TIMES AND SEASONS

Genesis:8.22
 As long as the world exists, there will be a time for planting and a time for harvest. There will always be cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night."

Ecclesiastes:3.1
 Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses.
Ecclesiastes:3.2
 He sets the time for birth and the time for death, the time for planting and the time for pulling up,
Ecclesiastes:3.3
 the time for killing and the time for healing, the time for tearing down and the time for building.
Ecclesiastes:3.4
 He sets the time for sorrow and the time for joy, the time for mourning and the time for dancing,
Ecclesiastes:3.5
 the time for making love and the time for not making love, the time for kissing and the time for not kissing.
Ecclesiastes:3.6
 He sets the time for finding and the time for losing, the time for saving and the time for throwing away,
Ecclesiastes:3.7
 the time for tearing and the time for mending, the time for silence and the time for talk.
Ecclesiastes:3.8
 He sets the time for love and the time for hate, the time for war and the time for peace.

Growing up,  the verse above is the first I remember reciting in church (during harvest).  I was very young then but I never forgot it

And though I knew this Scripture well,  (I was always reading it in my sleep then before the harvest day) I didn't fully understand it.

Times and seasons involves transition from a phase to another.

Times and season basically bring change in our lives. So it's like a movement sort of.

There was a time the world was empty and without shape,  then God spoke and things were created. There was a time I had to collect money from my parents for everything but now I don't anymore. There was a time I could lie with a straight face but now I can't

Time and season began since the creation.

From darkness to light

From void to full

There was a time man was just dust

Then a time for man to live

And a time for man to die

Every aspect of our lives is divided into times and seasons.

It differs for us individually.

We all did not start crawling or walking at the same time/age

Some people stopped receiving breast milk earlier than others

Some started talking later than others.

Some start school earlier than others

Though our times and seasons in life differ generally,  it is very possible to meet people at a certain point in your life in the same season as yours.

This doesn't mean your times and seasons will tally and be exactly same forever.

Who Ordains times and seasons?

God does. 

Ecc. 3:1 says Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses. 
He chooses when what season starts/end.  He is in charge of it all

Let's look at natural seasons.

In nature, every season has a purpose.  Summer is not just there to give us sunkissed selfies.
Winter does not last forever.  God has set a time for it.

So is every season in our life. We leave and enter seasons.

Summer and fall is usually for harvesting crops

Winter is usually a time of preparation and sowing.

I love winter very much cos it makes my face fresh. But that's not the purpose of winter. I get lighter during winter (up to 3 shades sometimes)  but this is also not the purpose of winter

This brings us to purpose.

There is a reason/purpose for every season we enter in life.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV

A season is a time that has been allotted for something to happen.  Seasons are purposeful.

And as children of God who are ready to make the most of all seasons,  we should be in the know of when the season starts and it's purpose.

There as to be an understanding of the times we are in

Why do we need have a full understanding of Times and seasons

1. For us to know what to do and how to react to every season

When we know that it is rainy season,  what comes to mind?
Everybody starts buying umbrella.  People go out with one in their bag even when it is not raining,  just in case.

When summer comes,  the farmer doesn't sit and start taking sunkissed selfies like Remi,  he knows it is time to start checking and harvesting all that was planted.

When you graduate from school,  you know it's not just time to sit,  rejoice and start shouting up and down that I'm a graduate.

It is time to think of what next. Am I furthering my education? Am I looking for a job or starting my own business?

When it's winter,  there is an appropriate dress code. I can't be wearing short skirt and tops up and down. That's not the time for me to expose my body (cos of cold)

There is an appropriate reaction to every time and season. We are able to react appropriately if we know the purpose of that season.

2. To help us not miss out on what God is doing in our lives

When the farmer hears it is winter (time to plant)  and he sleeps,  he will have nothing to harvest and end up having nothing to feed on for that season.  He will have to wait till another season of planting

If the graduates decides to sleep in his house and tweet I'm now a graduate all day without looking for a job,  he will die of hunger. He will miss out on whatever Jobs that have been ordained to come his way cos he didn't do anything to get them. If you refuse to buy Jamb form the season it comes out,  you will have to wait till the next year to buy.  That's one whole year missed.

3. So as not to harm ourselves

When we hear there is a storm,  some places are barred. During winter,  you have to drive more cautiously cos the roads are slippery.

If you don't know it is stormy in a place and you drive roughly,  you might end up being dead

Not understanding times and seasons can put us in harms way

How do we discern times and change in seasons?

To discern various times and seasons,  we have to meet the person in charge of the times and seasons.

You want to know what will happen in Word Alive next week? Then you ask the domestic head of Word Alive - Remi

Now this is where it gets hard because not everybody knows when God is speaking or how He speaks with them. Not everybody understands or walks in the prophetic. Not every Christian has trained themselves to hear God.

Amos 3:7
Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

The message translation says:
The fact is,  God the master does nothing without first telling His prophets the whole story

Not half,  not part. The whole story

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Jeremiah 33:3 KJV


It's really this simple.

You want to know what time and season you are in and necessary steps to take?  Ask God


I have never called you ‘servants,’ because a master doesn’t confide in his servants, and servants don’t always understand what the master is doing. But I call you my most intimate friends, for I reveal to you everything that I’ve heard from my Father.
John 15:15 TPT

Maybe we don't understand this but when we refuse to know the times and seasons of our lives,  we act like Servants,  orphans and bastards.

Jesus said,  For I reveal to you everything

When Christ left,  he sent the Holy Spirit in His place to reveal to us Everything

As intimate friends and legitimate children of God,  we have access to know everything.

There is a quote that says:

We don't pray Our Father then go right ahead to live as Orphans or bastards

We have access to all secrets because the one who knows all things hidden is in us and the Bible says He reveals it

He even reveals God's secret

I know it sounds hard. I won't even lie to you people,  it's not very very easy like that as it requires discipline.

It took a while for me to get here also

The Key is staying in the secret place

We've over hammered this sentence in 2018. Just stay there a little while longer than usual
 I experienced another level of this this year.

Sometimes I will sit and see a vision of what someone is about to tell me or what is about to happen.
Sometimes I watch it like movie,  then when it happens I just start laughing. Most of the things that happen around me,  I see it before it does. Sometimes I know exactly what people are coming to tell me Word for word.  I was hardly taken by surprise this year

All of these knowledge is from only one person,  the one who knows all things hidden;  GOD

And through the revelation of the Anointed One, he unveiled his secret desires to us—the hidden mystery of his long-range plan, which he was delighted to implement from the very beginning of time.
Ephesians 1:9 TPT

The Lord reveals even His secret desires to us. He tells us hidden things of long-range plan

I cannot reveal my secret to someone that is not my friend.

Sometimes God is revealing but we are not listening or paying attention.

He reveals long-range plan. Do we know what that means?

Ah

There is a weather forecast to announce when seasons change. There were towncriers back then to announce if harvesting came early

Another thing that helps is change in weather or atmosphere. When breeze starts blowing very much,  we know it might be raining soon.  Everyone packs their clothes inside. If you are on the road,  you find a way to get home early

Same for us

When it is time to enter a new season or leave one,  the atmosphere around us changes. Usually we become unsatisfied and uncomfortable in the present season

 Things usually get very hard when seasons are about to change in our lives.

Before winter starts,  there is usually a hard storm to introduce it, But for those that listen to God and understand,  the hardship becomes easier. We walk through it.

We stay closely to God and transition to the next phase safely. Just as we can observe and know when seasons change naturally,  so we can spiritually.

We do not just start knowing and understanding seasons (naturally)  in a day. It is same spiritually, you have to adjust and adapt

After I left Nigeria,  it took me a long while to learn how to dress appropriately in winter. I was usually deceived by the look of the weather (I paid for this). The people that adapted quickly around me weren't affected by the weather much cos they were always dressed for the season.

Why do people miss out on Times and seasons
Have you missed out on any season in your life?

If yes,  why do you think you did?

It could be Lack of connectivity with the Holy spirit, Procrastination, Ignorance, Insensitivity, Spiritual Immaturity, disobedience, lack of knowledge etc.

Another thing people really don't pay attention to is Fear

A lot of us are scared of the change

Seasons bring change. Change in friends/company,  way of life,  devotions, commitments, location etc. Some of us are scared of what that change will take away from us .(Some even unconsciously)

Then for some of us,  it is attachment to the old season

We get too comfortable and refuse to leave. I used to be here

We are scared of what the new is bringing,  what the future holds.

Then for others,  it is fear of that storm that comes before the winter.

We will rather stay in summer forever

Times and seasons involves transition from a phase to another,  therefore it involves change.

Don't be scared of change

Don't be scared of the unknown.  We have a God that is in charge of all things known and unknown


What do you do after recognizing a season?

1. Prepare for it

When it's time to harvest,  farmers start getting laborers or their family ready for this.
When it's time to look for jobs,  you start preparing your CV,  make research about the companies you are applying to etc.

2. Surrender and stay in agreement with God
Times and seasons belong to God,  He is in charge.  He knows how it's going to end so just surrender and allow Him. Let Him know you are in for what He is doing even if you don't fully understand it or it is hard.  Just stay with Him.

3. Walk in the Time/Season

Act in accordance with that time. Don't try to act the way you did in previous seasons. Due to differences in purpose of  these seasons, different approaches might be needed. So, walk in that time/Season.

Do your part. Some people get prophecies (even with a set time)  and somehow it doesn't come to pass. Does it mean God did not speak? No,  it doesn't.

Imagine if Joseph and the people didn't save and act towards the famine that was revealed.  It would have been their fault. Some of us get revelations and prophecies but we do nothing about it.

When someone tells me: God says you will be xyz.  He will dash you all the money in the world

I receive it and go back to God,  What do I do to make sure I don't miss this xyz.  Which country should I position myself to collect the money you are dashing me?

We have a part to play for every season in our lives,  know your part and play it.  God will play His also.

Bad/Tough Seasons

Nobody likes this part. This is the first year that I walked through a tough season willingly,  without complains.  No "God take this away please.  Why is this happening to me"

Here is the hack.  Tough seasons are not bad as we assume. They usually usher in a new and better season,  depending on how handled. Remember Fire doesn't just burn,  it refines

God says,  when you WALK through the fire,  you shall not be burned (Isaiah 43:2)

We are not supposed to run away from fire or the tough seasons.

If you don't walk inside that fire,  you will not know that you are khaleesi. You can't be burned.

The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.
Genesis 8:21 NIV

This verse came before God declared that there will be times and seasons in vs 22 and they will never cease.

Never again will I, God destroy all living creatures.

But for as long as the earth remains,  I will make times and seasons and they will not end

There will be a time for the tough ones,  then a time for the smooth and sweet ones.

But God will not destroy you through all or allow them destroy you

 Another sweet part,  if a tough time ends today. Another tough season is coming 😊

We cannot run away from it

 Summer has ended but summer will come again

So yes,  times and seasons are very important.

David when it was time to fight a battle,  he took along with him men that had an understanding of the times.
 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.
1 Chronicles 12:32 KJV

200 of them were in that battle cos they understood the time.

Who is with you in this journey of life?

Not all your friends will make it for every season. Some will have to be away for a particular season
These 200 men were taken for just this specific battle. Surround yourself with people that are in line with your time and season.


(Some friends will be there for all seasons also)
Friendships are strategic.  Pray to God to reveal all to you.

Jonathan loved David and was his friend for a day such as the one he helped him escape death.
There is a reason everyone is in your life.

A new year is upon us (usually ushering a new season) and most people are already doing,  "I will cut off this and that". "Bad energy stay far away"

I'm not saying you people should not cut off o.  But what is most important and I want us all to reflect and answer these questions to ourselves:

What season am I entering in 2019. Is it a continuation of a season from 2018 or a new one?
This particular question might be hard to ask yourself. If you don't know where you are coming from,  you can't know where you are going to.

So this question is also important.
What season am I leaving. Am I done with this season ?

These are questions you need God to answer

As we leave this night,  please go to God and ask Him. Cry,  beg,  plead,  open up to Him and pay attention.

It could come as a Scripture or even a word you hear in your spirit. Or someone might say something about it to you (without knowing) Just make sure you are attentive and ready to receive these answers

Let us pray

Our dear Lord,  you who is in charge of all times and seasons,  thank you for your word today and all you've taught us. 

Help us to know where we've gone wrong,  the times we've missed and how to remedy them. 
Help us to recognize the times we are entering and how to position properly in them. 
Help us to live this word that you have taught us today. 
We will not miss out on any season but walk through all graciously 
We will testify about this in 2019 in Jesus name. 

Amen

MEDITATION

MEDITATION

As defined by the Dictionary: focus one's mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation.  To think deeply about something

What exactly are we meditating on and why?

Let's read Joshua 1 vs 8. Five different translations

Joshua 1:8 And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed. (Message)

This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.

Joshua 1:8 AMPC

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful. (Amplified)

Yes, keep this book of the Torah on your lips, and meditate on it day and night, so that you will take care to act according to everything written in it. Then your undertakings will prosper, and you will succeed.
Y'hoshua (Jos) 1:8 CJB

The scroll of this law will not depart from your mouth; you will meditate on it day and night so that you may observe diligently all that is written in it. For then you will succeed in your ways and prosper.
Joshua 1:8 LEB

First,  the word should not depart from our mouths,  we should meditate on it day and night.
The message translation says we should not even for a minute let this Book of revelation be out of our mind.

Why?
The reason to meditate on the word every minute,  day and night,  every moment is so that we nay be able to observe all that is written in the word.  All of it,  not some or the convenient words,  All.

The LEB translation says so that you may diligently observe it

Meditation is a key to the word of God coming alive in us

To meditate is to stop reading,  focus and contemplate on every word,  sentence,  phrase,  searching deeply for deeper and Fuller meaning. Weighing each word with scripture

When you search on Google for the definition of a word in the dictionary,  it doesn't just bring the meaning.

Sometimes it gives you 3-4 meanings,  with synonyms for each meaning

It comes up with sentences for the usage of that word. It gives full context and meaning to that word

When we start meditating,  what we are doing is typing a word in our dictionary. 

Then the Holy Spirit (the search engine)  is the one that brings us the results or definitions.

 In meditation,  we unlock the riches of the word. All of the hidden riches of the word of God is unlocked in meditation.

The word of God has an unending depth. We could search and search,  dig deeper and deeper but there will be no end.

Just one word,  but we can dig for the rest of our lives and keep uncovering layers of understanding,  revelation,  truth and life.

I don't think any man has discovered all the depth and significance to not even one verse in the Bible.
I don't think any man has. This is why I implore us,  whenever you are to read to verse especially a common one you know very well,  don't just rush through it.

I used to do that,  sometimes I will even rush it out from my head. Don't do that. That revelation you've gotten from that verse is not all

with my heart I meditate and my spirit searches diligently:
Psalm 77:6b AMPC

This is what happens. We meditate and the spirit searches diligently. To do something diligently is to be constant in effort to accomplish it. To be attentive and persistent

For the spirit to make due diligent search,  we must stay on the word long enough.

If I search a word on an online dictionary and I close the tab immediately. I abort the work of the search engine

So it is for us.  We should not be in a hurry to leave that word. When we meditate, we are reaching out to the Holy spirit to speak to us. Without the Holy spirit we cannot uncover or unlock any riches in the word.

We will only be faced with surface knowledge. Knowledge that can be reached by anyone because it is not covered or locked. We have to rely on Him to reveal when we meditate

Now while meditating,  because the human mind is very inquisitive,  questions pop up. As usual,  the Holy spirit is waiting for those questions to pop up so he can answer them

So here are possible general questions our mind asked.

- Who is the writer and who was he speaking to?
(Remember those secondary school comprehension question.  "Who said this and to whom?". This format sticks when we study the word also)

- why is the author or verse saying that? 
(Eg Why did Jesus tell Peter "feed my sheep"?
Why did God order people to be killed?)

- What does the verse mean?
(Meaning of feed the Lamb?)

- Does the verse contain a spiritual principle? 
(Paul advice not to marry of you can.  Personal opinion or spiritual principle?)

- How does this truth or verse apply to my life?


These questions are constant for me and many more. Some of us might share same or even beyond this shared here. According to Bob Sorge,  there are 5 things to look out for when studying the word


Context
You cannot understand a verse unless you know the context to which it is spoken.

Word Meanings
Look up meanings of the word if you don't understand or as the spirit leads. Original translations help a lot.  So you can also find the Greek/Hebrew word.

Cross references
Where else does the word occur in the Bible (for this search the original Hebrew word,  see how many times it occur and how it has been translated in each verse.  Some words have more than one meaning)

Repetition
If a word a repeated a lot in the Bible,  there is a need to pay attention.

Symbolism
Some words are symbolic and do not have direct meaning.
(Eg the Holy spirit as a dove.  This doesn't mean the holy spirit is a dove)

These 5 things have helped me a lot in understanding and interpreting Scripture correctly.


Luke 6 vs 45.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. (Luke 6:45) KJV

“Good people do good things because of the good in their hearts, but bad people do bad things because of the evil in their hearts. Your words show what is in your heart.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:45‬ ‭CEVDC‬‬

When we meditate,  we deposit good treasures in our hearts.
And it doesn't stop there
The more we meditate,  the more we deposit.
The more we deposit,  the more we produce outward fruit and our speech and conduct is being change.

We become Christlike

Usually,  we see Christians that know the word very much,  they can quote anything but the fruit they produce is rotten. You even wonder how it happens.

It's because they memorize the word and know it but they don't meditate on it always! It is during meditation that the renewal of our mind happens.

And when our minds stay renewed constantly,  our lives are are transformed.
Meditation is not just your normal general Bible study meetings or word alive teachings,  it is Jesus feeding us directly through the Holy Spirit. In the place of meditation,  the word is customized personally for you and your situation.

 And it's not just a one time thing. 
When we stay meditating for a long while,  there is an appetite and hunger for more.

Appetite is an incentive to work; hunger makes you work all the harder.
Proverbs 16:26 MSG

The more you meditate,  the hungrier you get. You are filled,  the tasted uncovered layer is soooo sweet.  You hold it dear but you still want more

There is a mistake we Christians make. When the Holy spirit uncovers a layer,  we start jumping up and sometimes close the Bible. We are in a hurry to share on our whatsapo stories or social media out of excitement

There was a day I got a revelation in the word.  I had never seen that Scripture that way,  I started jumping in my room and shouting Hallelujah. The Holy spirit asked me after a while if I can sit down so we continue. If he had not,  the excitement of that day would have made me close my Bible as usual

That layer that excites you is not all that is to that word.  There is more food for your soul where that came from.

Revel in the revelation received but don't close up your heart. Continue the meditation.

You think you are full already? The one feeding you will enlarge your insides to have more space for more food to enter

Don't stop Him because you think you are full. Don't be in a hurry to run off with little or leave.

Meditation is gazing upon Jesus in His word,  stay there. Fix your gaze upon Him. Even when doing other things (work,  play,  on your way back home) , keep gazing on Jesus through His word

See,  when you gaze upon Jesus,  you see yourself. You see all His finished works have made you to be. If any part of your life is not aligned to it yet,  you are forced to adjust

Imagine me like this getting to know that Dangote is my father and I have all his wealth as inheritance,  the way my life will change ehn. From change of wardrobe to the way I talk sef

That is what it is like to gaze upon Jesus (through the word).  We see our true identity in Him and this causes a chance in our lives.

The Bible says in Him we have our being. Our identity is in Christ.  Gaze upon Him and see yours

This teaching today is an action point for all of us,  myself included.

I want us to take it serious. I didn't plan to teach this.  Never even thought of teaching it before but I believe the Holy Spirit has a reason for keeping me awake this midnight

ACTION POINTS

1. I need you to write down things you are struggling with as a Christian.  Search Scriptures concerning this struggle and what  Christ has made you to be which opposes the struggle.
Then meditate on the Scripture every time. While bathing,  cooking,  washing even before you sleep.
Do it every time till there is a change. Please make sure you write it down.  When you notice the change,  go back and mark it off that list. Pick the next struggle

2. 2. As we study daily here,  even if it is just one word,  let it stay in your heart all day. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you about it. To teach you till it causes a change in you.

3. Whenever you are teaching here or anywhere about a Scripture,  don't search online for meanings.  Don't collect second hand feeding.  Don't be quick to eat digested food elsewhere. Stay still and meditate.  Tell the Holy Spirit to speak to you Himself,  even if it is just one word.  You want Him to do the search and give you something. And you are not leaving till He does (Note that it is not bad to read and listen to other preachers.  Just a part of our action points)

If we are able to do all of these action points and take it serious,  I'm very certain you will see a change. Please let's write all the action points down now and make a commitment to this. Let's watch our lives change before our very eyes

I leave you with these:

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
Philippians 4:8‭-‬9 MSG


For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.
Philippians 4:8‭-‬9 AMPC

So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always. Follow the example of all that we have imparted to you and the God of peace will be with you in all things.
Philippians 4:8‭-‬9 TPT

Put into practice all we have talked about tonight,  and watch things change

ETERNAL SALVATION

So to our discussion from the week.

Those that are still waiting for a Messiah are not saved.

Those that no longer believe He is Messiah are not saved

Those that have never believed at all are not saved

So to start with, the answer to the 3 statements above is a BIG YES

This issue as actually been one the church has been going round on for years

Way before we were born

There are 2 extremes to it and I am not on either side.

Once Saved always saved Or If you say a lie and due right after,  you are definitely going to hell

I've been a recipient of these 2 teachings. I've leaned on both sides for some period. Both for very short periods actually. Even during those times,  I had my reservation.

The bone of contention was the second statement:

Those that no longer believe He is Messiah are not saved

Some of us were (are)  of the opinion that if a Christian goes on to become an atheist,  He is still saved because He was once a Christian

 Like I said during the week,  I get am before no be property

Who is an atheist? 

An atheist is one who doesn't believe in the existence of God.


Who is a Christian? 
A Christian is one who is Christlike. One who basically follows Christ


How does one become a Christian?

What makes us Christians, born again,  is our acceptance of Christ as our Savior.
Now,  an atheist is one who doesn't believe there is a God, talk more of coming to Him through Christ.

Now,  let's go back.

Can a Christian say they are not doing again? Does this mean they were never Christians?

Let's look at a couple for example.

Myself and Samson have been married for 20 years.  Today,  I wake up and demand for a divorce
Does this mean we were never in love? Or I was never truly married to Samson?

No.  It simply means I have made a conscious decision to end my marriage/relationship with Samson.

Samson wants to stay married to me.

He never wants to take away my position as his wife but what he cannot do is stop me from walking away

Cos it is by freewill I accepted to be his wife. I was not forced into the relationship so I cannot be forced to stay

Samson will beg me to stay. Even after I get the divorce papers,  because he loves me,  he will keep trying to reach me.

Because of his strong love for me,  the only time he will give up is when I'm dead. He will keep trying

Now let's go back to my marriage to Samson.

There are families in Nigeria that when you are married to them,  you get some privileges.

You are carrying the surname. It opens doors for you. But the minute you walk out,  those privileges end

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1 Timothy 4:1 KJV

If it is not possible to lose faith,  Scripture will not tell you and I to hold fast to our faith

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

2 Peter 2:20‭-‬22 KJV

These Scriptures here speaks of people that knew Christ.  They had a true relationship not mere head knowledge. Yet they went back

There are some, you know, who by relaxing their grip and thinking anything goes have made a thorough mess of their faith. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two of them. I let them wander off to Satan to be taught a lesson or two about not blaspheming.

1 Timothy 1:19‭-‬20 MSG

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Hebrews 3:12 KJV

This was directed at Christians,  believers. He wasn't writing to those yet to accept Christ

And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.   And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.   And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.   But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Matthew 24:10‭-‬13 KJV

This is directly from Christ

A lot of believers will be led astray.  Many will fall away.
Jesus mentioned these things

So yes,  it is very possible for someone to be once a Christian

For someone to say they are not doing again with the same mouth they used to accept Christ.

Very very possible

Let's go back to our atheist friend,  right back to when he accepted Christ.  What exactly was he accepting?

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:1 KJV

This is one of the things our then Christian,  Atheist friend received when He accepted Christ.

No more condemnation....Eternal Life

“Martha,” Jesus said, “ You don’t have to wait until then.  I am the Resurrection, and I am Life Eternal. Anyone who clings to me in faith, even though he dies, will live forever.  And the one who lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25‭-‬26 TPT


One of the things our friend received was Eternal life.

He had life before but then according to Biology , every living thing must die

It is a cycle.. You don't stay alive forever.

A sacrifice had to be paid for eternal life to be available for all. It was paid by Jesus. He is the source of the eternal life. He is the eternal life himself.

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Acts 17:28 KJV

This eternal life our friend had is not  just given by Christ but it is IN Christ.

What happens when our friend decided that He didn't want Christ anymore?

The presence of Christ was the Eternal life itself.  Rejecting Him is also rejecting Eternal life

What happens if he dies in this rejection?  

We read that there is no condemnation for they that are IN Christ.  Not they that Christ gave eternal life (Christ is the Eternal life)

Now that he is no longer in Christ,  He will face condemnation as everyone in the world. But till the very minute that he dies,  The love of God will keep trying to pull him out and reach out to him. It will never force him into acceptance.

If God could force us into acceptance of Him,  then the whole world is going to Heaven
Or you think God delights in people going to hell?

Definitely no.

So yes,  if an atheist regardless of his former belief or stance dies,  he is not going to heaven.

There is no sugarcoating it (except there is another way outside Christ)

If as Christians we sin or do wrong things then die,  are we going to hell?
No

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:8 KJV

Christians do sin,  it is actually very possible to. But as Christians we are not characterized or identified by a life of sin. No matter how many times we make mistakes and sin,  we are forgiven

But it gets tricky.  Our lives are not to be controlled by sin.

And it is either we are controlled by the flesh or by the spirit.

Now here is my take.
If we continually choose to reject the work of the spirit in our lives and cling to the flesh,  our hearts harden.
It is very possible that we derail from here. It is very possible that stop holding honour belief from here.

The life we've received is in Christ and the Holy Spirit is the maintenance of this life.  If we constantly reject him and his works,  we reject Christ and his work too.

Let's look at John 15.

It says Abide in me, and I in you

He didn't say now that this branch is part of the tree,  that is all. Here Christ notes our choices and decisions to stay continually. To stay in continued fellowship with him. (Note that fellowship is not same as relationship.  Though fellowship  affects relationship)

He is asking us to do thongs which exposes us to Him more and more. To make the decision to stay always

Now what happens to those that do not abide in Him,  that choose to branch out

If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
John 15:6 KJV

Let's note here that he didn't say "if anyone refuses to bear fruit, I will cast them out"

He says if they refuse to abide. A branch has no life unless it is on the tree. The tree is the source of life for it.

At what point of continually rejecting the Vine (tree)  is the branch cast out?

I wish I had the answer to this one but I do not as the Bible does not give a specific time.
5years,  10years?

But one thing I know for sure is that God doesn't want anyone casted out. His love is all up in our face always.  He'd prefer we have life than death

People will come on that great day and say, I casted demons in your name but the Lord will tell them I do not know you. Of course,  they accepted Christ but something happened along the line.
Remember the parable of the sower. The ones that believed but temptation came.

I think only Christ knows at one point anyone stops being truly in Him.

But one thing we all know is the road that leads to that place,  which is continual rejection of Christ nd the works of the Spirit.

When someone becomes so controlled by sin,  we say the person's conscience is dying or is dead
In our case,  what the person is killing is the spirit of God in Him

For those of us here,  I don't think we plan to reject Christ.

And if we've been living a life characterized by sin,  now is the right time to stop.
This is why we have the Holy spirit. Allow Him help you.  You can't fight the flesh on your own.

Finally,  we have Christ so we have Eternal life.  We actually have already started living it

God loves us so much He couldn't wait for us to come join Him,  He brought Heaven here (right inside our little hearts). Enjoy Him. If His presence is boring to us now,  then why do we look forward to Heaven?

What makes Heaven is not the streets of Gold, the precious stones or pearls,  it is the Presence of God and it is now in you and I.

Let us pray.

Lord,  we thank you for your word and all we've learnt today.
Help us to abide in you forever.  Let us not seek a life outside you.

For those of us that do not understand or agree with some things,  speak to us directly.  Teach us your truth now and always.

Amen

SPIRITUAL VIOLENCE

SPIRITUAL VIOLENCE

First of all,  what is the meaning of violence?

Violence is a behavior involving physical/brutal force to hurt,  damage or kill something.

Violence is synonymous to intensity,  fierceness,  pitilessness,  attack etc.

Now does this mean we should try to kill or damage people spiritually?
Well,  no (not in this context)..

Let's go to our text for today so we understand clearly where we are coming from.

 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Matthew 11:12 KJV

From the time of John the Baptist until now, violent people have been trying to take over the kingdom of heaven by force.
Matthew 11:12 CEV

I think I've had this Scripture in my head for as long as I could memorize anything,  so many Christians have also.  It has taken me years to understand the concept of Spiritual Violence as described in this verse. So many people even use the Scripture wrongly to justify anger or some violent behavior.

What exactly does the Scripture mean by "the kingdom of heaven suffers violence"?
Who is attacking our precious Heaven? 😧😧
The violent ones take heaven by force;  does there have to be a forced entry into this heaven ?
Are we not supposed to be sweet and gentle as our darling Jesus? 🤷🏼‍♀

So many questions but we will try to break it down one after the other. 

Back to our scripture, Matt 11 vs 12, what led to this reply from Jesus?

Let's scroll up a bit.

From verse 1 ,we see John the Baptist who was in prison at that time sending his disciples to find out if Jesus was the Messiah. At that same time also,  multitudes were with Jesus listening to Him keenly.

One thing is evident here,  the people in this time were searching for something,  a prophecy given by the prophets of old,  the Messiah.  Even John was (He had to send His disciples to confirm if Jesus was the Messiah and Jesus sent them back with a prophecy concerning Him that was now evident which He was sure they knew)

The people sitting in the crowd listening to Jesus had also gone to visit John before.  One would wonder what exactly they were looking for.

As they were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John. “What kind of man did you see when you went out into the wilderness? Did you expect to see a man who would be easily intimidated?

what did you really go out to see? Was he a prophet? He certainly was. I tell you that he was more than a prophet 
Matthew 11:7-9 CEV

This same crowd listening at Jesus' feet had also been to the wilderness to see John before Jesus came.  To get to the wilderness where John was at that time according to old manuscript was a 5day journey,  one way.  So 5 days going,  another 5 days coming back (note that they were walking)
These people wanted something and nothing was going to stand in their way.  They were ready to risk it all,  they didn't mind leaving their homes for the kingdom even though they didn't fully understand at that point.

Jesus cries out to them in verse 12 saying: From the days of John the Baptist...  This means from the day John's ministry started.  John had been preaching for over a year at that time: "Repent,  for the kingdom of Heaven has come near" 
Matt 3:2 (NIV)

Now Jesus is saying from the day John started preaching that men repent as the kingdom of Heaven is near, many have been in pursuit of this kingdom.

They've been trying to get a hold of it. John had people coming from far and near, risking all just to know about this Kingdom that is near.

This kingdom of God now suffers violence

Those who heard the teaching and were touched by it seized it,  they would not let it go,  their response to it is whatever it takes,  we will find ourself inside this Kingdom.  They didn't care how forcefully they have to get there,  they will literally seize and take things by force.

 The law of Moses and the revelation of the prophets have prepared you for the arrival of the kingdom realm announced by John. And now, when this wonderful news of God’s kingdom realm is preached, people’s hearts burn with extreme passion to press in and receive it.
Luke 16:16 TPT

John was the last of the old prophets and also the one to usher in the new by being a forerunner of the Messiah.  John came to announce the arrival of the Kingdom realm. And anytime John preached about this Kingdom realm,  people's hearts begin to burn,  they are stirred,  there is a certain fierceness and intensity with which they use to pursue this realm they've heard of. They become violent spiritually.

What exactly is spiritual Violence?

To be Violent Spiritually is to pursue God intensely,  to seek Him with one's entire being.  To say enough is enough and deny self while throwing off all entangling sin.

It means to run the race with passion,  purity and perseverance.

To seek God with Violent abandonment of whatever is holding us back

And this is not starting today,  we are not the first, this started in the days of John.  Men have been reaching and violently seeking All of Heaven with intense zeal.

To be spiritually violent,  we do not care about what we lose in the process.  No! the gain of this Kingdom of Heaven is more precious than all we can ever lose.

Just as it is in this generation where people say they are chasing the kingdom and running the heavenly race but refusing to let go of their old ways,  so it has always been.

We see Jesus addressing this same crowd in Matthew about it:

 “We played the flute, but you would not dance! We sang a funeral song, but you would not mourn!”
Matthew 11:17 CEV

We see Jesus here rebuking the crowd that (some of them)  they were not dancing to the flute being played and they were not mourning even with the funeral song.  What does this mean?

The flute being played and dancing signifies celebration of God's presence and their reaction to it.
God has brought down His presence,  now He lives in us but so many of us do not dance to this new tune.  We do not walk in this new dispensation.

The funeral song being played and them refusing to mourn represents the death of sin in our lives but we as Christians still refuse to accept that we are now dead to sin.

We refuse to mourn sin and now live in this new kingdom realm.

We want to enjoy the kingdom realm but yet still have one of our feet in the world.

We consciously choose to live in sin even though we claim we are a new creature.

It doesn't work this way!

I once read somewhere : True Faith is revealed by how we chase God and earnestly seek Him

How exactly are you chasing God?
How are you seeking Him?
Is it passively or aggressively?

This thing is do or die.

It's a practical example of we die here,  if that is what it will take.

Spiritual Violence for every Christian begins in the secret place.  John spent time in the wilderness seeking God. 

The disciples locked themselves up for days in the upper room praying and fellowshipping before receiving the Holy Spirit (and they moved immediately with great power after this).

If you do not fellowship with God,  do you really seek this Kingdom realm?
Do you really wish to know Him more?

The excuse these days is we are all busy.  Know this,  if you truly want God you have to create time for Him.  You have to be ready to leave your comfort zone.

I used to have roommates when I took the decision to improve my prayer life.  I had to pray under my breath most times,  sometimes I'm in the toilet praying,  other times I'm taking a prayer walk at night during winter. 

I'd tell myself then,  "Remi,  you will die if you don't pray". I'd repeat this over and over.  It was in my notes back then.

Of a truth,  you'd die spiritually if you don't pray or fellowship with God.

And fellowshiping with God doesn't come easy,  you have to sacrifice. You have to be aggressive and violent about creating time for it. 

When God calls any man,  He first calls you to unusual dedication to fellowshiping with Him.  This is where it all flows from.

Another mistake people make is confusing Natural zeal for the things of God with fellowshiping with Him and violently seeking Him. They are very different.

Going to church always,  helping with church works,  Bible studies,  preaching etc, all these things are very good and should not be kept aside but you see,  doing these things only do not outlast watching eyes.

When you are alone,  you can't pray for 2 hours straight but you can do it in church where people are.  These things are natural zeal and it is a good start. Take it up by seeking God violently,  laying all that has been holding you back aside.

If you pray at night and you sleep off,  then start praying earlier when you are very much active.  If you start the day and get busy immediately leaving no time to commune with God,  then please starve yourself some sleep by waking up earlier to pray.

You must be ready to make any sacrifice in seeking God!
Whatever it takes,  you should be ready to give!
Radically pursue God,  without fear and without restraint.
Proverbs 2 vs 4 says we should search for wisdom (God)  as though it were a hidden treasure.

Do you know what it means to search for something that is hidden?

Who remembers Gulder Ultimate search ?  The last task is to find the hidden treasure to become the winner.  Do we see how those guys used to search like their lives depended on it? 
The money/prize was more than enough motivation.

Till someone shouts "I found it", everyone is digging sands,  scattering forests hoping they find this hidden treasure first. 

Sometimes,  it takes hours but they do not stop to rest.

The prize was the motivation.

Is this kingdom realm prize enough for you?

When the Bible said "Narrow is the way", this is what it meant,  that the path to this new life of enjoying Heaven even here on earth is difficult.  A lot of things dear to you will stand in the way,  you have to take them away yourself.

This is why Jesus said except you leave all behind,  you cannot follow me.  We must be ready to leave ALL.

As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us.
Hebrews 12:1 TPT

ACTION POINTS
As we end the teaching tonight,  I will share some Action points with you

- Get a book and write down everything that is holding you back in your fellowship with God.

- Search yourself sincerely and also write down why each of these things have been a stumbling block

-Deliberately place your communion and fellowship with God above all those things.

- Maybe just like me,  write it down everywhere you can easily see it,  make it your prayer alarm name :

"I,  xyz,  will die if I don't pray/fellowship with God"
- Earnestly pursue God.


I pray for you that as you take these steps in your pursuit of God,  the Holy Spirit who is our helper will be with you and make the walk easier for you. 

God bless you!

THE GRACE OF GOD

We've talked about Grace before so today's lesson would be a brief discussion on our understanding of grace

Grace means undeserved or unmerited favour. It's basically extending kindness to the unworthy.

Mercy is forgiving others for what they've done or God not punishing us for our sins

Grace is God blessing us despite the fact that we do not deserve it

For example Now, someone has an accident and he didn't die. Then the person says "God had mercy on me that's why i didn't die" or something like that

To be saved by Grace is means that, from the begining to the end, it's all God.  Everything we do or get, it's all God. We get this thing we've been expecting, it's grace. This poisoned food didn't kill me, it's grace.

It's not that because we are nice to people thats why bad things don't happen to us. Or if we do many good things, God's grace will continue to be upon us

It's not a bargain. We don't do 40 percent and God does 60. To be saved by grace is recognizing that we are unworthy and we have nothing what so ever to contribute to this life we are living.

Relating to this, let me tell you people what happened one time in church. There's this Anglican church I attend sometimes at home cos well, I'm an Anglican. An evangelist was invited to preach. That's how after her sermon she said "see the grace on your vicars head, if you want this kind of grace to be on your life come and drop 800k"

That's how she started till she got to 1000 naira. People were rushing out. To buy grace

Like i said before, it's not a bargain. You don't drop 100 naira to get 100 naira worth of grace. I know we know better

Ephesians 2: 8-13

The Message Ephesians 2:7-13 Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing. But don't take any of this for granted. It was only yesterday that you outsiders to God's ways had no idea of any of this, didn't know the first thing about the way God works, hadn't the faintest idea of Christ. You knew nothing of that rich history of God's covenants and promises in Israel, hadn't a clue about what God was doing in the world at large. Now because of Christ—dying that death, shedding that blood—you who were once out of it altogether are in on everything.

Lastly, what do we understand by growing in grace? Or to grow in grace?

To grow in grace means to mature as a Christian. It takes only grace to do that. It takes God's grace to constantly fellowship with him. To stay longer praying without distractions. It's grace. Grace that helps us to overcome that bad habit

We grow in grace by reading God's Word, by fellowshiping with him and by praying.

In all of this, we shouldn't take his grace for granted and always learn to be thankful. Always.

PSALM 91

Psalm 91 happens to be a very powerful and popular Psalm.  I don't think there is any Christian household where it has not been read or recited. 

Who doesn't like protection? 

This Psalm is a very powerful one but the mistake people make is thinking it is for everyone. 

To enjoy the protection as described in this Scripture then one must understand the context and meaning of this powerful chapter.  

What we will be doing in this teaching is breaking this chapter down and explaining as clearly as possible. 

PSALM 91

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalms 91:1 KJV

First of all what/where is this secret place? 

As taught in our last sermon "The Private Place", 

It is the place where we spend time with God, the place where we have intellectual conversations with God. The place where God speaks to us and empowers us.  

It is the place where we get intimate with God,  where we get to know Him.  Where He reveals Himself to us,  where He reveals His secrets to us.  Where we learn to know and recognize His voice and walk in obedience with Him. 

The secret place is where we become friends of God.  Where we gist,  have communion and fellowship with Him. 

Secret means it is a place that has to be found.  A place that is not known to all.  A secluded place.  

Back to verse 1 of Psalm 91, it says he who dwells in this secret place,  not he who comes and go.  For most Christians,  the secret place is where they run to when life's situation arises,  or maybe when they are in the mood,  they run there occasionally.  For most,  there is no habitual residence in the secret place. To dwell is to live permanently in a place.  The word “dwells” came from the Hebrew word yashab, which means to “sit down, settle, remain, and inhabit.”

He who dwells in the secret place of the most high. The Hebrew word for Most High is Elyon and this word was derived from another meaning "to ascend". The Most High God is the one who ascends above all. 

 Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!
Job 22:12 KJV. 

Now he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High God shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty
We already established that the Most High God is ascended high above all,  in the heights of the heaven.  So whoever dwells in the secret place is in this same ascended space with God.  

Let me explain the significance of this. 

When scientists shoot things into the sky,  with time they get lost in the cloud.  We can't see them anymore because they've ascended higher than our sight. 

Now imagine God higher than any rocket can reach and we dwelling there with him.  We are covered.  All that can be seen is His shadow because we are very tiny and small in this space.  His presence shields and overshadows us. We become invisible to external eyes.  We are concealed by the dark clouds of His Glory.
Communion with God is safety


I'm hoping this analogy makes sense.

Back to our Scripture. 

I'd like us to read from the message translation. 

 You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, Say this:
Psalm 91 vs 1 MSG

I like this translation.  It makes it clear that only those that have done the instruction here have the right to go further.  It is until you sit in the secret place that you can get the immunity and protection that comes from it.  
It is those that sit in this secret place that can say that the Lord is their fortress and strength.  

I will say that He is my God,  in whom I trust

It is in the secret place we learn to rely solely on God. It is there we get boldness and assurance that come what may He is there for us.  


And in putting our trust in Him,  we know that surely He will deliver us from the Fowler's snare and noisome pestilence.  God's truth will become your buckler and shield.  The secret place is where we get deep revelations of the word and this word comes alive and act as a shield to us,  protection. (vs4).  Safety comes from communion with God which happens only in the secret place

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday._
Vs 5-6

Communion and fellowship with God opens your eyes to the extent God can go for you so for such people there is no fear. 

Let it be known to you that,  you like it or not arrows will fly, pestilence will walk,  destruction is waiting but because you spend time with God you are not afraid. 

Vs 7 (this is the very first part that was revealed to me some time ago) 

 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Psalms 91:7 KJV

A lot of us declare this. 
We actually think it is our enemies that fall at our side. 
Lol. 
Let's have a picture of a battle (I'm sure we've seen this in movies). Is the person you are fighting against by your side or your right hand?  No. 
They come from opposite you.. The people that stay beside you in battle are fellow warriors. 

The one thousand that fall by the side and ten thousand by the right side are actually Christians

Fellow Christians fighting this fight of faith with you are the ones falling by your side.  

The arrows that are being shot will definitely put Christians down we like it or not.  The only ones these arrows won't come near are those who dwell in the secret place of God.

I want you to first take a moment and think,  
Where do you stand in all of this?

Are you the person in the middle safe from all the arrows coming or you are one of the thousand or ten thousand that has already been hit by the arrow or yet to be hit


Be truthful to yourself.

I know someone is thinking in their mind "but I'm a Christian,  I accepted Christ"

You are actually still a Christian.  Accepting Christ is what gave you salvation and that is just the beginning. 
There are so many things that comes after for our life here on earth (rest in the finished works of Christ,  fellowship etc).

See,  if you don't have fellowship/communion with God,  you will not just be among the thousand or 10 thousand,  even the arrow that wasn't being shot at you will touch you.  It will penetrate. 

Stray bullet will hit you badly. 

This is not to scare us.

A lot of Christians are going through some struggles in life because of this and they don't know. 
You've been praying for 1000 beside you to fall,  you don't know you are part.

This is a time for us to check ourselves. 
Where exactly do you stand?

Now why was David or Moses praying this prayer? 
(We are not sure who wrote this particular Psalm.  Some say it's Moses,  others David). 

He was not praying for 1000 and 10000 Christians to fall. 
He was only saying it as it is.  
That I know truly that millions of believers fighting this fight of faith with me may fall but because I have made you my hiding place,  none of these things will come near me. 

So next time you are declaring Psalm 91, vs 7 is not a prayer for those standing beside you in battle to fall.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Psalms 91:8 KJV

So many christians will die due to these arrows shot at them (spiritually). 
Sadly,  those that dwell in the secret place will see all of this take place from our place of immunity. 
And we will also see the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast made the Lord , which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
Psalms 91:9 KJV

Vs 9 starts with the clause that leads to the assurance again,  making the Lord your dwelling place.  


The Holy Spirit just ministered something to me now.  We all have houses where we live.  Why don't we sleep on the road or streets? 

Simply because it is not safe. 

Our homes are a place of shelter and safety. 

As a Christian,  the secret place is your safe place.  You can't afford to sleep on the streets,  the enemy will steal from you.  Bad men will come and rape you. 

The Lord is telling us tonight,  we have a home and shelter in Him.  Come to that secured place.  Stop sleeping outside

Vs 10 downwards. 

I like the part where it says you shall tread upon lions and cobras. 
This shows that we are not just survivors in this war where thousands have fallen. 
Those who dwell in God's secret place,  in the midst of others falling,  they will not run back away from the battle to be saved.  They are victors.  They walk on their enemies.  

You see men of God do some things and you wonder how it happens consistently.  Like it is very evident the healing is not by chance or the answered prayers.  It comes from a place of fellowship with God.

The concluding verses:

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.  He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.  With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Psalms 91:14‭-‬16 KJV

See,  you cannot love God if you first don't understand how deep His love for you is.  
You cannot say that you love God if you disobey Him every time. 

If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:15 KJV

I've noticed in a while now that it seems like my love for God is increasing.  Like I'm understanding deeply His love for me and somehow it's increasing mine. 
It leaves me in awe. 

You can never know how much God loves you unless you get in fellowship with Him. 
This love you think you know,  it's not even half of it.

Everyday,  His love is revealed to us in more ways and it leaves us in awe.  Like,  is this me this man loves like this? 

So somebody can choose to love me this way?

When the love of God hits you hard,  the only way you can respond to it is by loving Him back

Those that spend time with God,  that fellowship with Him consistently,  they don't have to pray for 5days during deliverance. 
You see all these big men of God,  they will just stand and demons will scatter. 
See,  it is the result from the secret place you are seeing. 

When they call upon God,  they don't need to fight battle and call and call,  God answers immediately cos they've been calling upon Him privately for a long period. 
The Lord honors such people.

The secret place is for those who love God,  those who truly want more of Him.  If you want it for show,  you will get bored.

From all we've read tonight,  we can see that God owns the secret place.  He is the one in charge.  This secret place is guarded by the most powerful, supreme, and almighty Being. No one can breach its defenses. 


Whoever wants to get at the man in the secret place has to first get through God.


Same way if the rockets get lost in space without signals,  the scientist must send something into the same space to find and rescue

The safest place in the universe is God's secret place.  Stay there


Thank you!

THE PRIVATE PLACE

So today I will be talking about “The Private place”

 And the plan is for it to be interactive 😘

So the private place, obviously means a place where you are alone.

The private place here, refers to time spent with God.

You and God, alone time etc

But we will be looking at it in another dimension.

Before I go on, I will like to ask a question

How many of us have ever had to lead worship or prayer in church ? ☝🏽

So when you had to lead prayer or worship

Was it hard?

Was it difficult

Did it seem tasking?

OR

Have you seen a situation where a Christain is asked to lead a 30 minutes prayer and after 5 minutes they don’t know what to say anymore

Or what to pray for

Or how to even pray

Or has it even happened to you where you were asked to lead a 30 minutes prayer and you got tired after 5 minutes


That is a case of being overly conscious and shy and that’s totally understandable

At least you know that in your private place you flow

But I asked that question because a lot of times, people can't lead prayers or Worship because you can’t give what you don’t have

The private place

The private place is the place where you spend time with God

It’s the place where you have intellectual conversations with God

It’s the place where God speaks to you and empowers you

It’s the place where God pours his wisdom upon you

What happens in the private place

Interaction of spirits
Your spirit interacts with Gods and you get direction

You get so much details on things

What do we do in the private place
Prayer
Worship
Study
Listening
Gisting

Who is the private place for.. Everybody

It might seem like it is for only ministers but then aren’t we all ministers in one way or the other at the end of the day

The Bible shows us of times when Jesus would go away from the crowd to pray and when he comes out

He’s performing miracles and teaching

The private place is also a place of refilling

And there’s a high tendency to “want to wing” it.

At least “I read the Bible sometimes”, and I know one or two things and I can always check google

I have seen this happen to a lot of people and then they drop fire “intellectual” sermons but we are called for a more supernatural life

We are not called to just be eloquent in speech and drop plenty grammar

There’s the place for healing

There’s the place for ministering to people

There’s the place for Word of Knowledge

There’s the place for Prophesying

All of these things are things that we have access to and the ability to do as children of God.

If you are not deeply rooted, you’ll get weary

You’ll get tired

You’ll do more of eloquent speeches with no power

1Cor 2: 4-6

 “And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power [a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them],”

It’s really long sha so I don’t want to post it but please read on your own

Start from verse 1 sef

Going down into the chapter, it says that God has secrets and he will show us
Also says
No one knows what God is thinking except the Holy Spirit and we have been given this Holy Spirit

So the private place is where your spirit and Gods spirit become one

It’s where you silence the world and get empowered

 It’s where you come out from and you start to heal the sick

You can’t pour from an empty vessel

You could use google though but you too you’ll know that you’re empty

You can mentor from an empty vessel

You’ll just confuse children of God

You won’t even know who to mentor and who not to because you don’t talk to the Holy Spirit anyway

The private place requires sacrifice

It might not be possible everyday to be very honest

But once a week, move it up to twice a week

You can’t live a life short of the supernatural that God has intended for you

You are being a pauper in the land of plenty

You are human and you are not perfect

Well, Gods grace is sufficient and it has never ever stopped being sufficient

In summary sha

Get filled through fellowship with God in the private place

Then , only then can you pour out oil and minister to people

Thank you for the opportunity to teach this evening

Please read that 1st corinthians chapter 2

It also addressed being scared,bi believe 🤔

The end ❤