EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:8 (KJV)

The Holy Spirit is God without boundaries. The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to give you power to perform and to live a holy and purposeful life. A life with a purpose is a life led according to the will of God. When you are empowered by the Holy Spirit,  He teaches you how to dress appropriately to church.  He teaches you how to conduct yourself . He teaches you how to behave on social media. The Holy Spirit teaches you to do the right thing in the sight of God. He reveals the truth and the character and nature of God to you. He unearths the hidden God-given potential in you. 

You have a lot of potential as child of God but it takes the Holy Spirit to ignite and unveil these potentials. Kerosene and gas are nothing until a flame of fire touches them. That's when their destructive force can be realized. He Holy Spirit is that fire that ignites and sets you ablaze for the Lord. Standing water of a river or the sea is calm until a strong wind turns it into a destructive wave. Water flowing on a level ground becomes a force to reckon with when it flows or drops from a mountain top. The dormant potential is enhanced by the driving force obtained by virtue of the height. For you to recognize your potential, you have to increase your level of spirituality by digging deepen into the things of the Lord. Your strength is renewed by waiting on the Lord.

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)

When the Holy Spirit is in you, you can dine with your enemy and they cannot harm you in any way. David had the presence of God's spirit with him so he could say that

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

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." Psalm 23:4-5

Allow the Holy Spirit to ignite your spirit today and you will experience a new found joy in the Lord. Be blessed!

WAIT UPON THE LORD AND HE WILL RENEW YOUR STRENGTH!

".. but those who hope in the Lord (wait on the Lord) will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

The art of waiting is the most difficult thing to do. If you have been promised a gift of any sort and it appears to be delayed, you become anxious and wish it will happen sooner. You wait because you hope and trust that whatever has been promised will be deliver. Hoping and waiting require you to understand the nature of the one who has promised you the gift. If you know that the person is a liar, you will not wait, but if you believe that the person will deliver, you will wait patiently no matter how long it takes. We serve a God who is faithful and truthful. He never goes back on His word for "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" Number 23:19

Because He is a constant God, if you wait upon Him, in His own time, He will honor your request but your request also has to be according to His will and purpose concerning your life. If you hope in the Lord, your strength is "For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry" Habakkuk 2:3. Hope with renewed strength sets you up for a miracle. The eagle flies higher and higher with each wind that blows. It waits patiently for the wind to approach and it rides higher on it. As you wait on the Lord, each new day should be an anticipation of the greater works that the Lord has promised to do in your life. Never give up your hope in the Lord!

David said, "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope" Psalm 130:5 

He waited for the Lord for direction and guidance because he knew God never disappoints. He changes"disappointments" into "appointments" and "disgrace" to "grace."

What have you asked of the Lord, that it seems to have taken so long? Is it a child that you are looking for after being married for so long? Is it a job that you have been searching for a long time and appears no to come your way? Is it a suitable partner that you are waiting for and appears to be delayed? As you read this message, I want you to rest assured that the Lord is working behind the scenes on your behalf and He will surely answer your request. You must have this attitude like the Apostle Paul that "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" Philippians 1:6. Whatever plan that God has for you is good and He will prosper you in due season. Just wait patiently in prayer! Never cease praying, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." Ephesian 6:18.

"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

In spite of all his challenges and troubles, Job said, "If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come" Job 14:14. A change is coming to your life, an answer to your prayer is just a stone throw away if you hold on to that hope. Never throw your hands up in despair! Job waited patiently in all his afflictions. He never cursed God and God did not forsake Him. He was reward double for His wait. 

If you wait for the Lord, you will find divine favor that brings now sorrow. If you wait for the Lord in prayer concerning your business, you will find good success. Never scheme to make gains for doing so will one day bring you disgrace. Many people have gone down this route ad they have failed miserably in life. 

"The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it." Prov. 10:22. (NIV)

"The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."                  Prov. 10:22. (KJV)

God promise those who wait "

"Strangers will stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners will be your plowmen and vine dressers. But you will be called the priests of the LORD; they will speak of you as ministers of our God; you will feed on the wealth of the nations, and you will boast in their riches. Instead of shame, My people will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation, they will rejoice in their share; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs." Is. 61:4-7

As you await the second coming of the Lord, have hope and be expectant. Do not think His coming is delayed so you are giving up but let this delay propel you to grow up spiritually and get closer to the the Lord. Each day is a day for your strength to be renewed. For each passing moment, the Apostles never gave up hope but they pushed themselves higher and higher and they did the work of the Lord with more boldness because they were convinced that their hope for the heavenly kingdom will be fulfilled one day. 
Never give up the faith!

      

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

JOY AND PEACE BE UPON YOU THIS SEASON

THE YEAR OF THE LORD'S FAVOR

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 

2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:1-3)

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me today to inform you that the favor of the Lord will be upon you in the coming days. I have good news for you, and the good news is that something that you have been praying for many years is about to come into fruition and reality. You have been struggling to make it financially in life but this is all going to change in the coming days if you renew your mind and don't give up on your dreams. You have been looking for a full time job in many years. The Lord says this is your year of progress, don't give up hope. Your breakthrough is nearer than you can imagine. The Lord is about to do something unique in your life that all ears would hear and tingle and all eyes will see and marvel at what the Lord can do. Something that you have considered impossible is about to be turned into possibility because you trust in the God of impossibilities. With God all things are possible! I have good news for someone who is barren and has been working on having a child. The Lord wants you to know that next year by this time, your precious gift is on its way, only have faith and believe in the transforming power of the name of Jesus. There is power in His name! You have been healed of any disease or sickness that is preventing you from conceiving. Just close your eyes and see the chief physician, master Jesus Himself, touching you with His healing hands. He healed the sick, the blind, the lepers, the woman with the issue of blood for twelve years, and cast out demons. He will do the same for  you today. Claim your healing in the name of Jesus. This is your year of favor, declares the Lord. You will no more be a captive to your problems if you your trust in Him today no matter how long the problems have existed. You are free from the bondage of sin, diseases and any form of abuse in Jesus' name! Your sorrows are being turned into joy. The Lord is making a way in the desert for you where there seemed to be no way. He will clothe you with the garment of righteousness and put the oil of praise on you. Today, your name will be changed from Mr/Ms. Nobody to Mr/Ms. Somebody. The Lord is in the process of lifting you up from disgrace to grace, form grass to class, and you will be called blessed among your peers. Keep up the faith, live righteously, and expect your miracle today. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is still the miracle working God. Thank Him for His favor upon your life today. AMEM! AMEM! AMEN!

THE POWER OF THANKSGIVING

Many people are ungrateful to the Almighty God for who they are, what they have achieved or acquired in life, and how they are surviving whether smooth or rough. They may attribute their success to their craftiness or intelligence forgetting that there is a powerful unseen driving force acting behind the scenes to make things happen. In the recent book written by Dr. Joyce Addo-Atuah, The Power Of Thanksgiving, she reminds us of appreciating the little things in life and not to forget the humbly beginnings of where one started from. She uses her life experiences from childhood through adulthood, to illustrate how grateful she is to God for making her what she is today. In spite of numerous challenges she faced, she is grateful to God for using these challenges as stepping stones for greater heights. She encourages everybody to "count your blessings, name them one by one, .............and it will surprise you what the Lord has done."

In addition to the spiritual benefits of giving thanks, she indicated that the physical benefits include: the lowering of your blood pressure because you become less stressful if you appreciate the little things in life and the reduction of anxiety.

Dr. Joyce Addo-Atuah beautifully and skillfully weaves biblical quotes on thanksgiving throughout the book, interspersed with her own life stories that captive the reader. Reading this book will definitely transform your thinking on when, who, where and how to show gratitude and appreciation. You can read more about her book here.

In all things, give thanks!

YOU ARE AN OVERCOMER BECAUSE OF EMMANUEL!

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31

"Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us." Isaiah 8:10

In time past, the Lord would appear to His people in diverse ways and forms. To Moses, He appeared in the form of the burning bush. When the Israelites departed from Egypt, He lead them in the form of the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. But in our days, He is ever present with us and in us. He came in the form of the flesh and dwelt among us. Emmanuel, God is with us! I want you to know today that the Lord is with you and will fight all your battles for you if you allow Him to do so. If the battle is the Lord's, who then can stand against you? 

Psalm 91:1-16  (KJV) says that "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 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."

If you make the Lord, the captain of your life, it because His duty to protect your from all harm and danger. He becomes your shield and fortress and blocks the arrows of the enemy from harming you. Put your whole trust in Him today and you are sure to win all your battles whether it is poverty, joblessness, famine, depression, barrenness, cancer, disappointments, homelessness, drug abuse, divorce, etc. 

Commit your ways to Him and He shall direct your path. Whatever plans that has been planned by the enemy against you shall be thwarted and whatever proposal that has been stated that is unfavorably to you shall be nullified in the name of Jesus. May you experience a miracle today in the matchless name of Jesus!

THE PILLAR OF CLOUD AND FIRE

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.”  But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.” And they moved on from Succoth and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness.  And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people. Exodus 13:17-22

After being delivered from the hand of Pharoah, the Israelites might have thought that their sufferings were over. Yet they were set to encounter a new form of challenge in the wilderness. God could have allowed them to pass through the land of the Philistines that was the shortest distance to the promised land but then, they had to go through the longest path by the wilderness to the Red Sea. In the journey of life, there are many challenges and obstacles that you encounter. God has not promised us a problem free life but He has promised us that in the midst of our challenges, He is always with us. 

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2

The ever presence of God to guide, to protect and to deliver, is His PROMISE, to all those who trust Him. This is what the pillar of cloud and fire represent. Whether night or day, He is sure to be there with us and for us. So why fear the enemy and evil one?

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged."Deuteronomy 31:8

If God is for us, who can be against us?

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31

Let the enemy devise a plan. It shall shall come to naught.

"Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us." Isaiah 8:10

There are some challenges and trials that are not carved for you because it will be too severe and you can handle. So God, takes you out of that situation. He took made sure that the Israelites did not go through the land of the Philistines because they would be attacked and taken back to bondage and they would begin to doubt Him. His plan was to educate them in the wilderness; make all the mistakes there before landing in the promised land. We have a promised land in the heavenly kingdom where no filth and unholiness is tolerated. All garbage  have to be left behind in the wilderness.  Any unprepared person will be left behind in the wilderness. Are you prepared to go to heaven to be with the Lord in paradise? 

The pillar of clouds confounds and confuses the enemy so you can go about your business in the LORD.

And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic. Exodus. 14:24

The pillar of clouds signifies the peace of God. Peace in good times and bad times.
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid. John 14:27

To see the Lord's hand move in your life, there is a preparatory stage. It should have taken 11 days to get to the promised land but it took 40 years. When you wait on the Lord, patiently, you see the promised land. If you murmur and glamour, you will miss His mighty hand at work. The Lord was still working miracles in the wilderness, yet they refused to acknowledge it. They were impatient and wanted everything now? Be patient with the Lord because He has been patient with you. Caleb waited patiently for the Lord and served Him wholehearted so he saw the promised land. Joshua waited patiently for the Lord and served Him wholeheartedly with his entire family, so he got to the promised land. For you to get to the promised land, you must distinguish yourself from all others. You must stand out in holiness! 

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 1 Peter 2:9

Today, be guided by the pillar of cloud and fire so that you can enter into the promised land of your divine destiny.