#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 52 Who is your #Praise.

He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen. Deuteronomy 10:21

Today is the last day of the year, many people will be giving thanks for the year.

Thank you is an expression of gratitude. What I feel in my heart is much more than an expression of gratitude. When I look back at this year; each second, minute, hour, day, week and month it is praise that bubbles up and burst forth for the One who is My Praise – Almighty God whose name is JEHOVAH.

What do you see when you look back at this year? Starting from where you are today – alive! Only Jehovah is the giver of life, it is a gift not an entitlement. So many started this year but are no more. You and I are not better than they are or more worthy. Yet we are still alive. Praise the name of our God Jehovah!

Okay, maybe this year has been full of ups and down, tears of joy and sadness, health and sickness, good times and bad ones yet we shall praise the LORD. It is because of His mercies that we came through to see the end of this year.

Only the living can praise the LORD. Our praise is worth nothing when we are dead, so make it count today. Do a praise list and dance with joy to the One who is your Praise.

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1

#Prayerfortheweek
I will extol You, my God, my King, my Praise. I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord in my life, and greatly to be praised. His greatness is unsearchable, indescribable and unending. I praise Your Holy Name for the year 2019 and this decade. You have been merciful to me and my family oh LORD, I just cannot tell it all. May Your Name forever be glorified in me oh LORD. Amen

I pray that this inspires you to reflect on your relationship with Elohim and be determined to be more and do more for Him in 2020. 

I praise Jehovah for those that followed the journey to spiritual maturity blogs this year. The praise belongs to Jehovah because He is our teacher. I look back at 52 blogs, one for each week and I am humbled by the insights Jehovah entrusted to share through me for the glory of His name. It has been a journey of spiritual maturity for me as I have been the first partaker of the lessons of His Kingdom. I can only but praise His Holy name. I look forward so much to what Jehovah will reveal and teach us in 2020. Shalom

#AdeolaAkintoye©
#ajourneytospiritualmaturity2019

#WordfortheWeek 2019 Week 51 #Uncompromising

“Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’s house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Do not diminish a word.”’ Jeremiah‬ ‭26:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Jeremiah stood up to preach prophetically in the house of the Lord. He passionately warned the priests, prophets, royal house and the people about the coming wrath. He begged them to turn from their evil ways and works and turn back to their God. The princes who were not in ‘church’ heard about the prophetic declaration and came running. 

The priests and prophets who were meant to lead people to God, broke out in violent argument. You can just imagine the commotion because of the bleak message from Jeremiah. They would have tried to shut him up, called him names. One against many, the lone voice of the truth directly from the Throne of Grace. 

Why would they believe him when their lives were going well, the rich was getting richer, the  stories of the mighty hand of God were exactly that - stories passed down from generations to generations. The fear of God was a thing of the past. Why believe the old prophet, they were after all the chosen nation, God’s people how could any calamity befall them.

Fast forward to our generation, where are the voices of the true prophets that calls out sin for what it is and warn of the coming wrath of the Lord? Would they also be cursed, abused and ridiculed? How about we the chosen generation? Is God now too familiar to us that we have taken Him for granted and become dull of hearing? How much have we compromised God’s standard to satisfy the lust of our flesh and body with the pride of life?

We do not need to wait for a prophet of God to tell us about HIs commandment, we have the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Spirit.

God is the same yesterday, today and forever. God will never compromise His standard for anyone. God’s wrath when it comes will be swift.

#PrayerfortheWeek

Father, Almighty God, thank You for the gift of my salvation. I  ask for forgiveness in anyway I have continued in sin. May I never be dull of hearing towards Your voice Lord. Help me to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit that I might not sin against You. Help me never to compromise in any way Your standard and Kingdom principles. In Jesus name I have prayed. Amen. 

As we count down to the end of 2019, I pray that this inspires you to reflect on your relationship with Elohim and be determined to be more and do more for Him in 2020.

#AdeolaAkintoye©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 50 It Belongs to Him

And He is the head of the body, the church…, Colossians 1:18 NKJV

Sometimes we forget that Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. He is the only one with authority to be judge and jury over His Church.

I was reminded and rebuked about this recently. When the Lord blesses you with revelation of things that are and should not be, it is vital to ask for wisdom on how to use the revelation.

Many Christians have been hurt by fellow brethren especially leaders in the Church - I was one of these. It is a fact that many have left church gatherings and sought alternative way of relating with other believers and walking with their God. It is very sad the personal experiences many went through in a place that was meant to be loving, forgiving and peaceful. As a result of this hurt, some have been left with a negative view about ‘Church’. Some have even turned away from the faith and do not want to have anything to do with Church.

However, it is not Church that caused the hurt but people. Even when we see how Church leaders teaches doctrines which are directly and explicitly opposed to the principles of God as written in the Holy Scriptures, it is still the act of a person or people not Jesus. It does not take away the fact that Jesus Christ is the head of His Church. He will be the judge of ALL people and especially those entrusted with HIS sheep.

Unfortunately, many Christians are using these hurts to talk negatively about the Church and the spiritual leaders. It is sad to read so many negative things said about the Church on social media platforms. A house divided against itself can not stand.

What gives us the right to talk against the Church of the Lord? When the Holy Spirit gives you revelation of things that are sinful, is it not a warning for you not to follow same and to do what is right in the eyes of God? Have we been given the authority to rebuke, castigate the Church especially through various platforms open to unbelievers? When we do this, who are we bringing reproach on? The person or Jesus Christ?

Let us focus on teaching and preaching the truth, whilst highlighting errors and heretic teachings in a way that does not bring reproach to the Church of the Living God.

Let us remember Jesus Christ is the head of His Church.

Prayer

Almighty Father, In the name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ I pray. I repent and ask for forgiveness of whatever I have said about Your Church that You have not sent me. Help me to focus on teaching and preaching the truth of Your word, correcting doctrinal errors and heretical teachings. Father uproot every tree you have not planted in Your Church, that You name is not brought into reproach among the people of the world. Amen

I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.

# AdeolaAkintoye©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 49 Transformed

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding [d]in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6,7 (NKJV)

Paul spoke about the importance of faith, the prominence of Christ, importance of spiritual knowledge, wisdom and understanding to grow in the knowledge of Christ. He reiterated that we should walk worthy of our calling, being fruitful in *every good work*, remembering that God delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love. We are not under any principalities or spiritual powers in wicked places. They can't control our lives unless we let them.

Jesus is the image of the invisible God. He is before all things and in Him all things consist. If we are in Christ, we carry the image (original prototype of Adam and Eve - in God's image He created them) of God. Isn't that wonderful. We are to walk in Christ, rooted and built up in Him.

We are to be mindful of some religious rituals - in food, drink, festivals, new moons, sabbaths which were shadow of things to come. No false humility, worship of angel's, neglect of the body, self-imposed religion. We should seek those things above where Christ is, set our minds on things above not on earth. What is the state of your mind and thoughts today?

The character of a life transformed by Christ will reflect mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with people, forgiving freely and clothe in love. Sounds like fruit of the Spirit to me. How are you doing in all these?

Let us continue earnestly in prayer being vigilant in it with Thanksgiving (Colossian 4:2). 
God is doing a marvellous thing, only the spiritual alert will perceive it. 

#Prayerfortheweek
Almighty Father, thank You for the gift of life and salvation of my soul. May my life be transformed by grace. Help me to be merciful, kind, humble, meek, longsuffering, bearing with people, forgiving freely and clothe in love. In Christ Jesus I stand. Amen.

I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.
# AdeolaAkintoye©
#ajourneytospiritualmaturity

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 48 Stir it Up

Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you…2 Timothy 1:6 (NKJV)

The book of Timothy is an excellent lesson for those in ministry and also for spiritual maturity. In 2 Tim 1, we learnt about the faith of a mother and grandmother passed down to the third generation. How are we teaching our Children about Jesus Christ?

The gift of God in us should be stirred up (by its use) activated by laying of hands, by prophecy (and personally I believe by your prayer and action not a religious act). We also learnt about Paul being an example for Timothy. I wonder how many of us can say without guilt that others could follow our example.

We learnt about our calling being a holy one for God's purpose through grace in Christ. Without Christ we cannot step into or fulfill our calling. We must understand that it is only in Christ that we live move and have our being. 

It is in Christ that we will 'see' our life partner and enjoy marital bliss. It is in Christ that we are assured that our children shall be alright. It is in Christ that we can move mountains, scale fences, swim roaring seas, battle spiritual wickedness in heavenly places and after all still stand. In Christ Jesus we can do all things!

Lay all your worries at His feet right now. Hallelujah👏👏👏. Have a blessed week. 

#Prayerfortheweek
Almighty Father, thank You for the gift of life and salvation of my soul. Give me the grace to stir up your gift in me for the glory of Your name. In Christ I live, move and have my being. I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me. In Christ Jesus I stand. Amen
I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.

# AdeolaAkintoye©
#ajourneytospiritualmaturity

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 47 Fooled or Foolish?

"For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." II Timothy 3:2-7 NKJV

When I read the passage above recently, I thought surely these types are unbelievers but alas! They are in the church.

It is not everyone who calls themselves a Christian that is a Christ follower. By their fruits you shall know them. We must always be careful and be led by the Spirit even in the household of God. It is sad to say but it is the reality of our fallen world.

As we are mindful of others, we should also reflect on our own life. What does our character say about Christ in us? How are we perceived by other people? Are we guilty of any of these sinful acts? Are there any of such characters in us?

Men and women are both deceived because of various lusts. They lack the knowledge of God in them because though hearing and learning the word, they never come to the knowledge of truth.

Let us diligently study the word, apply it in all areas of our life, be spiritually aware and put to death the lust of the flesh.

#Prayerfortheweek

Almighty Father, thank You for the gift of life and salvation of my soul. Give me the grace to diligently study Your word, apply it in all areas of my life, be spiritually aware and put to death the lust of the flesh. In Christ Jesus I stand. Amen.

I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.

# AdeolaAkintoye©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 44 Who are you following?

“But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long suffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.” 2 Tim 3:10,11 NKJV.

Who are your spiritual teachers? Paul again and again told Timothy to follow his doctrine (teachings) and life examples. He was able to assure the young protégé with a clear conscience, that he was worthy to be followed.

Who are we following? We are sometimes quick to call someone spiritual father, spiritual mother, mentor etc because they are in a position of authority. Are we assured about their life? Is their manner of life, purpose and faith a reflection of Christ?

Whoever you follow, will lead you where they are going, the question is; ‘Is where they are going where you should be going?'

The essence of being in a leader-follower relationship is that you learn from the leader and in most cases, you imitate the leader as well. "But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, perseverance," 

Be mindful of who you are following…

#Prayerfortheweek
Almighty Father, thank You for the gift of life and salvation of my soul. I desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. Give me mentors after Christ to be examples to learn from. Give me the wisdom to discern all wolf in sheep’s clothing, all demons disguised as angels of light. Let me not be deceived nor derailed from a life after Christ, in His name I pray, Amen

I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.
# AdeolaAkintoye©
#ajourneytospiritualmaturity

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 43 How is your #Heart?

'To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.' Titus 1:15‭-‬16 NKJV.

What you are quick to see in others is most likely inside you as well. 
Let us be quick to see 'good' first in others because our minds and hearts are filled with the goodness of the Lord. 
Let us be quick to show mercy to others because our hearts are full of the mercy of God. 
Let us be quick to show love because our hearts are filled with the love of God. 
Let our works be a manifestation of the knowledge of God in us. 

#Prayerfortheweek
Almighty Father give me purity of spirit, of soul and of body. Help me to see things the way You see. Cleanse my mind and conscience from everything that defiles. May my works not deny You. In all ways may I be acceptable, obedient and qualified in Christ Jesus, Amen

I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.
# AdeolaAkintoye©
#ajourneytospiritualmaturity

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 46 #Unbelief

Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; Hebrews 3:12 NKJV

The writer of Hebrews was addressing ‘holy brethren'. I want to believe these were Christians. He warned them to beware -be careful lest there is any evil in their heart because of unbelief. Really! How come? These are born again, sanctified holy brethren. How is it possible to have any part of their heart in unbelief? 

Yes, it seems it is possible. We might profess faith with our mouth, but if our heart were to be exposed, the worms of unbelief and doubt would be swarming around unfettered.

There are many religious acts and activities we have been taught through denominations that gives us this false sense of ‘righteousness.’ We judge by what we ‘see’, as such it is easy to fool people about the content of our heart. If you always attend all the church programmes, always in attendance at Sunday service, first to volunteer at every opportunity, can fire off bible passages and like manner, you have ticked all the right boxes.What about your heart brethren?

But the writer of Hebrew is saying, ‘Beware...’ Are your actions reflecting your heart?

Are there still elements of doubt, unbelief in your heart about God or even the hope of salvation? Do you go through the acts of faith but secretly doubt what you profess? Beware brethren lest you are nurturing an evil heart of unbelief.

#Prayerfortheweek
Almighty Father forgive me for my unbelief. I believe but help my unbelief (Mark 9:24). Cleanse my heart from every evil thoughts of unbelief. Give me the grace to walk in faith no matter what. In Jesus name, Amen.

I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.
# AdeolaAkintoye©
#ajourneytospiritualmaturity

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 45 #Procrastination

“Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you?” Joshua 18:3 NKJV

It’s already November, the year is fast coming to an end. At the beginning of this year, many people had a ‘to do’ list.

When I looked back to the beginning of the year and the months since, I am thankful to be alive, many are dead.

Like many people, I had a list of what I wanted to do by the end of this year. I have not completed all the ‘to do’ on my list, reason being a combination of an over-ambitious plan to plain old procrastination.

Procrastination is a time killer. We think there is still time. ’I will do it to tomorrow.’ What about if tomorrow never comes, for you?

Laziness and fear are twin reasons for procrastination. The Israelite procrastinated in moving forward to conquer the remaining promised land. Their inheritance was occupied by those who had no right to it. What about you? Are you depriving yourself of something good because of procrastination?

To kill procrastination, just do it. Take that step today, tomorrow might be too late.

#PrayerfortheWeek
Almighty Father, thank You for Your gift of salvation in my life. Give me more grace to redeem time. I rebuke every spirit of procrastination that is detrimental to my success in Christ Jesus I pray Amen

I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.

# AdeolaAkintoye©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 42 If Only

So, teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 NKJV

She sat immobile, her face ashen and her eyes fixed without blinking on his face. She did not hear anything but that one word, cancer. She had cancer, it had spread all over inside of her. She did not care where exactly but the fact that the thing was in her was enough. Only weeks at most a month, he said. Before she dies.

But she was not ready. She was too young to die. Her children needed her. Her husband needed her. She had planned to travel the world on her retirement. She wanted to see the world, she had been saving for it for the last ten years.

In seconds all the things she planned to do flashed before her eyes; one after the other. Tears pooled in her eyes and spilled over without restraint down her cheeks.... If only she had more time.

Every day, I am always thankful to see another day in the land of the living. One morning recently I woke up with this statement - ’If only’ in my head. What came immediately to my mind was a sense regret.

The one constraint and opportunity in our life, irrespective of who you are, is time. Every one of us has a finite time on earth. Many people live their live as if time was limitless, that they had the whole time in the world. Of course not.

What would happen if you were confronted with the reality of your death like the woman in the short story? What would be your ‘if only?’

As we count down to the year end, what is your ‘if only’ for this year? Have you redeemed the time or wasted it?

#Prayerfortheweek
Almighty Father, thank You for Your gift of salvation in my life. Help me to redeem time. May I never misuse your grace upon my life in Christ Jesus.

I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.

#AdeolaAkintoye ©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 41 Nevertheless

Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for calamity, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed. Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them. Judges 2:15-16

I think it must be a sign of getting older, but time seemed to be of essence in my life now more than ever. There was something that changed in my life when I celebrated my golden jubilee a few years ago. I wished I had done some things and not done others. I wished I knew the Lord earlier so that I would not have taken some steps in my life. A lot of wishes, hindsight is a wonderful thing isn’t it?

The Israelites were a people chosen by the Almighty, shaped and nurtured to become a mighty nation. The story of great and awesome works of God beginning with their ancestor father Abraham was passed down from one generation to another. The laws and commandment of their God, written down and taught; the blessings and the curses were crystal clear. It was impossible to claim ignorance. Yet, time and time again the nation rebelled against God. Don’t we also?
If God were to judge us by our actions, no one would be found guiltless. But Elohim in His mercy did not forsake nor abandon us to the repercussion of our sins.

He is The God of Nevertheless. Despite our sins, the evil in our hearts, the acts deserving eternal separation from our Creator, He nevertheless sent His only begotten Son to redeem us from the kingdom of darkness, to take our place in death so that we might live forever. This gives us an Assurance not to look back in regret but to look forward in hope.


#Prayerfortheweek
Almighty Father, thank You for Your gift of salvation in my life. Thank You for being God of Nevertheless in my life, not counting my sins against me but sending me a Saviour. Help me not to go back like a dog to its vomit. Give me the grace to abound more in grace and faith, looking ahead to the hope of eternal life with You in Christ Jesus I pray Amen



I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.
#AdeolaAkintoye ©
#ajourneytospiritualmaturity

 

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 40 Found though not lost

“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV

“Maybe you have been praying and fasting for so long, but nothing has happened. Today you shall receive your miracle.” And a resounding amen fills the air. Sounds familiar?

I have been at a place in my spiritual journey where I was praying to God, yet inside me I had a plan B and sometimes plan C. You know, if God will not answer this request, maybe I will do this or that or both. Those prayer requests of course came to nothing.

When we pray (and fast) and nothing happens, and things starts going through your mind - have I committed a sin? Is there an offence in my heart? Have I not prayed or fasted enough? We look for the missing human formula but overlook God’s own - faith with all our heart. Prayer, fasting and other religious activities without a completely faithful and loyal heart will lead to nothing.

When your prayers are not answered, do not waste your time looking for that man or woman of God to pray a special prayer for you or lay hands on you. Seek God directly with all your heart, and you will find Him. He will answer you. He said it, we will find Him when we search for Him with all our heart. Not with a partial heart.

God desires a loyal and faithful heart. 

As simple as that really

#Prayerfortheweek
Almighty Father, thank You for Your love for me. Help me to love and seek You with all my heart and soul and mind. Amen

I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.

#AdeolaAkintoye ©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 39 #Jehovah’s Witness

 ““You are My witnesses,” says the LORD, “And My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the LORD, and besides Me there is no Savior. I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, and there was no foreign god among you; Therefore, you are My witnesses,” Says the LORD, “that I am God.” Isaiah 43:10-12 NKJV

There is something awe inspiring about being declared Jehovah’s witness. Many of us do not even see ourselves as such. So who is a witness?

A witness is someone who provides evidence of something because they saw or were part of it.

If something happened to you, you are the best witness to testify of that thing.

Many people do not believe in the Almighty God because they cannot ‘see’ Him. He is not physical to them. Many have gone to the extent of moulding an image of animals, carving, physical items to represent ‘god’ to them. They need something they can see as a reference because an invisible God is incomprehensible to them. Images that cannot speak or move, the work of man worshipped by man.

Apart from the evidence in nature, God shows Himself through His witnesses, you and me. The works of God in your life makes you a witness for Him. God does not exist in man-made images. He is evidenced through lives transformed, from nothing to something; from poverty to riches: from sickness to healing; from sorrow to joy; from prison to release and from death to life.You are Jehovah’s witness. 

How are you witnessing that He is God? That before Him there was no God and after Him there is no-one. He is the only Saviour. He is God.

A witness who is found to lie is discredited as a witness. If your life does not reflect God, you are a discredited witness. Rather than being a witness for Elohim, you bring reproach to His name.

How is your life a witness for God? Are you reflecting Him, His character, His principles, His ways? Are you a witness or a reproach?

#Prayerfortheweek

Almighty Father let my life be a witness of You. May I never be a reproach to your name. May my life be a pleasing aroma to You oh Lord. If I have failed you in anyway, forgive me and let Your mercy cover me.

I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.

#AdeolaAkintoye ©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 38 Knock, Knock who is there?

“The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:2 NKJV

One of the most unpredictable things in life is life itself. The past is known with certainty because we have lived it but no one can predict the future except God. Many times, in life we go through challenging times that seeing the end of it looks just impossible.

After God created heaven and earth, the latter was full of darkness. There is something about darkness that make us relate with it as the opposite of good and light. It is in darkness there is no vision - you can’t see. Evil people like to operate under the cover of darkness. Darkness brings gloom and doom. Pain and sorrow brings darkness.

In the passage above, we read how irrespective of the darkness, the spirit of God was still in operation, hovering over, aware and seeing it all. This is uplifting for us as children of the Almighty. Having this consciousness that God is there gives you the strength to see Him even in darkness.

A sermon on this passage was preached by one of my spiritual mentors and it got me. It really got me because in pain it can be difficult to feel the presence of God. But He is there. Even though there is no light, yet He is present.

Are you going through some challenging times now? Is it so dark you can’t even grope your way through? Remember the darkness on the face of the deep, yet the Spirit of God was hovering. He is hovering over you, take courage and lean in and reach up and feel Him. He is there. He has promised He will not let you suffer beyond what you can endure.

He is there.

#Prayerfortheweek
Almighty Father, thank You because You are always there. Help me Lord to keep my focus on You even in the darkest hours of life. In the name of Yeshua Christ Jesus. Amen.

I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.

#AdeolaAkintoye ©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 37 The Gift (2)

“A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.” Proverbs 18:16 NKJV.

A gift is something given to you freely. You do not pay for it. God gave us gifts when He created us. Our abilities and talents are gifts from our creator. They are unique to everyone and when used they set us apart.

Your gift has been given to you for the calling upon your life, for the work that God wants you to do, the purpose for which He created you. 

Our gifts are not just for us but a blessing to the world. There is a saying that the place that is full of wasted gifts is the graveyard. Either because people did not discover theirs or use it before they died. What a waste.

Using our gift is not only meant to bring us before kings but also to transform the lives of people. Each of us is so unique in abilities, that when we all use ours it complements others, everyone benefits.

In the body of Christ, everyone is given a redemptive gift for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:12,13 NKJV). Not using it leaves a gap in the work of the Kingdom.

How are you using your gift for the work of the Kingdom of God?

#Prayerfortheweek
Almighty Father, thank You for giving me the gift of life. Thank You for blessing me with abundance of gifts. Help me to discover these and use them to glorify and honour Your name. Where I am struggling because I have stepped out of alignment with my gift, give me the grace to align my gift with my work and fulfil Your purpose for my life. In the name of Yeshua Christ Jesus. Amen.

I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.

#AdeolaAkintoye ©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 36 Still #Salty

Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’” 2 Kings 2:20

One of my favorite verses in the bible is Matthew 5:13 and 14; “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. This is a key identity pillar for my Christian race. It states clearly the role and purpose of followers of Jesus here on earth. 

The value of salt comes out when it is added to something without salt. One of the characteristics of our churches today is the number of  programmes - women and men conferences, youth conference, marriage conference, singles conference and many more. It is one thing to equip and build up the brethren  for the work of the Kingdom, it is another to be the salt of the earth. A salt is only valuable when added to something  that is not salt. All the programme we do for brethren is just adding salt to salt. We are to take our salt outside the building called church and impact our  environment positively. The gifts we have been given as salt is for use to transform the blandness of the world around us and bring Kingdom taste to life.  

Who are you adding value to? Make a decision to salt the life of an unbeliever with Kingdom blessing.

The question though is, ‘Are you still salty?’

#PrayerfortheWeek

Almighty Father, help me to retain salt in myself and be a salt in the lives of all those that I encounter in the journey of my life. Thank You LORD in the name of Yeshua Christ Jesus. Amen.