WHY YOU MUST BE HEALED TODAY!
1. Himself took your sicknesses
That sickness was carried by Jesus on the Cross. What He paid for, you don't need to pay for again. That would be double jeopardy. What is on you is a lie of the devil reject it. Himself took your sicknesses. It's a done deal.
"When evening came, they brought to Him many who were under the power of demons, and He drove out the spirits with a word and restored to health all who were sick. And thus He fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, He Himself took [in order to carry away] our weaknesses and infirmities and bore away our diseases. [Matthew 8:16, 17 AMP]
2. He promised to answer you when you call (Jer.33:3; Psa. 50:15)
He can't say, "Go and come tomorrow," since he told us not to act that way.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you. (Proverbs 3:27, 28 NKJV)
3. The Lord is gracious (disposed to show favours) and full of compassion (an eager yearning to do good).
"The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works." (Psalms 145:8, 9 NKJV)
His compassion always compels Him to act.
"Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed."(Mark 1:40-42 NKJV)
In His compassion, He wants you well even more than you desire to be healed.
4. His Word is available to heal you.
Simply receive the sent word.
"He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions." (Psalms 107:20 NKJV)
Realize that God's Word is medicine to all your flesh.
"My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health (medicine) to all their flesh." (Proverbs 4:20-22 NKJV)
5. He wants to receive glory through your healing
Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:3, 4, 40 NKJV)
Claim your healing today. Lift up your hands and begin to thank Him for your healing because He is the Lord your Healer ( Exo. 15:26)
Saturday, 17 October 2015
MARRIAGE WITHOUT TEARS VI (Avoiding Needless Heart Breaks!) by Daniel Yohanna
A heart break (or broken heart) is a common metaphor for the intense emotional pain or suffering and sometimes physical pain one feels after losing a loved one either through death, divorce, breakup, separation, betrayal or romantic rejection.
For the sake of this article, I'm limiting heart breaks to relationships.
Heart breaks occur as a result of the grave disappointment people experience. Yet, the same situation that causes a heart break in one person may leave another person the same. This is because people are disappointed not by what they meet but by what they expected to meet (which is not met).
I met a lady who was being managed by her sister for years after she was jilted by a lover. She was living in the UK but had to be brought back home because of a mental condition.
Another one worked in an international merchant bank, and when her relationship broke up, she left her work unceremoniously, went back to the village and at one point, contemplated suicide. Amazingly, she later got married to a very successful young and both have a very wonderful family.
One man somehow just can't think of marrying because his fiancée left him.
These traumatic experiences occur not necessarily because of the action but because of our expectations. We assume it could never happen, and so when it happens, we are completely devastated.
There's a difference between trusting somebody and trusting in the person.
Trust is a foundation pillar in building a lasting relationship. When trust is broken, the relationship suffers a setback, yet it can be salvaged.
However, trusting in (putting your trust on) someone is building your entire life on that person.
You can't demand infallibility because you are not infallible yourself. You can't demand perfection knowing that you aren't perfect.
That's one reason you ought to be willing to forgive and let go of offences because you also have been wrong and could be wrong too and would need forgiveness.
A man once told me he couldn't forgive his wife for flirting with her ex-lover (at a period they were separated and the man had said she wasn't coming back) yet he was more guilty of the same offence. His justification was that it is African for men to flirt but not tolerated for women to do same. Thank God he eventually forgave and they reconciled.
Lots of time, in the words of Edwin Louis Cole, "We judge ourselves by our intentions while judging others by their actions."
We must learn to give people the benefit of the doubt.
Thus says the Lord : “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited. (Jer. 17:5, 6 NKJV)
Since you are dealing with imperfect human beings and not angels, give room for mistakes, and you won't have to suffer unnecessary heart breaks.
For the sake of this article, I'm limiting heart breaks to relationships.
Heart breaks occur as a result of the grave disappointment people experience. Yet, the same situation that causes a heart break in one person may leave another person the same. This is because people are disappointed not by what they meet but by what they expected to meet (which is not met).
I met a lady who was being managed by her sister for years after she was jilted by a lover. She was living in the UK but had to be brought back home because of a mental condition.
Another one worked in an international merchant bank, and when her relationship broke up, she left her work unceremoniously, went back to the village and at one point, contemplated suicide. Amazingly, she later got married to a very successful young and both have a very wonderful family.
One man somehow just can't think of marrying because his fiancée left him.
These traumatic experiences occur not necessarily because of the action but because of our expectations. We assume it could never happen, and so when it happens, we are completely devastated.
There's a difference between trusting somebody and trusting in the person.
Trust is a foundation pillar in building a lasting relationship. When trust is broken, the relationship suffers a setback, yet it can be salvaged.
However, trusting in (putting your trust on) someone is building your entire life on that person.
You can't demand infallibility because you are not infallible yourself. You can't demand perfection knowing that you aren't perfect.
That's one reason you ought to be willing to forgive and let go of offences because you also have been wrong and could be wrong too and would need forgiveness.
A man once told me he couldn't forgive his wife for flirting with her ex-lover (at a period they were separated and the man had said she wasn't coming back) yet he was more guilty of the same offence. His justification was that it is African for men to flirt but not tolerated for women to do same. Thank God he eventually forgave and they reconciled.
Lots of time, in the words of Edwin Louis Cole, "We judge ourselves by our intentions while judging others by their actions."
We must learn to give people the benefit of the doubt.
Thus says the Lord : “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited. (Jer. 17:5, 6 NKJV)
Since you are dealing with imperfect human beings and not angels, give room for mistakes, and you won't have to suffer unnecessary heart breaks.
SEIZE THE MOMENT by Daniel Yohanna
"Everyday miracles come towards you or go pass you by." - Oral Roberts
Abraham Terah sat at his tent door in his modest home in the plains of Mamre. He lifted up his eyes to see three unusual visitors passing by. It was the Lord Himself, accompanied by two angels. He quickly ran towards them, bowed in worship and constrained them to stop over for a meal. After the sumptuous meal, the Lord began to release blessings that culminated in Sarah having a baby at 90 when Abraham was 100 years old.
Suppose Abraham sat back and did nothing when that opportunity came knocking? (Gen. 18)
It was at that instance that he began to intercede on behalf of Sodom - where Lot his nephew lived.
When the two angels got to Sodom, with a clear mission - to destroy it, they sat in the open square, where Lot was to pass by on his way home. He saw the visitors and compelled them to go home with him. It was in his home that they revealed their mission to that city and eventually brought him out with his family as the fire of the Lord consumed the city. Again, suppose Lot had passed on and done nothing about the plight of those visitors? (Gen. 19)
Later on, God would put Abraham to test by demanding for his only son whom he loved so much. Abraham did not know it was a test but thank God he obeyed anyway. He passed the test and became the heir of the world (Gen. 22).
How many times have we missed opportunities of being blessed because they weren't so apparent? How many times have we flunked the various tests that come our way because we couldn't recognize them as such?
Think of the Shunamite woman who saw Elisha passing by her house every now and then. She spoke to her husband and they decided to lodge him. That was how her years of barrenness came to an end. Later on her child died but was brought back to life. (2Kings 4)
When a famine was to arise, the prophet instructed to travel ahead of its arrival. So she was spared years of living in squalor. When she returned, everything she owned that was taken away was restored to her. All because of a prophetic encounter. But it all started because she told her husband, "I perceive that this man that passes by us continually is a holy man of God," and thereafter opened up her home to him. Thank God for an equally discerning husband.
Or suppose the widow of Zarephath had turned down Elijah's request for a meal on the 'legitimate grounds' that all she had was her last before she would die? She would have truly died after consuming what was her last. But by recognizing a God-ordained opportunity, she shared her last meal with the prophet of God - in fact he ate first before the woman and her son. That last meal lasted till the end of the famine.
May God open our eyes to the various opportunities He brings our way.
One thing I can bring out in these instances is that God would bring opportunities your way, close enough, but will not force them on you. It's your responsibility to recognize them and then grab them. Seize the moment - whether it's the opportunity to serve in God's house or the need to give to God's work or God's servant, or the need to help somebody in need, I pray you will not be blind to that golden opportunity when it comes knocking.
But why do people miss opportunities? Lots of time it's because these opportunities don't always unveil their potentials. They don't always come on a platter of gold.
In the words of the great inventor, Thomas Edison, "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
For some others, it is because the situations and conditions around them don't seem favorable.
"If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done." (Eccl. 11:4, TLB).
I know of people who turned down some suitor's proposal because they didn't look qualified, only for them to be full of regrets later when they see the person they despised doing very well and happily married to some other person who could see what they couldn't see.
Stop the excuses. Maximize the moment. Seize that next opportunity. Take the moment.
God bless you.
Abraham Terah sat at his tent door in his modest home in the plains of Mamre. He lifted up his eyes to see three unusual visitors passing by. It was the Lord Himself, accompanied by two angels. He quickly ran towards them, bowed in worship and constrained them to stop over for a meal. After the sumptuous meal, the Lord began to release blessings that culminated in Sarah having a baby at 90 when Abraham was 100 years old.
Suppose Abraham sat back and did nothing when that opportunity came knocking? (Gen. 18)
It was at that instance that he began to intercede on behalf of Sodom - where Lot his nephew lived.
When the two angels got to Sodom, with a clear mission - to destroy it, they sat in the open square, where Lot was to pass by on his way home. He saw the visitors and compelled them to go home with him. It was in his home that they revealed their mission to that city and eventually brought him out with his family as the fire of the Lord consumed the city. Again, suppose Lot had passed on and done nothing about the plight of those visitors? (Gen. 19)
Later on, God would put Abraham to test by demanding for his only son whom he loved so much. Abraham did not know it was a test but thank God he obeyed anyway. He passed the test and became the heir of the world (Gen. 22).
How many times have we missed opportunities of being blessed because they weren't so apparent? How many times have we flunked the various tests that come our way because we couldn't recognize them as such?
Think of the Shunamite woman who saw Elisha passing by her house every now and then. She spoke to her husband and they decided to lodge him. That was how her years of barrenness came to an end. Later on her child died but was brought back to life. (2Kings 4)
When a famine was to arise, the prophet instructed to travel ahead of its arrival. So she was spared years of living in squalor. When she returned, everything she owned that was taken away was restored to her. All because of a prophetic encounter. But it all started because she told her husband, "I perceive that this man that passes by us continually is a holy man of God," and thereafter opened up her home to him. Thank God for an equally discerning husband.
Or suppose the widow of Zarephath had turned down Elijah's request for a meal on the 'legitimate grounds' that all she had was her last before she would die? She would have truly died after consuming what was her last. But by recognizing a God-ordained opportunity, she shared her last meal with the prophet of God - in fact he ate first before the woman and her son. That last meal lasted till the end of the famine.
May God open our eyes to the various opportunities He brings our way.
One thing I can bring out in these instances is that God would bring opportunities your way, close enough, but will not force them on you. It's your responsibility to recognize them and then grab them. Seize the moment - whether it's the opportunity to serve in God's house or the need to give to God's work or God's servant, or the need to help somebody in need, I pray you will not be blind to that golden opportunity when it comes knocking.
But why do people miss opportunities? Lots of time it's because these opportunities don't always unveil their potentials. They don't always come on a platter of gold.
In the words of the great inventor, Thomas Edison, "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
For some others, it is because the situations and conditions around them don't seem favorable.
"If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done." (Eccl. 11:4, TLB).
I know of people who turned down some suitor's proposal because they didn't look qualified, only for them to be full of regrets later when they see the person they despised doing very well and happily married to some other person who could see what they couldn't see.
Stop the excuses. Maximize the moment. Seize that next opportunity. Take the moment.
God bless you.
Sunday, 24 May 2015
PREPARE TO DIE part 3 of a 3-part series by Daniel. Yohanna
In part one of this article, we did see that death is the inevitable destination of our journey on earth, yet serves as a passage from one realm of living to another. Everyone has been allotted a time to live (Eccl. 3:3) called a life span. You can live in such a way as to have your days consumed, cut off or prolonged and multiplied. The Bible questions, “Why should you die before your time?” (Eccl. 7:17)
In the second part, we examined reasons why people die before their time. We saw from the Word of God factors that pose themselves as major hindrances to people living out their full days on earth.
In this last segment, we are looking into keys to fulfilling and prolonging your days.
If one could actually lengthen his days, what does it take?
1. Honour Your Father and Mother
'Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you. (DEUT. 5:16)
"Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise:
"that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." (EPH. 6:2-3)
You can honour your parents by giving them their rightful place in your life. Honour them by revering them. Honour them also with your substance, not just because they are in need, but because it is your Covenant obligation, as a child of God. Take care of your parents, especially in their old age. Taking your place and fulfilling your God-given responsibilities will release the blessing of God for a long, fruitful, prosperous, healthy, peaceful and fulfilling life.
It does not matter if your parents have been irresponsible or abusive. It’s not your place to retaliate or treat them the way they treated you. Do your part, and leave the rest to God. This will move God to bless you and prolong your days.
2. The Fear of the Lord
“The fear of the LORD prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be shortened.” (PROV. 10:27)
When you fear somebody, you do his bidding. When you fear a person, you wouldn’t want to offend or upset him. You would want to please him.
The Bible says
“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.” (PROV. 8:13)
Also scripture points out that the fear of the Lord makes men stop iniquity.
“In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity; and by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.” (PROV. 16:6)
When you hate what the Lord hates, then you can safely say that you fear Him.
Because the Lord loves righteousness and hates iniquity, when you do the same, there is an anointing that will lift you out of the commonplace life, far above the plight and position of ordinary folks. The epidemic that destroys countless number of people will be destroyed before you. What has killed others will die before you. Read Psalms 45:6-7
3. Wisdom
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you. (PROV. 9:10-11)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. So when you exhibit the fear of God, you are setting your feet on the paths of divine wisdom.
What is this wisdom? It is the right application of knowledge. What knowledge? The knowledge of God, of course. When you apply in your life, the things that you know about God from His Word, that is wisdom. Fashioning your life according to the Word of God is the wisdom that will bring God’s blessings in your life.
And the Bible has this to say about wisdom with respect to enjoying a long life.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding;
For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold.
She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor. (PROV. 3:13-16)
Instead of singling out long life as an agenda and pursuing it, Solomon took hold of wisdom, and auspiciously, it had long life wrapped in it (1Kings 3:11-14)
That’s why he could confidently teach that wisdom is the principal thing, the greatest of all pursuits. One that gets it will truly be happy (Proverbs 4:7).
Knowing the next step to take and the next move to make is also wisdom. By the wisdom of God, you will not make foolish decisions and take wrong steps that will lead you to destruction.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (PROV. 16:25).
4. The Word
My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands;
For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. (PROV. 3:1-2)
By following the Word, walking in it, obeying and practicing it, you are assured of a long life characterized by peace. Not days full of troubles and all kinds of misfortune.
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many (PROV. 4:10).
When the children of Israel were marching to the Promised Land, God promised them long life upon their keeping His commandments.
"You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the LORD your God is giving you for all time."
"You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess. (DEUT. 4:40; 5:33)
Over and over again you find God reiterating the fact that they needed to walk in line with the Word that they may live long. Long life is directly connected to obedience to the Word of God.
Therefore you shall keep every commandment which I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land which you cross over to possess,
and that you may prolong your days in the land which the LORD swore to give your fathers, to them and their descendants, 'a land flowing with milk and honey.'
Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates,
that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth.
(DEUT. 11:8-9, 18-21)
The Promised Land for us as New Testament believers is a state of being where the promises of God – like healing, prosperity, baptism of the Holy spirit, Peace, etc – are made real in our lives.
By going into the Word of God, claiming all the promises, including long life, this will bring you into living in the Promised Land.
You need to understand the power and prominence of the Word of God. God and His Word are one. Let’s take a look at these two scriptures:
That you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." (DEUT. 30:20)
Here, it is said that God is your life and the length of your days. So you need to love Him, obey His voice and cling to Him. By so doing, you will dwell in the land the Lord has given you. Deut. 30:20 (NIV) says “and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
But what does it mean to obey His voice but that you obey His Word? In fact, because God and His Word are one, you cannot love, honour or obey God more than you love, honour or obey the Word of God. That’s why Moses again exhorts us to really give heed to the Word as we would God, for it gives us the same effects.
Moses finished speaking all these words to all Israel,
and He said to them: "Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe-- all the words of this law.
"For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess." (DEUT. 32:45-47)
Earlier, it was said that God is your life. Now it is said that this Word is your life, and by this Word you shall prolong your days on the earth.
That was the promise made to Solomon, only if he would walk in the ways of the Lord and keep the Lord’s precepts.
“So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” (1 KINGS 3:14)
Get into the Word. Study it. Meditate on it. Obey it. Practice it. It is your life.
5.Integrity & Honesty
You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a heavy and a light.
You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small.
You shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure, that your days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
For all who do such things, all who behave unrighteously, are an abomination to the Lord your God. (DEUT. 25:13-16)
Don’t be a cheat or a fraud. This kind of life does not pay in the long run. Why must you die before your time? (Eccl 7:17).
LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart;
He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the LORD; he who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
He who does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. (PSALMS 15:1-5)
6.Kindness
If a bird's nest happens to be before you along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, with the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young;
you shall surely let the mother go, and take the young for yourself, that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days. (DEUT. 22:6-7)
One may wonder the connection between being nice to a bird and living a long life. When God said to allow the ox that treads the grain to eat as it works, Paul later said it wasn’t particularly about the animal as the fact that God was laying a principle down.
For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about?
Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 COR. 9:9-10)
So in this scripture, it is not just about the bird as much as it is about having a compassionate disposition.
“A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” (PROV. 12:10)
One other version puts this verse in a better light.
“Good people are kind to their animals, but a mean person is cruel.” (Prov 12:10, CEV)
If you can be kind to animals – of all beings – then it wouldn’t be difficult to extend the same kindness to a fellow human, whether they deserve it or not.
There’s something about having an attitude of kindness that draws the heart of God towards you and prolongs your life. Be kind today.
7. The Service of God
So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.
No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days. (EXOD. 23:25-27)
There is something extremely wonderful about serving God that gets God committed to keeping you alive so you can go on serving Him. He will protect you. He will guide you. He will sustain you. He will keep you safe and secure from all harm.
They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him."
Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him. (MAL. 3:17-18)
Get busy doing God’s business. Pray, evangelize, exhort, sing, just make sure you’re doing something productive and resourceful in His Kingdom.
But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them,
I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. (DEUT. 30:17-18)
8. Speaking Life
You can’t fill your language and vocabulary with words of death and expect to reap life. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. What has been proceeding from your tongue? The words you release are seeds you are sowing into your destiny, when they are full grown and mature, you’ll reap the harvest.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” PROV. 18:21)
It’s rather unfortunate that most of our local language phraseology are interspersed with words of death. Our idiomatic expressions, figures of speech, adages, and so on: He thrilled us to death with his jokes. If I get home late, my Dad will kill me. I’m dead, etc.
You can’t simply go on rattling just anything that comes out of your mouth. “Oh, it was just a joke. I never meant what I’m saying.” My friend, you better say what you mean and mean what you say. Words are spiritual substances. They are tangible. They are living entities. They operate based on principles. In the spirit realm, jokes are not recognized. Your intention is not decoded. Your words set in motion a programme that produces results, positive or negative. By your words, you are either justified or condemned (Mt. 12:37). You are snared or taken by your words (Prov. 6:2)
Take, for example, a little child playing with a shot gun. By pulling the trigger jokingly doesn’t mean it won’t fire. He might be joking, and go ahead and kill someone jokingly. Words are like that, like the bullet in a gun. The bullet doesn’t know when the trigger is pulled intentionally, jokingly or otherwise.
In fact, a woman took her 2-year old toddler to a supermarket in the US recently – December 2014. The child, while playing with his mother’s purse, pulled out a gun and fired at the mother, killing her.
You need to be more contemplative before speaking. Speak intentionally and deliberately. Stop speaking perverse things with your mouth. This is not to say you should never share a joke, just make sure it’s healthy, because there are jokes the Bible said are not convenient (Eph 5:4).
Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (PSA. 34:12-14)
9. Walking in Love
God had said to the children of Israel that by hearkening to His commandments and doing them, their days would be long, as the days of heaven upon the earth. What are His commandments? Every instruction in the Bible is part of His commandments. But to the children of Israel, He was specifically referring to the 10 commandments. But all the commandments are summed up in Love.
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (ROM. 13:8-10)
The 10 commandments were not given to us. For us in the New Testament, the only commandment given us is love.
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (JOHN 13:34)
As long as you walk in love, you will enjoy a long, fruitful life.
Walking in love enables you to live a stress-free, tension-free life, devoid of bitterness, rancour, unforgiveness and the resultant negative effects like oppression, depression and the likes.
Irrespective of what anybody has done to you, or how people have acted towards you; it doesn’t even matter how they have treated you. For your own good just walk on, loving God, loving people around and enjoying your life.
In the second part, we examined reasons why people die before their time. We saw from the Word of God factors that pose themselves as major hindrances to people living out their full days on earth.
In this last segment, we are looking into keys to fulfilling and prolonging your days.
If one could actually lengthen his days, what does it take?
1. Honour Your Father and Mother
'Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you. (DEUT. 5:16)
"Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise:
"that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." (EPH. 6:2-3)
You can honour your parents by giving them their rightful place in your life. Honour them by revering them. Honour them also with your substance, not just because they are in need, but because it is your Covenant obligation, as a child of God. Take care of your parents, especially in their old age. Taking your place and fulfilling your God-given responsibilities will release the blessing of God for a long, fruitful, prosperous, healthy, peaceful and fulfilling life.
It does not matter if your parents have been irresponsible or abusive. It’s not your place to retaliate or treat them the way they treated you. Do your part, and leave the rest to God. This will move God to bless you and prolong your days.
2. The Fear of the Lord
“The fear of the LORD prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be shortened.” (PROV. 10:27)
When you fear somebody, you do his bidding. When you fear a person, you wouldn’t want to offend or upset him. You would want to please him.
The Bible says
“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.” (PROV. 8:13)
Also scripture points out that the fear of the Lord makes men stop iniquity.
“In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity; and by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.” (PROV. 16:6)
When you hate what the Lord hates, then you can safely say that you fear Him.
Because the Lord loves righteousness and hates iniquity, when you do the same, there is an anointing that will lift you out of the commonplace life, far above the plight and position of ordinary folks. The epidemic that destroys countless number of people will be destroyed before you. What has killed others will die before you. Read Psalms 45:6-7
3. Wisdom
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you. (PROV. 9:10-11)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. So when you exhibit the fear of God, you are setting your feet on the paths of divine wisdom.
What is this wisdom? It is the right application of knowledge. What knowledge? The knowledge of God, of course. When you apply in your life, the things that you know about God from His Word, that is wisdom. Fashioning your life according to the Word of God is the wisdom that will bring God’s blessings in your life.
And the Bible has this to say about wisdom with respect to enjoying a long life.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding;
For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold.
She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor. (PROV. 3:13-16)
Instead of singling out long life as an agenda and pursuing it, Solomon took hold of wisdom, and auspiciously, it had long life wrapped in it (1Kings 3:11-14)
That’s why he could confidently teach that wisdom is the principal thing, the greatest of all pursuits. One that gets it will truly be happy (Proverbs 4:7).
Knowing the next step to take and the next move to make is also wisdom. By the wisdom of God, you will not make foolish decisions and take wrong steps that will lead you to destruction.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (PROV. 16:25).
4. The Word
My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands;
For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. (PROV. 3:1-2)
By following the Word, walking in it, obeying and practicing it, you are assured of a long life characterized by peace. Not days full of troubles and all kinds of misfortune.
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many (PROV. 4:10).
When the children of Israel were marching to the Promised Land, God promised them long life upon their keeping His commandments.
"You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the LORD your God is giving you for all time."
"You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess. (DEUT. 4:40; 5:33)
Over and over again you find God reiterating the fact that they needed to walk in line with the Word that they may live long. Long life is directly connected to obedience to the Word of God.
Therefore you shall keep every commandment which I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land which you cross over to possess,
and that you may prolong your days in the land which the LORD swore to give your fathers, to them and their descendants, 'a land flowing with milk and honey.'
Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates,
that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth.
(DEUT. 11:8-9, 18-21)
The Promised Land for us as New Testament believers is a state of being where the promises of God – like healing, prosperity, baptism of the Holy spirit, Peace, etc – are made real in our lives.
By going into the Word of God, claiming all the promises, including long life, this will bring you into living in the Promised Land.
You need to understand the power and prominence of the Word of God. God and His Word are one. Let’s take a look at these two scriptures:
That you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." (DEUT. 30:20)
Here, it is said that God is your life and the length of your days. So you need to love Him, obey His voice and cling to Him. By so doing, you will dwell in the land the Lord has given you. Deut. 30:20 (NIV) says “and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
But what does it mean to obey His voice but that you obey His Word? In fact, because God and His Word are one, you cannot love, honour or obey God more than you love, honour or obey the Word of God. That’s why Moses again exhorts us to really give heed to the Word as we would God, for it gives us the same effects.
Moses finished speaking all these words to all Israel,
and He said to them: "Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe-- all the words of this law.
"For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess." (DEUT. 32:45-47)
Earlier, it was said that God is your life. Now it is said that this Word is your life, and by this Word you shall prolong your days on the earth.
That was the promise made to Solomon, only if he would walk in the ways of the Lord and keep the Lord’s precepts.
“So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” (1 KINGS 3:14)
Get into the Word. Study it. Meditate on it. Obey it. Practice it. It is your life.
5.Integrity & Honesty
You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a heavy and a light.
You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small.
You shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure, that your days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
For all who do such things, all who behave unrighteously, are an abomination to the Lord your God. (DEUT. 25:13-16)
Don’t be a cheat or a fraud. This kind of life does not pay in the long run. Why must you die before your time? (Eccl 7:17).
LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart;
He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the LORD; he who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
He who does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. (PSALMS 15:1-5)
6.Kindness
If a bird's nest happens to be before you along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, with the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young;
you shall surely let the mother go, and take the young for yourself, that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days. (DEUT. 22:6-7)
One may wonder the connection between being nice to a bird and living a long life. When God said to allow the ox that treads the grain to eat as it works, Paul later said it wasn’t particularly about the animal as the fact that God was laying a principle down.
For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about?
Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 COR. 9:9-10)
So in this scripture, it is not just about the bird as much as it is about having a compassionate disposition.
“A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” (PROV. 12:10)
One other version puts this verse in a better light.
“Good people are kind to their animals, but a mean person is cruel.” (Prov 12:10, CEV)
If you can be kind to animals – of all beings – then it wouldn’t be difficult to extend the same kindness to a fellow human, whether they deserve it or not.
There’s something about having an attitude of kindness that draws the heart of God towards you and prolongs your life. Be kind today.
7. The Service of God
So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.
No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days. (EXOD. 23:25-27)
There is something extremely wonderful about serving God that gets God committed to keeping you alive so you can go on serving Him. He will protect you. He will guide you. He will sustain you. He will keep you safe and secure from all harm.
They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him."
Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him. (MAL. 3:17-18)
Get busy doing God’s business. Pray, evangelize, exhort, sing, just make sure you’re doing something productive and resourceful in His Kingdom.
But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them,
I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. (DEUT. 30:17-18)
8. Speaking Life
You can’t fill your language and vocabulary with words of death and expect to reap life. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. What has been proceeding from your tongue? The words you release are seeds you are sowing into your destiny, when they are full grown and mature, you’ll reap the harvest.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” PROV. 18:21)
It’s rather unfortunate that most of our local language phraseology are interspersed with words of death. Our idiomatic expressions, figures of speech, adages, and so on: He thrilled us to death with his jokes. If I get home late, my Dad will kill me. I’m dead, etc.
You can’t simply go on rattling just anything that comes out of your mouth. “Oh, it was just a joke. I never meant what I’m saying.” My friend, you better say what you mean and mean what you say. Words are spiritual substances. They are tangible. They are living entities. They operate based on principles. In the spirit realm, jokes are not recognized. Your intention is not decoded. Your words set in motion a programme that produces results, positive or negative. By your words, you are either justified or condemned (Mt. 12:37). You are snared or taken by your words (Prov. 6:2)
Take, for example, a little child playing with a shot gun. By pulling the trigger jokingly doesn’t mean it won’t fire. He might be joking, and go ahead and kill someone jokingly. Words are like that, like the bullet in a gun. The bullet doesn’t know when the trigger is pulled intentionally, jokingly or otherwise.
In fact, a woman took her 2-year old toddler to a supermarket in the US recently – December 2014. The child, while playing with his mother’s purse, pulled out a gun and fired at the mother, killing her.
You need to be more contemplative before speaking. Speak intentionally and deliberately. Stop speaking perverse things with your mouth. This is not to say you should never share a joke, just make sure it’s healthy, because there are jokes the Bible said are not convenient (Eph 5:4).
Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (PSA. 34:12-14)
9. Walking in Love
God had said to the children of Israel that by hearkening to His commandments and doing them, their days would be long, as the days of heaven upon the earth. What are His commandments? Every instruction in the Bible is part of His commandments. But to the children of Israel, He was specifically referring to the 10 commandments. But all the commandments are summed up in Love.
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (ROM. 13:8-10)
The 10 commandments were not given to us. For us in the New Testament, the only commandment given us is love.
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (JOHN 13:34)
As long as you walk in love, you will enjoy a long, fruitful life.
Walking in love enables you to live a stress-free, tension-free life, devoid of bitterness, rancour, unforgiveness and the resultant negative effects like oppression, depression and the likes.
Irrespective of what anybody has done to you, or how people have acted towards you; it doesn’t even matter how they have treated you. For your own good just walk on, loving God, loving people around and enjoying your life.
Wednesday, 25 March 2015
PREPARE TO DIE by Daniel Yohanna [part 2 of a 3-part series]
In part one of this article, we did see that death
is the inevitable destination of our journey in life. It is a passage from one
realm of living to another. Everyone has been allotted a time to live (Eccl.
3:3) called a life span. You can live in such a way as to have your days
consumed, cut off or prolonged and multiplied. The Bible questions, “Why should
you die before your time?” (Eccl. 7:17)
In this second part, we’ll examine reasons why
people die before their time.
The
Word of God gives us pointers to factors that pose themselves as major
hindrances to people living out their full lives. Let’s take a look at some of
them.
1.
Sinful Living
“But
You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; Bloodthirsty and
deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in You.” (PSA. 55:23)
“Though a
sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know
that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him.
But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he
prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God.” (ECCLE.
8:12-13)
This person had his allotted
span of life, but because of his wickedness, did not even finish half of his days.
Again, the
Bible shows that fact that a man’s years can be reduced or shortened.
“The fear of
the LORD prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be shortened.” (PROV. 10:27)
Whenever your
heart condemns you over some sin you have committed, don’t justify yourself or
explain it away. Confess it to God, and let the Blood of Jesus cleanse you from
all unrighteousness. (1Jn. 1:9)
So David said to
Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”
And Nathan said to David, “The Lord
also has put away your sin; you shall not die. (2 SAM. 12:13)
The wages of sin is always death (Rom. 6:23).
Deliver yourself today from the stranglehold of a sinful lifestyle.
But
the godless and profane in heart heap up anger [at the divine discipline]; they
do not cry to Him when He binds them [with cords of affliction].
They die in youth, and their life perishes among the
unclean (those who are sodomites). (JOB 36:13-14, AMP)
2. Wickedness
[Although
all have sinned] be not wicked overmuch or willfully, neither be foolish — why
should you die before your time? (ECCLE. 7:17, AMP)
Wickedness means
being spiteful; or intended to injure; a desire to cause pain or damage.
Living
life this way will cut short one’s days. For this very reason, Judah’s sons
were slain. It was said of Er, “He was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the
Lord killed him.” (Gen. 38:7).
But You, O
God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of destruction; men of blood and
treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in, lean on, and
confidently rely on You. (PSALMS 55:23, AMP)
When a person
gives his heart over to wickedness and doing wicked acts, it is God Himself
that will bring such a person down. Of course, your wickedness does not affect
God at all, but it affects His creation – men and women created in His image.
Your
wickedness touches and affects a man such as you are, and your righteousness is
for yourself, one of the human race [but it cannot touch God, Who is above such
influence]. (JOB 35:8, AMP)
Once a man sets
his heart to wickedness, his defence is departed from him; God will not
preserve such a person. There is no hiding place for the wicked (Job 34:22;
36:6). There is no peace to the wicked (Isa. 48:22; 57:21). It may look like
the wicked is having his way, but he will soon be cut off.
The fear of
the LORD prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened. (PROV.
10:27)
3. Foolishness
Do
not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time? (ECCLE.
7:17)
A man can cut
short his own life out of his own foolishness, carelessness or thoughtlessness.
You cannot blame the Lord for anything and everything that happens on the
grounds that if the Lord did not permit it, it wouldn’t have happened.
People ruin
their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD. (PROV.
19:3, NLT)
Some of the
misfortunes we’ve been through have actually been our own handiwork.
Don't you
see what happens, you simpletons, you idiots? Carelessness kills; complacency
is murder. (PROV. 1:32, MSG)
Is it not
foolhardy for one to drive a car in the night with no headlamps and no brakes,
yet speeding recklessly, believing that “God is in control?”
I also consider
this the peak of foolishness for someone to be promiscuous and be ‘sleeping
around’ like a dog, believing that condoms can protect you from AIDS. Condoms
can tear. I personally know of at least four couples who had condoms on and yet
the wife got pregnant. One gave birth to a set of twins – with condoms in
place. Be warned!
The lips of
the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom. (PROV. 10:21)
Don’t be a fool.
Receive wisdom from God’s Word that your days may be multiplied. Remember,
length of days in is wisdom’s right hand (Prov. 3:16).
4. Unfruitfulness
JOHN 15:2
"Every branch in Me that
does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes,
that it may bear more fruit.
A parable was told of a
gardener who had a Vine tree that would not produce year after year. When the
Master got tired of the plant just covering the ground and occupying precious
space, he commanded that it be cut down.
LUKE 13:6-9
6
He also spoke this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his
vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.
7
"Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I have
come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use
up the ground?'
8
"But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until
I dig around it and fertilize it.
9
'And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.'
"
5. Stress
and Fatigue
I need to add this as a cause of death. This is a
silent killer because its effect is not readily seen until afterwards when it
takes its toll on the victim. When a person has worked for a very long time
without sufficient rest, the resultant effect is fatigue – exhaustion from
overwork. The cumulative effect of overwork and lack of rest sometimes only
shows up in your latter years.
According
to John Maxwell, a hundred years ago, most causes of illness were related to
infectious disease. Today, they are related to stress.
Paul said
Epaphroditus had been sick and almost died from overwork. He almost worked
himself to death, and come to think of it, it was the work of God (Phil.
2:25-30).
Don’t
kill yourself because of God’s work. They’ll carry on without you. The same
work you felt could not be done without you – they’ll easily find a replacement
for you. Be wise. Martin Luther said, “I’d rather get four people to work than
do the work of four people.”
Why do
you think God rested on the seventh day? Was He tired? No. He was setting up a
principle of creation – the principle of rest! The Bible said rest is good
(Gen. 49:15). Rest allows the body to renew, reinvigorate and reinvent itself.
I know there is a lot of pressure on you. So many things are calling for your
attention, but you’ve got to learn to strike a balance.
According
to T. D. Jakes, “Stress is a killer, leading us to eating disorders, soaring
depression rates, unstable relationships, and extramarital affairs.” (Reposition Yourself, p206).
Jesus knew the value of rest when He summoned His
disciples to "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a
while." (Mk. 6:31).
Someone
gave a timely advice by saying that if you don’t know how to rest, you’ll be
laid to rest.
6. Disobedience
and Rebellion
Living in disobedience to God and His Word is living
dangerously. By so doing, you place yourself outside God’s protective arena as
you are simply living outside the will of God for your life.
Disobedience to God’s instruction cost Moses his life
(Num. 20:12; 27:14).
JOB 36:11-12
11 If they obey and
serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in
pleasures.
12 But if they do not
obey, They shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.
7. Ignorance
Jesus said that the devil is a
murderer (Jn.8:44). He comes to steal, kill and destroy (Jn.10:10). Yet, the
only thing that empowers Satan to work against you is your ignorance. If a
child of God were ever destroyed, it would not be on the strength or power of
the enemy, but on the basis of ignorance. Ignorance then, is the strength of
the oppressor.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.. (HOS.
4:6).
This truth you are
receiving right now is empowering you against the enemy. When you come to know
the truth, you become absolutely free (Jn.8:32).
But if they obey not,
they shall perish by the sword [of God's destructive judgments], and they shall
die in ignorance of true knowledge. (JOB 36:12, AMP)
God has fashioned out days for you
to live. You shall not go before your time in the name of Jesus.
“You shall come to the grave at a full age, as
a sheaf of grain ripens in its season.” (JOB 5:26)
7. Witchcraft
In
Africa, this kind is often called ‘remote control killing.’ The forces of
witchcraft and satanic powers attacking a man can result in death. But then as
with a remote control, a gadget can only respond because they have
corresponding elements. That’s why Jesus could boldly say, “…the prince of this
world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” (Jn. 14:30)
As
a child of God, no one can cast a spell on you. No incantation against you can
work. No witch can kill you.
“No magic charms
can work against them…” (Num. 23:23,
CEV)
No
curse can touch Jacob; no sorcery has any power against Israel... (Num. 23:23,
NLT)
8. “Death in the pot”
There
was once a gathering of prophets. These young prophets went in search of food.
As they gathered the ingredients to prepare the meal, they unknowingly gathered
in some poisonous substances. When they tasted the cooked meal, they raised an
alarm.
2 KINGS 4:40
So they poured
out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the
pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in
the pot. And they could not eat thereof.
Even
though they had tasted of the meal, none of them died.
If this could happen under the Old Covenant, how much more should we
expect such deliverances in our days! After all, we have a better covenant that
is established upon better promises (Heb.8:6).
MARK 16:17-18
16 And these
signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils;
they shall speak with new tongues;
17 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any
deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they
shall recover.
Understand that living by faith is no substitute for healthy eating.
Poor feeding is one reason why people are sick, weak, or even die. Sometimes
it’s what you’re eating that’s actually eating you up. That’s why you will find
cancer or diabetic patients being told not to eat certain foods, because they
ought to stop further deterioration of their body condition.
If
you look at the Old Testament, you will discover that some of the laws of Moses
were actually dietary as well as sanitary laws to enhance the well being of
God’s people.
9. Spiritual insensitivity
The Bible tells us that one of the things the Holy Spirit would do in
the lives of believers is to show them things to come (John 16;13)
Before
disaster strikes, God will be faithful enough to give you a warning signal. The
problem we have is that we have not developed an ear for the Spirit. We are so
preoccupied with natural things, that even when God is trying to catch our
attention, He would have a difficult time doing that.
PSALMS 16:11
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is
fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for
evermore.
He will show us the path of life so we can escape the
paths of death.
PSALMS 68:20
Our God is the God of salvation; And to God the Lord
belong escapes from death.
There may be times you want to embark on a trip, but then you begin to
‘feel’ a reluctance, an uneasiness, an unwillingness to move. At such times you
need to check again, it may the Lord giving you a signal not to go. There may
be no accident involved if you went, but you might travel in vain or miss out
on an opportunity. This ‘feeling’ is not as a result of laziness, but somehow
there is no peace in your heart. Please don’t move. Everything may look okay, but
don’t follow outward signs.
When
Paul was traveling by ship as a prisoner along with some other people, he
warned them of an impending danger, should they embark on the trip. Everything
around seemed okay, so they ignored his warning, and as a result they ran into
danger. If not for Paul who was on board that ship, they would have all lost
their lives (See Acts 27:10-13)
Paul said, “I perceive that this trip will be dangerous.” He didn’t see
a vision. He wasn’t even warned in a dream. It was a spiritual perception, an
inner knowing. You just know that you know. You may not be able to explain it.
It’s a premonition. An intuition. A hunch. It’s a kind of a ‘funny feeling of
an impending danger.’ This is one of the primary ways God leads His children. (Rom.8:14,16).
Truly, unto God the Lord belongs escapes from death. I have experienced
such escapes over and over again.
To be continued.
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(@DanielYohanna).
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