THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION

Another season is here with us and I wish you dear friend a happy Easter. We seem to go round this season making merry and this has led Easter over the years to lose some of its core value. We don't even seem to know the true significance of it anymore. What does Easter mean to you and I?

Romans 8:1; Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, {who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.} Amen.

                Let me start with a little storytelling. Once upon a time, Adam our ancestor disobeyed God, corrupted his divine nature and allowed sin to enter this world as Romans 5:12 tells us. Death both spiritually and physically reigned. This made us unacceptable and cast away from the presence of our Father as in Romans 3:23; Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor {and} glory which God bestows {and} receives. 24 [All] are justified {and} made upright {and} in right standing with God, freely {and} gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, 25 Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat {and} propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over {and} ignored former sins without punishment.. Amen. But glory be given to God, through love and grace, Jesus came as our propitiation. He came as our ransom taking our place on the cross to reestablish the bond between God our Father and us. He became sin so His righteousness will be imputed to us as 2 Corinthians 5:21 puts it For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in {and} through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness]. Amen. WE WHO HAVE BELIEVED IN HIM, IN THE WORK OF THE CROSS HAVE BEEN SET FREE, OUR NATURE HAS BEEN CHANGED, WE ARE RIGHTEOUS, THUS THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION FOR US. Can a righteous person be condemned? No!!! Easter is all about the cross, that transition from a condemned sinner to one without sin, to one righteous, to one free from condemnation.

                Easter isn't just about being happy, it's about knowing what the cross of Jesus did for you. The cross gave us holiness and the chance to call God our father once again. What joy is it to have God, the omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient as our Father and much more know that we have been given abundant life. Jesus confirms this for us in John 10:10 where He says The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have {and} enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). Amen. Easter gives us the chance to celebrate our victory. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus was tempted in all aspects but never sinned, yet He went to the cross. HIS DEATH BROKE THE POWER OF SIN OVER OUR LIVES. What is holding you back? With the power of the cross, it's broken from your life. You are free!!! What is bothering you? In believing in the work of the cross, that sin was cleansed by the blood of Jesus. This is the victory the cross brought to our lives. GLORY TO GOD!!! Invoke the blood of Jesus. Isaiah 1:18 says Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool. Amen. THE VICTORY HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN, IT'S UP TO YOU TAKE HOLD OF IT THROUGH FAITH. DON'T LET ANYONE, DEMON OR ANYTHING CONDEMN YOU, YOU ARE FREE IN JESUS NAME!!!

                It is one thing to be aware of the victory and not partake in it. THE VICTORY IS RESERVED FOR ONLY THE MEMBERS OF GOD'S FAMILY, THOSE WHO CALL GOD, FATHER. The doors to this family are never closed, in fact it's open right now. THE KEY IS TO BELIEVE AND CONFESS. John 1:12 lets us know that But to as many as did receive {and} welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name. Amen. Are you ready my dear one? Don't let the victory pass you by. If you will only believe, if you will only confess, your freedom from condemnation will be accorded to you. If you already are a member of the glorious family, take this period as a reminder that no one can condemn you for you are in Jesus Christ! Let us take the time to really contemplate on the work of the cross that sets us free from condemnation. For this is the true message of Easter. GOD BLESS YOU!!!

EMMANUEL

One wonderful name we can come across in life. Every time I hear this name, it sends me further to the most wonderful name of JESUS. Take the time to think of Matthew 1:23; Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel--which, when translated, means, God with us. Amen.[AMP] GLORY TO GOD!!! EMMANUEL- GOD WITH US!!!

The first part of this prophecy came to pass many years ago, whiles the second part has no time frame. Looking at it we see the Word say God is with us. One wonderful revelation is knowing that Jesus(God) is with you and to know what says Philippians 2:10; That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess {and} acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.[AMP] Before we go further, IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO ASSURES US OF THE PRESENCE OF JESUS. We can say this because Jesus said in John 14:23; Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him. Amen.[AMP] Where the Word is, the Son(Jesus) is also.

I sometimes marvel at what is happening in this world, the corruption, the wars, the evil, the lies... People keep on asking where Jesus is but Psalm 115:16; The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. Amen.[KJV] What is happening is our own making. This world has been given to us, so what happens is because of us. As Romans 8:19 further puts it For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. Amen.[KJV] What is happening right now is because of what happened some years back. As the saying goes TO EVERY ACTION, AN EQUAL AND OPPOSITE REACTION. But Glory to God, Jesus came and saved us on the cross taking up the curse placed on us as Galatians 3:3 says. The world awaits the manifestation of the sons of God. That is you beloved if you have received Jesus into your heart. When we received Him, he brought us into His marvelous light. 1 Thessalonians 5:5; Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Amen.[KJV] This because we have His nature. Emmanuel, God with us!!! What I am trying to communicate is that, it is through you beloved that this world can be transformed. YOU ARE GOD'S REPRESENTATIVE HERE ON EARTH! HE LIVES IN YOU! People can feel God's presence through you, by every action you take, by every word you speak. It comes down to the small things we neglect all the time. Just by saying a simple good morning, someone may feel better. Ephesians 4:29 - Ephesians 5:1 To take it a bit further and get you where I believe the Lord wants you, let's see something prophetic that will boost you on your way I strongly believe. Isaiah 49:1; Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. 2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; 3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. Amen.[KJV] Beloved, before you were born, He knew you, chose you and He has saved you and cleansed you, He wants to sharpen you in His presence so you impact this world and communicate His will to it. We have been called for His glory. EVERYTHING WE DO, LET'S BE CONSCIOUS AND DO IT FOR THE GLORY OF THE KING OF KINGS.

Let's end this week by saying that AS YOU ARE TRANSFORMED EACH AND EVERYDAY BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE WORD OF GOD, SO SHOULD YOUR WORLD CHANGE WITH YOU AND SEE GOD IN YOU! This is because this is the Lord will, that His kingdom descends here on earth. Matthew 6:9. EMMANUEL, GOD WITH US!!! It is my prayer that we live each and every day realizing this and let the whole world knows that God really is with us. God richly bless you. Amen

I AM GOING TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU!!!

This little portion of scripture speaks volumes to my heart. It sets my mind at rest. It assures me of a bright future. Jesus said this to his disciples before he died and rose again, but He is speaking the same thing to us. At times we go through life doubting, frustrated and wondering if there is any good in store for us. Jesus said He is preparing a place for us. You might think of that place as heaven, where you will get to only in the afterlife, buI believe it to mean something else altogether too. God is going to prepare a place for you that you will be so amazed and so overwhelmed when you step into that place. Don’t be bothered when it seems like everything has come to a stop and things are not moving as you want them to; God says “I’m preparing a place for you right now.” 

King David understood and experienced this, so he said in Psalm 18:19 “He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.” The same is true for us. If you are not there now, God has designed a place with you in mind. It is a place of peace, love, joy, hope and prosperity. The Spirit of God is saying to us now, “While you are troubled and anxious about what today is bringing, I have stepped into your future and have prepared it exclusively for you.” All it takes is the patience to hold on even though it seems like time has stopped running. You will walk into the future God has prepared for you! His plans towards us are of good and not of evil. He is preparing a place for you. You might be tempted to live shortsighted and not by faith. Thoughts might barge into your mind deceiving you that everyone but yourself is flying high in life. You might be asking yourself “Why is everything turning bad, what caused the ground to give way under my feet?” These are times when you will have to hold on. Be patient; be faithful; keep moving forward. Let perseverance motivate your actions. Refuse to see what is happening now. Choose to see what God is doing; He is preparing a place for you. 

In Habakkuk 1:5b God says “For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.” That’s exactly what God will do in your life if you’re faithful and believe. Notice that God didn’t bring David to just any place. He didn’t bring him to a corner neither did He bring him to a crowded or desolated place. HE BROUGHT HIM OUT TO A LARGE PLACE. It was a spacious place, a place of abundance. God is preparing such a place for you. A place big enough to hold all the blessings he is pouring into your life. Prepare to walk into a large place. The reason God speaks His Word then does the work is so we will believe his Word and see his works. Continue to believe him, to trust him, to hold on to his every word. He is preparing a place for you. God will reward you according to how faithful you are to Him. David put it this way: The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness (my conscious integrity and sincerity with Him)(Psalm 18:20). At times it seems like you’re moving at rush hour speed, everything is at a grinding halt. Don’t lose heart and be discouraged; don’t throw in the towel yet. Continue to be faithful to God. Walk in integrity to Him. Know that as you’re doing all this He’s busy preparing the place for you. That is the place of your destiny you were born to be. You will accomplish the very things God purposed for you, go the places He has intended you to and meet the people He wants you to. He’s working all that out now. It’s like God is working behind the scenes. You are the audience and don’t know what is going on, but everything will be shown on the stage of your life soon. 

Choose to believe God. Choose to hang on. You will see his power raise you to new heights and bring you to the place he has prepared for you.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW OR REMEMBER?

Let’s have a look at another one of the verses used in the church. We have become so used to quoting it that we break it short and we even don't end it. I will like to say that the Word of God is complete and should be taken in its entirety.

Hosea 4:6; My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you that you shall be no priest to Me; seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. Amen. We sometimes go through certain situations and wonder why we don't have the victory we want. This verse doesn't tell us that we perish, die, fail because of ignorance, it actually tells us that God rejects us or doesn't give us our inheritance because we are ignorant of it. We have been given the priestly order from Exodus 19:6 and this was confirmed by Peter in 1 Peter 2:9 because of our Lord Jesus' sacrifice for us. OUR IGNORANCE CAUSES US NOT ONLY TO PERISH BUT ALSO GOD TO REJECT US FROM OUR INHERITANCE.

                About two months ago we saw how the Israelites wandered about for forty years in the desert because of disobedience and unbelief in the message of "THE SPIRIT OF CALEB". They actually did this because of their ignorance about what God had said about them. When Moses died and Joshua took over, at the border of Jericho, we see a different story. Joshua 2:24; They said to Joshua, Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands; for all the inhabitants of the country are faint because of us.. Amen. Where did this new conviction come from? Waiting on the border of the most fortified city at that time, they had changed their conviction and confession. Joshua 2:10; For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the [east] side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.. Amen. Rahab said these words to the spies. Imagine it with me for a second, the enemy had heard about what God had done, the past victories and was now trembling even though he lived in a fortified city. This gave them a new confession and they were able to conquer it easily by obedience to the Word of God. NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT THAT SITUATION IS, YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT GOD'S WORD WILL CAUSE CHANGE. We have already seen this passage which I pray has been subject to our various meditations of each day. It's in Jeremiah 1:12 where God tells us ...You have seen well, for I am alert {and} active, watching over My word to perform it. Amen. We have to know that it is the Word of God that produces faith is us all throughout the seasons of life as Romans 10:17 puts it So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself). Amen. This is because when faith sets in, the eternal Word of God will always be accomplished.

                Beloved, what do you remember God doing for you in times past? What do you remember (directions) Him telling you? What promises has He given you? The people of Jericho had heard of the fame of God and they trembled. No matter what is eating you up, find the Word of God concerning it and begin to confess it to your environment. LET YOUR ENVIRONMENT KNOW WHAT GOD HAS SAID ABOUT YOU. This is how the news spreads out and every fortified wall around you will come down. If you are feeling lonely, Isaiah 49:16 says Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands; [O Zion] your walls are continually before Me. Amen. If you are in need of healing, confess it out but before ask for forgiveness for any sin you committed as Psalms 103:1 puts it BLESS (AFFECTIONATELY, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits. 3 Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases. Amen. I close today by saying that IT IS OUR RIGHT AS BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIANS TO LIVE THE ABUNDANT LIFE JESUS PROMISES US BUT IT IS OUR RESPONSIBLITY ALSO AS CHRISTIANS TO KNOW WHAT GOD HAS SAID ABOUT THAT LIFE. God richly bless you. Amen

OUT OF THE TENT, INTO THE STARLIGHT

Genesis 15:5; And He brought him outside [his tent into the starlight] and said, Look now toward the heavens and count the stars--if you are able to number them. Then He said to him, So shall your descendants be. Amen

God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think or imagine. It’s so important then that in approaching God, we keep this in mind and do not think of him as a God who is limited in resources, love or ability. NO MATTER HOW BIG YOUR DREAM IS OR HOW GREAT THE VISION GOD HAS GIVEN YOU, HE IS ALWAYS ABLE TO DO BEYOND WHAT YOU EXPECT. If you have a small vision, God would do much more than you expect, but wouldn’t it be better if you had a greater vision, and watched God unfold it for you supernaturally in ways you could not fathom?

The opening scripture is one that just amazes me. Meditating on it always revives my spirit! We read about God bringing Abraham outside, from his tent into the starlight. So many people are only dreaming in their tents. They are dreaming with their limitations in mind. They dream till they get to a point where their limitations yell at them ‘you can’t go any further than this’ and they stop dreaming right there. What you should keep asking yourself is this: ‘Is my biggest dream big enough for God?’ When you have the creator of the universe willing to accomplish great things through you, you do not present to him a dream the size of a pebble! Instead of asking yourself ‘What if it doesn’t work?’ you should be asking ‘What if it does work?’ Don’t be scared to dream big, to imagine big; dreaming wouldn’t cost you a cent, it’s free. I once heard someone say, ‘DREAM SOMETHING SO BIG THAT IT WOULD TAKE ONLY THE HAND OF GOD TO ACCOMPLISH IT’. That’s what I’m talking about. DON'T LET YOUR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES SET THE BOUNDARIES FOR YOUR DREAMS. Remember Joseph in the Bible, the dreamer of dreams? In the culture he lived in it was difficult to believe his dream could ever come true. What could possibly set the stage for his parents and brothers to bow down and revere him? How could he become king in a culture which had never had a king? But Joseph understood that he had to dream outside his tent. He didn’t let these circumstances limit him; he decided to dream in the starlight.

God needed to bring Abraham out into the starlight for a reason. He couldn’t show him what he wanted to while he was still in the tent. Until we let go of the things that hold us back in our mind, the things that discourage us, which tell us that we can’t do what God has destined us to, he would not be able to show us his greatest plans for us. Get into the starlight of confidence, believe in yourself, you are well able, you have all it takes to succeed! Sure, we might be scared by the enormousness of the dreams but remember that it is the same God who made the vast universe out of nothing we are referring to. If he could make the universe out of nothing, how much more can he accomplish all what he has put in your heart through his greatest creation - you! The starlight is where we look all about us and see all sorts of possibilities and opportunities. In the starlight we not only see the greatness of the dreams God has for us, but also the brightness of the dreams. We are reminded that these dreams hold light for lives other than ours. A God given dream would always be of benefit to others. It would always light up the hearts of someone other than us. Are you ready to step into the starlight and fill your life with the light of a God given dream? 

 

Million, billion, trillion, quadrillion, and then what comes next? What is the largest number you can count to? These thoughts just run through my mind each time I meditate on this verse. God said to Abraham ‘count the stars--if you are able to number them.’ In effect he was saying, ‘you would count the stars till you run out of numbers; when you’ve exhausted every number u know, there would still be a multitude of stars left,’ When God achieves a dream through you he does what is beyond anything anybody knows. That is what we refer to as extraordinary, beyond the ordinary; that is exactly what the fulfillment of a supernatural dream looks like. It leaves people dazzled and awed, they are unable to comprehend it. It beats not just imagination but also all expectation and knowledge. This was the voice of God to Abraham then and I believe it is the voice of God to the seed of Abraham. God wants to do something amazing in our days, but we will need to leave the tent of limited thinking, the tent of unbelief, the tent of selfish ambitions, for him to accomplish this. 

‘…so shall your offspring be…’ All we need to do is to believe and to get into agreement with God. We have to believe, and then he will do the work. We do not accomplish it on our own, but only by his strength and our offspring, that is, the works he will do through us and what he will accomplish by us shall be just as the stars in the sky. Allow God to bring you outside your tent into the starlight.

A BLESSING AND A CURSE

Deuteronomy 11:26; Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: 28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. Amen.

It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of our heart to take hold of this truth. In one of my favorite verses Romans 1:16 Paul says that For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) {of Christ,} for it is God's power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes {with} a personal trust {and} a confident surrender {and} firm reliance... Amen [AMP].  The Word of GOD presents us to Christ and we get saved. I don’t want to talk to unbelievers today, but to us as Christians and by the help of the Holy Spirit, we will arrive at this.

                The obedience to the Word of GOD is so important for our lives as Christians. Deuteronomy 12:32; Whatever I command you, be watchful to do it; you shall not add to it or diminish it. Amen [AMP].  What we choose to listen to goes a long way to affect our obedience. Once an anointed of GOD [because of the Holy Spirit living in you], your only way is full obedience to the Word of GOD. Part obedience is still disobedience. In 1 Samuel 15, we see Saul commissioned to kill Agag and everything of Amalekite origin but he only obeyed in part and yet GOD considered it to be disobedience. Nothing starts at ago, it has to start somewhere. Which area of your Christian life haven't you been obedient? It might be small but important because if you don't repent, it will lead to your death [spiritually and later physically]. Saul's disobedience got everyone around him killed. YOUR OBEDIENCE OR DISOBEDIENCE DOESN'T AFFECT YOU ALONE, YOUR CHILDREN WILL ALSO BE AFFECTED.

                Beloved, I want to draw our attention to this spiritual fact. GOD's Word is final as Psalm119:160 puts it Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. Amen. GOD's Word [Judgments] will never change. For the Word to change is to say that Jesus has changed but scripture makes it clear that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever so it is impossible. YOU CAN'T CHANGE SCRIPTURE TO SUIT YOU, YOU MUST CHANGE TO SUIT THE SCRIPTUE. It is a principle laid down from ages and it will remain for ages to come. If you know you have to let that particular thing hindering you go, do it and stop justifying or finding excuses for yourselves. Joshua 1:8 also reflects this principle. Joshua was a man that never left things undone and it got him an inheritance. That tells us that if we want to save up a blessing for the generations coming after us we have to act in obedience, full obedience to the Word GOD speaks to us. When we act on the Word of GOD, Jesus rightfully put it in Matthew 7:24; So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock. 25 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a stupid (foolish) man who built his house upon the sand. 27 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell--and great {and} complete was the fall of it. Amen [AMP]. Your house (life) will never be brought down. GLORY TO GOD!!! Obedience brings prosperity as Malachi 3:10 says. Obedience brings abundant health as in Proverbs 4:23. What you want is found in the Word of GOD and obeying it is what brings about the blessing for our lives.

                We may have dreams and plans, but without obedience, our inheritance will be given to someone else. Without obedience, we are serving up a curse upon ourselves and the generations after us. The good news is that the GOD we serve is a merciful one and He always forgives us. Don't wait for a prophecy or word of knowledge before you repent. Take the time out to analyze all you have done so far. It is my prayer that GOD helps us in obeying His Word. Amen. GOD BLESS YOU!