PASTOR’S CORNER

DWELLING IN THE MYSTERIES OF GOD’S LOVE:

LOVE PRESERVES BY PROMISE

REFERENCES: ACTS 13: 32- 34, LUKE 24: 34- 45, I CORINTHIANS 15: 50; 53-57, ROMANS 8:2

Love preserves.

You do not allow what you love- what is dear to you- to be destroyed. Instead, you do what you must to keep and preserve it.

When God preserves, He does so by first giving a promise.

Acts 13: 32- 34

And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again…

Other versions omit again in verse 33, because they could not see how Jesus could have died and have been raised more than once.

Yet, the integrity of the Scripture is without question.

When a man is baptised, he dies, is buried, and raised up from death.

In as much therefore as Christ was baptised, He also died, was buried, and raised from the dead. This means that His death on the Cross, and resurrection from the grave was indeed again.

…as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

When Christ came out of the water, God declared Him, for the first time, to be His beloved Son (Lk 3:22). When He resurrected from the dead again, He was declared to be the firstborn Son from the dead (Col 1: 18).

And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption…

... now no more return to corruption.

This means that He had once seen corruption, but now, He was not to go back to it, ever again.

So, after the first death and resurrection; after the first declaration of His Sonship, He saw corruption and death. He was stripped, beaten, wounded, humiliated and killed.

However, when He arose again; after the second declaration, it was never again to behold corruption.

It is time also for you to hold on to God’s promises; to declare that you will now no more see affliction, oppression, demotion, failure, humiliation, anymore.

…he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

When God wants to preserve, He gives a promise.

Even as He allowed satan to touch Job, by His word, He set boundaries that the devil could not dare to cross.

In order for Christ to know that He would never again see corruption, God gave Him a promise. He gave Him the sure mercies of David.

Be sensitive and careful when God begins to talk to you about Jeremiah, Job, Ezekiel, Elijah, Elisha, Peter, John, Mary, Martha or Paul.

Take time to study the life of that witness of the Faith, because He is leading you to the promise that will preserve you.

This is the confidence- the mystery behind the boldness- with which we rebuke, and frustrate the enemy. We hold on to, and declare the promise.

Christ spoke based on the promises of God. He was not discouraged by the knowledge that His disciples would leave Him, because He had a promise that His Father would be with Him.

He told the Jews to destroy this temple (His body), because He had the promise that He would be raised again on the third day.

He went to the Cross by promise.

He even comforted His disciples by the promise. It did not matter that they did not know He was coming back. He had the Word and that was His confidence.

He was confident that His troubles were temporary because He had the promise. He had the assurance of the Father that, although He is killed and buried, He would get up.

Men may see you going through the fire, and conclude that you have lost; but you know that He will not abandon you there. Therefore, you speak boldly at the sight of the raging fire, and walk confidently in the midst of the burning furnace because you have the promise that preserves.

Understand that God did not write a new Scripture to bring Christ our Saviour back from the dead. The Father simply referred Him to what is already written; and what was directly written to David worked for Him.

Whenever God wants to bring you out, He will send you to the Book. When the Book is given to you, it becomes the Living Scripture.

Lk 24: 34- 45

Saying, the Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of the them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.

After appearing to certain disciples in Emmaus, the men went back to give the others the good news- the Lord is risen indeed.

As they reported what they had witnessed, Christ appeared in their midst. Standing before a group of terrified and frightened men, He invited them to handle Him, that they may see that He was not a ghost, as they assumed. He even asked for meat. When broiled fish and a honeycomb was placed before Him, He ate the meal right in their presence.

Then, He told them that all that had happened to Him was a reflection of all the words of promise God had given Him.

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

His sufferings, death and resurrection were according to the promise of the Father.

Whatever will happen in your life is going to be by the promise. Your blessings, breakthrough, promotions, fulfilment of destiny; they will be by the Word.

Now, consider.

All things written concerning Christ, in the law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms, came to pass. In your life, all things written in the law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms, as well as the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles and Revelation must come to pass.

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.

It is therefore crucial that you know the promise of God concerning your life. Sadly, many are still struggling to walk in the reality of God’s promises because they lack understanding. Like the disciples, they are in need of the spirit of understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.

After resurrection, Christ ate meat, bread, fish and honeycomb; and He went to heaven. How was that possible? (O, and did the meal digest?)

I Cor 15: 50

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

How was it that Christ inherited God’s kingdom, when He was flesh and blood?

I Cor 15: 53-57

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

We have seen Jesus preserved by divine promises. It is time to see you.

There is a point you get to, where you declare that, there is no law- scientific, spiritual, ancestral, territorial- that has the capacity to stop you.

Death is swallowed up by the victory that you have in Christ, and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith (1Jn 5:4)

There is a celestial body that is not subject to any law of this realm. When you put on this body, no power can kill you. Whatever comes upon you, will experience you as iron- impenetrable, destructive to them.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law (NIV)

God has revealed the power of death to you.

You need to get this now.

It does not matter how many times you see signs of death around you. Death has no power where they is no sin. The question that matters therefore is whether sin is in your life, or not.

This is how you put off corruption and put on incorruption. When you conquer sin, you conquer death, corruption and mortality.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Brethren, God gives you the victory, continually.

You are preserved, as long as you dwell in the word of God, in the love of God. As long as you yield to His instructions, rebukes, and corrections, you are continually preserved.

In the presence of the disciples, Christ levitated, ascending into heaven.

Where was the law of gravity at that point? It did not have the capacity to bring my Master back to the earth.

Christ is the end of the law. Therefore, no law had the capacity to dictate how far He could go, or how long He could stay up.

He ascended, and kept ascending into the heavens, because His law declares that what goes up, goes higher still; and cannot be brought down.

What law in your world is waiting for you to crash from your high place in Christ? It is time to prove them wrong.

Let it be known that no law, no vision, no dream has the capacity to bring you down; because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made [you] free from the law of sin and death. (Rom 8:2)

PRAYER POINTS

In the name of Jesus,

• Fire of God, clothe me like a garment.

• Raw fire of God, appear in my life.

• By the mercies of the LORD, I will not see oppression, affliction, humiliation…any more.

• Any law, in my world, fighting against my destiny; I overcome you, and damage you by fire.

 

PASTOR’S CORNER

DWELLING IN THE MYSTERIES OF GOD’S LOVE:

DEALING WITH THE ENEMIES OF GOD’S LOVE

REFERENCES: MATTHEW 24:12-13, ROMANS 8:35, LUKE 22:31, PROVERBS 27: 22

 

As you learn to dwell in the mysteries of God’s love, you must know that His love attracts enemies.

Enemies will come against you when they discover that God loves you. You must know these adversaries of God’s love, and how to deal with them.

 

Matt 24:12-13

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

 

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (NIV)

 

The abounding iniquity refers to an increase in wickedness; in the works and manifestations of evil.

When the enemy sees God’s love in your life, he will rise against you. He will multiply bombardments of attacks against you, for a purpose.

 

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

 

There will be attacks against you, against your children, finances, health; all because you love God.

The attacks are to make your love for God grow cold.

 

The enemy’s hope is that the overwhelming bombardment of attacks will make you fall away. Yet, God has called you to endure hardness, as a good soldier of Christ; for it is he who endures to the end that shall be saved.

 

Rom 8:35

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

 

Tribulation, sickness, discouragement, un-forgiveness, distress, persecution, peril, sword...These are all personalities in the kingdom of darkness; and they are on a mission.

Their mission is to separate you from the love of Christ.

 

When you confess and declare your love for Christ, these personalities will come to shake the confidence of your declaration. The devil sends them to separate the love of God, your trust and confidence in Him, from you.

 

However, God allows these bombardments because, through them, He works to separate your weaknesses- your error, indiscipline- from you.

 

Observe a grain or legume. At the beginning of its journey, God allows the chaff to grow with the grain.

However, at the time of harvest, God expects there to be a separation.

 

This is the picture of a Christian. There are chaff- ancestral, foundational, territorial- that you were born with; that have grown with you and that have stubbornly clung on to your life.

When you reach the point of maturity- of harvest, God expects you to cast them off.

 

Lk 22:31

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

 

The devil however has a different plan. While God seeks separation in order to save the grain, the devil fights to discard of the grain and retain the chaff.

 

The corn I de-husked did not grow on the altar; I sought for it.

In the same manner, the devil searches out anyone who is loved by God.

He saw that Peter was loved by God. He was always where Jesus was; he did what others could not do; his name was changed from reed to stone.

 

When God loves you, you are in good trouble. You will do well not to compare yourself with others, but rather prepare for a fight.

 

Pro 27: 22

Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

 

It is a common practice in Nigerian villages to separate beans from the chaff by pounding in a mortar, with a pestle. Special care is taken during the process, because the aim is not to crush the beans, but to separate the chaff from the beans.

 

God also mounts pressure on you for this purpose: to separate your foolishness from you.

When you discover that you are going through the mortar- and- pestle pressure, it is because God needs you now. He wants to put you in His mouth, but that will not happen while your life is encased in the chaff of sin that have grown with you.

 

Now, the devil’s agenda is the opposite. He desires to take the wheat- the love of God- from you.

 

When he succeeds in doing this, men will tire of following after God. Their love for His presence, His word, service, prayer... would have gone cold due to constant attacks of confusion, discouragement, disfavour, sickness, disappointments...

 

This is the fight. The enemy of God’s love in your life wants to sift you, making you an empty, fruitless chaff, retaining only the worst of you.

 

God however wants to separate you from the worst of you, retaining all the good that He has predestined you to be, for His good purpose.

 

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

 

The devil succeeded in sifting the love of Christ out of Peter.

The bombardment of the wicked sifted love out of his life...first, he was confronted by the damsel, then by other men who kept insisting he was with Jesus; one even noticed his accent!

 

Satan organised all these.

Thankfully, Christ had prayed for him, that he would be converted again; that he would once again walk in the love of Christ.

In whatever way you have been separated from the love of God, today, I call you back, in the name of Jesus.

 

God has a mortar and pestle, with which He separates the chaff of malice, anger, envy, laziness, indiscipline... from you. When He is done, you will become a grain that He can put in His mouth. Then, you will speak from the mouth of God, and every word you say will be backed by Him.

 

The devil instead seeks to take you away from the love of God. He does not want everyone to enjoy the love.

I pray for you; that whatever the devil has put in place against you, to separate the love of God from you, shall be destroyed in the name of Jesus.

 

PRAYER POINTS

In the name of Jesus,

• Fire of God, possess my life again, to love God again.

• Whatever the devil has put in place to separate me from the love of God; I scatter and destroy you by fire.

• Every attack of the devil to separate me from the love, fire, power of God; I destroy by fire now.

• Whatever the devil has put in place to take me out of the land of the living; I destroy by fire now.

• Whatever the devil has put in place to take me out of the love, fire, power, presence of God; I destroy by fire now.

• Any personality behind any affliction in my life; I destroy you by fire in the name of Jesus.

 

PASTOR’S CORNER

DWELLING IN THE MYSTERIES OF GOD’S LOVE:

LOVE IS AN INHERITANCE

REFERENCES: TITUS 3:7-8, I JOHN 4:13, I CORINTHIANS 2:12, ACTS 4:12, ISAIAH 30:27- 29, ACTS 25: 17-19

 

Love is an inheritance.

You did not work for it; it was given to you in love, and because of love. This means that love is both the source and sustainer of your inheritance.

Love is also the foundation, and the ultimate; for God so loved the world that He gave Love.

 

While we were yet sinners, He died for us. Love is a gift given to us as an inheritance. It has nothing to do with what we did, or deserved...

 

Today, you are going to put an end to every evil ancestral work that has been showing itself alive in your life. Whatever evil you inherited from your earthly ancestry must be terminated in your life.

 

Science believes that sicknesses, traits, and medical conditions are hereditary; I believe that the wisdom, strength, power, mental acumen in Jesus is also hereditary. If Jesus has it, then I have it by inheritance.

 

He takes away the first that He may establish the latter.

You have been redeemed into a new blood line.

Because you have new blood- the blood of Jesus- flowing in you, the only traits that are permitted to be seen in you are those of your new heritage.

 

Therefore, any evil trait of your old bloodline that is still showing itself significant in your life shall be taken away.

 

Tit 3:7-8

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.

 

The vision of God is that we should be made heirs; that we should receive capacity to inherit all that He has.

 

Do not give your life to a man who cannot give you the capacity to become an heir.

You need a man who will build up in you, the capacity to receive all that God has for you.

 

Inheritance is not for babes, but for matured people.

You have to grow to become an heir. You need to go through the process of being made an heir. To that end, you need someone who will feed you with the word of God- the sincere milk of the Word- by which you will grow, in divine capacity, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and power.

 

This is according to the hope of Eternal life, that is, Jesus Christ; and it is a faithful saying.

It is therefore your duty to constantly say it- affirm it, declare it, insist on it, do not stop asserting it... that the power, wisdom, strength, knowledge of God; all these are hereditary, and are your inheritance. Keep saying it in prayer, undaunted by whatever you see.

 

We continue to affirm this in TRPM, and will not stop, so that others who believe in Christ will be encouraged to continue in Him. Thus, they will also enjoy divine inheritance.

 

When you inherit God-His power, wisdom, strength, fire- it will show in your body, business, life...

 

...These things are good and profitable unto men.

Brethren, as long as you say these things, you will make profit by them. However, if you do not have these things, you will suffer loss.

 

I Jn 4:13

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

 

I Cor 2:12

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

 

We know that we are in God because He has given us His Spirit.

You did not pay for this Spirit. It is an inheritance; and you cannot have the Spirit of God and not have His love.

 

God gave us His Spirit, on purpose and for a purpose.  

We have His Spirit, so that, through Him, we may know all the things that God has given us freely.

 

By the Spirit therefore, we have access to all that God has given us: His power, wisdom, fire, strength, wealth, blessings...

 

But what are to do about the adversarial powers of our households and territories?

 

Acts 4:12

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 

There is a name.

This name is given to you on earth, by God.

Again, He gave you the name on purpose; for by this name you are saved from sin.

By this name also, you must be delivered- from ancestral influence and judgement.

 

Your deliverance is non-negotiable.

YOU MUST BE SAVED.

 

This is the assignment of this ministry: to build you up, and teach you to get rid of every enemy of your divine heritage.

 

You have the Spirit, by which you know all that God has given you as your inheritance.

You also have the Name, by which your deliverance is guaranteed.

 

Therefore, you are to use the Name against every enemy of your body, business, marriage, destiny...

 

Use the Name to cut down, and destroy every ancestral power that dares to block your way.

Nothing in your ancestral bloodline is permitted to boast over your life anymore. No evil inheritance is permitted to be significant in your life any longer.

Do not join those who believe they must get to heaven before they enjoy their lives.

God loves you so much that He gave you the Nam to use here on earth.

 

It was not an afterthought.

He had already anticipated, and therefore, made provision for you to conquer these powers on earth.

 

Do you know the weapons and power that are in the Name?

 

Isa 30:27- 29

Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:

 

The Name can walk. No distance is too far for Him to reach.

The personality called The name of Jesus can locate any evil stronghold, and He goes there full of anger and indignation. The weight of what He carries is so great.

 

The Name speaks. He speaks destruction upon your enemies.

 

When you call upon that Name, He will appear, and when He does, your enemies will see and recognise Him.

 

There is fire in the Name.

O! That you would understand the mystery of the Name!

 

When you say, ‘my life, be delivered by fire in the name of Jesus’, you are calling forth the fire that IS in the Name.

 

And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.

 

His spirit shall flow to the neck of the midst of the neck of your enemies, and He shall destroy them.

 

Ye shall have a song...

 

Then, you will have a song. Brethren, you must have the song of victory.

That is what you have been given the Name for; to guarantee that you will sing the song of victory.

 

You cannot be in the Kingdom of God and lack the power of God. You must constantly affirm your inheritance in Him, and speak destruction against every ancestral flow by fire in the name of Jesus.

 

Acts 25: 17-19

Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

 

Oftentimes, you wonder why you face such magnitude of opposition. It is not because of anything you have done physically; but because, you have chosen to affirm that the power of God is alive in you.

 

The accusations against Paul had nothing to do with grievous sins. No! They wanted him dead because he insisted that Jesus, whom they had killed, was indeed alive.

 

As you affirm your inheritance constantly; as you insist that the power of God is alive in you, be ready for a fight. Be ready to use the Name, so that by it, you can destroy the work of darkness and enthrone divine inheritance in your life.

 

PRAYER POINTS

In the name of Jesus,

• My Father, show Yourself alive in my life.

• Mercy of God, show Yourself alive in me.

• Evil inheritance showing itself alive in me; I cast you out by fire in the name of Jesus.

• My life, you cannot serve two masters. Therefore, any ancestral inheritance showing itself alive in me; I cast you out by fire in the name of Jesus.

• Power in the name of Jesus, show Yourself alive in me.

 

PASTOR’S CORNER

DWELLING IN THE MYSTERIES OF GOD’S LOVE:

LOVE DEMANDS FELLOWSHIP

REFERENCES: I JOHN 1:3-4, HEBREWS 4:15, LUKE 10:38-42, JOHN 11:20-35

 

There can be no love without fellowship.

When you love someone, you talk to each other. There is a communion of thoughts, emotions, and an understanding of each other.

 

I Jn 1:3-4

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

 

Good leadership demands that I take you up to the level I operate from. You should not be far from the place I am.

 

I want you to fellowship with me as I fellowship with God.

Therefore, what I have seen and heard, that is what I declare unto you; what I teach you. I do this so that you can have fellowship with me; so that you will commune with me, and be where I am.

 

If the Word of God was not taught or discussed in this church, how would God become real in the lives of the people?

 

Fellowship with me, as I fellowship with the Father; so that you can hear and see Him as I do...

That way, no one will be able to deceive you, because you will know the Father, and be known by Him.

 

Heb 4:15

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities

 

Our High Priest can be touched with the feelings of our weaknesses, sicknesses, griefs and sorrows. However, that can only happen when you are in fellowship with Him. Except you talk to Him, relate with Him, commune with Him, you cannot touch Him.

As you fellowship with Him, you develop a bond that allows Him to discern when something is wrong with you. Through fellowship, you are able to touch Him with the feelings of your pain, troubles, and sorrows.

 

Faith is ineffective without fellowship. You cannot merely believe your way into a person’s heart; you get to the core of their being through fellowship. You cannot stand apart from Christ, and yet expect to touch Him just by believing.

 

You have joy in His presence because, there, He reveals the thoughts of His heart. This was David’s secret- he was a man after God’s heart.

 

Lk 10:38-42

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

 

Length of time does not determine depth of fellowship. Fellowship is not a function of who found Christ first or how long a person has been in Christ.

 

It was Martha’s house. It was Martha who received Jesus into the house.

Martha found Jesus, but it was Mary who understood Christ.

 

It did not matter that it was Martha’s house, or that it was she who had invited Jesus in. When it came to fellowship, it was Mary who sat at the feet of Jesus and heard His word.

 

Martha was a generous and hospitable hostess; but she did not understand that fellowship was the key to getting all of Christ.

 

It is good to give, but the benefit of giving is lost when the giver fails to sit at the feet of Jesus.

 

Mary made a choice to sit, and hear at the feet of Jesus. She developed a close bond with Christ, not for immoral reasons, as some have alleged, but because she sought His word; she knew that the entrance of His word would make her a god.

 

We have learnt that the entrance of God’s word makes men gods (Jn 10:35).

By sitting at Jesus’ feet, Mary set herself to receive the word of Christ- the word that had the capacity to make her a god.

 

Jn 12: 1- 8

Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

 

We are in Martha’s house again. Christ is an invited guest again.

Martha is serving, again.

Mary is going for the feet of Jesus, again.

 

It is not what you give, but what you receive at the feet of Jesus, that transforms you.

 

Brethren, if you find yourself in a place where you are encouraged to give and serve, but you are not taught the mystery of fellowship; if you do not learn to sit at the feet of the pastor and receive the word of God, you are been done a great disservice.

 

While living in Martha’s house, Mary bought a very costly perfume and anointed the feet of Christ with it.

 

When you love Jesus, you will make the place of His feet beautiful (Isa 60:13). You will not need to be prodded before you do the needful in His house.

 

As Mary’s focus was the feet of Jesus, she sought to wash off the dust, making it clean and beautiful. She was not satisfied with using water; rather she used a really expensive perfume and her hair- the glory of a woman- to do the job.

 

Pride is only found in the heart of those who do not sit at the feet of Jesus.

Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

 

Her financial investment towards the feet of Christ was so great, that it caught the attention of Judas.

When the thieving apostle complained about the high cost of the perfume, Christ answered for Mary...

 

Then said Jesus, Let her alone

 

Leave Mary alone.

Leave me alone! Let me stay at the feet of Jesus!

Let this be your answer to all those who seek to draw you away from the feet of Jesus.

Let it be your answer to every one who wonders why you have chosen to hear the Word, while they are cumbered with many acts of giving and service.

 

Giving is good; hearing the Word is better.

 

...against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

 

Mary was sensitive to know that she had to prepare the body of Christ in anticipation of His burial.

She understood that, once He was arrested, there would be no opportunity for Him to anoint Himself.

 

Her preparation was so impressive that it had soldiers tearing up the garment of Christ amongst them, and casting lots for His undergarment.

 

It takes fellowship to be able take care of God.

Mary could prepare the body of Christ for His burial because she knew what was to happen. She knew what was to happen because He had revealed it to her during their time of fellowship.

 

Martha could not see what Mary saw, because she did not stay in the place where secret things are revealed.

Jn 11:20-35

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

 

And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him...

 

Martha met Jesus, while He was on the way to her house.

Her words showed that she believed that He was the Christ; that He had the power to save her brother from death, and that He would raise Him up at the Resurrection.

 

Then she left to call Mary.

Mary also met Jesus at the same place.

She also said the same thing Martha said to Him.

 

Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

 

However, her manner was very different.

Mary ran up to Jesus, and fell at HIS FEET.

Again, her focus was His feet!

 

It was while in that position that she spoke to Christ. She did not speak with an entitled attitude; she humbled herself before Him and declared her belief.

And she wept.

 

When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept.

 

Her tears moved the Lord with whom she had fellowshipped.

The One at whose feet she had sat was moved by her pain. He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled (NIV)

 

This is my vision for you; that what troubles your soul must trouble the soul of Jesus.

This will only happen when you fellowship with Him.

 

Christ was moved by the tears of Mary. Her pain became His pain, and He had to do something about the matter.

 

When you are dear to God, you become a dangerous person to the wicked. Whoever troubles you will suffer the wrath of God because your trouble is His trouble.

 

Jesus wept.

Love made Jesus weep.

 

Two women. The same Lord. The same location. The same words.

However, they got completely different responses from the Lord.

The cause of the difference was in Mary’s disposition.

Mary fell and stayed at His feet. She acknowledged that she was not worthy to stand before Him.

 

Find your way to the feet of Jesus. Get close enough to touch Him. Access the mysteries of Love, until what moves you, moves Him.

 

PRAYER POINTS

In the name of Jesus,

• My Father, I receive the Spirit of Your Love, to fellowship with You.

• My Father, I rededicate my life, to fellowship with You again.

• Whatever negative mindset that keeps me from seeking and hearing God; I destroy it now.

• Whatever draws me away from the presence of God, I destroy you by fire.

• Any form of darkness that has been covering my life; disappear by fire.

• Any darkness working tirelessly to cover my life; I destroy you by fire.

 

PASTOR’S CORNER

DWELLING IN THE MYSTERIES OF GOD’S LOVE:

LOVE IS A SPIRIT

REFERENCES: I JOHN 4:16, JUDE VS 20-21, GALATIANS 2: 20, LUKE 10:19, HEBREWS 11:1, JOHN 12:32, JOHN 17:20

I Jn 4:16

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Since God is Love, and God is a Spirit; then Love is a Spirit.

We can substitute Love for Spirit.

...and he that dwelleth in [the Spiri]t dwelleth in God, and God in him.

So, we have established that:

God is a Spirit

God is love

Therefore, Love is a Spirit.

Your deeds reveal the presence or absence of love in your life. A Christian, who takes the things of God- of His Kingdom- with levity, does not have love in him.

 

Jude vs 20-21

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith...

Let us also work this out. Faith comes by hearing, by the Word of God. This means that the Word is the material with which the lives of men are built.

It would therefore be wickedness, and proof of the lack of love, if I fail to give you the Word of God.

Basing sermons on socio-political stories, motivations or on Google is a great tragedy. It is a great disservice to the God who is Spirit, and who desires His people to be built with the only worthy material- the Word, which is spirit and life.

...praying in the Holy Ghost,

The Word is also the basis of effective prayer. Praying in the Holy Ghost can only happen when a man has been built by the Word of God.

Praying in the Holy Ghost does not always mean praying in tongues.

Praying in tongues, without having built yourself in the Word, is an abuse.

When a man prays in the Holy Ghost, he prays in the Presence of God- from the womb of the Holy Ghost- speaking revealed words in prayer; not necessarily in tongues.

The apostle said I speak the truth in Christ (I Tim 2:7, Rom 9:10).

This means that it is possible to speak the truth outside Christ. Satan’s words to Christ perfectly exemplify this (Luke 4:9-11). He spoke the truth, but not in God.

When you pray, make sure you have drunk of the Spirit. Get to the realm where your words reveal that you are intoxicated with the Spirit of God.

Understand that whatever utterance the Holy Ghost will give you will be based on the Word you have taken into your soul. The depth of the Word in you determines how far you will go in the realm of the Spirit.

...Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

And the writer continues...

When you pray in the realm of the Spirit, having built yourself up in the Word, you develop the capacity to keep yourself in the love of God.

Now, the Word is spirit and life.

Therefore, you build yourself in the Spirit of the Word

You pray in the Spirit; and thereby,

You keep yourself in the Spirit of God.

Simple arithmetic...

Beware!

The admonition to keep yourself in His love implies that there is the tendency to lose your place in God.

Gal 2: 20

I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

A crucified life is a dead life.

As a Christian, you are dead- crucified with Christ. Notwithstanding you live; except it is no longer you who lives, but Christ lives in you.

This new life of yours- which you now live in your household, in your country, in your world-, is lived by the faith [the Spirit] of Christ; the One who loved you and gave Himself for you.

It is important at this juncture that you consider what you are about to hear...

You DO NOT live by YOUR faith in Him.

You LIVE by HIS faith.

When a man is discharged and acquitted in a court of law, the expectation is that he will rejoice at the verdict. However, if his countenance is sad, the judge will suspect that something is fishy.

The just does not have faith to live by; he lives by the faith of the Justifier- the Person that justified him.

Lk 10:19

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

This Scripture shows that you did not have the power until Christ said you did. So, when you trample upon wicked powers, you do so with boldness and audacity by His faith, not yours.

Heb 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

There are two things involved here.

• Substance: the material

• Evidence: the proof that the material is already in you, and is right.

Substance is material- something tangible.

For instance, when you walk into a building, you can tell what it is used for, by the things you see there. The altar and pulpit here tell you that this building is a church, not a school or a theatre, whether there is a minister present or not.

This means that, by speaking the Word, He is revealing that He has deposited in you the substance to tread on serpents.

Evidence is proof of something else.

You have not seen a pastor in the building, but you know that there IS a pastor because the altar and the pulpit are evidence that someone ministers there.

So, He has told you, or revealed to you, or dropped it in your spirit that you will do exploits. You do not have any physical pointer to that effect, but you know that you did not drum up the idea or dream yourself. You know what you saw, what you heard, what you perceived.

Whatever He has revealed to you, for which you have not seen any physical sign, you hold on to by His faith. That He said it, is a sign that He has put the material to make it a physical manifestation in you; the revelation- the vision, the divine inspiration- is the evidence.

Jn 12:32

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Christ did not die because we believed Him.

It was His faith that made Him hope that by dying, everyone will come to Him.

His faith made Him lay down His life, saying, ‘I will go so that you can live this life’.

You live by His faith, not yours.

Acts 1:1

The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach

By His faith, Christ also died so that you would continue what He began to do, and to teach.

He wired you. Therefore, He knows that what He put in you has the capacity to continue what He started.

You did not know when He made that decision. You live His life now, continuing what He began, by His faith.

What you are to continue?

While in the world, He declared that I am the Light of the world. When He was about to leave, He declared that you are the light of the world.

Where is the light?

Physically, you do not see yourself glowing. However, when you speak to darkness and cast it out, you do so by His faith.

Faith comes by hearing...Walking by this faith therefore demands that you hear what He said.

Whatever He has revealed to you, is His faith for you. He is telling you that the substance to make it happen is in you.

That good thing you saw will happen.

I Jn 3:8

...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

He also began to destroy the works of the devil.

He allowed them to stop Him, so that you can be unstoppable.

He understood that, except He dies, He will remain one Man. It was therefore expedient for you that He die, so that, He may raise many like Him to continue His work and spread throughout the world.

So, He has put in you the substance to become Christ-like; to be the light of the world, to destroy the works of the devil; to rule as lord of the Sabbath; to seek and save the lost; to reveal the Father to humanity.

He paid the full price to get you, even in Nigeria. Your sinful life, notwithstanding, because the price He paid had the capacity to get you.

Now, you are His.

Now, you must continue what He began.

He allowed Himself to be stopped so that you can be unstoppable. He died so that you can be called Christ-ian.

The substance of motherhood does not suddenly appear the body of a female when she is grown. It is present there in the body of a baby girl. It is evidence that she is a mother, although she is just a babe.

By His faith, you are empowered to eliminate death, sorrow, limitation, powerless-ness and the reign of evil in your world.

Jn 17:20

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

As Christ prayed for His disciples, He declared that, as many as believe on Him, through the epistles that His disciples write, will also become partake of His prayer for His disciples.

Whatever it is that God said about my life and destiny; when you come here, believing and following my word, you are bringing yourself under the cover of the Christ’s prayer upon me. This means that whatever He said to me shall also come upon you.

This was the story of Paul. He believed all that was said about Christ as he received it from Ananias.

Ananias also walked by the faith of Christ.

When he saw Saul, he called him, ‘Brother’. Left to him, this was a murderer and a persecutor of God’s people. However, since Christ called him a chosen vessel, Ananias called him ‘Brother’.

Paul continued the work of Christ in the land of the Gentiles, by the faith of Christ. He was not there when Christ gave His back to the whips of the soldiers and endured humiliation and a painful death. Yet, he walked out the vision of Christ: He was stopped so that Paul could take the gospel to the ends of the earth, and be unstoppable.

You no longer live for yourself. You are called to continue His vision.

This is the story of love. His love for you made Him give up all- His power, prosperity, length of days, beauty...so that you can pick them up, and run with them.

PRAYER POINTS

In the name of Jesus,

• Raw power of God to continue what Jesus started; take over my life.

• My life, I charge you; receive the power to function in the faith of Christ.

• Works of the devil in my life, household; I destroy you all by fire.

• Any serpentine, ancestral power working tirelessly to stop what Jesus said; I terminate you by fire.

• Any proof of the works of darkness in my body; I cast you out by fire.