The Root of Ingratitude by Daniel Yohanna

The Root of Ingratitude

2 Tim. 3:1-5

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

In the last days…men shall be…unthankful.

The least anybody should do in response to a good deed, is to say, thanks. Why then are people unthankful? Why are they ungrateful to God?

"Being ungrateful makes one a great fool."

"Ingrates can never be great." - Pastor Tunde Bakare

1)      Attributing achievement to self

Deut. 8:11-17

Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: 12Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; 13And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; 14Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; 15Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; 16Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; 17And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

2)      Short memory

Deut. 8:11,14

Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:

Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

Deut. 15:15

And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.

Deut. 16:12

And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.

Deut. 26:5-9

And thou shalt speak and say before the Lord thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous: 6And the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage: 7And when we cried unto the Lord God of our fathers, the Lord heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression: 8And the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders: 9And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.

Remember you were a bondman. Just think back of what/where you were before, and you will have a cause to thank God.

3)      Focus – what you are focusing on. E.g, Glass – half-filled or half-empty perspective. Are you appreciating the ground covered or are complaining of the distance yet uncovered?

The right attitude ought to be: “I am not where I ought/want to be, yet I am not where I used to be.”

Your eyes are constantly on what you don’t have and on what is not working, instead of appreciating God for what you have and for the things that are working for you.

John 6:9

There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

Jesus did not share the same sentiments with his disciples. While they considered the loaves of bread and fishes as insignificant, Jesus acted otherwise.

John 6:11

And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

4)      Competitive spirit

You are doing just fine with what you have and are grateful for what you have until somebody shows up who has more than you have, and suddenly you become dissatisfied with, and ungrateful for, what you have.

“All my mates are married, some with children. My mates are working, making lots of money, and I am here.” You’ve not thought of your mates that are dead, sick, gone mental, etc.

Where you are right now is somebody’s prayer point. What you have right now is somebody else’s breakthrough.

 "My husband is this; my wife is that...etc" Somebody is praying to have someone they can call their spouse.

"My children are like this. Look at my neighbour's children, etc" Someone is spending millions to be able to have a child. Be grateful to God.

5)      An ungrateful disposition

“Being ungrateful makes one a great fool.”

Luke 17:11-19

And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Only one out of ten would usually come back to give thanks.  The majority never show gratitude.

6)      Abundance

When you are hungry, any little food is well appreciated. When you are full, you become choosy.

Proverbs 27:7

The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

When things are in a bad shape, you are just grateful to see a little ray of hope.

But when everything is okay, the tendency to forget God is rife in people.

Deut. 8:10-14

When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. 11Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: 12Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; 13And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; 14Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

Deut. 32:10-18

He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. 11As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: 12So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. 13He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock; 14Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.

15But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. 16They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger. 17They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. 18Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.

Thank God by Daniel Yohanna

Luke 17:11-19

11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

KJV

John 6:5-13

5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,

9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

KJV

Jonah 2:7-10

Real thanksgiving is an attitude of gratitude emanating from an appreciative heart. Everybody uses that word loosely – thank God – just like the grace of God.

…By God’s grace I’ll see you…

…For Christ’s sake…

…It is well….

…The thief says, “Thank God I wasn’t caught.”

…An unmarried lady misses her period, and when it finally comes, she sighs, “Ah, thank God, I’m not pregnant…”

…A brother is not well, goes for HIV test with great trepidation. He handles the result, opens it with great fear and exclaims, “Thank God I am negative…”

…An employee lies to his Boss and says, “Thank God he believed me…”

But what is real thanksgiving?

… when he saw that he was healed, turned back… giving him thanks

What have you seen? What do you see today that was not there in January, or last month or last year?

Most believers are not grateful.

v18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

… and he was a Samaritan (v16)

“Being ungrateful makes one a great fool.”

1.      Thanksgiving is one thing nobody can give himself. U can’t thank yourself. That’s the only thing God can’t do for Himself. Therefore, when you do for God what He can’t do for Himself, He will do for you what you can’t do for yourself.

2.      When you thank God, you are ascribing glory to Him – v18. You are acknowledging that it is God that did it. It is God that is doing it. Psa. 96:8 – Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name

3.      Thanksgiving is the key to wholeness …v19… And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

4.      Thanksgiving is the key to multiplication. –  <What is not enough becomes more than enough >

John 6:5-13

9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

5.      Thanksgiving is the key to lifting –  

“An attitude of gratitude will lift even a destitute to the highest altitude.”

Jer.30:19 (NASB)

 And from them shall proceed thanksgiving

And the voice of those who make merry;

And I will multiply them, and they shall not be diminished;

I will also honor them, and they shall not be insignificant.

6.      When you appreciate God, your life appreciates. What you appreciate appreciates in value; but what you don’t appreciate depreciates. According to Zig Ziglar,: “The more you are grateful for something, the more things you will have to be grateful for. The more you complain about something, the more things you will have to complain about - whether it is God, your fellowship, your room mate, friend, parents or money

7.      Thanksgiving will change your situation. No situation can keep you trapped if you can thank God.  

Jonah 2:7-10

7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.

10 And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

Your thanksgiving stings the devil.

An attitude of gratitude will lift even a destitute to the highest altitude.

8.       Thanksgiving is the access code into God’s presence. No thanksgiving, no access. (Psa. 100:4)

Ps 100:4 (MSG)

4 Enter with the password: "Thank you!"

Make yourselves at home, talking praise.

Thank him. Worship him. 

In giving the glory to God, you bring an offering – Psa. 96:8b; Num. 31:48-50

WHO DO I MARRY? By Mary Yohanna

WHO DO I MARRY? By Mary Yohanna

There is a stage in life where you do not lack admirers. The lady does not lack suitors coming and the guy knows that there are ladies around him that “like” him. Some call this stage, “The prime age.” To most young people, knowing whom to date becomes very confusing. Dating as we know precedes courtship and courtship precedes marriage. “Who do I date?” can be a difficult question to answer at the stage. Below are certain points to ponder before accepting any guy or girl:

1)      Is s/he a Christian? The scripture is so clear about this point right from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Abraham insisted that Isaac must not marry Canaan where he lived but that the wife must be from his own family (Gen. 24:1-4). In Deut. 7:3, God told the children of Israel not to intermarry with the inhabitants of the land.

2Cor. 6:14 tells us clearly that we as believers should not marry unbelievers. Don’t be so naïve to believe you can convert him/her. Remember, you are not the Holy Spirit.

Remember also, that being a Christian is more than just going to church or bearing a Christian name. We are referring to someone who has committed his or her life to Jesus and is born again.

2)      Does s/he have a Pastor? It is not enough that the person is born again, s/he must belong to a local church and must have a Pastor. Apart from the spiritual covering this provides, it also puts one in a position to be instructed, corrected or rebuked when necessary. There must be somebody that can bring you to order when you seem to be deviating from the right path. Psalm 92:13 says those that are planted in the house of God shall flourish – their lives, marriage, home, flourish – in the courts of our God. Having a pastor shows some level of commitment to God and to His house.

3)      Does s/he have a vision? Marriage involves two people coming together to fulfil God’s purpose. There is therefore the need to know what the person’s vision in life is, so that you can run together.

Amos 3:3 – Two cannot walk together unless they agree.

Prov. 29:18 – Where there is no vision, the people perish.

Like a friend said, “Don’t marry a man because he has a television. Marry a man because he has a vision. He will eventually not only buy you a television, he will put you on television.”

Never follow a man or a woman who is going nowhere.

4)      Does s/he have a job? Never marry a lazy man or woman unless you want to be unhappy in the future when all you will have are bills piled up. Everyone abhors laziness, whether it is physical, mental or spiritual laziness. Read Prov. 12:24; 21:25; 24:30-34.

In Gen. 2:15, God gave Adam a job before he gave him a wife. Make sure that the person you are considering is doing something, either having a job or is into some form of a business, or is even in School.

5)      Are you physically attracted to him/her? In Gen. 2:23-25, when Adam saw Eve, he exclaimed, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh!” He was attracted to her. He admired her. The person you are considering may not be the most beautiful person in the world but s/he must be beautiful to you. S/he must be someone you admire.

P.S. By Daniel Yohanna

After considering all this, something else that troubles many a believer is the question of God’s will. Is s/he God’s will for me?

First of all, determine what is not the will of God. We have seen already that you cannot marry an unbeliever. Then also, a so-called believer who is not living right and not living according to the Word of God is also a no-go area. See 1Cor.5:10,11.

God will not likely impose on you someone you have neither attraction nor appreciation for. If it is someone you never thought about nor considered, something will bring you people together, and along the way, the flame of love will be ignited within you both.

God said in 1Cor. 7:39 that a widow is at liberty to marry WHOM SHE WILLS (but) ONLY in the Lord. God did not superimpose His will here but says within the allowable Christian boundaries, marry whom you will or wish to.

When you make your choice, check your heart. Are you at peace with your choice or decision? That peace in your heart (especially after you have taken enough time to pray and your mind is quiet) is the umpire for judging whether you are in the will of God or not. Settle that question within your heart and stop running from one prophet to another trying to compel them to pick your mate for you. They will not live in the house with you. It has to ultimately be your decision, and you will live with your choice.

Col. 3:15 (AMP): And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds…

IT PAYS TO SERVE JESUS By Daniel Yohanna

IT PAYS TO SERVE JESUS
There is a song we used to sing in the eighties with this headline, written by Frank C. Huston. I have come to really appreciate the truth contained in this song: "It pays to serve Jesus..."
People are always motivated by reward. People can go through any situation or circumstances once they know there's something great awaiting them at the end of the ordeal.
People that work hard are motivated by their pay. Those that distinguish themselves in service have the hope of being honoured. Scripture shows us that our service in the Lord is not in vain (Isa. 45:19; 1Cor. 15:58). God is a rewarder (Heb. 11:6). He never forgets any deed done (Heb. 6:10).
If you are a worshiper of God, service becomes natural with you (Matt. 4:10). It's impossible to really know God and not serve Him (1Chron. 28:9)
Now, our service of God is more than just showing up in church. Neither is it restricted to the activities we engage in, in the church. Don't be confused by the use of the term "Church service" in reference to our church programmes. The Bible shows us that even at work in your office or field, you're actually serving Christ, and not just your Organisation or Boss (Col. 3:24)
In Nigeria, every graduate is expected to undergo a one-year compulsory service under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. You are required to serve the nation. Yet is serving the nation, you are not expected to traverse the nation from Maiduguri to Calabar or Lagos to Kano. You are posted to one State. Within the State, you are posted to one Local Government Area, and then to an establishment as your place of primary assignment. Though you are serving the nation, your service is localised.  You are working in an Organisation, yet it regarded as service to the nation. You may serve in any capacity in a local church or Ministry, yet you need to realize that you're not just serving the Church or the Pastor. You're serving the Lord of the Church - Jesus! That's why Jesus said he that receives His messengers receives Him (Matt. 10:40-42). He that gives to His teacher is sowing to the Spirit (Gal. 6:6-8). That's why when Israel murmured against Moses, he told them their murmuring was against the Lord (Exo. 16:2,7-8).
Your conduct in life reflects who you serve. Some people serve their belly (Phil. 3:19). Some serve mammon (Matt. 6:24). Some are serving diverse lusts and pleasures (Tit. 3:3).
Anna served God with prayers and fastings (Luke 2:36-37). Paul & Timothy served God in the Gospel (Rom. 1:9; Phil. 2:22). David served God by serving his generation (Acts 13:36).
ANYTHING YOU DO TO HONOUR CHRIST IS SEEN BY GOD AS AN ACT OF SERVICE TO HIM.
So, who are you serving? Remember, you cannot serve two masters. You cannot serve God and mammon.
In serving Jesus, there are attitudes that are acceptable with God (Heb. 13:18). These include,
1. Serving Him with reverence and fear (Psa. 2:11; Mal. 1:6)
2. Serving Him with humility (Acts 20:19)
3. Fervency of spirit (Rom. 12:11; Jer. 48:10)
4. Serving Him with gladness (Psa. 100:2)
5. Newness of spirit (Rom. 6:6)
6. Sincerity and truth (Josh. 24:14)
7. A perfect (loyal) heart and a willing mind (1Chron. 28:9)

There is nothing as rewarding as serving Christ. The blessing that accrues to you transcends your generation (Psa. 22:30). You are blessed on earth for serving Him and rewarded in heaven as well. What can beat this?
Those that serve God can never be forgotten by God (Heb. 6:10). There's a book of remembrance where every deed is recorded and rewarded (Mal. 3:14-16). When God remembers you, you will have a testimony, just like Noah (Gen. 8:1) and Rachel (Gen. 30:22) and even Israel (Exo. 2:24). You will be distinguished, as service is the pathway to distinction (Mal. 3:17,18). Service is the highway to honour (Jn. 12:26; Prov. 27:18). You will experience supernatural deliverance (Dan. 3:16,20). Because he served God, Paul,was assured of safety in the midst of the storm (Acts 27:23).
Then consider Exo. 23:25-27, which I consider as God's compact for service. By serving the Lord, He promises to bless your brand and water (so you're assured of provision). He'll take sickness from your midst (I'm a witness to this). There will be no miscarriage or barrenness. Your days will be fulfilled. You're assured of victory over your enemies. Can you get a better deal than this? THE SERVICE OF GOD IS A COVENANT TOOL FOR BLESSING. You can never find anyone who gave Himself or herself to the service of his that ever regretted it.
That's why the devil fights your service. He doesn't mind you going to church as long as you do nothing; you never get yourself involved in anything. He doesn't want you to be inconvenienced. That was what Pharaoh tried doing to Israel. He told them to go serve the Lord, but not to go far (Exo. 8:2328). Neither did he want them to serve God with their resources (Exo. 10:24-26). Satan doesn't want you to sacrifice anything to the Lord. David would not give his anything that costs him nothing (2Sam. 24:24). Our covenant with his involves sacrifice (Psa. 50:5).
Watch this: when you refuse to serve God, you are inadvertently signing in for a life of servitude to the enemy (Deut. 28:47,48; 2Chron. 12:7,8; Jer. 5:19). As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Josh. 24:15).
Don't stand aloof. Get busy with Kingdom service. Start with anything you find to do in God's kingdom (See Eccl. 9:10).
As you make this commitment to serve the Lord with your whole heart, you will enter into a new dimension of uncommon blessings.
As you remain faithful and dedicated to the service of God, your life is bound to abound with blessings (Prov. 28:20)

MARRIAGE WITHOUT TEARS vii: Resolving Conflicts in your marriage by Daniel Yohanna

Marriage starts with two “selfish people” (who often are self-absorbed and self-centred) with different backgrounds and personalities. Now add some bad habits and interesting idiosyncrasies, throw a bunch of expectation, and then turn up the heat with the daily trials of life. You are bound to have conflict.

Conflicts are unavoidable, they are normal. Every marriage has its tensions. The point is not avoiding conflict but handling it equitably.

Please do understand that there is no one-size-fits-all approach always resolving conflicts as you may need to first understand the cause, source and nature of the conflict in question, but these few steps will help.

1. Knowing, accepting and adjusting to your differences.

One reason we have conflicts is that opposites attract. But then, the same thing that attracted you to that individual, after a while, begins to irritate you; “she talks too much,’ “he is too quiet for my liking,” “he is too stubborn,” “she is too out-going,” etc, etc.

What you eventually do is some compromise – understand these differences, and then accept and adjust to them. The quiet one opens up a bit and the talkative becomes more temperate.

2. Defeating selfishness (Phil 2:1-8)  

Our differences are magnified in marriage because they feed our selfish, sinful nature. You need to deal with the basic human nature. Give your life to Christ, and adopt the mind of Christ – that attitude of humility – in you. If you can deal with selfishness in your life, your marriage will succeed.  

3. Pursing the other person (Rom.12:18)

Living peaceably means pursuing peace. It means taking the initiative to resolve a difficult conflict rather than waiting for the other person to take the first step. It entails setting aside your own pride, hurt, anger and bitterness. I have had challenges in this area, because I felt I didn’t initiate the conflict, so I was not under any obligation to make the first move. But my brother-in-law, Teju, would tell his wife, “I am older, and more mature, and as the head of my home, it falls on me to make the first move.” Truly, whatever it takes to maintain peace is worth making the move. I had to change.

4. Resolving conflict requires loving confrontation

William Wordsworth said, “The one who has a good friend doesn’t need any mirror.”

“Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (Prov. 27:5,6).

Confronting your spouse with grace and tactfulness require patience, wisdom, and humility. Here are a few tips:

Check your motivation. Will your words help or hurt? Will bringing this up cause healing, wholeness, and oneness, or further isolation?

Check your attitude

Check the circumstances. This includes timing, location and setting (Shouldn’t be when your spouse is tired or in public)

Check to see what other pressures may be present. Be sensitive to where your spouse is coming from.

Listen to your spouse. Try to understand his or her view, and ask questions for clarification.

Be sure you’re ready to take it as well as dish it out.

Focus on the problem, rather than the person.

Focus on behavior, rather than character.

Focus on the facts rather than judging motives.

Above all, focus on understanding your spouse rather than on who is winning or losing.

5. Resolving conflicts require forgiveness

Forgiving means giving up resentment and the desire to punish. By an act of your will, you let the other person off the hook. Do this, not because your spouse does not deserved to be punished, but because you have the nature of Christ, and so are kind-hearted (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:19).

Even when you feel that s/he is not sincerely repentant, forgive all the same.

And in forgiving, you must forget – which means you put it behind you and never bring it up in the face of a recurring conflict.

6. Returning a blessing for an insult (1Peter 3:8-9)

Refuse to retaliate or return insult for insult, if your spouse gets angry. Teju and his wife once had an issue where the wife blurted out in desperation, “In fact I regret marrying you.” He calmly moved towards her, held her in his hands and responded, “I don’t regret marrying you!” That was the icebreaker.

 7. Removing the source of conflict

Sometimes it is necessary to make the sacrifice of letting go of habits, attitudes, relationships and issues that brew conflicts. Do it for your spouse's sake. Do it for your family. Do it for the sake of peace. 

Terminating TERMINAL diseases by Daniel Yohanna

Jeremiah 30:12-18
12 "For thus says the Lord:
'Your affliction is incurable,
Your wound is severe.
13 There is no one to plead your cause,
That you may be bound up;
You have no healing medicines.
15 Why do you cry about your affliction?
Your sorrow is incurable.
Because of the multitude of your iniquities,
Because your sins have increased,
I have done these things to you.
16 'Therefore all those who devour you shall be devoured;
And all your adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity;
Those who plunder you shall become plunder,
And all who prey upon you I will make a prey.
17 For I will restore health to you
And heal you of your wounds,' says the Lord,
'Because they called you an outcast saying:
"This is Zion;
No one seeks her."'

God said that though your affliction is incurable and there is no healing medicines, yet “I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds.”
A terminal disease is one from which there is no recovery, leading to death, because it is incurable. The good news is that GOD HEALS ALL SICKNESSES and cures all diseases, including the ones called terminal. They are only terminal until they come in contact with God.
It is actually the knowledge of men (and medical personnel) that terminates, and so they term the sickness, terminal. Once upon a time, tuberculosis was a terminal disease, until they found the cure. Once the cure is known, it is no longer termed incurable or terminal.
Since Jesus is the Healer of all sicknesses, there is no such thing as terminal diseases with God.
I have seen God heal cancers by my hands, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, barrenness, and different maladies afflicting people. Once you know the truth, you become free. God has made me free from sickness since the day I discovered that “Himself took my infirmities, and bore my sicknesses.” (Matt. 8:17) I discovered that by His stripes, I have been (not will be) healed (1Pet.2:24).
But where is the genesis of terminal diseases? Let’s go to Deuteronomy 28, and we will see there the different blessings that would come on the children of Israel (from vv.1-14) if they obeyed the voice of the Lord and the different curses that would come on them for their disobedience (vv 15-ff).
Before we begin to enumerate the different curses, it is pertinent for you to understand that these curses, termed the curse of the law, was punishment for breaking the Law of Moses (the 10 Commandments). It manifested as poverty, sickness and spiritual death. It is noteworthy that we in the New Testament have never been under the law of Moses, and so are absolved of all consequences of the law.
Scripture clearly shows us that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.

Gal 3:13-14

13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Let’s see the different sicknesses that Christ has redeemed us from.

Deut 28:15,21-22,27-28,35,
15 "But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:
21 The Lord will make the plague cling to you until He has consumed you from the land which you are going to possess. 22 The Lord will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with scorching, and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish.
27 The Lord will strike you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors, with the scab, and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed. 28 The Lord will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart.
35 The Lord will strike you in the knees and on the legs with severe boils which cannot be healed, and from the sole of your foot to the top of your head.
58 "If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, 59 then the Lord will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues — great and prolonged plagues — and serious and prolonged sicknesses. 60 Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. 61 Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law, will the Lord bring upon you until you are destroyed.

Thank God that in Christ, we are redeemed from all these.
When the devil tries to put any disease on you, stand up to him and remind him that according to Deut 28, every sickness is a curse of the law, but according to Gal.3:13, Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, therefore, “I don’t have this sickness (name it)!”
In those days before the tuberculosis vaccine was developed, Dr Lilian B. Yeomans, who later became a healing minister, got scores of afflicted folks in her “healing home” meditating and confessing these truths over and over again. And they eventually got their deliverance.
It doesn’t matter your present condition, it can change through the power of God.
Gloria Copeland shared this testimony about a friend of hers:
"I have one friend in particular who is very diligent. No matter how early she has to get up, no matter what else her schedule may hold, she puts her time in the Word and in prayer first place in her day. That's because many years ago she found herself dying of liver cancer. The doctors diagnosed it and told her she had only a few months to live.
Medical science couldn't help her, so she turned to God's medicine. She began to spend time reading and meditating on Scriptures about healing every day. As a result, she is alive and well with no trace of cancer in her body. My friend knows she owes her life to God's Word."

 For more light on this, order for my books, The Healing Covenant, Receive Your Miracle and Terminating Terminal Diseases (e-copy).

The devil is a liar by Daniel Yohanna

John 8:44 (NIV)
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

This well-known phrase is often employed when rejecting any attack from the devil. It is however pertinent to note that just quipping that the devil is liar makes no difference, to you or the devil. It’s like saying, “The sky is blue!” Though it is a fact that the devil is a liar – and the father of lies, for that matter – just realizing that doesn’t free you from the devil’s clutch.
The devil does not have the ability to speak the truth, in much the same way that God cannot lie (Tit.1:2; Heb. 6:17). Anything satan tells you is a lie. Lies are consistent with his character. It’s his native language. Broda Martyns sang a song years back titled in pidgin, "Devil na liar number one." No one can beat him at this game. I know Pastor Chris Delvan humorously said the way some Christians lie, even the devil on hearing would shout "The Blood of Jesus!" Yet, the truth is, the devil is the father of lies.
We see his first antics displayed in the Garden of Eden, when he tried to twist the truth of God’s word by telling them “You shall not surely die…” (Gen. 3:5), in direct contradiction of what God had said to Adam in Gen. 2:17 that he would surely die if he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
The word of God is the truth (John 17:17). Anything that contradicts God’s word is a lie of the devil.
Have you ever believed a lie? You were convinced it was the truth and acted on your conviction only to discover later that you were deceived, just like Adam and Eve found out, albeit too late. Don’t live with the lies of the devil. The Bible describes activities as lying vanities.

Jonah 2:8
They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

Anytime he confronts you with his lies, respond with the truth of God's word. "Say the truth and shame the devil!"
When the devil tells you that you will die, find out the truth from God’s word that says you shall not die but live. Every problem and affliction is a lie of the devil. Don’t buy into his lies.
Has the devil told you that you would not amount to anything? Respond with the truth of God’s word that you are the blessed of the Lord (Deut 7:14; Eph 1:3).
Every time the devil shot his arrows in Jesus’ direction, Jesus responded with, “It is written…” (Matt. 4:1-13)
The reason Jesus came was to destroy the works of the devil (1John 3:8) by bearing witness to the truth (John 18:37). When you know this truth, and walk in the light of it, you will be live completely free from every onslaught of the devil (John 8:32).
Our desire is that in our Ministry, we will build and establish people on the truth of God’s Word, so they can experience total liberty in every aspect of their lives

This Life by Daniel Yohanna

THIS LIFE…IS

A GAME: You must play to win.
However, in this game of life, there have been a lot of casualty, as many a player is not conversant with the rules of the game before attempting to play. Fortunately for some, they have an extra time in which they have a chance to make amends, for many others, they are not that fortunate.
There are other sets of people that play just for the fun. They have no goal in sight. For them, this game is a hobby and not a profession. They plan to achieve nothing significant.
Others are reduced to mere fans , passively standing by, admiring and cheering the active players of the game, who are serious enough to have a prize in view.

A BATTLEFIELD: You must fight to win.
In fact, you fought among millions as a sperm cell to fertilize the ovum; you fought to be born. You fought through life growing up. With the birth of every vision, opposition mounts up to stop you getting to your enviable position. Challenges abound. Yet you must keep your eyes on the reward. You are a survivor. If you keep at it, you will make it.

A RACE: Run to win.
You must develop a winning strategy as the winner is not necessarily the swiftest. Run against time, as you don’t have forever to achieve all you’ve got to accomplish. If you will not be distracted an side-tracked, you will get there!

A MYSTERY: You must unravel it. One and one do not always add up to two. Where someone danced and was ‘sprayed’ with money, another dances there and gets the beating of his life. Everything you see is not as it seems. Not all that glitters is gold.

A PUZZLE: You must resolve it. In a jigsaw puzzle, all the pieces are usually there but are in the wrong place. When everything in your life assume its natural position, life becomes beautiful.

BRIEF: You must maximize the moment.
“Not everything that counts can be counted; and not everything that can be counted counts.” Stop counting your years; instead, make your years count. Some things in life are more important than life itself.

Excerpt from the book, THIS LIFE, by Daniel Yohanna.