men. Gratitude is an act of appreciation to someone for what he/ she has done, what he/she stands for, what he/she is, the value or worth placed on which is well appreciated.
Gratitude is also shown to one who has done you good or done good to someone close to you. Also to someone who has shown you kindness or someone you would wish to show kindness but couldn’t. Gratitude is rejoicing with those who rejoice and it comes out of the heart of excitement. Men of gratitude are not selfish.
“Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age. And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.” (1Sam. 2:29-34)
The compact Oxford English dictionary defines gratitude as thankfulness; appreciation of kindness. Thanksgiving brings promotion to a man’s life; it brings lifting and also brings gratitude. The scripture above says ‘for them that honour me I will honour,’
Unfortunately, we do not know how to show gratitude to God because we consider the numerous things we have not achieved either they are in our will or not, kill us or not and the devil who you have made your friend is very good at showing you the things God has not done, but will not show you His mercies and benefits but rather makes you accuse God.
The compact Oxford English dictionary defines ingratitude as a discreditable lack of gratitude. Many do not appreciate little mercies like comrade Deji Odunlami always say ‘thank God for his little mercies’ they do not appreciate these little kindness. So no matter what favour done to them they expect the source of the kindness could and should do more and as a result are not satisfied with what was done to them and that produces the spirit of ingratitude which closes door of favour. Don’t forget it was seven (7) loafs and little fish Jesus gave thanks on that multiplied and also produced left-over after feeding the multitude.
“And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brakes them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children. And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.” (Mat 15:36-39)
Learn to give thanks it brings multiplication, be appreciative. An ingrate seems to have an imaginary level of favour somebody has and compares what was given to him/her to the level of favour the person has shown him/her. This act on its own is evil and devilish; be appreciative of every little kindness and do not forget such little kindness are done to many others so, appreciate it and seek also to do same for people. Somebody said ‘what goes round comes round’. Sometimes an ingrate compares what was done to him to what was done to others, this is also evil.
Dear child of God, honour is comely, as we come to the end of a year and the beginning of another; gratitude to all should be our watch word and especially to God who has saved you and I from evil and destruction we didn’t see and also has greater promises for our lives. A song writer says “Count your blessings and name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done”. Don’t compare yourself with another; thank God for yourself and what you will become. Whatever has happened to you even if it seems evil it is for your good; you may not fully understand but it’s for your good.
In the year 2005, a sister was to get married, all was set and on the day of the traditional marriage, the husband to be could not be found, the cloud of water began to form on the sister’s face until it dawned on all that the bridegroom will not come, she brought shame and embarrassment to the whole family. For a season she could not walk on the streets, she couldn’t explain; before that day all was well, it was like a dream to her but it is real. She has to carry her supposed cross and live on, thanking God who knows better. Three months later the unexpected news came, her husband to be that disappointed her died. Different thoughts began to run across her mind. Is it that God prevented the marriage? If they had gotten married as planned won’t people say she killed her husband and that a curse is on her? Many things would have been said against her.
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Pro 14:12)
There are many things we think we desperately need but God knows the end. He knows what tomorrow may bring and since He knows the end, nothing can stop the package from coming. In this we cry that He has not answered unknown to us that it is for our good. ‘In all things give thanks’
“Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;” (Eph 1:16)
Infact, in everything that happens the first thing to do is to give thanks
“For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” (1Tim. 2:2)
We must learn the act of appreciation; it is not in man’s nature. Man naturally is evil and is never satisfied, this has not done man good but has produce frustration, hypertension and evil deeds. St. Francis De Sales said ‘you learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working, in just the same way, you learn to love by loving” and if I may add you learn gratitude by showing gratitude. Clement Stone said, “When thinking won’t cure fear, action will”. Don’t wait; begin to appreciate those that have added value to your life, spiritually and physically. Jacob Bohrne said, “Open your eyes and the whole world is full of God”; celebrate God in people’s life and give God praise.
“Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;” (1Chro. 16:8-15)
Beloved, with what will you thank God? Do you belong to the ever ungrateful lot, ever unsatisfied, ever complaining not remembering His marvelous works – look back at the things He has done. I pray you don’t do what is normal in your thanksgiving this year as we prepare for our jubilee and seven year of harvest, I pray you will honour God indeed.
“A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts. And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.” (Mal 1:6-9)
Many times, we take God’s blessings, protection and provision for granted. Your been alive is by His grace, you can’t boast about it. I read the interview of the couple that lost their three children in the last Sosoliso plane crash in the Vanguard of Nov. 25th 2006
Vanguard: Kindly share some of the lessons the incident taught your family?
Ans: (Dr. Andy & Mrs. Ify Ilabor): Before now, I used to take some things for granted. That you wake up in the morning and after your days activity you go to bed. But not anymore! What I mean is that for each day you live on earth, you should give glory to God. It is a bonus from God and nothing more. It has nothing to do with your good works or whatever…
They once asked Jesus ‘why is he blind, is it because of his sin, or his mother or father’s sin? Jesus said, no but that God will be glorified. Church, be wise and give Him thanks for your good and that of your children. As you prepare for thanksgiving we shall pray.
“Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.” (1Ch 29:10-13)
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
ENCOUNTER – YOUR LINK TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Encounter with somebody somewhere or some force is a must for you to experience change. There are agents of change scattered all over the face of the earth who when you come in contact with them, you are catapulted into higher realm – next level. As no man gets to a new realm all by himself, so you can’t get there all alone – you need somebody orchestrated by God to access your next level.“And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.” (I Sam. 9”3).
A problem was orchestrated in order for Saul to meet the man who is divinely arranged to be the link to his next level. This was a divine set up unknown to him. The sincere obedience of Saul to his father’s instruction brought him to the divine set up that brought his change.
God will always create an opportunity to introduce you to the man or woman you probably have not met before but who is the door to your next level and this can be through instruction, no matter how ridiculous. So, you stand the chance of meeting that man/woman as long as you obey the instruction. Proverbs 1:8 say, “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and reject not your mother’s teaching.”
Obedience to instruction will save you from being destroyed and frustrated in your present.
When Saul left in obedience to his father’s instruction, he came in contact with the man who has been ordained as the door to his next level through the counsel of his servant.
People that are due and ready for their next level don’t despise anybody, their status notwithstanding. Naaman became linked up with the agent of his change through a maid in his house. The same young maid was his persuasion to obey the instruction of his agent of change. It’s time to learn not to despise people irrespective of who they are, where they are coming from and what they have to offer.
Saul was about giving it up after many rigorous searches for the lost ass without success. It was at this moment that his servant encouraged him to see the seer – you are closer to your miracle than when you first began.
“When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, come let us go back, lest my father cease to care about the asses and become anxious about me. But he said to him, behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man that is held in honour; all that he says comes true. Let us go there; perhaps he can tell us about.” (I Samuel 9:5-6).
It’s time to be persuaded into your next level, which may be through the instrumentality of the so-called irrelevant, common and nobodies all around you. There may be a word for your encounter in their mouth. Don’t despise them neither should you ignore them. Always remember that God uses foolish things of this world to confound the wise (I Cor. 9:27-28).
Get set for event(s) that will provoke your encounter with the agent(s) for your next level. Saul’s father’s ass was not actually lost but somehow derailed in order to engineer the encounter that will launch him to his next level.
GOD HAS GONE AHEAD
“Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came saying, tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin and thou shall anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines for I have looked upon my people because their cry is come unto me. And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, behold the man whom I spoke to thee of this same shall reign over my people ” (I Samuel 9:16-17).
The Lord had gone ahead of Saul to prepare the ground for his encounter. Because of this, the encounter was without hindrance. There is somebody somewhere whom God has spoken to about you in order to bring you into your next level. Unknown to Elisha, God had spoken to Elijah to bring him to his next level (I Kings 19:16).
There is no cause for alarm! God is working something out on your behalf; He’s touching the hearts of men/women for your sake. He’s taking away sleep from so many people that will usher you into your new and next realm of living just like He did concerning king Ahaesarus when He wanted to bring Mordecai to his next and new level – from a gatekeeper to deputy in command. I perceive you are next on line.
Rev. Mrs. Fola Achudume
Wife of the General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on royalladiesintl@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
GREAT JOY!
“And there was great joy in that city.” (Act 8:8)
There are no two ways to it; when there is joy in a city, it cannot be hidden as it bears directly on the inhabitants and even a stranger just coming into the city can touch it in the air. A man filled with joy cannot be stopped from expressing it as it radiates out of him automatically.
This by prophetic agenda is your season of great joy, a time of unexplainable joy.
“…though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” (1Pet 1:8b)
Every great joy is preceded by great sacrifices and to partake of this great joy God has promised us this year and beyond, we must be willing to offer unto the Lord unusual sacrifices that our rejoicing may overflow.
“Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.” (1Ch 29:9)
This is a joy provoked by Him, which only Him can sustain and rejoice over.
Great joy is visible; it’s like a great light. This joy is made by God and it is contagious; can as well be seen and heard even from afar. In this season, your joy shall be heard from afar from afar in Jesus name.
“Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.” (Neh 12:43)
This joy God is speaking of here in this season turns the heart of kings to favour you.
“And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.” (Ezr 6:22)
In this season, kings, men in high places and your enemies will favour you for good in Jesus name. it was this joy that made Modeccai not to bow down to the oppressor called Hamman, the enemy of the Jews who for the joy God has placed on Modeccai, Hamman his enemy was made to hurriedly decorate Modeccai to the throne and even sound the trumpet trumpet of his arrival.
“Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.” (Est 6:10-11)
Your joy will not be aborted in Jesus name. This is your season of joy.
“The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.” (Est 8:16-17)
Joy attracts people to you, through you; many shall become Jews (Christians) in Jesus’ name. From today, your months and years are turned from sorrow into joy forever in Jesus name.
“As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.” (Est 9:22)
There are things/people you see that gives you great joy, joy unspeakable.
“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” (Matt 2:10)
In this season, you will see and meet people that will give you joy, great joy.
There are people you meet and they steal joy out of your life, they are joy killers; from henceforth, joy killers shall be far from you in Jesus name. God will surround you with joy, exceeding joy. This joy makes you sensitive to God and well tuned; your spirit is free from undue and negative thoughts and burden, you are free and transparent to Him so you can hear His voice.
When your joy shall appear every eye will see it and they will gather to celebrate with you.
“Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.” (Neh 12:43)
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
There are no two ways to it; when there is joy in a city, it cannot be hidden as it bears directly on the inhabitants and even a stranger just coming into the city can touch it in the air. A man filled with joy cannot be stopped from expressing it as it radiates out of him automatically.
This by prophetic agenda is your season of great joy, a time of unexplainable joy.
“…though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” (1Pet 1:8b)
Every great joy is preceded by great sacrifices and to partake of this great joy God has promised us this year and beyond, we must be willing to offer unto the Lord unusual sacrifices that our rejoicing may overflow.
“Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.” (1Ch 29:9)
This is a joy provoked by Him, which only Him can sustain and rejoice over.
Great joy is visible; it’s like a great light. This joy is made by God and it is contagious; can as well be seen and heard even from afar. In this season, your joy shall be heard from afar from afar in Jesus name.
“Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.” (Neh 12:43)
This joy God is speaking of here in this season turns the heart of kings to favour you.
“And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.” (Ezr 6:22)
In this season, kings, men in high places and your enemies will favour you for good in Jesus name. it was this joy that made Modeccai not to bow down to the oppressor called Hamman, the enemy of the Jews who for the joy God has placed on Modeccai, Hamman his enemy was made to hurriedly decorate Modeccai to the throne and even sound the trumpet trumpet of his arrival.
“Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.” (Est 6:10-11)
Your joy will not be aborted in Jesus name. This is your season of joy.
“The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.” (Est 8:16-17)
Joy attracts people to you, through you; many shall become Jews (Christians) in Jesus’ name. From today, your months and years are turned from sorrow into joy forever in Jesus name.
“As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.” (Est 9:22)
There are things/people you see that gives you great joy, joy unspeakable.
“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” (Matt 2:10)
In this season, you will see and meet people that will give you joy, great joy.
There are people you meet and they steal joy out of your life, they are joy killers; from henceforth, joy killers shall be far from you in Jesus name. God will surround you with joy, exceeding joy. This joy makes you sensitive to God and well tuned; your spirit is free from undue and negative thoughts and burden, you are free and transparent to Him so you can hear His voice.
When your joy shall appear every eye will see it and they will gather to celebrate with you.
“Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.” (Neh 12:43)
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Friday, July 23, 2010
THANKSGIVING!
Psalm 100:1-5
(1) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
(2) Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
(3) Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
(4) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
(5) For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Many people have complained about unanswered prayers. They have complained, murmured and may also have basckslided as they put all blame on God and His servant. We must understand God has laid down certain conditions by which we can approach Him. There is no access to God without the prayer of thanksgiving, praise and worship.
“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” (Heb 12:28)
“So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
(Heb 13:6)
Thanksgiving:
In thanksgiving, we acknowledge God’s goodness and mercies. We are been thankful. “Thank you” or “to be thankful” in Greek means Charis. The word Grace can also be applied in this respect. It’s a sign of gratitude, appreciation for good done and expected to be done.
Jesus Christ, before Lazarus came forth thanked God for what He is about to do as recorded in John 11:41. It is an act of faith on the supremacy of God’s power, a show of surrender to His ability for what He has done and will yet do believing that He is able. Many people do not thank God because they feel He has not done enough or they know how to achieve their next level by their brain and might. Trust in man has wrecked many with disappointments and broken hearts.
An unthankful person is a person that is out of the grace of God. You cannot be unthankful and be within the grace of God. We cannot enjoy God’s grace and mercy without been thankful.
To be thankful to God is not a suggestion; but a command to us as Christians. If you want to live a fulfilled life and in peace, you must obey this command. We are called to live in peace, that ‘Peace’ is our birthright and to this we owe Him thanks.
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Col 3:15)
Whatever we do, shall do or become, we do in the name of the Lord. We were saved by His mercy and to this we give thanks.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Col 3:16-17) [Grace=Thanks]
I have seen different characters in the body of Christ that I wonder what salvation they received and what spirit sealed their salvation. If you are filled with the spirit of God, you will not gossip, backbite, blackmail or betray your friends and brethren. The evidence of being filled with the spirit of God is in thanksgiving – it gushes out of your belly like a water fountain.
Eph 5:18-20
(18) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
(19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
(20) Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
A thankful heart is a submissive and humble heart that fears god and will not want to hurt his brethren, knowing that whatever you are or have received is by God.
“John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” (John 3:27)
“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” (Eph 5:21)
We are commanded to pray without ceasing i.e. never come to the end of praying, you do not have to pray all the time but don’t finish praying – a heart of thanksgiving. Praise is the key to unending prayer. It was said of Smith Wigglesworth, “I believe that he never prayed more than half an hour at a time but never went half an hour without praying”. It is the will of God to give thanks for and in everything so, if you are not giving thanks, you are out of the will of God.
A thankful heart is a peaceful heart and he thinks well and fears nothing.
Philippians 4:6-8
(6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
(7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
(8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
(1) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
(2) Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
(3) Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
(4) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
(5) For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Many people have complained about unanswered prayers. They have complained, murmured and may also have basckslided as they put all blame on God and His servant. We must understand God has laid down certain conditions by which we can approach Him. There is no access to God without the prayer of thanksgiving, praise and worship.
“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” (Heb 12:28)
“So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
(Heb 13:6)
Thanksgiving:
In thanksgiving, we acknowledge God’s goodness and mercies. We are been thankful. “Thank you” or “to be thankful” in Greek means Charis. The word Grace can also be applied in this respect. It’s a sign of gratitude, appreciation for good done and expected to be done.
Jesus Christ, before Lazarus came forth thanked God for what He is about to do as recorded in John 11:41. It is an act of faith on the supremacy of God’s power, a show of surrender to His ability for what He has done and will yet do believing that He is able. Many people do not thank God because they feel He has not done enough or they know how to achieve their next level by their brain and might. Trust in man has wrecked many with disappointments and broken hearts.
An unthankful person is a person that is out of the grace of God. You cannot be unthankful and be within the grace of God. We cannot enjoy God’s grace and mercy without been thankful.
To be thankful to God is not a suggestion; but a command to us as Christians. If you want to live a fulfilled life and in peace, you must obey this command. We are called to live in peace, that ‘Peace’ is our birthright and to this we owe Him thanks.
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Col 3:15)
Whatever we do, shall do or become, we do in the name of the Lord. We were saved by His mercy and to this we give thanks.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Col 3:16-17) [Grace=Thanks]
I have seen different characters in the body of Christ that I wonder what salvation they received and what spirit sealed their salvation. If you are filled with the spirit of God, you will not gossip, backbite, blackmail or betray your friends and brethren. The evidence of being filled with the spirit of God is in thanksgiving – it gushes out of your belly like a water fountain.
Eph 5:18-20
(18) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
(19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
(20) Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
A thankful heart is a submissive and humble heart that fears god and will not want to hurt his brethren, knowing that whatever you are or have received is by God.
“John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” (John 3:27)
“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” (Eph 5:21)
We are commanded to pray without ceasing i.e. never come to the end of praying, you do not have to pray all the time but don’t finish praying – a heart of thanksgiving. Praise is the key to unending prayer. It was said of Smith Wigglesworth, “I believe that he never prayed more than half an hour at a time but never went half an hour without praying”. It is the will of God to give thanks for and in everything so, if you are not giving thanks, you are out of the will of God.
A thankful heart is a peaceful heart and he thinks well and fears nothing.
Philippians 4:6-8
(6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
(7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
(8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
BENEFITS OF THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving provides us access to God.
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,” (Psalm 100:4a)
We enter the gate of His palace with thanksgiving. It’s like God is saying before you come through my gate into the court, I want to see your state of heart, if it’s not of gratitude, you can as well remain outside the gate. Is this not the state of many Christians?
Deut 28:47-48
(47) Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;
(48) Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.
If you will have a close access to God, you must do it the prescribed way – enter with thanksgiving and with this you will have close access to and fellowship with your maker.
To enjoy all His benefits, we must come with thanks.
Read Romans 1:8; Eph. 1:15; Phil. 1:3; Col.1:3; 1 Thess. 11:2; 2 Tim. 1:3
What a life, child of God, let us give Him thanks, it is good to give thanks, let us celebrate our maker.
WHY SHOULD WE GIVE THANKS
“For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
(Psa 100:5)
A. The Lord is good; he is not a bad God.
B. His mercy is everlasting – Anyhow, we need His unending mercy in a crooked and perverse world.
C. His truth endureth to all generation – His truth is favour to our generation, same truth will guide, protect and provide for us.
D. Thanksgiving unlocks the supernatural – John 6:11-12 (John 11:41, 43-44) and John 6: 23 amplified John 6:11-12, pointing the fact that the miracle happened because He gave thanks.
If we do not thank God, we will miss a lot; it is not only by prayers but thanksgiving. We must not allow our feelings or situations to ruin our future by closing our hearts to thanksgiving.
Jesus demonstrated the importance of thanksgiving in Luke 17:17. He was expecting them to thank God but they disappointed Him – may we not disappoint Him in Jesus name.
“There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” (Luk 17:18-19)
Wao, others were healed but not made whole, you may be healed but not saved, have no peace and prosperity but this stranger, because he came with thanksgiving was made whole, saved completely.
Thanksgiving makes us special and grants us close access to God.
UNTHANKFULNESS (Rom. 1:1-20)
Reading Rom.1:1-20, one can see the passion ant pain in Apostle Paul’s heart concerning the called ones in Rome (Rom. 1:6-7) and to us today, why such a level of spiritual degradation of the human race, why must we fall from Grace to grass? I was wondering why the Apostle will write with such pain and a bleeding heart and why the human race should come to such level of degradation till I saw and read verse 21,
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Rom 1:21)
a. They did not glorify God
b. They were not thankful
Thanks lift a man and gives honour. It makes for joy. Every time a person ceases to be thankful, he/she begins a down slippery path to sorrow, heaviness of heart and all its brothers & sisters in pain and perilous life style.
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” (2Tim 3:1)
But what is it that brings about perilous times?
“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” (2Tim 3:2)
To be unthankful is to be unholy to murmur and complain. If we are not expressing gratitude, we will murmur and complain. Apostle Paul, knowing the gravity of ingratitude warns:
1Cor 10:7-10
(7) Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
(8) Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
(9) Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
(10) Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
Do not allow discouragement or any circumstance to make you murmur. It is destructive. In Numbers 21:4-6, the children of Israel were discouraged and impatient because of the journey. They murmured against God and His servant, Moses (many still do this today). God sent serpent and they began to die – murmuring exposes us to fiery serpents, their bites may not be physical but it will inject all sorts of poison to your spirit and life.
All these things were written for our examples
1Cor 10:11-12
(11) Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
(12) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
And in verse 6, it says,
“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.”
(1Cor 10:6)
The choice is yours (ours), to be thankful which opens you an access to God and His power or murmur.
Are we to thank God for everything? When a friend dies and goes to hell? No! 1 John 3:8b, john 10:10, not for what the devil has done. The bible says in 1 Thess. 5:18, “In”, not for everything. We give thanks in the midst of disease by saying, “… By his stripes I am …”, 1 Pet. 2:24; He took my infirmities Matt. 8:7, give thanks according to Exo. 15: 26.
We give thanks for God’s answer to Satan’s attacks.
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,” (Psalm 100:4a)
We enter the gate of His palace with thanksgiving. It’s like God is saying before you come through my gate into the court, I want to see your state of heart, if it’s not of gratitude, you can as well remain outside the gate. Is this not the state of many Christians?
Deut 28:47-48
(47) Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;
(48) Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.
If you will have a close access to God, you must do it the prescribed way – enter with thanksgiving and with this you will have close access to and fellowship with your maker.
To enjoy all His benefits, we must come with thanks.
Read Romans 1:8; Eph. 1:15; Phil. 1:3; Col.1:3; 1 Thess. 11:2; 2 Tim. 1:3
What a life, child of God, let us give Him thanks, it is good to give thanks, let us celebrate our maker.
WHY SHOULD WE GIVE THANKS
“For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
(Psa 100:5)
A. The Lord is good; he is not a bad God.
B. His mercy is everlasting – Anyhow, we need His unending mercy in a crooked and perverse world.
C. His truth endureth to all generation – His truth is favour to our generation, same truth will guide, protect and provide for us.
D. Thanksgiving unlocks the supernatural – John 6:11-12 (John 11:41, 43-44) and John 6: 23 amplified John 6:11-12, pointing the fact that the miracle happened because He gave thanks.
If we do not thank God, we will miss a lot; it is not only by prayers but thanksgiving. We must not allow our feelings or situations to ruin our future by closing our hearts to thanksgiving.
Jesus demonstrated the importance of thanksgiving in Luke 17:17. He was expecting them to thank God but they disappointed Him – may we not disappoint Him in Jesus name.
“There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” (Luk 17:18-19)
Wao, others were healed but not made whole, you may be healed but not saved, have no peace and prosperity but this stranger, because he came with thanksgiving was made whole, saved completely.
Thanksgiving makes us special and grants us close access to God.
UNTHANKFULNESS (Rom. 1:1-20)
Reading Rom.1:1-20, one can see the passion ant pain in Apostle Paul’s heart concerning the called ones in Rome (Rom. 1:6-7) and to us today, why such a level of spiritual degradation of the human race, why must we fall from Grace to grass? I was wondering why the Apostle will write with such pain and a bleeding heart and why the human race should come to such level of degradation till I saw and read verse 21,
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Rom 1:21)
a. They did not glorify God
b. They were not thankful
Thanks lift a man and gives honour. It makes for joy. Every time a person ceases to be thankful, he/she begins a down slippery path to sorrow, heaviness of heart and all its brothers & sisters in pain and perilous life style.
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” (2Tim 3:1)
But what is it that brings about perilous times?
“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” (2Tim 3:2)
To be unthankful is to be unholy to murmur and complain. If we are not expressing gratitude, we will murmur and complain. Apostle Paul, knowing the gravity of ingratitude warns:
1Cor 10:7-10
(7) Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
(8) Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
(9) Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
(10) Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
Do not allow discouragement or any circumstance to make you murmur. It is destructive. In Numbers 21:4-6, the children of Israel were discouraged and impatient because of the journey. They murmured against God and His servant, Moses (many still do this today). God sent serpent and they began to die – murmuring exposes us to fiery serpents, their bites may not be physical but it will inject all sorts of poison to your spirit and life.
All these things were written for our examples
1Cor 10:11-12
(11) Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
(12) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
And in verse 6, it says,
“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.”
(1Cor 10:6)
The choice is yours (ours), to be thankful which opens you an access to God and His power or murmur.
Are we to thank God for everything? When a friend dies and goes to hell? No! 1 John 3:8b, john 10:10, not for what the devil has done. The bible says in 1 Thess. 5:18, “In”, not for everything. We give thanks in the midst of disease by saying, “… By his stripes I am …”, 1 Pet. 2:24; He took my infirmities Matt. 8:7, give thanks according to Exo. 15: 26.
We give thanks for God’s answer to Satan’s attacks.
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Monday, July 19, 2010
THE PERILS OF GOD’S PROMOTION
Men of understanding, know that the devil and his agents will react and it was not long they began to react but God is more than enough and well acquainted with all the wiles of the devil so He was in control. Many of our members have been miraculously delivered from untimely death through traffic and domestic accidents and armed robbery attack and in all the cases have helped to rescue others from the accident scene of which they were supposed to be victims and for these, we give God praise.
Many have faced different challenges but like the psalmist said, ‘If not for the Lord who has been our stay, the world would have consumed us’.
Few things I have learnt in life especially as we aspire for His glory and success, that the devil does not attack a man that has no substance in him. Nobody speaks against you if you are not doing something worthy. The enemy only come to resist or stop your going so, if you are not going anywhere, the devil does not bother about you; not because you are more holy than those going through storms of life but because there is nothing in you for the enemy to be bothered about and sometimes, such ones erroneously join the enemy to fight the saints of God.
*Pray the prayer of David in Psalm 140:3-4
One sign about God’s love in a man’s life are the challenges he goes through, so if you are going through challenges in your life, business, job, finance, marriage or amongst your friends – when men turn against you, speak against you for no just reason, rejoice. Before a table is set for you in the presence of your enemies, there will first be the valley of the shadow of death. If you do not fear evil but have the right attitude and mind to it, you will laugh last and enjoy the table been prepared for you. (Read Psalm 23:4-5)
Job did not sin when the enemy struck (Job 1:22). Jesus did not sin when the storm came while he slept in the boat (Mark 4:37-39); Peter did not sin when he obeyed the voice of Jesus to step out of the boat to walk on the sea (Matt. 14:29); Daniel committed no offence when he was thrown into the lions’ den (Dan. 6:16). What was the offence of little Moses when Pharaoh commanded every male child of the Jews to be killed (Exo. 1:16-19); what did little Jesus do that Herod because the star was seen commanded every male child born to be killed (Matt. 2:13-16)? Jesus never achieved anything substantial till after the temptation (Matt. 4:1-25).
Every anointed king has a Herod, Pharaoh or Nebuchadnezzar to contend with; every rising child of God has opposition to contend with – jealousy and envy shows up suddenly at the point of manifestation to stop us – like Eliab, the brother of David rose against David.
“And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.” (1Sam 17:28)
They would not come until the point of anointing or breakthrough. You must learn and know how to handle the perils of success. Every success has its perils. The Philistines did not come until they heard that David has been anointed king.
“But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.”
(2Sam 5:17)
They not only come against David but with their little gods.
“And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.” (2Sam 5:21)
There are certain people you must keep off from (read DESTINY DESTROYERS I & II
Twenty(20) people to avoid ), evil speakers, a man who is envious of you will always want you down, will celebrate always when you borrow from him or beg him to survive etc. however, if you do not want to be envied or attacked, then stay at the back. There is no new story the devil will speak about you.
*Pray David’s prayer in Psalm 144:7, 11
The Bible is our guide and if you follow the scriptures, you will give every occasion and acts of man the right attitude and so avoid offence which hinders blessing (see Offence – A Trap to Poverty).
The devil is the arch-enemy of God, the enemy of God cannot be your friend – if you don’t love my wife and children, you can’t love me. You can’t speak against my brethren or pastor and call me your friend – you must be a liar from hell. (Read John 14:23, 15:12-13; also John 21:15-17).
Have you ever wondered that the same Peter that was prophesying in Mathew 16:18-19 was the same Peter among the certain of the church to be killed?
“Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” (Act 12:1-4)
Note certain of the Jews, not all but the important ones to God.
Peter would have been killed but for the prayer of the saints – let us pray for one another when we see those things happening – you have nothing to gain in anybody’s loss or pains.
Child of God, if you keep the covenant, the world will not bring you down. David was a covenant keeper, even when he had the opportunity to kill Saul, perhaps some folks would have sang his praise, but David refused that he will not stretch his hand against the Lord’s anointed. David respect for the anointing and the anointed worked for him. The centurion whose servant was sick to the point of death had his servant restored for his respect for the anointing and the anointed.
“Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.” (Luk 7:6-8)
Despite all these, yet he honoured Jesus and then got his miracle.
“When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.” (Luk 7:9-10)
This man honoured the anointing even though he is a man of authority. The question is not whether God can bless but whether we can stand been blessed and the blessing won’t make our heads bigger?
When you respect the anointing, God will not allow you to be annoyed or frustrated. He defends, no wonder David always laugh last no matter the perils. After the battles of I Chronicles 14:1-17, the Bible says, “… And the fame of David went into all the lands and the Lord brought the of him upon all nations” (I Chronicles 14:7)
This will also be your portion in Jesus name. After the perils, your fame will spread and your enemies will fear you as you become a wonder to all.
Prayer Point:
1. Pray against all those that see your rising and glory and want to destroy it.
2. Pray against stationed demons (familiar spirit) working against you
Note: HIS PRESENCE guarantees all round victory.
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Many have faced different challenges but like the psalmist said, ‘If not for the Lord who has been our stay, the world would have consumed us’.
Few things I have learnt in life especially as we aspire for His glory and success, that the devil does not attack a man that has no substance in him. Nobody speaks against you if you are not doing something worthy. The enemy only come to resist or stop your going so, if you are not going anywhere, the devil does not bother about you; not because you are more holy than those going through storms of life but because there is nothing in you for the enemy to be bothered about and sometimes, such ones erroneously join the enemy to fight the saints of God.
*Pray the prayer of David in Psalm 140:3-4
One sign about God’s love in a man’s life are the challenges he goes through, so if you are going through challenges in your life, business, job, finance, marriage or amongst your friends – when men turn against you, speak against you for no just reason, rejoice. Before a table is set for you in the presence of your enemies, there will first be the valley of the shadow of death. If you do not fear evil but have the right attitude and mind to it, you will laugh last and enjoy the table been prepared for you. (Read Psalm 23:4-5)
Job did not sin when the enemy struck (Job 1:22). Jesus did not sin when the storm came while he slept in the boat (Mark 4:37-39); Peter did not sin when he obeyed the voice of Jesus to step out of the boat to walk on the sea (Matt. 14:29); Daniel committed no offence when he was thrown into the lions’ den (Dan. 6:16). What was the offence of little Moses when Pharaoh commanded every male child of the Jews to be killed (Exo. 1:16-19); what did little Jesus do that Herod because the star was seen commanded every male child born to be killed (Matt. 2:13-16)? Jesus never achieved anything substantial till after the temptation (Matt. 4:1-25).
Every anointed king has a Herod, Pharaoh or Nebuchadnezzar to contend with; every rising child of God has opposition to contend with – jealousy and envy shows up suddenly at the point of manifestation to stop us – like Eliab, the brother of David rose against David.
“And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.” (1Sam 17:28)
They would not come until the point of anointing or breakthrough. You must learn and know how to handle the perils of success. Every success has its perils. The Philistines did not come until they heard that David has been anointed king.
“But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.”
(2Sam 5:17)
They not only come against David but with their little gods.
“And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.” (2Sam 5:21)
There are certain people you must keep off from (read DESTINY DESTROYERS I & II
Twenty(20) people to avoid ), evil speakers, a man who is envious of you will always want you down, will celebrate always when you borrow from him or beg him to survive etc. however, if you do not want to be envied or attacked, then stay at the back. There is no new story the devil will speak about you.
*Pray David’s prayer in Psalm 144:7, 11
The Bible is our guide and if you follow the scriptures, you will give every occasion and acts of man the right attitude and so avoid offence which hinders blessing (see Offence – A Trap to Poverty).
The devil is the arch-enemy of God, the enemy of God cannot be your friend – if you don’t love my wife and children, you can’t love me. You can’t speak against my brethren or pastor and call me your friend – you must be a liar from hell. (Read John 14:23, 15:12-13; also John 21:15-17).
Have you ever wondered that the same Peter that was prophesying in Mathew 16:18-19 was the same Peter among the certain of the church to be killed?
“Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” (Act 12:1-4)
Note certain of the Jews, not all but the important ones to God.
Peter would have been killed but for the prayer of the saints – let us pray for one another when we see those things happening – you have nothing to gain in anybody’s loss or pains.
Child of God, if you keep the covenant, the world will not bring you down. David was a covenant keeper, even when he had the opportunity to kill Saul, perhaps some folks would have sang his praise, but David refused that he will not stretch his hand against the Lord’s anointed. David respect for the anointing and the anointed worked for him. The centurion whose servant was sick to the point of death had his servant restored for his respect for the anointing and the anointed.
“Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.” (Luk 7:6-8)
Despite all these, yet he honoured Jesus and then got his miracle.
“When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.” (Luk 7:9-10)
This man honoured the anointing even though he is a man of authority. The question is not whether God can bless but whether we can stand been blessed and the blessing won’t make our heads bigger?
When you respect the anointing, God will not allow you to be annoyed or frustrated. He defends, no wonder David always laugh last no matter the perils. After the battles of I Chronicles 14:1-17, the Bible says, “… And the fame of David went into all the lands and the Lord brought the of him upon all nations” (I Chronicles 14:7)
This will also be your portion in Jesus name. After the perils, your fame will spread and your enemies will fear you as you become a wonder to all.
Prayer Point:
1. Pray against all those that see your rising and glory and want to destroy it.
2. Pray against stationed demons (familiar spirit) working against you
Note: HIS PRESENCE guarantees all round victory.
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
DANGER OF COVETOUSNESS
The word covet means a yearning to posses, insatiable desire to posses (something belonging to someone else). Another word that can best explain covetousness is cupidity which means greed for money or possessions. To be covetous therefore is a deep carnal longing to posses something, sometimes, you don’t really need it but you can kill to have it.
Covetousness has destroyed many beautiful lives and character (due to) their inability to control their desires. Many have become liars, cheats, backstabbers and devilish in behaviour; many have betrayed their loved ones and even God to satisfy their amorphous desires. Infact many have lost shame and honour because of their anomalous behaviour to gratify their flesh.
Our Master, Jesus Christ gave us a clear warning on covetousness, it happened when a young man came to ask him to act as a judge or divider over certain inheritance with his brother, apparently he had seen his brother and became jealous and envious Luke 12:13-14
“And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?” (Luk 12:13-14)
Jesus not wanting to be dragged into such a carnal dispute gave a quick answer to him and turned to his disciples and gave a warning and a parable to buttress the spiritual danger of covetousness.
“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Luk 12:15)
The word “take heed” means to guide, guard yourself, your heart, your spirit; to have a clear conscience (covetousness is not from a clear conscience) consider properly; “beware” means to be alert, not to be carried away, to be conscious or be aware of… (beware = be aware)
Be aware of the danger of covetousness, and he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: “…for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Luk 12:15b)
When a man begins to measure his life by what he has or can acquire, he stands the danger of covetousness. Booker T. Washington said, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome”
A man who judges himself on the material things he has or can acquire will not be without sin of covetousness, greed, competition and these vices produce more dangerous acts.
“… But he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” (Prov 28:20b)
A covetous man will hate, lie to achieve his goal, will deceive, manipulate and be extremely greedy to his dishonour – he soon expose his carnality.
A covetous man has no trust in God, he rather trusts in his schemes and what he has or people he can manipulate or get from. The wise one warned,
“Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.” (Prov 23:4)
A covetous man is a man of by power and might, he is a man of strength - he soon put decency and honour and even God aside to achieve his desire for material possession.
He glories in what he has and what he can do – his conscience is far from truth, he is so quickly blinded by his quest to get, he forgets the scriptures so quickly and his heart is far from the kingdom of God.
“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:” (Jer 9:23)
Jesus, in his warning, gave us a parable of the heart of a covetous man as stated in Luke 12:16-19
“And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” (Luk 12:16-19)
The covetous man is wise in his conceit – “The rich man is wise in his own conceit;” (Prov 28:11a)
He does not remember God or anybody, once he has got others can perish. Jesus summarises the life, thought and plan of a covetous man in Luke 12:19
“And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” (Luk 12:19)
His life is “get all I can, eat all I can eat, for there is no other person or creator; he is all in all and does not think of the welfare of others or their peace. It’s either him or no one else – he does not understand 1 Cor. 6:13
“Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. …” (1Cor 6:13)
The covetous man thinks everyone is ignorant of his acts/deeds; he is like the ostrich that hides its head in a bushel unknown the remaining part of its body is exposed and seen.
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (1Cor 6:9-10)
If we are now born again, we should watch our appetite and crave for material things. Many people are discouraged by supposed Christian behaviour in their offices and places of work, two, three or more Christian can’t work together because one is covetous or all is and each wants to override the other, why?
“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (1Cor 6:11)
Apostle Paul said in 1 Cor. 6:12,
“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” (1Cor 6:12)
A covetous man is under the power of material things, he is controlled and dominated by it, he becomes aggressive on material things.
A covetous man will not pay tithe, he is not philanthropic, he does not give prophet offering to his pastors or help anybody, he is like a dead sea, whatever goes in does not come out – he is always looking for how to get. Jesus said,
“… Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Luk 12:15)
God looked at a covetous man in his thoughts and imagination and said,
“But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luk 12:20-21)
Simply put, a covetous man is not rich towards God, God is never in his plans, and he is a carnal man but that should not be our character. We should be kingdom minded, heavenly conscious. We must be like our Master, have passion for God and His people.
“And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.” (Luk 18:21-23)
When you touch the wealth of a covetous man, he becomes as wild as a wild lion ready to kill, say anything except about his money – Nobody goes to heaven or hell with wealth.
They are religious, they can lie against the pastor and everybody to show righteousness and how good they are but can’t sacrifice anything to God – material thing is their god.
Jesus warned,
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” (Mat 19:23-24)
The rich man here is the one who has made material things his god.
“Success has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It’s what you do for others” – Danny Thomas
You will be happy and your children will celebrate you as you allow yourself to become a channel of God’s blessing.
“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:” (Gen 12:2)
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Covetousness has destroyed many beautiful lives and character (due to) their inability to control their desires. Many have become liars, cheats, backstabbers and devilish in behaviour; many have betrayed their loved ones and even God to satisfy their amorphous desires. Infact many have lost shame and honour because of their anomalous behaviour to gratify their flesh.
Our Master, Jesus Christ gave us a clear warning on covetousness, it happened when a young man came to ask him to act as a judge or divider over certain inheritance with his brother, apparently he had seen his brother and became jealous and envious Luke 12:13-14
“And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?” (Luk 12:13-14)
Jesus not wanting to be dragged into such a carnal dispute gave a quick answer to him and turned to his disciples and gave a warning and a parable to buttress the spiritual danger of covetousness.
“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Luk 12:15)
The word “take heed” means to guide, guard yourself, your heart, your spirit; to have a clear conscience (covetousness is not from a clear conscience) consider properly; “beware” means to be alert, not to be carried away, to be conscious or be aware of… (beware = be aware)
Be aware of the danger of covetousness, and he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: “…for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Luk 12:15b)
When a man begins to measure his life by what he has or can acquire, he stands the danger of covetousness. Booker T. Washington said, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome”
A man who judges himself on the material things he has or can acquire will not be without sin of covetousness, greed, competition and these vices produce more dangerous acts.
“… But he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” (Prov 28:20b)
A covetous man will hate, lie to achieve his goal, will deceive, manipulate and be extremely greedy to his dishonour – he soon expose his carnality.
A covetous man has no trust in God, he rather trusts in his schemes and what he has or people he can manipulate or get from. The wise one warned,
“Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.” (Prov 23:4)
A covetous man is a man of by power and might, he is a man of strength - he soon put decency and honour and even God aside to achieve his desire for material possession.
He glories in what he has and what he can do – his conscience is far from truth, he is so quickly blinded by his quest to get, he forgets the scriptures so quickly and his heart is far from the kingdom of God.
“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:” (Jer 9:23)
Jesus, in his warning, gave us a parable of the heart of a covetous man as stated in Luke 12:16-19
“And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” (Luk 12:16-19)
The covetous man is wise in his conceit – “The rich man is wise in his own conceit;” (Prov 28:11a)
He does not remember God or anybody, once he has got others can perish. Jesus summarises the life, thought and plan of a covetous man in Luke 12:19
“And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” (Luk 12:19)
His life is “get all I can, eat all I can eat, for there is no other person or creator; he is all in all and does not think of the welfare of others or their peace. It’s either him or no one else – he does not understand 1 Cor. 6:13
“Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. …” (1Cor 6:13)
The covetous man thinks everyone is ignorant of his acts/deeds; he is like the ostrich that hides its head in a bushel unknown the remaining part of its body is exposed and seen.
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (1Cor 6:9-10)
If we are now born again, we should watch our appetite and crave for material things. Many people are discouraged by supposed Christian behaviour in their offices and places of work, two, three or more Christian can’t work together because one is covetous or all is and each wants to override the other, why?
“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (1Cor 6:11)
Apostle Paul said in 1 Cor. 6:12,
“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” (1Cor 6:12)
A covetous man is under the power of material things, he is controlled and dominated by it, he becomes aggressive on material things.
A covetous man will not pay tithe, he is not philanthropic, he does not give prophet offering to his pastors or help anybody, he is like a dead sea, whatever goes in does not come out – he is always looking for how to get. Jesus said,
“… Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Luk 12:15)
God looked at a covetous man in his thoughts and imagination and said,
“But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luk 12:20-21)
Simply put, a covetous man is not rich towards God, God is never in his plans, and he is a carnal man but that should not be our character. We should be kingdom minded, heavenly conscious. We must be like our Master, have passion for God and His people.
“And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.” (Luk 18:21-23)
When you touch the wealth of a covetous man, he becomes as wild as a wild lion ready to kill, say anything except about his money – Nobody goes to heaven or hell with wealth.
They are religious, they can lie against the pastor and everybody to show righteousness and how good they are but can’t sacrifice anything to God – material thing is their god.
Jesus warned,
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” (Mat 19:23-24)
The rich man here is the one who has made material things his god.
“Success has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It’s what you do for others” – Danny Thomas
You will be happy and your children will celebrate you as you allow yourself to become a channel of God’s blessing.
“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:” (Gen 12:2)
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The Futility of Lie
The enemy may fight, but we serve a great and mighty God who will contend with those contending with us, and fight against those who are fighting against us.
Life is full of challenges and almost everyday we face different challenges. Most of them genuine and for our lifting; others are powered and manipulations from hell for the individuals’ destruction. Incidentally many people believe in lies, they run with vision and dream of lies, they believe in Prophets of lies, and they call the sent ones and the prophets who declare the truth(remember, the truth they say is biter) accursed. Child of God it may glow, but the glory may not be there; it may shine but it is only a reflection and has no light in it. In 2 Chronicle 18, we see the Prophets prophesying lie in the name of the Lord (it is happening for real). Imagine them lying and calling God’s name, (vs. 4-5, 10-11).
(2Chro. 18:4) And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
(2Chro. 18:5) Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand.
(2Chro. 18:10) And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.
(2Chro. 18:11) And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
Not all breakthrough programmes brings breakthrough because, there are conditions for breakthrough in God. Let no man tell you a lie that you will brake the rules of God and receive a breakthrough. Our connection must be right. The prodigal son got a breakthrough and went into a far country, Luke 15:13,
(Luk 15:13) And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
He went so far that he could not access the father; there was no conviction, except a faint idea of his relationship with his father. His name didn’t change and he still claims his fatherhood but something is wrong. It is the relationship with the father that determines the sustainability, maintenance or otherwise of every breakthrough. And when it ceases to be a breakthrough it becomes a breakdown. He soon discovered it was not his (prodigal son) blessing but the father’s blessing and by himself cannot keep it (Luke 15:14)
(Luk 15:14) And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
The devil will never tell you of trouble ahead, if you go far from God.
The evidence of no relationship with the father is “want of all things” –lack. This state made him to join a people he ought not to relate with. Many of us have made friends with fools because of our state and state of mind. Many have joined bad gangs or groups because of situation they find themselves. They join group of liars or gossips to massage their ego. The prodigal son did same thing. A woman once told me in tears of pain how her life was destroyed because she joined bad groups of women who celebrate adultery (jumping from one man to another) because she was frustrated – but unknown to her it was the beginning of sorrow. As at the time she came to see me she is with the eight men and has fifteen children she is responsible for the upkeep as none of the men could stay with her. Now she is suffering and regretting the day she met the woman that introduced her to that kind of lifestyle because she is frustrated (Luke 15:15)
(Luke 15:15) And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
The association of the prodigal son with the citizens of that country brought him into another union with swines (do you remember it is forbidden for a Jew to touch swine?)
There are associations you join yourself to that brings you to the family of swine – removes honour from you and clothe you with reproach and shame Luke 15:16
(Luke 15:16) And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
What brought him to this level of life? He believed a lie that he can survive without his father. Jesus said in John 15:4-5.
(John 15:4) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
(John 15:5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
To avoid believing in a lie or trusting in yourself, we must form the habit of deep communion and fellowship with God such that we can recognize deception no matter where it is coming from. Preaching in Canada recently I told them that some Christians can even lie to God and swear in His name. We live in a crooked and perversed world, but we are to be models of light, we are not to join them but stand for the truth, conscience and God. Phil 2:15
(Php 2:15) That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Let’s go back to 2 Chro.18. The king Jehoshapat had a check in his spirit 18:6
(2Ch 18:6) But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?
This clearly brings to light that there are prophet of the Lord and prophets of men; but he needed a prophet of God. Remember Pharaoh and his various prophets against Moses and his spokesman, Aaron? (Gen.7:10-13)
Child of God, no matter how many prophets of men or demons your enemies may gather round themselves to fight you, they will fall before you in Jesus name. The king of Israel replies in verse7
(2Ch 18:7) And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
Wao! In my few years on earth, I have seen that sometimes those you think loves you more are the ones killing you and all yours. – Sweet tongue of hypocrisy and sweet lies which closes your eyes from the truth. Jehoshapat said, “Let not the king say so” something in Jehoshapat suspects those Prophets that what they were saying was too good to be God. Thank God for Micaiah; even the messenger sent almost manipulated him too, verse12-13.
(2Ch 18:12) And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.
(2Ch 18:13) And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.
Could it be a demonic set up? Does it still happen today, that man chooses to believe a lie?
A woman told me how bad and terrible the husband is. The husband is everything except good; only her is good and trying her best – as I bow my head to pray, the Lord said to me, “Spirit of manipulation” and I lifted my head and said, “woman, you are wrong. It is not his fault; and line upon line God opened our eyes to see the demonic network at work in the family. The Spirit was broken, the man woman called me yesterday (22-9-08) celebrating God as their eyes are now opened to understand the battle at hand. We need understanding to win the battles of life.
The truth might be bitter but go for it; the bitterness is the sacrifice we needed to come forth as strong example and light of the world (Psalm 23:4). When the man of God came, knowing the King of Israel has made up his mind to believe a lie, he gave him what he wanted verse 14,
(2Ch 18:14) And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.
May God’s Prophet not give you what you want to hear but what God wants?
In verse15,
(2Ch 18:15) And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?
We see clearly the heart of the King. He has no honour for the Prophet and by extension God. Because he could not buy Michaiah with his wealth, he didn’t like him and as a result speak ill of the true Prophet of God and even hated him for being a Prophet verse 7
(2Ch 18:7) And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
No doubt, some Prophets have been pocketed by the rich and affluent in the society because of their belly and money. The Lord forbids that your prophet is a man pocketed – because he will not speak the truth. Once, I was in the house of an important personality in our country Capital, Abuja, Nigeria on invitation. On getting there, I met many Prophets praying and prophesying in different corner of the massive seating. as I came, he quickly took me to his private room and made nasty comment about them – May your Prophet not lose his conscience because of money or for those in power – Can I hear a big Amen.?
That the blood of men will not be upon his head and bearing in mind to prophesy the will of God at all time, he declared in verse 16 and verse 17,
(2Ch 18:16) Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.
(2Ch 18:17) And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?
He told him the atmosphere he has been operating from, the atmosphere of lie and self delusion. When men praise you more than whom you are and you allow it to make your head swollen and seem bigger than normal size, it is dangerous. God made your body in proportion to the entire body, but the moment your head becomes bigger than what your neck can carry, the body will collapse. Many have collapse and are leaving in regret- that will not be your portion.
Verse 18-22.
(2Ch 18:18) Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.
(2Ch 18:19) And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
(2Ch 18:20) Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?
(2Ch 18:21) And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.
(2Ch 18:22) Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.
A lying spirit was at work: they believed it and have been living on it. We are in the end time and like Jesus said, “many will come saying many things, deceiving and been deceived.” But hold on to the word, not men’s opinion.
For the word of God is different from men’s opinion; and it will always take hold of man.
(Zec 1:6) But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? And they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
This message can be reproduced but must be duely credited.
Life is full of challenges and almost everyday we face different challenges. Most of them genuine and for our lifting; others are powered and manipulations from hell for the individuals’ destruction. Incidentally many people believe in lies, they run with vision and dream of lies, they believe in Prophets of lies, and they call the sent ones and the prophets who declare the truth(remember, the truth they say is biter) accursed. Child of God it may glow, but the glory may not be there; it may shine but it is only a reflection and has no light in it. In 2 Chronicle 18, we see the Prophets prophesying lie in the name of the Lord (it is happening for real). Imagine them lying and calling God’s name, (vs. 4-5, 10-11).
(2Chro. 18:4) And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
(2Chro. 18:5) Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand.
(2Chro. 18:10) And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.
(2Chro. 18:11) And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
Not all breakthrough programmes brings breakthrough because, there are conditions for breakthrough in God. Let no man tell you a lie that you will brake the rules of God and receive a breakthrough. Our connection must be right. The prodigal son got a breakthrough and went into a far country, Luke 15:13,
(Luk 15:13) And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
He went so far that he could not access the father; there was no conviction, except a faint idea of his relationship with his father. His name didn’t change and he still claims his fatherhood but something is wrong. It is the relationship with the father that determines the sustainability, maintenance or otherwise of every breakthrough. And when it ceases to be a breakthrough it becomes a breakdown. He soon discovered it was not his (prodigal son) blessing but the father’s blessing and by himself cannot keep it (Luke 15:14)
(Luk 15:14) And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
The devil will never tell you of trouble ahead, if you go far from God.
The evidence of no relationship with the father is “want of all things” –lack. This state made him to join a people he ought not to relate with. Many of us have made friends with fools because of our state and state of mind. Many have joined bad gangs or groups because of situation they find themselves. They join group of liars or gossips to massage their ego. The prodigal son did same thing. A woman once told me in tears of pain how her life was destroyed because she joined bad groups of women who celebrate adultery (jumping from one man to another) because she was frustrated – but unknown to her it was the beginning of sorrow. As at the time she came to see me she is with the eight men and has fifteen children she is responsible for the upkeep as none of the men could stay with her. Now she is suffering and regretting the day she met the woman that introduced her to that kind of lifestyle because she is frustrated (Luke 15:15)
(Luke 15:15) And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
The association of the prodigal son with the citizens of that country brought him into another union with swines (do you remember it is forbidden for a Jew to touch swine?)
There are associations you join yourself to that brings you to the family of swine – removes honour from you and clothe you with reproach and shame Luke 15:16
(Luke 15:16) And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
What brought him to this level of life? He believed a lie that he can survive without his father. Jesus said in John 15:4-5.
(John 15:4) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
(John 15:5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
To avoid believing in a lie or trusting in yourself, we must form the habit of deep communion and fellowship with God such that we can recognize deception no matter where it is coming from. Preaching in Canada recently I told them that some Christians can even lie to God and swear in His name. We live in a crooked and perversed world, but we are to be models of light, we are not to join them but stand for the truth, conscience and God. Phil 2:15
(Php 2:15) That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Let’s go back to 2 Chro.18. The king Jehoshapat had a check in his spirit 18:6
(2Ch 18:6) But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?
This clearly brings to light that there are prophet of the Lord and prophets of men; but he needed a prophet of God. Remember Pharaoh and his various prophets against Moses and his spokesman, Aaron? (Gen.7:10-13)
Child of God, no matter how many prophets of men or demons your enemies may gather round themselves to fight you, they will fall before you in Jesus name. The king of Israel replies in verse7
(2Ch 18:7) And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
Wao! In my few years on earth, I have seen that sometimes those you think loves you more are the ones killing you and all yours. – Sweet tongue of hypocrisy and sweet lies which closes your eyes from the truth. Jehoshapat said, “Let not the king say so” something in Jehoshapat suspects those Prophets that what they were saying was too good to be God. Thank God for Micaiah; even the messenger sent almost manipulated him too, verse12-13.
(2Ch 18:12) And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.
(2Ch 18:13) And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.
Could it be a demonic set up? Does it still happen today, that man chooses to believe a lie?
A woman told me how bad and terrible the husband is. The husband is everything except good; only her is good and trying her best – as I bow my head to pray, the Lord said to me, “Spirit of manipulation” and I lifted my head and said, “woman, you are wrong. It is not his fault; and line upon line God opened our eyes to see the demonic network at work in the family. The Spirit was broken, the man woman called me yesterday (22-9-08) celebrating God as their eyes are now opened to understand the battle at hand. We need understanding to win the battles of life.
The truth might be bitter but go for it; the bitterness is the sacrifice we needed to come forth as strong example and light of the world (Psalm 23:4). When the man of God came, knowing the King of Israel has made up his mind to believe a lie, he gave him what he wanted verse 14,
(2Ch 18:14) And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.
May God’s Prophet not give you what you want to hear but what God wants?
In verse15,
(2Ch 18:15) And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?
We see clearly the heart of the King. He has no honour for the Prophet and by extension God. Because he could not buy Michaiah with his wealth, he didn’t like him and as a result speak ill of the true Prophet of God and even hated him for being a Prophet verse 7
(2Ch 18:7) And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
No doubt, some Prophets have been pocketed by the rich and affluent in the society because of their belly and money. The Lord forbids that your prophet is a man pocketed – because he will not speak the truth. Once, I was in the house of an important personality in our country Capital, Abuja, Nigeria on invitation. On getting there, I met many Prophets praying and prophesying in different corner of the massive seating. as I came, he quickly took me to his private room and made nasty comment about them – May your Prophet not lose his conscience because of money or for those in power – Can I hear a big Amen.?
That the blood of men will not be upon his head and bearing in mind to prophesy the will of God at all time, he declared in verse 16 and verse 17,
(2Ch 18:16) Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.
(2Ch 18:17) And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?
He told him the atmosphere he has been operating from, the atmosphere of lie and self delusion. When men praise you more than whom you are and you allow it to make your head swollen and seem bigger than normal size, it is dangerous. God made your body in proportion to the entire body, but the moment your head becomes bigger than what your neck can carry, the body will collapse. Many have collapse and are leaving in regret- that will not be your portion.
Verse 18-22.
(2Ch 18:18) Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.
(2Ch 18:19) And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
(2Ch 18:20) Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?
(2Ch 18:21) And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.
(2Ch 18:22) Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.
A lying spirit was at work: they believed it and have been living on it. We are in the end time and like Jesus said, “many will come saying many things, deceiving and been deceived.” But hold on to the word, not men’s opinion.
For the word of God is different from men’s opinion; and it will always take hold of man.
(Zec 1:6) But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? And they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Int'l
With branches spread across the globe
Can be reached on victory2life@yahoo.com
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