Do you know that the Holy Bible is the bestselling book of all time with over 5 billion copies sold and distributed? – Guinness World Record
FIVE BILLION COPIES (5,000,000,000) SOLD?
That’s really amazing! Isn’t it?
That suggests that more than a half of over 8 billion population of the world owns a Bible, or probably more than one Bible.
Have you got your own Bible? Don’t be left out! Join the divine train.
This singular statistics is an indisputable proof that the world cannot survive without the Word of God which dwells among us, and through which the world was made (John 1:12). The world is still in daily search of a life free of pain, sorrow and ultimate liberation.
Man’s freedom, prosperity, success, fulfillment and happiness in this life are inseparably tied to the application of God’s Word in his life. The same thing applies to people of all walks of life -whether the nations, governments, corporate organizations and so on. Our survival is in applying the Word of God in our daily activities.
God created the world by the ‘Word’ (John 1:1). And it is only by the Word can the world be sustained. Everything that is made by the Word can survive only by the Word.
It’s only by the Word you can be sustained and be fulfilled. Hence the command from the Lord, “Keep this book of the law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful Joshua 1:8 (NIV).
The Word of God is meant to dwell in every home and heart of mankind and influence our behavior, attitude, character and cause of action on a daily basis.
Studying, meditating, obeying and applying the word of God in our daily lives and activities bring about unprecedented success, prosperity and fulfillment.
WHERE IS YOUR BIBLE?
I ask you again, where is your Bible?
Do you have a Bible? When was the last time you opened through the pages?
Do you read, meditate and study your Bible day and night according to God’s command?
Do you obey and apply the will of God as contained in the Scriptures?
The Bible is the manual of human life. It is a divine mirror through which we view our lives. It is a channel of divine revelation and enlightenment.
Opening and reading through the Scriptures brings about the manifest revelational presence of God. It is a glorious moment when mysteries are uncovered and truths are revealed.
Through the study of the Bible, you get to discover yourself and come to understand your Maker’s desires and purpose for your life; which when discovered, brings prosperity, success, satisfaction, fulfillment and happiness in life.
Go get your Bible where you have left it. Get it dusted! Start reading it and begin the new life experience of discovering yourself and your Maker’s (God) purpose and expectations for your life.
All in the Bible!
Love the Bible
Read the Bible
Study the Bible
Share the Bible
Preach the Bible
Teach the Bible
Believe the Bible
Live the Bible
Kiss the Bible
Distribute the Bible
Do you know that the Holy Bible is the best selling book of all time with over 5 billion copies sold and distributed? –Guinness World Record
Do you have a Bible? Do you read your Bible? The Bible is the manual of human life. Through the study of the Bible, you get to discover yourself and come to understand your Maker’s desires and requirements of you; which determines your unstoppable success in life.
Love the Bible Read the Bible Study the Bible Share the Bible Preach the Bible Teach the Bible Believe the Bible Live the Bible Kiss the Bible Distribute the Bible
WHAT YOU WILL GAIN WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR LIFE FOR CHRIST!
Let me start by making it clear that no one who comes to Christ actually loses his/her life, but they submit their lives to save it through Christ. There’s no loss in Christ. What we consider as loss is the submission of one’s entire life to pass through the physical and spiritual process that aligns with the divine laws and principles of God that guarantees eternal salvation and rewards.
To the planet earth, this is a loss. But to heaven it is a process and a principle. And it is gain (Philippians 1:21).
Your Money or your Life
LABOUR AND REWARDS
Without a reward of some-kind, no human being will get down to work or get involved in any activity that will require expenditure of energy, time, talent and treasure. It is natural.
This is exactly what Proverbs say, “The appetite of labourers works for them; their hunger drives them on.” Proverbs 16:26
And the Lord said , ‘I search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according his conduct, and to what their deeds deserve’ Jeremiah 17:10.
You can see that God Himself is fully behind the principle of labour and reward.
LOSING ALL FOR CHRIST
Peter and other Jesus’ Apostles, upon encountering Christ lose their lives for Him by placing Him above everything they were and had.
They left their businesses, work, families, wives, children, friends, enemies, social activities, nightclub, adultery, fornication, cheating, lying, injustice, just to name a few, to follow Christ. They left EVERYTHING to follow Christ! Did you take note of that statement by Peter? “We have left everything to follow you.”
However, confusion ensued among the apostles after Jesus answered a certain rich ruler who inquired of Him what he (the ruler) must do to inherit eternal life (Matthew 19:16-30). As a result of Jesus’ response to the man’s question, Peter reacted!
PETER’S REACTION
Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us? Matthew 19:27
Like Peter, many followers of Christ when life hit them hard, are forced to question the Lord, what will be my reward for all these sacrifices I’m making for the sake of the kingdom? “I have lost my job, I have lost my friends, I have lost my family, I have lost my …….
What becomes of me?
AND JESUS SAID
And Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his throne, you, who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribe of Israel. And everyone who has left his houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:28-29.
Jesus also answered similar question in the gospel of Mark 8:35. And He said, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me (valuing Him above all else)and for the gospel will save it.
In the last edition I explained what it actually means to lose one’s life for Christ. Among all, remember it also includes losing one’s physical life when the situation necessarily requires that, like in the case of Brother Stephen in Acts of Apostles chapter eight (8)and the Twelve Apostles of Christ except John the Beloved who later died a natural death after losing his life for Christ.
WHAT HAVE YOU LOST FOR CHRIST AND FOR THE GOSPEL?
Apostle Paul exclaimed, “But whatever were gains to me, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ….”
Philippians 3:7-11
Every faithful soldier of Christ must have an injury.
If you are a true follower of Christ, there must be something you so much loved and engrossed to which you must have given up for the sake of following the Lord Jesus Christ, except you are a ‘fair-weather follower’(following Christ when it is convenient).
The assurance from the Lord for you that follows Him in season and out of season is that you will be rewarded far beyond how much you had given up or left for Christ’s sake and for the gospel. It can never go unrewarded.
Let’s list and analyze what Jesus said we will gain when we lose our lives for Him and for the gospel.
First reward;
Jesus addresses His apostles directly and specifically for them at that moment He said, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things , when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, ( when the new heaven and new earth will come to be. Revelation 21) you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Mt 19:29)
The word “Judging” in this context simply means ruling, presiding, and governing. So the Apostles, for forsaking their lives for Christ and for the gospel, in addition to so many other rewards, will receive, and rule over the twelve tribes of Israel forever. This reward is specifically spelt out for “the twelve apostles”
Second reward
Jesus addresses everyone including the apostles, his disciples, you, myself and all who will later believe in Him and follow Him. Whatever we left or lost to follow him -whatsoever it is, we will receive a hundred times as much. Mt 19:29
What have you lost for the sake of Christ and for the gospel? Jesus says to you, ‘You will receive it back a hundred times here on earth.’ This reward is going to be received here on earth as we journey from earth to heaven. Note: it will be given to those who have not given up their faith in Christ, who are still in the Lord Jesus Christ and are in active service of the Master.
Third reward;
“And will inherit eternal life” (Mt 19:29)
For losing your life for Christ and for the gospel, you will inherit eternal life.
You will be counted among those that will hear this word from the triumphant King of kings, Master of the universe, Jesus Christ, “Come you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” (Mt. 25:34)
Fourth reward;
“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it”(Mk 8:35)
Take this again, “WHOEVER LOSES HIS LIFE FOR ME AND FOR THE GOSPEL WILL SAVE IT”
The word “SAVE” in this context is all encompassing. It covers a wide range of benefits which we are going to be explored line by line.
By valuing Christ above your life and everything else in your life, you would have saved your life.
What is the meaning of the word “SAVE?”
(Greek word ‘sozo’ which has been translated in the New Testament as follows :
•Save
•saved
•Whole
•Healed
•Preserve
•Well
In other words Jesus is saying, as you lose your life for me and for the gospel, you have SAVED your life, you have made yourself WHOLE (restored), you have HEALED yourself of every illness and disease, you have PRESERVED your life for eternal reward and you have made everything to go WELL with you in this life and in the life after. You have become God’s number 1 property. God’s eyes are always on you to favour you.
CONCLUSION
There’s a statement that Jesus dropped in the last verse of Matthew 19, and He said, “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”
Don’t give up your heavenly race! We are closer to the finishing line than when we set out.
What we just described as our rewards from the Lord is the little that the Lord enables our mind to comprehend.
It is written; “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived – the things God has prepared for those who love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9
Our eternal rewards are indescribable, words can not express them. The only qualification is to remain faithful till the end.
Shalom.
By Romanus O. Obiekosi
•Author •Evang. •Singer/Music Coach.
The will power of man is the strength he has as a human being. Whatsoever conquers the will power conquers the man. on the other hand, anything that cannot conquer a man’s will power cannot dominate nor rule over him.
A man’s will power is the enabling force endowed him by God to dominate his environment. You cannot rule over your environment, if your will power is not strong. You need strong will to rule.
So God created man in His own image…. And God blessed them and said unto them, be fruitful and multiply. and replenish the earth and subdue it… Genesis 1:27-28
It is impossible for a man to dominate his environment and live in total victory if his will power is weakened. To dominate and conquer, one’s has to be strong. Every trouble that will attempt to dominate a man will first work on his will power, either to steal or weaken it. No sickness or problems of life can kill or destroy your life, until you give up your will to live. Therefore, whatever cannot overpower your will, cannot overpower you.
The Scriptures say: The thief cometh not, but for to steal and to kill and to destroy; I am come that you might have life and have it abundantly John 10:10
Satan steals before he kills and destroys. Every negative pressure exerted on a man is targeted at him losing his power of resistance.
My dear reader, no matter the pressure or pain exerted on you by any situation or person, if you do not surrender your will power, you will triumph at the end. It is not about how big the problem or challenge may look; rather it is all about the strength of your will power. Therefore, we can say if your will power to live or survive is strong, you will win of problems of life, but if your will to live is weak or even gone, then you will lose to the problems of life.
Every difficult situation or satanic manipulations you encounter today are programmed to force you to accept defeat.
And when the tempter came to him, he said if thou be the Son of God command that these stones be made bread… Matthew 4:3-6
Satan tempted Jesus in diverse ways. The sole object of his temptations was to lure Jesus away and manipulate him to surrender his will power. But Jesus realizing his tricks countered him with the word of God.
If you stand out and refuse to accept the will of the devil concerning you or your family, his plan will not materialize in your life. This was the reason satan could not conquer or have control over Jesus. Jesus refused to surrender his will power to the devil. He chose to uphold the will of God. He vehemently rejected all that the devil had to offer. And the end product was that God’s perfect will was done in his life. Inner weakness is a sign of a weakened will, while inner strength is a proof of a strong will.
REFUSE TO GIVE UP YOUR WILL POWER
Listen, Jesus refused to give in to the devil attacks and tricks and the devil could not conquer him, rather he conquered the devil. It doesn’t matter what you have passed through, or are passing through or are passing through in life, one fact you must not forget is that, if your will to make it is strong and you are willing to stand your ground, resisting the devil to the end, you will conquer your situation.
Satan could not dominate Adam and Eve until they surrendered their will power to him. The temptation imposed on Adam and Eve by the devil is much the same with the one he set before Christ. Satan made several suggestions on both occasion, but he never forced either of them to succumb, because he had no power over their will.
The devil said to Adam: “Yea, hath God saith ye shall not eat of every tree of this garden?. Genesis 3:1b
The action of Eve in the above Bible quotation was a product of the conversation she had with the devil previously. As a result of her giving consideration to the satanic suggestions, Eve’s will power was weakened, and as result, she could longer exercise control over her actions.
Whatever happens around you, the satanic movement and activities are actually targeted at what is inside you. So refuse to give in. Satan made Eve to feel and see the wrong thing. The outcome was that Eve willingly submitted her will to the devil. Satan did not impose the forbidden fruit on her, she willingly partook of it. Today, a lot people are willingly surrendering their will powers to the devil through the nature of their desire or acceptance of their problem as a means to their death. Such people usually blame their predicaments on satan and his cohort. But the truth is that, no power can conquer or rule over you until you surrender your will power to it. We can therefore conclude that if one’s will is intact, one’s strength will remain strong. This means that strength can be sustained by keeping the will power intact.
Satan had to rely on this conversation with Eve to know the truth about God’s instructions to her and her husband at Eden. What you know that another does not know is what gives you advantage over him. Until you open to the devil the content of your heart, he has no control over it. It is to this end that the Scripture enjoins us to resist the devil. You need to understand the need to resist the devil and keep him away from your heart. Do not give the devil any room for suggestion and arguments or any type of conversation. He should be simply resisted and forced to flee. When a man makes room for the devil’s suggestion, he risks being lured away from what he knows. The reaction of satan when Eve opened up to him was to fire his destructive bullet immediately against her. Genesis 3:6.
Delilah could not cut the hair of Samson until she convinced him to surrender his will power. She manipulated him to expose the secret of his power to her (Judges 16:6 KJV). So Delilah said to Samson, tell me the secret of your strength and how you can be tied and subdued (Judges 16:6 CBV).
One of the messages exposed in this translation is that when one’s will is intact, one’s strength will remain strong. This means that strength can be sustained by keeping the will intact. Until Samson told Delilah the secret of his power, he remained in control of the Philistines. He remained undefeated in battle. But the day Samson willingly exposed the secret of his strength; he lost his immunity to defeat. Your will power is your strength. Your ability to rule over your circumstances depends on your will power. The powers from hell may be fighting had to frustrate you, but you can overcome them if you refuse to surrender your will power.
YOU CAN REGAIN YOUR LOST STRENGTH
Samson lost his hair, his strength and his dominion over the Philistine. They in return ridiculed and made mockery of his God. Yet that was not the end of Samson, he refused to die until he had seen the restoration of his power. You may also have found yourself in a position of mockery, owning to your circumstances, you may have surrendered your will power to the devil like Samson did, but then do not kill yourself yet. The good news for you is that you can bounce back. You can reclaim your lost glory.
My dear reader. Samson did not die a ridicule; he died a warrior. Samson willingly surrendered his strength to the devil. so also he willingly recovered it. He had to fight had to regain his lost strength. I do not know what you are passing through presently. I don’t know those desires of yours that have not materialized, but there is one thing I know very well, if your will power to overcome is strong, you will not die in your problems. It is possible to turn your circumstances around for the better. God bless you.
By Evang. Gibson C. Eze
Gibson C. Eze is a Preacher of the gospel, an Evangelist and Author with a special anointing of God upon his life. He is the CEO of Gibchim Nigeria Limited, he also the President of Gibchim Mentorship Institute and Publisher of the fast spreading Newsletter called the “Christendom.”
He is in constant demand for conference, Retreats, conventions and Crusades within and outside the country.
This is a critical question that demands an in-depth and meticulous thought.
For every endeavor one embarks upon, there is always preparation.
The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew’s gospel chapter 25:1-13 will help us.
Ten vurgins prepared to meet the bride groom. Five of them were wise -sincere Christians while the other five were foolish -hypocrites.
The foolish ones did not take extra oil, posses grace – meaning inadequate preparation and hence were disqualified. Do you have extra oil for your lamp? Is your light on or off? Please, check.
In Matthew 22:1-14, Jesus illustrated the kingdom if heaven with parable of wedding feast. Many are called to the wedding feast, that is to salvation but few have the wedding garment, the righteousness of Christ, the sanctification of the Spirit. We are all called to prepare for the scrutiny and those who put on the Lord Jesus, who have a Christian temper of
mind; who lives by faith in Christ and to whom He is all and all, have the wedding garment.
How prepared are you to meet your God? Are you putting on a wedding garment? You need to be very sure and absolutely convinced because that is the only ticket or criteria for your entry.
For one to meet God, one must conform to His standard, fulfil His conditions and principles. For instance:
Holiness: God is holy and can never compromise His standard. In Exodus 19:10-15 God gives Israelites two days to prepare themselves, wash their clothes before coming to meet Him at Mount Sinai.
The journey of the Israelites with God that supposed to last for 40 days was extended to 40 years because of their unfaithfulness and ungodliness. God is holy and want His people to be holy too.
Jesus died on the cross to destroy the nature of sin, that which separates man from God. By His resurrection He restored man the nature of God.
Holiness is our nature as believers and followers of Jesus Christ. it flows from within us. It is part of us because we posses the gene/seed of God through Jesus. Whoever that is prepared to meet God must be clothed with garment of holiness (Hebrews). Check yourself! Which garment are you putting on as you walk towards meeting your God? IS it garment of sin – sexual immorality, lying, unforgiveness, idolatry, worldliness, greediness? You must put them off for God can never behold iniquity. 2 Timothy 2:19 tells us about the standard of God – whoever that call the name of God must depart from iniquity. You must die to sin, get rid of your sinful nature and put on the new nature, the nature of holiness (Ephesians 4:23-24).
Your preparation should not be based on your own standard. A life that is prepared to meet God must be absolutely sure, very convinced, not quessing or based on assumption but confirmed that he/she. has the new nature..
Jesus in John 3:3 emphasized it when He was addressing Nicodemus. Unless a man is born again he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Unless a man possess the Spirit of God, absolutely and consciously yields and control or led by the Spirit of God, he/she cannot meet God.
A life that possess the Spirit of God should display in action, in words, in thoughts and even in appearance, Infact in all things the most prominent attribute and evidence of the Holy Spirit which is holiness. You need to check your life once again brother/sister- How prepared are you to meet your God?
A LIFE THAT IS PREPARED TO MEET GOD
Romans 12:1-2 says, “Offer your body as living sacrifice. A life or one that is prepared to meet God must continuously and delibrately. laydown his/her life as a living sacrifice on the altar of God. God does not accept any-how sacrifice. It cannot be of a dead animal. It must be living and healthy before it can be accepted. Leviticus 1:1-4
In our days, the sacrifice God looks for is not of bull, ram, and birds but the sacrifice of a life that has been redeemed from sin and the flesh; a life that is totally laid ob the altar of sacrifice.
Beloved, pause and check again. What kind of life are you placing on your altar of sacrifice? Is it a double standard life -hypocrisy/compromise? Is it a decay and disintegrated life of fornication, adultery, lesbianism, gay, homosexual, masturbation, abortion, cultism, stealing, cheating etc.; No! It can’t be, for sacrifice such as this is not a reasonable and acceptable sacrifice. Your life is already on fire on the altar of sacrifice. Always remain burnt. A burnt sacrifice does not turn back to its original form. For instance – Ice block melts to water, vis-versa but burnt paper turns to ashes and cannot return to its original form. So remain burnt so that your aroma will always be pleasant and acceptable by God.
A life that is prepared to meet God must settle the case of unforgiveness.
Forgiveness is the ability to remember the wrongs done by others without feeling the pain.
Love and understanding play role in forgiveness. We must cry to God for a heart filled with love so as to always put on love as a basic clothe. With an understanding of what Jesus did for us on the cross, nothing should be too big to let go. We should learn to give excuses for offences committed; carry the bowels of mercy; forgive in advance; look beyond the person and see in her/him Mr. Flesh at work.
Jesus our role model. understood this. He differed all odds, went to the cross just to crush Mr. Flesh (Chief producer of unforgiveness). He put him to death on the cross so that we shall be free and our eyes open to follow and act/be like Him. God through Jesus forgives us even while we yet sinners. Jesus prayed for His killers. Stephen also prayed the same to demonstrate to us the possibility of frgiveness.
Note: God has forgiven us of our sins, but each time we sin by refusing to forgive others, those sins are recalled. Matthew 18-23-25. It is life for life and forgiveness for forgiveness Romans 12:17-19.
A life that is prepared to meet God must fulfil the condition Jesus gives in Luke 9:23-26
· Deny yourself
· Carry your cross daily
· Follow Him
· Loose yourself for Him
· Suffer shame for Him
· Cleave steadfastly in Him
· Loose the world
Unless one meet up these conditons, he/she will not be qualified to meet his/her God. Self denial means to forget self, disown yourself, loose sight of yourself and interest, refuse or give up yourself, renounce or leave yourself behind.
Carrying our cross daily entails yielding for the burden of Jesus deliberately, voluntarily and consciously. The burden of Jesus is seeking for lost souls and touching lives. It involves enduring shame, suffering and pain momentarily. They come in different forms, at different levels and time. So we must not choose altarnatives, cut corners. dodge them or jump out of them but patiently accept and endure tnem so that your mind will be renewed and you will be able to achieve your supreme objective of becoming like your master Jesus and meeting your God..
A life that is prepared to meet God must look up and not down as written Colossians 3:1-4 Seek the things that are above, were Christ is, where God you desire to meet is. Set your mind on things that are above not on things that are on earth. Earth is full of distractions, worldliness and evils. You are a child of the kingdom -focus on things above, desire, pursue and occupy your mind with with business of the kingdom. Do not be of the world. The world and itd pleasures are perishing. If you want to enjoy the world and also enjoy heaven, you will end up loosing all and suffer the lost of your soul Luke 9:23. Distinguish yourself from the world in all things. Check your type of business/job, dressing, friendship, association (club) and wherever you spend your leisure time, God is interested in all. In your journey to meet your God, you must be confronted wirh so many conflicts and battles.
You will battle with satan -the tempter and his agents, you will battle with Mr. Flesh who yields and co-operate with the devil to produce sin in you, and battle with the world system. Remember the only sort of spiritual conflict that’s ever successfully won is the one God fights for you. He does not expect you to win the battle, only to surrender to Him and let Him win it for you. So you are not supposed to fight, yours is to fight the good fight of faith 1Timothy 6:12. Yours isn’t a battle of exhusting effort, it’s the battle of believing God for victory.
Trust your God – Jehovah Nissi to prevail for you because the battle is not yours but God’s Exodus 14:14..
Jesus says, “The world will make you suffer but be of good cheer because I have overcome the world John 16:33.
Note also that holiness and righteousness are wonderful shield, defensive coverage and powerful weapons of warfare. Bro Paul says, “Put on the full armour of God, so…. you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” Eph. 6:11. You are to wear God’s armour not -yours. You are to stand -not fight. “The weapons of our warfare are not canal but God’s powerful weapon…. 2 Corinthians 10:4. So act wisely.
There is no one that was created empty. We are all embedded witg great potenials each one according to his ability. A life that is prepared to meet God must discover his own potentials, God’s divine purpose for his life and make effort to accomplish it. Matthew 25:14-30. Ephessians 2:10 says, “God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ He has created us for a life of good deeds which He has already prepared for us to do”. You are to meet your God with your own score card of good works and receive reward accordingly.
Preparation if meeting God is a conscious, continuous process and should be done minute by minute, all through the day and our lifetime. You should have the understanding that God is in you, He dwells in you -your body is His temple and be conscious how you live your life. You should work on your mind to be ever ready to cmmune with Him in your mind all the time. When your mind is correct/ready in His presence, in your place of prayer, in your quiet time, at the table of His word and in His kingdom at the end. Make conscious effort to renew your mind because it is only a renewed mind that can commune with God..
DANGERS OF INADEQUATE PREPARATION
– Consequence of endless death in hell awaits anyone who did not prepare adequately, and one who neglect his own work.
– All your efforts so far and sacrifices wilk be in vain.
– You will live a miserable and defeated Christian life.
Jesus continued, “Be on your guard then because you do not know what day your Lord will come”. Daily appropriate preparation is very neccessary because a lot of people have gone unprepared -be warned!
Any new day we see is an opportunity given to us to work on ourselves towards drawing close to Him on daily basis. Use the opportunity given to you to repent sincerely
The axe is ready to cut down the trees at the root. Luke 3:9. May you never be cut down. May you never be wasted. God and His angels are ready. In love, He opens His arms to receive you – BE WISE!
Many Christians today take God’s mercy and goodness for granted. They continue to toy with sin loiter in the enemy’s territory, thinking that the absence of immediate consequences is a license to continue to indulge in sin. Romans 2:4-11. To what arear of your life is God pointing His flashlight right now? Notice what the Philistines did to Samson immediately he was captured. Judges 16:21. His eyes were plucked out with sharp object. Why do you think they did this? Be warned! 2 Corinthians 13:5 says, “Put yourselves to the test and find out whether you are living in faith”.
Lamentation 3:40 says, ” Let us examine ourselves and turn back to the Lord. The ball is in your court. May God in His mercy encounter our hearts and make us ever ready to meet Him in Jesus name. Amen.
In the presence of God, there’re no limitations and there’re no boundaries. Any good thing can happen!
Paul and Silas by the order of the magistrates in Philippi were stripped, beaten with rods and severely flogged, and finally thrown into prison.
WITH WOUNDS AND PAINS
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. Did you get that? They were beaten with rods for the sake of gospel of Jesus Christ. And now with wounds, pains and blood all over their bodies they could lift their voices in praise and worship to God whose assignment brought them suffering and imprisonment.
The Lord responded to their praises and worship with awesome manifestation of His presence and power. As a result of the manifest presence of Jesus, Suddenly ‘there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.’
‘AND EVERYONE’S CHAINS CAME LOOSE’
Whenever you find your way into God’s presence, and you are prepared in your heart to meet God, the grace of Jesus’ presence covers you and any good thing can happen to you at that moment. It does not matter who you were before entering into His presence. What matters is that you are now in His presence and any miracle could happen to you.
All the prisoners under the open-heaven’s atmosphere of Paul and Silas got their miracles of release and freedom -even the Jailer and his household got eternal salvation. Even as you read through this article, I pray for you; may the presence of Jesus who sits besides you right now set you free from any kind of chains and oppression in your life in Jesus’ name. Any spiritual magistrate that gives evil orders over your life has lost his authority in Jesus’ name. Amen!
