#Wordfortheweek Week 13 #ThyWillbeDone

“…Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.”  Luke 22:22 NKJV

How many of us ask for the Will of God in our prayer request? We ask God for what we want, when we want and how we want, using the relevant bible passages to back us up. But we conveniently forget to ask for His Will.

In my faith journey, there were times I was scared to pray for the Will of God, because I was worried I would come short. But as I continued to grow, I knew the Will of God was for my good and not evil.  

When we gave our life to Christ and we asked Him to be our master, this meant we now belong to Him. His Son had ransomed us and paid the price. We live for Him, by Him and through Him. Yes, God is interested in every detail of our life, and yes, He said He will grant us the desires of our heart, however our desires must be aligned with His plan and purpose for us.

We should not be asking God to rubber stamp our decisions because the request is biblical. God’s purpose for your life might only be fulfilled effectively if certain things or circumstances are in place in your life.

Permissive will is taking a risk. When we persist, and God gives us what we want, the end thereof might not be what we expect. Anything that God gives us by Himself would bring everlasting Joy. The Israelites demanded a King, God gave them Saul and we know the end of that.

There are general things that the Will of God is very clear in His word; healing, provision, protection, guidance, salvation etc are all in His covenant name, examples; Jehovah Jireh -God my provider; Jehovah Nissi - God my healer; Jehovah Rapha - God my provider. When we pray these, they are in line with His Will for our life and His covenant with us.

There are times that things within the general promises are specific to us and our situation and we need to appropriate it. A person who develops a terminal illness prays to God for healing according to His promises.

Jesus Christ in the garden of Gethsemane (Mathew 26:39) prayed to God to take away the suffering ahead, but he ended it with ‘not my will but yours’. This shows us the perfect way to pray for our desires and still ensure it will be in line with God’s Will. We have the assurance that the end would be great even if we must go through some difficult and painful time for a short while.

Jesus was honoured and sits at the right hand of God because He stayed in the Will of his Father. When we do the Will of God, we enjoy peace that surpasses all understanding.

You can only be in the Will of God if you have already given your life to Jesus Christ and you are living a holy life under the direction of the Holy Spirit. If you have not done so, I ask that you reconsider. You are missing out on so many wonderful promises of a victorious, joyful and peaceful life in this world and the promise of eternity with Christ.

#Prayerfortheweek

If you would like to give your life to Jesus, just repeat this prayer; ‘Father I come to you as a sinner, I confess I am a sinner, I believe that Your Son Jesus Christ came into the world and died for my sins. I ask that from this moment forward you come into my life and be my Lord and Saviour. Where you lead I will follow. Direct my paths from henceforth and help me to grow in you all the days of my life. Amen’

If you prayed this prayer, I encourage you to go to a bible teaching church as directed by the Holy Spirit and continue to pray for God to help you to grow spiritually.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all.

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©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity2020

#Wordfortheweek Week 18 #NewNormal

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5: 17 NKJV

The world has its way of bouncing back after a crisis.  History had shown however, that it never goes back completely to the way things were before. Crisis forces new ways of doing things, different approaches, attitudes and mindsets. Leaders emerged, and some are deposed. The old systems make way for new ones; old habits become outdated and new ones are set.

The world continues to battle with an unseen enemy as it also reshapes for life after. There will be a new normal as this period becomes another critical junction in history.

The day I surrendered my life to serve the one true God through faith in His only begotten Son was a critical junction in my life journey. I’m sure many believers would also identify their conversion as a significant milestone of their life.  

Life as we knew it was never the same and praise the Lord for that! We became new creation in Christ, old things passed away and everything became new in our Saviour. We were freed from the shackles of sin; we entered a realm of peace and rest beyond human understanding; a joy that was not dependent on feeling became illuminated perpetually in our heart.

Jesus Christ become our #newnormal.

The world will reshape itself to new ways through a combination of laws, regulation and enforcement. Life as a new creation in Christ is not dependent on enforcement of laws rather the grace of Elohim God.

We have personal responsibility to choose a life of righteous living empowered and enabled by the Spirit of God in us by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

#Prayerfortheweek

Almighty Father, thank you for the gift of my life and salvation. Help me to live as a new creation in Your Son, my lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Old things – ungodly habits, sinful living, unrighteousness have become the past in my life. I live a new life in Christ for Your glory. 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 each day.

#AdeolaAkintoye©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity2020

#Wordfortheweek Week 4 #Tongue

Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.  James 3:10 NKJV

In my journey into spiritual maturity, I have been blessed by many sermons on the power of the tongue. I have also noted in my life that the more I grow in faith, the less I engage in conversations that do not lift people up. I still feel though that sometimes I talk too much!

A while ago, I was reading a book by Dr David Yonggi Cho titled ‘Ministering Hope for 50 Years’ - I would recommend this for all spiritual leaders – amazing testimonies of God’s unfailing support when He has given you work to do.

In the book, Dr Cho related a conversation he had with a renowned neurosurgeon; this man told him that research have found that the speech area nerve, controls all other nerves in the brain. Basically, when you speak, you send a command to other nerves and they then activate it. As an example, if you say; ‘I’m gradually getting weaker’, other nerves receive the message from the speech nerve and obey it – telling others to ‘let’s get weak, we need to get weak.’ If you say, ‘I am healthy’, the message gets transmitted and process the command.

Of course, what this neurosurgeon found out from research is not new; it had already been said thousands of years ago by the Master Creator (James 3:1-6). In fact, we were told in verse 2; ‘…for if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.’ And ….’those who control their tongue will have long life’, (Proverbs 13:3).

As believers, we understand the power of confession – it activates and deepens our faith. Isn’t God wonderful? He has put in us, the design of our organs to work with our faith to bring into reality what we confess.

We use our tongue to decree positively and negatively; to bless and curse. We can use the power of the tongue for good or for evil, to bless each other and to turn around bad situations in life.

Let’s be quick to bless and slow to curse.

It can be disheartening to read what believers’ write on our social media platforms. Most times people are quick to curse leaders – ‘...those who have been made in the image of God,’ (James 3:9). Rather than cursing we could appropriate the power of our tongue to rebuke evil spirits that enables a person to live an ungodly, immoral and corrupt life.

How do we, as children of light, use our power of the tongue without committing sin ourselves? We must remember it is okay to be angry, but we must not sin in our anger. When a child does something really stupid, you don’t tell that child, ‘You stupid child’ rather you tell they child what s/he did was stupid. The power of the tongue!

Let the Holy Spirit guide what we say in all things. A quiet person is not a fool, those who are wise follow the leading of the Spirit; in what to say, when to say and how to say.

Are you struggling with taming your tongue? Consciously pause and think about what you want to say, why you must say it and the best way of saying it. What is the intention behind your words? Pray and confess the following;

#Prayerfortheweek

Almighty God, thank you for the gift of the tongue; I thank you that I’m able to talk, I’m able to use my tongue to praise you and testify of your goodness. Give me the grace to think before I talk. Let the Holy Spirit direct my speech to the glory of your name.

I confess that my tongue will be a channel of blessing and a vessel unto honour.  I appropriate my authority in Jesus over all sinful speech in the name of Jesus. 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. 

#AdeolaAkintoye©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity2020

#Wordfortheweek Week 17 #Opportunity

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

I heard a saying that opportunity comes once in a lifetime. Maybe for some people but I want to see it differently. I think opportunities are there all the time and sometimes it hits us as a surprise, when we are least expecting it. One of such time is during a crisis.

A global pandemic is a world crisis. The Corona virus pandemic is a global crisis that has rocked this generation. Over a million people have died. There is understandable panic, fear of the known and the unknown. Many people have lost their job, many will still lose theirs as businesses struggle to return to some form of norm after the lock-down.

As the world leaders look to experts for solutions, new scientific solutions are being birth, ideas are brought forth, resources are generated to meet needs. We are seeing untapped skills and abilities showing forth. New markets are generated to meet demand for equipment needed for now and the foreseeable future.  

Crisis forces new ways of doing things, different approaches, attitudes and mindsets. As individuals we are taking health and hygiene more seriously. As a community, we are learning again to look out for our neighbours and the most vulnerable in the community. Crisis bring people together, to face the challenges and come up with solutions.

In the body of Christ, we have been forced out of the four walls to fellowship without walls. There is a new zeal for prayer and working together as one body of Christ. There is renewed vigour for evangelism as the world comes together to fight a faceless enemy. This is an opportunity for us to turn the world to the One who knows all things and is above all things – Elohim God.

We mourn all those who have died because of this pandemic.  May the God of all comforts give comfort to the families left behind.  The Almighty God’s plan for us is for good and not evil, to give us a future and a hope.

Let us see future and hope.  As long as we are alive, let us maximise every opportunity by grace and bring glory to the Lord God Almighty.

#Prayerfortheweek
Thank You, thank You oh Lord my Father for the gift of Your Son, my Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus. He died that I may live. He resurrected that I may have life now and in eternity. Help me Lord to see You in all things at all times because the plan You have for me is for good and not for evil, to give me a hope and a future. Hallelujah! 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.
#AdeolaAkintoye©
#ajourneytospiritualmaturity2020

#Wordfortheweek Week 15 #Future

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

When year 2020 started, the world watched the nation of China battled an unseen enemy that took thousands of lives at an accelerated pace. Barely two months later, the whole world began to be rocked with an unprecedented war with this enemy – COVID-19 virus. A global pandemic that brought the world to its knees.

By the end of March, over one hundred countries of the world out of one ninety-five were in total or partial lock-down. No-one had a clue about the end of the lock-down, when or if things would ever go back to normal. The world was fighting an invisible enemy, seemingly with no solution yet.

One thing that was certain was that the world will not recover quickly from this crisis. The world leaders had no solution except to try and manage the spread of the virus through lock-downs, people told to stay indoors and maintain social distancing. Millions of people could go out only for food, medicine and one form of exercise. They were to work from home except if this was impossible. An extraordinary time that our generation had never experienced before.

This pandemic highlight that man does not have power over everything after all. As it brought the world to its knees, the church took to its knees in prayer and worship. The scale of prayer altars had never been seen in recent times across the world. The saints have been bombarding heaven with cries for mercy, intervention and healing to the only One who has the power over all things.

We run to Jehovah when we face a mountain too high to climb. Irrespective of what tomorrow holds, we know who holds our future, for His thoughts toward us, is of peace and not of evil, to give us a future and a hope.

Our future is sure.

#Prayerfortheweek

Thank You, thank You oh Lord my Father for the gift of Your Son, my Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus. Thank You for the hope of our future in Christ Jesus. The plans You have for us is of peace and not of evil. We rest in Your promises that no pandemic will come near us in Jesus name. 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. 

#AdeolaAkintoye©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity2020

#Wordfortheweek Week 16 #Life

"That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death..."  (Philippians 3:10)

During Easter we celebrate the anniversary of the death and resurrection of our Lord

Jesus Christ. As a believer in our Lord and Saviour, every year I find this a period of deep reflection, to understand the purpose and the power of His death and resurrection.

Our Christian journey is by grace. Grace is available to us because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. To fully understand the covenant of grace, we need to understand the power in the act of Jesus on the cross.

To live a victorious life, we need to understand and appropriate the power in the finished work on the cross. The death and the resurrection of Jesus is a whole package, you can’t have one without the other. Yet each act has its own power and impact in the lives of believers.

The hope that we have as believers and the power we have to live a victorious life is because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. A believer who desires and longs for spiritual maturity must have an in-depth understanding of the purpose and power in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; the power that is available for every believer to live a joyful, victorious and abundant life.

Oh, how exciting this is! The power that led to the conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary; that power that quickened Him to life from death, that power is available for you and me because of the finished work at the cross and assured by His resurrection.

Christ came into this world to die as substitute for our sins. The sinless Son of God came to give His life as a ransom for many (Mathew 20:28).

While Jesus was alive, He had predicted that He would rise from the dead. He challenged His enemies: "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." He was speaking about his body (John 2:19-22). Jesus also told His disciples many times that He would be killed by the leaders in Jerusalem but be raised to life on the third day. 

During His ministry on earth, Jesus brought several people to life from the dead, including Martha's brother Lazarus, who had been dead for four days (John 11).  

But the resurrection of Jesus Christ was different. It was not just resuscitation, as was the case with Lazarus, who later died again. On the third day Jesus was raised from the dead with a transformed body that was clothed with immortality and glory.

Because of the miracle of Christ's resurrection, Jesus' depressed and disappointed disciples were transformed. After receiving the Holy Spirit, they began to preach the gospel with power, and the resurrection of Jesus was at the heart of their preaching. 

Why? Without the resurrection, there is no Christianity.

#Prayerfortheweek
Thank You, thank You oh Lord my Father for the gift of Your Son, my Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus. He died that I may live. He resurrected that I may have life now and in eternity. Help me to know Him and the power of His resurrection. In Christ Jesus. 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. 
#AdeolaAkintoye©
#ajourneytospiritualmaturity2020

#Wordfortheweek Week 14 #Repurposed

For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.1 Chronicles 29:15 KJV

We are living out history that will define the future. Year 2020 is the beginning of a new decade. The COVID-19 virus pandemic is bringing about a shift at local, national, regional and global levels that will define the next decade, ushering in a new world order.

Technology has facilitated what would have been impossible a decade ago to the realm of possible. Global leaders are presenting emergency policies and bills that will impact human rights under the guise of human protection. 

Saints of the Lord are to be Holy Spirit hyper-sensitive. Do not be clouded by fear of 'catching' the virus. This is the time for renewed study and understanding of the end time prophecies.

This is the time for strategic prayers for the perfect will of the Lord to be done. This is the time for saints to deepen their faith for the shaking that is rocking the world.

This is the time for revitalised evangelistic activities to win souls - using the same technology enabled activities. This is the time to keep our gaze fixed on Christ.

This is the time to be repurposed in Christ.

This world is not our home, we are sojourners. Our home is in heaven.

#Prayerfortheweek

Help us oh Lord. May we hear and do what the Spirit is saying at such a time like this. May this be a wake-up call for revival in our fellowships, the church as one and in the nations. May the nations seek You, the Only Living God. May we stay permanently in Your secret place, seeking to listen and hear, obey and do Your will all the time and in all ways not the nice convenient ones, teaching others and living out our Faith. I will not miss rapture because of slumber. In Jesus name. 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. 

#AdeolaAkintoye©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity2020