Partnering with God for Revival

The universal Church of Jesus Christ undoubtedly lives in a seemingly difficult time of unprecedented crisis, plagues, calamities, uprisings and wars. Looking with physical eyes, it is easy to fear and be anxious about the future.  In fact, in ignorance, some may reminisce the good old days and wish that they never lived at such a time.

Countries that for many years knew financial freedom today grapple with decline in economic growth, non-performing financial markets, high inflation, deteriorating currency value, unmanageable debt and heightened levels of unemployment.  Humanly speaking, life is difficult.  According to a study done by Princeton University in 2015, there is an epidemic of hopelessness in the globe.  Among the countries examined (Australia, Canada, Sweden, UK, Sweden and France), increased deaths are not as a result of lifestyle diseases but rather as a result of suicide and drug/ alcohol overdoses.

Though there has been commendable breakthroughs in medicine, people's physical and emotional health is wanting.  Ruthless claws of viral/ bacterial outbreaks and cancer have devoured man and left many families in agony.  Health care has become a multi-billion dollar industry, and in many countries, it is only concerned with the rich and has lost its humane face.  The vulnerable in the society, orphans, widows, strangers, physically challenged and the poor are unable to raise often exhorbitant prices quoted for their treatment.

Wars and civil strife have befallen many nations, and the number of refugees globally are at the highest record in history.   According to UNHCR report 2019, 70.8 million people have been displaced from their homes, and 25.9 million of them are refugees.  Sadly, one (1) person is forcibly displaced in the world every two seconds, due to conflict or persecution.  Consider the children born in countries that have been in war for more than a decade.  Consider the trauma they have experienced by seeing dead bodies and hearing the sounds of explosions and guns, day in and day out.  Consider the emotional wounds and pain borne by women for loss of husbands to war, and sufferings of rape and other forms of sexual defilement.  Consider the groaning and agony of a husband separated from his wife and children, never to see them again.

Increased Islamic extremism has enslaved many and caused a great shedding of blood globally.   Consider the 7,328 people who died in Afghanistan as a result of terrorism activities, in year 2018.  Consider the over 10,000 people killed by Taliban and ISIL (only two terror groups) in year 2018.  Consider the people maimed and under-age girls betrothed in marriage to rebels in Northern Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad by Boko Haram.  Countries re-known for advanced security systems have also not been spared by the scourge of terrorism.  Far-right terrorism has increased in the West especially in Western Europe, North America and Oceania cumulatively recording a 320 percentage rise (Institute for Economics and Peace, 2019).

According to Open Doors USA, in year 2019, 260 million Christians lived in places where they experienced high levels of persecution.  2,983 Christians were killed for their faith (this captures only the recorded incidences so the actual number is likely to be higher).  3,711 believers were arrested, detained and sentenced in prison without trial.  These are not mere figures, they are children of God, dyeing, often for their faith.

The comfort however is that these occurrences have not caught God by surprise.  In fact, these occurrences are foretold in Scripture and are birth pains for the end of time.

Matthew 24:6-8 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. 

In spite of the darkness that has filled the earth, looking with spiritual eyes, it is an exciting time for believers to be alive.  It is a great moment for the manifestation of God's glory in the earth.   The solution of earth's turmoils does not lie in a world leader who will unify humanity; it is not in better economic management (as important as this may be); it is not in any human intervention.  The solution of our time lies in God and God alone.  The manifestation of God's glory in the earth in tangible, unprecedented measures is what the nations and the kings of the earth need.

Isaiah 60:1-3 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Revival is when God comes in manifest glory and inhabits the earth.  Revival is when great fear of God captures the hearts of men, and great conviction by the Spirit makes even the hardest of hearts to break down before God in repentance.  Revival is when the Spirit of the Lord is released upon the earth like a pent-flood and raises a standard against the devil.   Revival is when God comes.

Isaiah 59:19-20 So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.  And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord.
(King James Version)

Isaiah 59: 19-20 From the west, men will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory.  For he will come like a pent-flood that the breath of the Lord drives along. The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, ....
(NIV Version)

Looking at past revivals, I can only anticipate what God has in store for the End-time revival, considering that the glory of the latter church is foretold to be greater than that of the former.  Revival is not an out of this world phenomena that happens without man's involvement.  On the contrary, revival begins with and flows through men and women set apart for God.  God shows no partiality (Acts 10:34-35; Romans 2:11) thus God uses the vessels available to be carriers of revival, irrespective of their social status, level of learning, denomination, tribe or race.

In the Welsh revival that started in 1904, God used coblers (e.g. Smith Wigglesworth), coal miners (e.g. Stephen Jeffreys) and gifted writers (e.g. Donald Gee).  People from all walks of life, surrendered to God and hungry for Him, were used as carriers of revival.  Smith Wigglesworth (1859- 1947), a man who was taught by his wife how to read and write is referred to as an apostle of faith, because he positioned himself as a carrier of revival in his generation.  Stephen Jeffreys, a man who started working at the mines at the age of 12 years became one of the greatest evangelists of the 20th century and is quoted saying, "I want to go all the way with the Lord and He will make me a flame of fire."

Donald Gee (1891-1966), serving as a principal of a bible college left an indelible imprint on the lives of young men and women, and authored a globally read book, "Wind and Flame".   Howard Carter (1891- 1971) a man imprisoned for eight years for being a conscientious objector during the World War I, became a great prophetic teacher and dedicated his life to one mission- the will of God.  Harold Horton (1881- 1969), a song writer, was baptized in the Spirit and his talent reached new heights to impact the nations with anointed hymns and praises.

Similarly, the Azusa Street revival started by a meeting held in 1906 in Los Angeles, California.  William J. Seymour, an African American preacher led the revival.  William, born to liberated slave parents, was a man raised in abject poverty in Louisiana.  Since God knows no human limitations, He chose to use this man with no glamorous background and no impressive profile in religious circles to be the carrier of revival in his generation.

Think also of Lester Frank Sumrall (1913- 1996), a Louisiana "bad boy" who encountered Christ in his death bed and was transformed to a carrier of good news to the nations.  God used him to impact the nations with his evangelism, healing and deliverance ministry.  With no theology training, Lester was ordained a minister of the gospel when spiritual leaders in his church saw how God was using him to bring many lost people to the Lord.

These men, ordinary from a human assessment, were greatly used of God.  However, the revival story is not merely about them for they were only conduits through which the revival floods flowed.  The revival story is about the glory of God that became manifest in an unprecedented manner as these ordinary men availed themselves to be carriers of revival.  This glory resulted to hundred upon hundreds of men coming to the Lord within a few months of preaching the gospel in a region.  This glory led to the sick being healed; signs and wonders confirmed the preaching of the Word.  This glory led to such great conviction upon men and women that pubs closed and prisons recorded a decline in convicts.  This glory led to the church walking in the apostolic and prophetic grace, influencing governments and taking over territories for Christ.  This glory, is the glory of the Risen Christ!

The fruitfulness of their ministries was not attributed to much study or natural giftedness; it was purely attributed to the anointing.  This is similar to the impact of encountering Christ that the apostles of Christ experienced.  John describes the encounter this way: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

It is with no doubt that the apostles were transformed to their core by the glory of Christ that they beheld for the three years that they related with Him closely.  This transformation is evident in the fruitfulness of their ministries and in the spirit of their minds.  Additionally, they became dynamites for Christ when on the day of Pentecost, they were baptized with the Holy Spirit.  The fulfillment of Joel 2:28-29 had come, which is the outpouring of God's Spirit upon all flesh.  Consequently, the world was turned up side down!

Acts 2:41 Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Acts 2:47b And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.

Acts 5:11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

Acts 6:8 Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.

Acts 14:3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord; who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.

One of the greatest blessings for today's believers is that we live at the appointed time when God is planning to open the flood gates of heaven and pour upon hearts of men and women His Spirit in a new measure, for End-time revival.  You and I have an invaluable opportunity to be carriers of revival.  I am overjoyed by the prophetic word for the East Africa region and particularly the nation of Kenya, which God intends to honor with the blessing of revival.  These revival floods shall flow from the East of Africa to the nations of the world.

What must you and I do to be carriers of revival?    Firstly, we must position ourselves in righteousness (be in right standing with God).  We must hate sin and love holiness.  We must not waver between two opinions.  The times we live in are such that they demand that you and I decide on whom we will serve (Joshua 24:15).  Those who sit on the fence will ultimately suffer in the hands of the devil, for compromised living.  You and I can no longer be double minded and survive the perilous times.  It is either you are for God or against God.  It is either you are on the Lord's side or not.  The battle lines have been drawn in the spiritual realm.  The forces of darkness against the angels of God.  Victory belongs to The Risen Christ!

Isaiah 59:20 The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins

Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord

Secondly, revival is ushered in through prayer because spiritual things are first birthed in the spirit before they are manifested in the flesh.  God is looking for men and women who will labour in the Spirit until they birth forth end-time revival.  Such labouring in prayer requires separation; it requires an adjustment of priorities; it requires a mind set on Jesus.  Sadly, some believers are so obsessed by worldly affairs that they can hardly perceive of the times and understand what they ought to do.  

1 Chronicles 12:32 From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do ....

Isaiah 62:6-7 I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.

If you have ears to hear, you will hear what God is saying to the Church in this season.  The message is important and central in God's agenda for the church that He is using various people and occurrences to communicate the message of revival and the need for consecration of the church.  The Spirit is bidding us to non-casual seeking of God's face. 

If you are keen, you will perceive a beckoning to the secret place, for Christ desires to reveal His glory to you.  The Father is ready! Jesus is ready! The Spirit is ready!  You and I need to prepare to usher in revival.  It is at the place of prayer that this preparation takes place; this is where a divine surgery is undertaken on my heart to give me a new heart, broken and contrite before God.  It is at the place of prayer that the fire of God burns away the chaff and makes me a flame of fire for God.

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Thirdly, we must wait in faith for revival as watchmen appointed by God over our nations.  We must believe that God is willing and able to revive us, for without faith it is impossible to please God.  We must believe that God is a Rewarder of those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).  He is a Good Father.  He will release the floods of revival to flow through those who ask. 

Luke 11:11-13 Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

As Simeon and Anna received a revelation about the birth of the Messiah and prayerfully waited for its fulfillment (Luke 2:21-38), so God requires that we wait in faith for the coming revival revealed to us through His Spirit.  I am availing my self to be used in the End-time revival.  I want to be a part of what God is doing.  I want to partner with God for fulfillment of His Word in our times.  I dare not insist on my agenda.  I dare not superimpose my plans to His.  I submit to Him and position my self in the righteousness that is mine in Christ Jesus; I choose to pray and wait in faith until revival is birthed forth in my nation.  To God be all glory, forever and ever, Amen!

Loving Jesus Above All Else

Many countries today are registering numerous people attending church every Sunday or Saturday (for the Seventh Day Adventists).  This is especially true in Africa.  Studies show that in 1900, only nine million Christians were in the continent of Africa.  Today, the number of Christians in Africa outnumbers that found in any other single continent.  2015 studies shows that Africa leads with 631 million resident Christians, followed by Latin America at 601 million and thirdly, Europe at 571 million (Gordon Theological Seminary Data).

What significant growth of Christianity in the African continent! It is a seventy-fold growth!  Indeed, God has been at work in this continent once known as the "black continent".  The light of Christ has shown on us through the gospel and given us life- abundant life!  We who were not a people, sometimes even thought of us second class creation, are now the people of God!

1 Peter 2:9- But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

There is no doubt that God has been good to mankind.  God's providence of salvation has given mankind a new eternal life.  A life that is dead to sin and alive in righteousness.  A life of enjoying all the providence of God's blessings- peace, joy, rest, fruitfulness, abundance, dominion, physical and emotional wholeness, and most importantly, communion with Our Father.  The gift of salvation is the greatest gift to mankind; it is the greatest gift to the continents of the world.

Having received this gift, it is easy to forget the worth of salvation.  It is easy to take for granted that gift that is familiar to many of us.   Since familiarity breeds contempt, it is possible for believers, who dearly loved God, to trample under foot the Son of God.  It is probable for believers to forget the invaluable price that was paid at the cross for our redemption from eternal condemnation and death.  When such forgetfulness plagues our minds, believers begin to indulge in sin as a matter of lifestyle.  The conscious is seared with sin and they no longer revere their Saviour and Lord.

Hebrews 10:26-29- If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

Many in the body of Christ today have retained the rituals of Christianity but their hearts have grown cold to the guidance of the Spirit and they have left the path of righteousness.  They have maintained their church membership and mannerisms, but their hearts are not with the Lord.  Please note that what I describe here is not occasional stumbling to sin by a believer.  As long as believers are on the earth, they are yet to be perfected.  God remembers that believers are flesh and dust (Psalms 78:39), and though they fall seven times, they arise (Proverbs 24:16).   Thus, what I describe here is a believer whose heart is set on knowingly violating God's word.

How can a person who knew the Lord so well and experienced the warmth of His embrace, the joy of His liberty, and His indescribable peace that surpasses human understanding, forsake all these for worldly and temporary things?  This question rightly reveals the wickedness of the heart of man.  He is gullible to the lures of sin.

The fallibility of man was known to God as He dealt with Israel across the Jordan prior to them entering the promised land.  For this reason, God took time to guide them on how they were to order their lives if they were to flourish in the promised land and enjoy its blessings.  For emphasis, God did not address the matter once or twice, He did it severally.  It was important for Israel to follow God if they were to be established and take over the entire land of promise.

Deuteronomy 4:1-2  Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.  Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.

Deuteronomy 5:29 Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!

Deuteronomy 5:32-33 So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left.  Walk in obedience to all that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

Deuteronomy 8:1 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?

The Old Testament is the New Testament foretold; the Old Covenant a foreshadow of the New Covenant.  The words of God through the prophets speak to us who are in the New Covenant in profound ways, to reveal to us God; to teach us the wisdom of God; and to build our faith in God.  These words in Deuteronomy though spoken to Israel by Moses, are being spoken to us the 21st Century church.  Oh, how the Lord desires that we walk in His paths of righteousness if we are to experience the full blessedness of our Salvation!

What does God require of the Church today?  What must we do as believers of our time to safeguard against disobedience?

 God requires that the Church of Jesus Christ to feed itself with the Bread of Life- His Word.  God instructed Joshua to meditate on His law day and night, that he may prosper and have good success (Joshua 1:8).  Many preachers and motivational speakers today are giving people many "wisdom nuggets" on prosperity.   When human wisdom is popularized and presented as the Word of God, many believers chase prosperity and success apart from the principles of God.  Stop the rat race!  The wisdom you need for life and godliness is already given you through God's Word.  That word, which is a lamp and light, will guard your heart from worldliness and keep your mind set on Jesus.  That word will preserve you in righteousness and give you true prosperity and success.

Deuteronomy 11:18-21  18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.

Many believers want Jesus.  That is why they show up at church every Sunday.  That is why they got saved and baptized.  That is why they observe Christian holidays and participate in Christian festivities.  However, the tragedy is they do not want Jesus above all else that they want in life.  For them, Jesus is a "good-to-have" and not a "must-have".  Because of this condition, believers have opened up a loophole for idolatry in their lives.  Since Jesus is not their ultimate need and desire, they are willing to compromise Jesus for worldly things.  God says to us, "Stop the religious show!  I am not interested!"

Consider a Christian accountant who gives a false report as directed by his/her manager to not only safeguard his/her job but also to secure a promotion.  For this Christian accountant, salvation is good but is not the greatest treasure in his/her life.  Sadly, other things have higher priority.  Perhaps the career is higher prioritized than Jesus in his/her life.  Or what about that young mother who suffers lack and decides to relate intimately with a married man (commonly known as "sponsors" here in Kenya) for her survival.  Or what about that aspiring Christian politician who dishes out money to potential voters because his/her country's system dictates that money is the best means for convincing voters.  Yet all these three congregate on Sunday at a service and since they have learnt the language and mannerisms of Christianity, they may hypocritically worship God and perhaps even serve Him and heftily contribute towards church projects. 

God requires today's believer to revere Him and to love Him above all else.  When we love God with all our hearts, minds, soul and strength, obeying Him is not burdensome and serving Him is a delight.  We must model our lives after Christ, the Author and Perfector of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).  We must follow Jesus; He alone must we follow.  Truly, from the depths of us, we must love the Lord with all that is within us.  Not hypocritically, as some are fond of doing.

The fear of God must return to the Church; all else believers should expect judgment- severe judgment.  The God of Love is also the God of Justice, lest we should forget.

Deuteronomy 13:4 It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

1 Peter 4:16-17 16But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name. 17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? 

God requires that believers safeguard their hearts against the corruption of worldly riches and pleasures.  Undoubtedly, in God there is abundance.  That abundance is as a result of His grace and has nothing to do with our righteousness.  Indeed God is a Good Father, and so He lavishes His children with abundant blessings.  However, He requires that we will not love money nor serve it.  No one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24).  If a person's love is money, there his/her heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).

God requires that we safeguard our hearts from idolatry of riches and wealth by observing the principle of giving.  Africa and many other continents of the world are suffering from the repercussions of greed.  Greed is a sin of idolatry.  Many believers today are struggling to attain riches and wealth at whatever expense.  Some hoard wealth to themselves even when there is no reason to.  Unfortunately, in so doing, they deny themselves the privilege of being conduits of God's blessings in their communities, nations and the continent at large.

When we love Jesus above all else, we will love those He loves.  We will be glad to join Him in His agenda on earth.  Giving to the course of Christ will be such a joy and delight.  God does not need our resources, but He has privileged us with an opportunity to partner with Him in His work here on earth.  For the 21st Century believer to walk in the fullness of God's blessings, he/she must pay his/ her tithes; be compassionate about the less fortunate in society and share with them as God provides.  If believers are to eat and be satisfied in the land, we must observe the command in the below scripture.

Deuteronomy 26:11-12 Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household.  When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.

God is calling the 21st Century believer to renew his/her love vows to Him.  He is calling us to forsake all else and follow Jesus.  He is calling us away from religion to the blessed secret place of intimately knowing the Lord.  He is calling us to renewed resolve that we will serve Him, and Him Only, irrespective of what others think or say (Joshua 24:15).

I pray that you will make this your payer: "It is You Lord that I need; it is communing with You intimately that I long for; it is You Lord that I thirst for above all else; it is You Lord that I will labour for, spending my self unreservedly for Your purposes.  You are the Greatest Treasure in my Life.  I commit to love you and obey you in good times and in bad times,"

Be of Good Cheer & Walk in Victory, Child of God

I sometimes see life as a cyclist on a bicycle.  As long as the cyclist is on the bike and desires movement, they will utilise the peddles.  The foot peddles represent the various seasons of life that we have to experience to progress in life.  Think about it.  The foot peddles move up (high seasons) and down (low seasons), and sometimes are on balance in horizontal position (moderate/ so-so seasons).

Usually, the cyclist is not worried about the foot on the peddle in down position because he knows that this is only temporary.  As long as the bicycle is in forward movement, the peddle will come up again.  On the other hand, the cyclist is also cognizant of the fact that the peddle in the up position will at some point shift its position.  No position is permanent for the foot pedals.

The up-down movement of the peddle facilitates progress and it is by no means designed to reverse the bicycle.  Do you know that to reverse the bicycle, normally you have to put at least one foot off the pedal and reverse the bike using your hands?  Similarly, life is full of seasons that come in varied lengths and intensity.  These are both enjoyable and challenging seasons; joyous and sad seasons; restful and warring seasons.  Just like the bicycle analogy, these seasons all work out for good and for fulfillment of God's grander plan for our lives.  As long as your feet are moving in forward direction on the bike peddles, expect progress and not retrogression!  Keep pressing on; do not give up!

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Paul assures us that all things work out for the good of those who love the Lord.  God has called you and I according to His purpose, and He is Faithful to align all occurrences to work out for the fulfillment of that purpose.   As long as we are hidden in Christ, no challenge, no set back, no disappointment, no loss will deter you from your destiny.  However, you need to know this!  This needs to be your persuasion as you journey through the seasons of life.  Whatever life brings, may you always know that your entire life is safe and secure in God's hands.

Romans 8:37-39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God has assured us of victory in all things!  We are not to conquer in some seasons of life.  No, we are to conquer in all seasons of our lives!  In fact, we are to do more than conquer; our victory as believers is to exceed expected standards of victory.  It is a divinely given victory that defies all odds.  It is a victory that defies the economy's prospects; the doctor's report; the opinions of society; your family background; your physical limitations; only to mention but a few.

You and I need to be convinced about this.  You and I need to profess this daily in our lives.  You and I need to live in the revelation of this truth, that we are more than conquerers.  It is not enough to just believe it; live it!

Romans 1:17b The righteous shall live by faith.

One of my friends some years back was confronted with stage four cancer that threatened to take away her life.  The doctors' reports painted gloom.  During this season, Romans 8:37 was revealed to my friend and I and it was our rhema word for the season.  We stood on God's word that we are more than conquers and we would proclaim it in almost every conversation we had: sisi ni zaidi ya washindi (we are more than conquerers).  We said it, we sang it and the Lord showed Himself strong in that situation, in accordance to His word.  Today, about six years later, she is alive and serving the Lord!

Contrary to God's desire, it is unfortunate that in a time of crisis, we sometimes run away from God rather than running to God.  Feelings of anxiety, despair, bitterness, impatience and hopelessness make our hearts to grow cold and to turn away from our Father.  Those who live in the revelation of Romans 8:37-39 will hold fast to God, for they know Him as a Refuge.  They that have learnt the discipline of looking on to God will receive strength that enables them to charge against an army, to scale walls (Proverbs 18:29) and to quench all flaming darts of the enemy (Ephesians 6:16).

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Like children, we must learn to rest in the loving arms of God.   Rather than spending time pitying ourselves and praying for lapse of a season, let us choose to rejoice in the workings of God in and through us while we journey through that season.   Let us pray for an eternal perspective to life, such that our hope will not be pegged on what is earthly (temporary) but what is eternal (permanent).  God desires that we walk through the valley of the shadow of death in victory.  In so doing, our lives become a living testimony of God's goodness and faithfulness.

Psalms 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

In this season of Christmas, irrespective of your circumstance, choose to celebrate and walk in the victory that is your inheritance as a child of God.  Do not let media reports, society's opinions, economic forecasts, doctor's reports and family background to cause your heart to be downcast.  Rejoice in the Lord!  Again I say, Rejoice, for this is the plan of God for you (Philippians 4:4)!

Last month on one quiet evening, in a hotel room in Lusaka, I was broken-hearted and repentant.  I was repenting on my own behalf and on behalf of my nation Kenya for the sin of grumbling and hopelessness.  These two are manifestations of the flesh that are often borne when man looks to any other thing, apart from God, for help.

On this particular day,  my heart had been deeply convicted during a conversation I had engaged in earlier in the day with delegates attending a work meeting. Among those attending the meeting were delegates from African countries and during tea break, we conversed about the situation in our home countries.  Some were coming from countries with significant challenges, but to my surprise, their level of hope and positivity was commendable.  The conversations provoked a necessity for objective self-evaluation on my "gratitude and hope thermometers".

I realized that I and my country men (Kenyans) had grumbled unnecessarily.  Perhaps, we are chronic grumblers- those that whine about the half empty glass and consciously ignore the water filling half the glass.  The object of our trust has been wanting.  We have put our trust in shaky ground: politicians, economic forecasts and media reports.  Many Kenyans exhibit hopelessness in their conversations, and the church which is meant to be a place of refuge for the hopeless, has not been spared.  Sadly, the conversations of many believers exhibit negativity and hopelessness, in a measure that relatively compares to that of non-believers.

What happened to children of God, called to be beacons of hope?  Abraham's life challenges believers to build their lives on the solid rock of Jesus Christ and not on temporary/ material things.  Abraham obeyed God to leave his homeland and follow God's guidance to a promised land.  Though he received and obeyed the promise of God, he lived in tents like a stranger in a foreign country.  Not only he, but his child Isaac and his grandchild Jacob also lived in tents, though heirs of God promise.

This seemingly delay of God's promise should have made Abraham and his descendants hopeless.  However it did not.  Abraham's focus was on God (the giver) and not on the promise (the promised land).  This gave him an eternal perspective of life.  Hebrews 11:10 says that Abraham was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

For this faith, founded on the Maker of heaven and earth, Abraham was commended.  In fact, God was proud to be surnamed as God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for He had prepared a heavenly city for them (Hebrews 11:16).  Friends, our father Abraham showed us the way of faith:  Faith in God who is a Good and Faithful Father.  It is a faith that rises above delay, physical weakness, emotional hurt, human reason and wisdom.

As I sought the Lord in that room in Lusaka, God impressed upon me two questions which I believe He is asking us (believers) today:

• Why are you downcast, child of God?

God commands you to put your trust in Him; to keep your praise to Him (which is a spiritual weapon) and to remember Him (His Love, His Faithfulness, His Victory, His Grace, His Mercy, His Promises fulfilled in the past etc).

Psalms 42:5-6 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.  My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

• In what/ whom is your trust?

Psalms 34:5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame

I pray that in this season of Christmas, hope in the promises of God will be renewed in you.  I pray that your faith will be strengthened and in obedience to God, you will live by faith.  I pray that you will be of good cheer irrespective of your circumstance.  I pray that God's Victory will be manifest in your life, to the praise and glory and honor of God!

Be Restored in Your Spiritual Authority- Part II

From part I of this discussion, spiritual authority is the legal ground to exercise spiritual power.  We learnt that spiritual authority is inherent in our restored relationship with the Father through Christ, since all who believe are made Sons of God (John 1:12).  Righteousness is key in exercising spiritual authority and this is attained only in Christ, as believers surrender their lives to life long sanctification.

Also noteworthy from the previous discussion is that Christ commissioned us and gave us the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19; 28:18-20), to open doors for the blind to see, the lame to walk, the oppressed to be liberated and the sick to be healed.  The exercise of authority requires a believer to live by faith, firstly through seeking to know God through the revelation of His Word; moment-by-moment focusing on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; and spending time in the secret place of prayer.

A pertinent example in exercise of spiritual authority is the police man who standing on the road side, is able to flag down cars and the driver stops to listen to authority.  The police man may be the ordinary man in your neighbourhood, perhaps with a physically weaker stature than many people in his hood.  However, whenever he puts on his police uniform and walks out of his house, he is able to exercise the authority conferred to him by his enlisting authority.  Similarly, believers are commanded to clothe themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14).  This instruction is given in the context of living in the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

Believers are to always be dressed for duty, with the full the Armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).  We are to sleep in the Armour, and go on vacation in the Armour, and to the mall in the Armour, and for work trips in the Armour.  Like the policeman, we are to exercise our authority wherever and whenever God leads us to, in order to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, and to build and plant (Jeremiah 1:10).

Soldiers are trained never to put down or put off their Armour while in the battle field.  My mother, a retired police officer, went for a promotion of rank course in the mid 90s and always came home with exciting and memorable stories.  One of the unforgettable stories that she told me is that when out in the jungle, they used to sleep in their uniform, boots, backpack positioned on their shoulders and each soldier holding on to his/her ammunition.  The body would be so fatigued that all joints and muscles ached, but they were trained not to give in to the lure of comfortable sleep.

On one of those nights when my mum and her fellow soldiers were out in the jungle, the trainers stage managed an attack where they began to fire at the tents where the trainees were sleeping.  Each soldier, as trained, quickly took cover and begun to crawl to his/her designated ditch to take their counter-attack position.  Fire exchanged for a while until they heard the voice of their Commander shouting out for ceasefire.  Each soldier was instructed to stay at their position for inspection and the trainers came by, ditch by ditch, evaluating each soldier.

Sadly, one of the most experienced soldiers in the troop was found to be bare footed.  He had removed his boots at night to take a comfortable nap and when the attack was suddenly staged, he moved out of the tent in haste, not having time to put on his boots.   As harsh as the discipline might seem, the soldier was immediately dismissed from the promotion of rank course.  He was not ready for higher responsibility!

Similarly, believers are in a a 24-7 battle field and we must discipline ourselves to be always clad with the full Armour of God!  Anyone who does otherwise is not fit for exercise of spiritual authority.  Irrespective of number of years in salvation, the principles of God's Word never change.  The command remains: put on the Armour of God!  Like the uniformed traffic policeman on the roadside or the armored soldier on patrol, is your spiritual authority being felt by your family, colleagues, neighbours, and the society at large?

It is without doubt that a soldier's mandate comes with authority.  This authority gives him/her the legal ground to exercise power.  A well trained soldier knows when to exercise certain powers because his/her objective is to accomplish the work entrusted to him/her by the master.   A traffic policeman by the roadside may need a pistol and handcuffs to enforce the law whenever need arises.  A soldier in a banditry stricken land needs more than a pistol to enforce the law in his/her area of jurisdiction; he may need an AK or G3 type of rifle and more sophisticated tools.  Simply, the authority of a soldier is complemented by weapons of power, as circumstances demand.

Spiritual power is endowment of divine strength and ability to a believer by the Holy Spirit to accomplish the Great Commission.  The Gospels are very clear on this Commission, it is not something to be imagined or speculated on, it is expressly articulated in scripture.

Matthew 28:18-20, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Mark 16-15-18, He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” 

Luke 24:45-49, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

John 20:21, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 

Following the conferment of authority to the disciples for fulfillment of the Great Commission, Jesus further promised the gift of the Father, the Blessed Holy Spirit.  He sternly instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for divine empowerment (Acts 1:5).  The disciples now fully Commissioned waited in Jerusalem for dunamis (greek word for power used about 120 times in the New Testament).  On the Day of Pentecost (50 days after Passover), the disciples received divine strength and ability to be effective witnesses of Jesus Christ!

Men who had been shy, doubtful and uneducated became dynamites for Jesus!  God's Dunamis was at work in them and through them for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.  The Book of Acts provides a great historical record of the early church moving in spiritual authority and power.  It was not a "fake it till you make it" gimmick.  No!  The ability to perform signs, wonders and miracles was inherent in them by reason of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  God's power was evident in their daily lives.

The apostles in Acts 5, for example, discerned that Ananias and Sapphira had lied to God in bringing in an incomplete offering.  The discernment of spirits is a gift of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:10). Consequently, they exercised their spiritual authority to pronounce judgement on the couple's disobedience.  In Iconium, Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas were speaking effectively, in the authority of Christ, and many believed.  However, a circumstance arose.  Some Jews incited women and men of influence in the city against the two apostles.  For the advancement of God's work amidst the opposition, God confirmed Paul and Barnabas message through miraculous signs and wonders.   Miraculous power is a spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 12:10).

On another dramatic occurrence, Paul was preaching late in the night at Troas, and a man listening to Paul by the name of Eutychus fell from a window on third storey and died. Paul went to where he was lying, threw himself on the dead young man and wrapped his arms around him.  The young man was resurrected and many comforted by God's doing (Acts 20:7-12).  The power that raised Christ from the dead was at work through Paul's life to raise the dead! 

The apostles had certainly received the Gift of the Father (the Holy Spirit)!  Not earned but given freely!  Theirs had only been to tarry in Jerusalem in obedience to Jesus' instruction and wait with expectation for the infilling of the Spirit.  Consequently, the apostles not only lived and ministered in spiritual authority but they were also empowered by the Holy Spirit and operated in gifts of the Spirit.  Are you baptized with the Holy Spirit?  If not, what are you waiting for?  The blue print to receiving the Holy Spirit is in Scripture: desire; ask; wait in expectation; and receive the gift of the Father.

"Authority comes in the Commission.  Power comes in the encounter," by Bill Johnson

However, I need to caution that believers are called to pursue God and not power.  In God, are inexhaustible blessings and gifts (Acts 1:8; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Peter 4:10-11).  Our heart's cry needs to be like that of Paul in Philippians 3:10: "I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death."  As we eagerly desire spiritual gifts, we are to pursue a deeper relationship with God, for in so doing we follow the way of love as commanded in 1 Corinthians 14:1.

The late Dr. Myles Munroe in teaching about spiritual authority and power, highlights that they are three symbols of a Kingdom: crown, sensor and sceptor.  Crown represents power; sensor represents influence/ glory and sceptor represents authority.  Psalms 45:6 states, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom." Additionally, David prophesied about the Anointed One in Psalms 110:2 and said, "The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies."

He who has the sceptor (authority) has the other two, crown (power) and sensor (influence).  However, it is possible to have power but no influence or authority.  In Genesis 49, Jacob is recorded blessing His sons.  Regarding Judah, Jacob prophesied, "The scepter will not depart from Judah".  David and Solomon, descendants of Judah, had the scepter to rule over Israel.  In addition, their power and influence is demonstrated in the accounts of scripture.  For example, other kings would temporarily leave their kingdoms to sit at the feet of Solomon and gain wisdom.  This was great influence!   However, it would be misleading to focus on Solomon's power and influence independent of his authority.  When Solomon allowed worldly affairs, including marrying foreign women and allowing worship of their gods, his authority begun to wane.

The late Dr. Myles notes, it is possible to be anointed but not legal. Simply put, some believers who received the gifts of the Spirit during their earlier days in salvation, have allowed their hearts to be corrupted and to grow cold to God and they have thus walked away from the way of righteousness.  Sadly, they continue to minister in the gifts of the Spirit since the gifts and call of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29).  However, they have little impact in advancing the Kingdom of God because the devil is not afraid of a believer's power but authority (reflect on the story of the ten plagues by Moses).

The more you meditate on scriptures regarding the matter under discussion, the more you realize that often when we live defeated Christian lives and are ineffective in ministry, it is not because of inadequate power but that our legal ground to exercise power is compromised.    For some believers, sin has compromised their legal ground to exercise power.  For others, unbelief while for others, complacency in seeking God in the secret place.  It is no wonder that on the Day of the Lord, some will be crying out to the Lord saying, "Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?  Did we not cast out demons in your name? Did we not perform many miracles?"  Matthew 7:23 states that Jesus will painly say to them, "I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers." 

Are you born again? Are you a Son of God?  You were created to exercise spiritual authority in Christ Jesus for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.   In your service to the Lord, God has provided divine strength and ability through the Spirit's power, and we see the manifestation of this power through various spiritual gifts.  This blessedness is yours in Christ Jesus!  May God help you and I to be restored to a life of spiritual authority and power. Amen.

Be Restored in Your Spiritual Authority- Part I

Until recently, I have always considered spiritual authority and power to be inseparable.  I never imagined that a believer could have spiritual power and yet not be living in spiritual authority.  I have taken a bit of time to write this article because I felt that God's teaching needed to work in me first before I could teach others.  Even as I share this message, God continues to work in me both to will and to do for His pleasure.  I keep learning, from Him, Gentle and Humble Teacher.

In the following discussion, I aim to explain the meaning and practice of spiritual authority.  This will provide a good foundation for me to further the discussions in the next phase by helping us see the relationship between spiritual authority and power, and what God's master plan for every believer is as regards the exercise of spiritual authority and power.  My prayer is that as we learn the Truth of His Word, we will be made strong in the Lord and in the power of His might to advance the Kingdom of God as well as wreck havoc to the kingdom of darkness, destroying principalities, powers, rulers of this present darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness (Ephesians 6:12).

The spiritual authority of a believer is their legal ground to exercise power.  Believers have a legal ground to exercise power because of what Christ accomplished on the cross: He paid the penalty of sin and restored us to a relationship with the Father.  Those who receive Him, become children of God (John 1:12).  In Christ Jesus, they become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).  A believer can only live in spiritual authority when he/she is rightly positioned in righteousness.  This requires that we surrender our lives to Christ for life long sanctification.

The early church demonstrated tremendous spiritual authority.  Peter, preached with authority in Acts 2 and this resulted to conversation of three thousand (3,000) people.  In Acts 3, Peter and John commanded a crippled man to walk, and immediately his feet were strengthened and he begun to walk and jump. Notable, is that they did not compromise with sin.  In fact, great fear befell the people such that those who were double minded on following Christ dared not join the disciples (Acts 5:11).  Ananias and Sapphira is a great example of how sin could not be accommodated nor concealed among the disciples.  In accordance to 2 Corinthians 10:6, the early church punished every act of disobedience because their obedience was complete.

Many believers today want to walk in spiritual authority and yet they still want to entertain the works of the flesh in their lives.  Sadly, some have turned to false spirits to deceptively display a form of spiritual authority.  A believer who is living in sin has no legal ground to exercise power.  And the devil knows this very well. Ask the sons of Sceva (Acts 19:11-20)!

Exercised spiritual authority by a believer ought to yield submission and obedience.  In several incidences, Jesus demonstrated in His ministry that nature, demons, sicknesses, death, among others, were under His authority and had to bow down and conform to instructions/ orders issued in that authority.  For example, when a furious storm raged against a boat in which Jesus was with His disciples, the situation seemed out of hand and caused a frantic panic among the disciples.  However, when Jesus awoke from sleep, He rebuked the winds and the waves, and the waters immediately became completely calm (Matthew 8:23-27).

Upon arriving at Gadarenes (following the storm incidence), Jesus met two demon possessed men coming from the tombs.  He ordered the demons out of the men by simply saying "Go".  With only one word from Jesus, the demons obeyed the order to leave the two men (Matthew 8:32).  In another account, Jesus arriving at His home town met a paralytic and ordered "Get up and walk" (Matthew 9:5-7).  The man immediately got up and went home.  In yet another notable event, Jesus healed Jairus' daughter demonstrating His authority over death.  He spoke, "Talitha Koum" meaning "Little girl, I say to you get up!"  And so it was.  The girl arose from the dead (Matthew 8:18-26; Mark 5:21-43).  These are just a few examples of numerous demonstrations of Christ's authority in the gospels.

Noteworthy is that when Jesus first sent out the twelve (Matthew 10:1), he gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.  In verse 7-8, Jesus further expounds the mandate to the twelve by commanding as follows: "preach this message: the Kingdom of heaven is near.  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons."  Also, prior to ascending to heaven, The Risen Messiah gives instructions to His disciples, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, ...." (Matthew 28:18-19).  Is it a mere coincidence that the first time the disciples were sent out by Christ, they were given authority and similarly, the last instruction from Christ to His disciples was the bestowing of His authority on them?

 A believer's spiritual authority comes from his commission (Matthew 28:18-20; John 20:21)

Christ knew something often overlooked by believers today.  There cannot be fruitful ministry without a believer exercising spiritual authority!  May be we will have better understanding if we revisit "the fall of man" story.  God mandated man (Adam and Eve) to subdue the earth and to rule over every living creature.  Man was able to perfectly exercise his God-given authority.  At this point in time, Satan had no chance of dominion on earth because man was in the fullness of God's glory, and was ruling the earth.  This must have been a great incentive for Satan to scheme the fall of man.  When man fell into sin, he fell short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  Consequently, Satan took over as the "god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Satan thought he had eternally thwarted the plans of God for man to be fruitful, to subdue and to rule the earth.  However, he was utterly surprised when his actions of crucifying Jesus on the cross provided the way for restoration of man to his place of spiritual authority.  Colossians 2:14-15 states, "having cancelled the written code, with its regulations [the charge of our legal indebtedness], that was against us and that stood opposed to us, he took it away, nailing it to the cross.  And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

By Christ paying the penalty for our sin, He provided for man's restoration of spiritual authority!  When we receive the Lord Jesus into our lives, our spiritual position changes from "subdued" to "rulers".  Hallelujah!  Ephesians 2:6 states, "And God raise us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus."  In this position of spiritual authority, believers are able to effectively fulfill what they have been called to: "God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works ..." (Ephesians 2:10).

The good works we have been called to do were modeled out by Christ in His ministry.  Acts 10:38 states that Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power, and He went about doing good: healing those who were under the power of the devil.  Luke 4:18-19 also highlights these good works in Jesus' ministry: preaching the good news to the poor; proclaiming freedom for prisoners; recovery of sight for the blind; release of the oppressed; and proclaiming the year of the Lord's favour.  All that a believer does whether at home, in the market place, in church gatherings or in the mission fields should result to impacting people with good works of the gospel for the salvation of their souls.  Undoubtedly, believers have been called to do good works and this is possible, firstly if we are rightly positioned in Christ.

Please note that the twelve disciples were novices when Jesus sent them out in Matthew 10 (account also in Luke 9).  Notwithstanding, their mission report was outstanding: "preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere" (Luke 9:6).  How is it that this bunch of uneducated Jews, mainly of low social status, effectively fulfilled Christ's mandate?

In Luke 10, another group of seventy two was sent out by Jesus to go and preach the gospel.  When they returned, they reported, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."  Christ's response was, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you" (Luke 10:19). Jesus' response is as if saying, "Why are you surprised?  Don't you understand that I gave you authority before I sent you out?"

While in the Luke 9 report, healings of people everywhere were recorded, in the Luke 10 account, casting out of demons is recorded as the sign that accompanied the disciples as they preached the gospel.  What did these disciples do that the Church of Jesus Christ is not doing today?

Christ joyously exclaims following the mission report by the seventy two: "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children." It is clear that it was not the disciples' human wisdom or education that earned them success in ministry.  Instead, it was their pliable and babe spirits, fully surrendered and dependent on God, that made the difference.

One of the distinctive characteristics of the disciples was their child-like faith.  Jesus said it and they believed it!  They took Jesus at His word!  They were fully persuaded that Jesus had given them authority and so they went out and exercised that authority, in the name of Jesus.  Before Christ ascended to heaven, He left you with a command to go into the world in His authority, anchored on the premise that all authority had been given to Him.  Colossians 2:10 states, "and you have been given fulness in Christ, who is the Head over every power and authority."  Do you believe it?  I ask again, Do you believe that Christ has bestowed His authority on you by reason of what He accomplished through His death and resurrection?

Matthew gives an account of Jesus walking on water, which is a spectacular demonstration of authority over the laws of nature.  Peter, seeing Jesus walking on the water towards the boat in which the disciples were in, requested Jesus to bid him come.  Upon Jesus' invitation, Peter responded by faith and stepped on the water and begun to walk towards the Messiah.  However, when Peter saw the wind, human reason revealed the possibilities of him being swept away or drowning, and this yielded doubt that resulted to his sinking.  Jesus reached out and held Peter by the hand, asking him "why did you doubt?"  The moment Peter doubted, his ability to exercise spiritual authority over nature was immediately incapacitated (Matthew 14:22-36).

Doubt incapacitates a believer's ability to exercise spiritual authority.  

Jesus did walk on water, despite having fully taken the form of man, because He had faith in God, the Creator of heaven and earth.  He not only believed that God was able, but He did also step out onto the waters, this being evidence of His faith. 

The spiritual authority given to us, is not by a mere ruler of a city or nation.  It is given to us by the Son of the Living God!  When Jesus asked His disciples who He was, Peter through the revelation of the Spirit replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Matthew 16:16).  This revelation is paramount for any believer who desires to live in spiritual authority.  The One who gives believers authority is the Anointed One; the Ruler of the Kings of the earth (Revelation 1:5); the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16)!

Spiritual authority is "keys of the kingdom of heaven".  It opens doors.  The keys need to be utilized.  It is not enough to have a key; the key is useful when it is used to open doors.  The kingdom of God is at hand when believers exercise spiritual authority!  This is an inheritance of the children of God: "whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19).  By reason of the authority given to believers in Christ Jesus, they can uproot and tear down; they can destroy and overthrow; and they can build and plant (Jeremiah 1:10).

What is required of believers is faith as small as a mustard seed and they will say to a mountain, "move from here to there" and it shall obey (Matthew 17:20).  What a great promise given to believers, that nothing will be impossible for those who have faith as little as a mustard seed.  Many of us suffer from unbelief.  It has actually been one of my greatest obstacles in ministry; making God too small in my eyes.  Indeed, unbelief grieves God (Hebrews 11:6).  Oh Lord, help our unbelief!

What does God require that I do to deal with the fox of unbelief that spoils my vineyard?  I am to immerse my self in hearing, reading, studying, memorize and meditating the Word of God.  This is because faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God.  Secondly, I must learn to set my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith (Hebrews 12:2).  As long as Peter looked onto Jesus, he walked on water.  When his focus shifted to the winds, he begun to sink.  O Lord, give us stubborn faith that acknowledges the facts of our circumstances and yet dares to believe the God of impossibilities!

Thirdly, the language of faith is prayer, thus believers who desire to live by faith must spend time in the secret place of prayer.  When the disciples were confronted by a case of a demon possessed boy who needed deliverance, they were unable to heal him (Matthew 17:14-21).  Were these not the same disciples who had healed the sick in Matthew 10 and cast out demons in Luke 10?  In this particular case where they were unable to heal the demon possessed boy.  Jesus pointing to their little faith indicated, "But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

It is without doubt, that prayer was at the center of Jesus' ministry.  At every available opportunity, Jesus prioritized prayer.  He was intentional about seeking God in prayer.  He understood that as fuel is to an engine, so is prayer to ministry.   There are over twenty five records of Jesus praying in the New Testament.  For example, we see Him sending the crowds away and retreating to pray until evening (Matthew 14:23).   In Mark 6:46, He left His disciples and went to the mountains to pray.  In Luke 6:12, He spent the whole night in prayer.  In Mark 1:35, he left the house early in the morning, to a secluded place to pray.  Luke 5:16 states that Jesus would often slip to the wilderness to pray.

Also, when believers walk in their spiritual authority, they disrupt the works of the "god of this world".  The devil knows this well and so he is also at work trying to prevent the advancement of the Kingdom of God.  He does not sit pretty and wait for believers to invade and take over his grounds.  He wages war instead.  Believers are in a 24-7 spiritual battle, whether they realize it or not.  Vigilance is essential.  Putting on the spiritual armour of God is mandatory.  The call of God upon our lives requires that we be always on guard.  Our assignment requires that we pray in the Spirit at all times (Ephesians 6:10-18).


It is sad to report that prayer for many believers today is not in their top three list of priorities.  Many of us are busy doing ministry and yet we are not willing to spend time with the Lord of the Harvest in prayer.  How can we effectively work when we hardly spend time to commune with our Lord, and receive grace and mercy to help in our time of need?  How can we trust (have faith in) the Lord, yet we hardly know Him?

"The priority of Jesus was not ministry to men.  It was spending time with His Father." Dr. Myles Munroe

Prayer nurtures your intimacy with God.  The more you know Him, the more you will know His character and gain insight to His heart.  In so doing, your faith is built up on God's power and not on mere head knowledge and human wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:5).

In exercising spiritual authority, a believer is required to speak (speaking both the written Word of God- logos and Rhema word).  Believers who spend time in the secret place speak many words to the Father thus while doing ministry, they need only speak a few words to men, demons and situations and they obey.  God does not want believers to be passive.  He is calling you and I to build the wall and stand in the gap on behalf of the land (Ezekiel 22:30).  He is calling us to continually call on Him day and night, until He establishes our land and makes it a praise among the nations (Isaiah 62:7)!

I wish to conclude by reiterating that any believer who desires to live in spiritual authority must live by faith and know the joy of the secret place of prayer (and fasting).  Bill Johnson provokes us to this kind of life by the following quote:

In private cry for more.  In public take risks.

Keep Watch; Be Ready- Part II

I recently saw a quote on social media which highlighted the popular slogan, "life is short, enjoy it."  However, thinking about it in light of God's Word, I realize that a believer's focus should not be enjoyment of life due to its brevity but rather should be on preparation for eternity.  Thus, a more helpful note on the quote is, "eternity is infinite, prepare for it!"

The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 is a continuation of the message to the Church on the Coming of Christ from the preceding chapter.  Prophecy is foretold of the state of the church at the times of the coming of Christ.  In ensuring that the message is clear to His disciples, Jesus tells the story of the ten virgins in the context of marriage ceremonies at that time.

Obtaining the background on wedding ceremonies in the Jewish culture helps us to better understand the parable of the ten virgins.  It is worth noting that different Jewish tribes and people groups may have celebrated the wedding ceremonies in varied ways.  I thus choose to highlight the common practices that cut across most if not all wedding ceremonies.  The first step in Jewish weddings was the betrothal where the groom visited the bride's family and formally engaged the bride by payment of a bride price.  The groom would then return to his father's home to prepare a house for the bride.  The groom's father would monitor the son's progress and would be the one to instruct the groom to go and take his bride.  The groom would normally send out a shout to alert the bride of his coming, though the bride would not know the hour of his coming.

Culturally, where the betrothal took place when the groom-to-be and bride-to-be were adults, the groom took about twelve months before he could take his bride to the house prepared for her.  The family members and the community would accompany the groom and the bride up to their house, where the bride would undergo ritual cleansing and a private wedding ceremony conducted.  Thereafter, the newly wed couple would know each other (the consummation).  This was then followed by a marriage feast.

The Church is already betrothed to Christ!  Our heavenly Father already paid the bride price for us.  He paid the penalty of our sin and redeemed us from eternal condemnation.  The bride price was Himself; He gave His Only Begotten Son to die for my sin and your sin.  This is the highest demonstration of His love.  There is no argument as to the love of God.  That love is complete and enough; reaching out to us from one generation to another!

Prior to Christ departing through His death, resurrection and ascension, He left his disciples with a promise that when He goes, He shall prepare a place for them.  Christ is preparing a chamber for His bride.  He awaits the Father to instructs Him to come for His bride.  He has sent out the shout to alert the Church that He is about to come.  His prayer is that you and I will be found ready.

John 14:1 states, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

This is the eternal hope to which we have been called.  The Groom is coming for us!  He will take me with Him that I may be with Him, to intimately know Him and become one with Him.  John reminds us that though we do not know what we will be when Christ appears, we assuredly know that we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2).  Our mortal bodies will be transformed to immortality (1 Corinthians 15:53), never again to struggle with the lusts of our eyes, the lusts of our flesh and the pride of life- this is the ritual cleansing of the bride.  We shall be clothed in fine linen, bright and clear (Revelation 19:8)!

We shall dine with the Groom at the marriage feast for seven years (Revelation 4-6), as those who remain behind after the rapture go through the great tribulation (Revelation 7-19).  No one who does not have the wedding clothes will be allowed at the wedding banquet of the Lord (Matthew 22:1-14).  Only those whose robes are spotless.  It will be unspeakable joy and divine rest for those who will be at the wedding banquet.  The invitation to the wedding banquet is to many, but only some will make it to be there with the Groom.

Reflecting on the parable of the ten virgins, we realize that they all had some things in common.  Each of them had a lamp; they were all expecting the groom to come, thus they went out to meet him; and since the bride groom took a long time to arrive they all became drowsy and slept.  The lamp is a representation of the salvation that we have received in Christ Jesus.  Jesus, the Word of God dwelling in our hearts is a lamp to our feet and a light to our paths (Psalms 119:105).

Salvation is instant, it is progressive and it is eternal.  The ten virgins had committed to follow Christ.  They were His.  I thank God that I made a commitment to follow Christ as a young girl.  This is the starting point of us preparing for eternity.  However, the journey of faith does not end at that initial commitment to follow Christ.  We must work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).  We must must take up our crosses daily and follow Christ (Matthew 16:24).  We must live and walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16).

The Church faces the danger of spiritual slumber at the time of the coming of Christ.  We must rise above our feelings, moods, ambitions, comforts and operate at a higher level of obedience to the Spirit.  This requires that we pomel our bodies and make them our slaves (1 Corinthians 9:27). 

Mark 13:35 states, "Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning."

The Laodicean church (Revelation 3:14-21) is a representation of the church of this age: materially wealthy; learned and advanced in many fields of knowledge, including medicine; highly influenced by the world; ruled by the people rather than God; lukewarm; and exposed to attacks/ vulnerable.  The comforts of today's church lure us to slumber.  Our intellect and self-reliance deceive us that we are secure, thus our alertness wanes.  Consequently, we lack the passion for God.  We are prone to religious drowsiness and destructive self-centerdness.

The five foolish virgins lacked oil and this constituted not being ready at the coming of the groom.  The lack of oil led to them being shut out of the wedding banquet.  The oil is a representation of the Holy Spirit.  I thank God for those who have accepted Christ as their Saviour and Lord.  I urge you by the grace of God, surrender your lives to the working of the Spirit for sanctification.   Be filled with the Holy Spirit!

Ephesians 517-20 states, "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Secondly, Jesus uses the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 to exhort the church to be faithful and wise stewards, till He returns.  The master in the parable was going on a journey and thus entrusted his property to his servants.  To one servant he gave five talents; to another he gave two talents; while to another he gave one talent.  The servant who received five talents worked them and bore five more.  The one who received two talents worked them and received two more.  The one who received one talent dug a hole and hid it in the ground.

The master is said to have taken a long time before returning.  Just like at the time of Noah when it took one hundred and twenty years (120) before the floods actually came as forewarned by God's servant; and just like in the parable of the ten virgins where the groom was a long time gone; so it is in this parable.  Waiting requires faithfulness (patient endurance) and wisdom (disciplined focus).  You and I must not loose sight on the gifts/ abilities God has entrusted to us for completion of His work.

When the master returned, he settled accounts with his servants.  Friends, a day is coming when we will give an account of what was entrusted to us.  The quality of our work will be tested and will be shown for what it is (1 Corinthians 12-15).  Your work done here on earth might have attracted men's accolades and made you popular.  Notwithstanding, before our master, our work will be subjected to a superior test: the Spirit's fire and the light of God's Word.  The person whose work survives the test will receive a reward.

How prepared are you for eternity?  We all desire and trust to live a long life.  As uncomfortable as this may sound, the reality of life is that some believers will be called home much earlier than others.  When God calls me home, whether earlier or later than expected, will I be ready?  What treasures will I have stored in heaven for eternity?  What works will follow me when I rest?

Revelation 14:13 states, "Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”  “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

The believers who were faithful and wise to undertake the work committed to them in their Father's Kingdom will be rewarded.  Matthew 24:47 states that God will reward such believers to be in charge of all his possession.  Both the servant who receives five talents and the one who receives two talents receive the same commendation.  Our performance rating as we stand before the Lord will not be against other people's performance, but rather against our God-given ability.

What has been entrusted to you? Focus on doing it faithfully and in wisdom. 

Believers must be deliberate in keeping the focus.  Paul in Philippians 3:12-14 says, "I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ... Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  In spite of the many distractions and reasons for discouragement, keep pressing on to run the race and win the prize.  Keep your eyes on Jesus!  

Those who will be ready at the coming of Christ will enjoy the wedding banquet of the Lord (Matthew 25:10).  Those who will have been faithful and wise stewards of what has been entrusted to them will be told, "Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:21,23).  The raptured saints, having enjoyed the wedding banquet and shared in their Father's happiness, will return to reign with Christ for one thousand years. 

Revelation 20:6 states, "Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years."

I pray to see you there at the wedding banquet of the Lamb.  The Groom's shout is out!  Behold He is coming for His Bride!