How you can have a great week : 3 Ps

Triple Ps 

Woke up so lazy today after an adventurous weekend. A thought skipped through my mind : How can I start a great week? Three Ps came into my mind. Check it out!!

✔️No matter what's going on in our lives , isn't wonderful that we can : 

PRAISE 

“I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalms 34:1 

It's easy to be overwhelmed by the storms around you if you don't fix your eyes on the storm calmer , Jesus!! 

✔️In the words of the great John Wesley ,"it seems as if God does nothing until we pray." Isn't it amazing grace that we have the promise that he hears us when we : 

PRAY 

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Mark 1:35 

Exactly how the Master began His day and as He walked , it was all miracles around Him. I always say : Meet God before you meet the devil 

✔️Without a purpose greater than us to live for , our lives become dull and small. Energy comes each time I take my diary and pen to : 

PLAN

“And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.”  Habakkuk 2:2 

I make long term and short term goals but I enjoy short term because I love celebrating the fruit of my labor every weekend. It shows me that I am still alive and making impact.

✨What can you do for others this week? 

✨How can you make someone's week great this week? 

Ontop of my list this week is soul winning. I am so pumped

What's your plan ? 

This can be the best week of your life!! Let's get going

Remember; You are loved by God!!

The word of His grace

And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”

Acts 20:32

The message of God's grace and His unfailing love is the centre of the gospel. This message is a force that produces every good thing in the hearts of those who have believed the gospel. 

I got in the office this morning to watch a terrible incident of a journalist Bryce Williams in West Virginia, USA who shoots two other journalists on air and afterwards shot himself. What a terrible incident. Bitterness , anger ,hatred, condemnation! What a terrible life to live.

The Lord Jesus says something very touching. Let your eyes rest on the scripture below; 

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” Luke 6:45

The master is speaking about the heart , which is your spirit being the fountain of every good or bad thing. Now , when you believe the gospel and you are born again ; your heart is recreated , the love of God is shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit. Your heart becomes packed with every good thing. You are God's masterpiece, the best of His creation , created in righteousness and true holiness. Your life , words , conversation displays the grace of Jesus. 

The apostle is now committing us to the word of His grace. He calls the word of God : the word of His grace. I would that every person reads the bible with this consciousness. It is a word that reveals how God has favored you. When you understand this , it is the beginning of a fruitful life. 

“........In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.” Colossians 1:6

Wow , did you see that!! The gospel started bearing fruit the day they heard it and truly understood God's grace. Have you understood the grace of God? Have you accepted that He has made everything available for you? Has it taken hold of your heart that He loves you? The word of grace is what will give you an inheritance of every good thing. 

I know some take the word of God lightly and casually; that's the reason why many never see their lives transformed. Look at this ; 

“Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.”

1 Timothy 4:15

Like the apostle Paul , I commend you to God and to the word of his grace that is able to give you an inheritance!! 

Prayer : Father I thank you that I am a new creation , my heart is full of every good thing ; love , joy , patience , gentleness, goodness , peace and everything I need in this life! I give you praise for your word that is able to give me an inheritance. I receive your word today and everyday with meekness. My life is changed , I am moving from glory to glory in Jesus' name. Amen

You are loved by God

Holiness

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1

Now , this is a great subject in the religions of the world. What exactly does it mean in the light of the gospel? Let's explore!! 

God is the creator of the world and we can't know anything unless He tells us. Thank God that He has revealed all things to us by His word and His Spirit. Many people , when they hear holiness; what comes in their mind is "not doing wrong" and the human effort to live right. Yes , religions do that because there is no life in their believing. In Christianity, it's a different story. 

In the Old Testament , vessels which were used in the temple were called holy or concentrated vessels. The reason they were called Holy was because they lived in the presence of God. There was no way they could be holy by themselves. The doctrine of holiness hasn't changed since then , IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MAN'S ACTIONS BUT EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE PRESENCE OF GOD. 

“Constantly keep in mind Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] risen from the dead, [as the prophesied King] descended from David, according to the good news (the Gospel) that I preach. ” 2 Timothy 2:8

Wow , this is amazingly instructive from the Apostle. Constantly keep in mind Jesus Christ as risen from the dead!! When Jesus rose from the dead , the bible says those of us who believe rose up with Him to a new life. (Colossians 2:5). 

Scripture shows us that this new person that we are has been created after God (with God as the model) in righteousness and true holiness.(Ephesians 4:24). It doesn't have to become holy , it's created in true holiness. The words in this scripture were carefully selected by God's Spirit - He calls it "true holiness" meaning there is "false holiness". This "false holiness" is what many advocate which is based on human effort to try to accomplish something only God can do. 

Christianity is not about "not doing wrong" , it's about living the right life that has been given to us. Ephesians 2:10 says we are God's own handiwork , recreated in Christ for GOOD WORKS!! How I love this picture of the new you. When we believed in Jesus, we were blessed with God's presence thus making us holy.

Understanding that we have already been made holy , created for good works , blessed with His presence ; now He tells us to present our bodies for the Master's use. Giving our bodies as instruments of righteousness ; letting our lips be heaven's mouthpiece, our hands the pipeline of heaven's blessings , everything about us becomes a blessing to all those who are around us. I call it LIVING GOD'S DREAM FOR YOU. This is our true worship. 

“And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake.” 2 Corinthians 5:15

Summary : 

1. Understand that you're risen with Christ ; you have a new life. 

2. Understand that you are holy because God's presence lives in you. 

3. Live this good life in you. 

4. Be involved in what God is doing in your local church , university or city. Be all out for Jesus. 

Remember: You are loved by God. 

The end to sin consciousness

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.”Romans 8:1

The urge that makes one man a drunkard , another a philosopher....the restlessness that fills the dance halls and the casinos , the roadhouse and all other places of pleasure is the heart's search for reality , that universal quest of ages, the spirit's search for the Holy Grail. 

No one finds it until they get in contact with the Man, Jesus Christ, and crown Him as Lord of their life. That moment , the search is over. It is a fact that a young man or lady who finds this thing never sows wild oats , has no great urge for dangerous pleasures of the world. They have found the answer. 

“Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Have you ever heard a preacher talking about sin and you think in your heart ,"that's me". They talk about those who are struggling and broke and you think ,"that's me".That moment you feel so small and unworthy. "Condemnation makes cowards of all men", the words of William Shakespeare.

However , when the gospel is rightly communicated , it is a message that sets people free from this bondage into the righteousness of God. For a long time many have identified themselves more with sin than they did with righteousness. Jesus became sin so that we can be the righteousness of God. We are no longer sinners but the righteous. Christ has set us free glory to God. 

Identify yourself with God and what His word says you are. The word is the mirror of your spirit. Identify yourself with health, see you as the victor , when they talk about wealth ; they are talking about you , when they mention about peace , love and joy ; that's you!! Grace is the end to sin consciousness. You are GRACE MADE. 

If you're a preacher , don't talk about sin more than you do righteousness. Don't talk about judgement more than mercy. Stop talking about law and speak GRACE. Don't talk man's faults and inability , speak God's righteousness and unstoppable power. That's the gospel. 

I heard Christine Cain quoting this scripture years ago and it stayed with me : 

“For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1

Prayer : Father thank you that it is not by might by by your Spirit. I give you praise because you show me who I am in you. I declare with my mouth all that you say about me ; I am the righteousness of God , I am fearfully and wonderfully made , I am the apple of your eye , I am rich , I am a new creation in Christ Jesus. Christ lives in me. Amen😊

Grace for the supernatural

“This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.” John 2:11

God is a Spirit, nobody can see Him with physical eyes but He is real. The Son of God , Jesus Christ came to reveal God to us. He is the image , exact representation of the unseen God , in Him the totality of the Godhead dwelt in bodily form. Jesus lived a supernatural life. 

Christianity without the miraculous becomes another dead religion. God , from the days of Moses to the days of Jesus always demonstrated that He is not limited by time or space. We cannot demonstrate that Jesus actually rose again from the dead except by the demonstration of the supernatural. If Jesus is alive today and surely He is , it means He still does what He did in bible days. JESUS MANIFESTED HIS GLORY BY THE WORKING OF MIRACLES. 

Look at this wonderful scripture : 

“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:22-23 

Jesus in His prayer is saying He has given to us the glory so that we may be the joined together with Him and with one another. This means that the same Jesus of bible days in us. What He did in His physical form , He can do it today in us. This is to show that the Father has not favored Jesus above us but He has loved us the very same way He loved Jesus to the extent of sharing His full presence with Him. This is the meaning of fellowship. It's an inseparable oneness. 

How can we live this supernatural life?

Mary , the mother of Jesus knew the secret ; 

“His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.””John 2:5

This means living by the words of Jesus , doing the words of Jesus , setting your life in the direction of His words and deciding to live by what He says in His word. Make up your mind to live by His words. Look again at this one : 

“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

John 14:21

Loving Jesus is the most important thing in your life and my life. I can't overemphasize this!! When you love Jesus and do what He says , there is a promise that Jesus will manifest Himself to you. Remember Jesus is everything you require , He is the creator of the world. When you read His words and do them , the supernatural becomes your way of life. 

It's not some spooky manifestations but it's that working of God in your life that becomes evident to those around you that you're different. At work , in business , in studies , in ministry and everywhere you are , God's hand becomes evident. The greater one lives in you!! When you don't know what to do , just look at what Jesus says and do it. His word is not limited by time. 

There is grace for the supernatural. You are loved by God

Prayer : Father , I thank you for Jesus and the glory that He has given me to live an unlimited and unstoppable life. Walking in the light and manifesting your goodness in every place. Thank you for showing the world your goodness through my life. I will read your word daily and do it by your strength in me. Thank you grace for the supernatural. Amen

The name of Jesus

“Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 

Thank God that we are not left as victims of the devil, circumstances and situations. We were not abandoned just to allow the winds and tides of life to drive us in any direction helplessly. No , we were given a right to use the name of Jesus. I am so stirred as I write this message. 

Yesterday, around 12 midnight , a friend called me very frustrated to alert me that his sister had been attacked by an evil spirit and was literally going mad. I was tired from attending a business seminar but the thought of the devil taking control of human lives woke me up and we joined our faith and used our authority in the name of Jesus to take care of the situation. I received a message a few moments later saying she was well and sound. Glory to God!!

I understand many avoid talking about the influence of demons in human lives but Jesus talked about it and cast out demons. Many say everything that happens is just because of wrong decisions and if you control your mind , you control your life. However, if you believe the bible , you know that's not the whole truth.  Denying the reality of the devil is denying the existence of sin and denying the existence of sin means denying the reality of Jesus and all that He came to do : to destroy the works of the devil. 

“.......... To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”1 John 3:8 ASV

We cannot live naively about the existence of these demons and spirits affecting human lives in several areas. However, we should be wise enough to understand that not everything bad that happens is caused by demons. The devil is real but he is a defeated foe and through the name of Jesus , we have been given authority over him by God. 

"God is not going to deal with him , He has already dealt with him by Jesus, we deal with him with the authority given to us." This is an important statement to note because many usually ask why God isn't doing anything about it. 

The name of anybody carries the authority of that person. The president is not the heavyweight champion in a nation or some karate kid but when his name is mentioned , because of the office he holds, things start to move in a certain direction. It's just the same with the name of Jesus. 

One of my favorite scriptures ; Philippians 2:9-11 enlightens us that Jesus holds the highest office in the universe. He has superiority over all the earth and heaven, not just over demons but Jesus is the boss over everything. In Colossians 1:16 , Paul says one of the most amazing statements about Jesus, look at it : 

“for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him;”Colossians 1:16 ASV

Jesus is not just some nice, religious term used to impress those around us , NO, Jesus is the creator of the whole world. The world belongs to Him. And we were given the right to use His name to change circumstances. This makes us masters over life. In Revelations 1:5-6 , John says He has made us kings. Romans 5:17 says we are to reign in life by Jesus Christ. Grace means , you're not the one who does it but when you say the name , the power behind the name gets into action on your behalf. 

If there is any situation you think might be a result of demons ; depression , sickness, confusion, spiritual attacks , nightmares, DO NOT let it continue , let me know or any other brother or sister and we can use the name of Jesus to take authority over those circumstances. 

“And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 ASV

Prayer: Father , thank you for giving me the highest authority in the earth because of your love. I refuse to be a victim but I take on victory in Jesus name. Amen😊 

The riches of grace

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Ephesians 1:7 KJV

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important message in the earth. 

Praise be to God who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ!! There are so many blessings that belong to us just the moment we believe in Jesus. I call these the riches of His grace. 

The most amazing thought is that He redeemed us through His blood. Redeem means to gain possession in exchange for payment. God actually bought us. Though we already belonged to Him , the price paid was the representation of our worth to Him. I understand when I use the word "us/we" , many take it collectively but God deals with us personally meaning the price paid represented your individual worth to God. Take time to think deeply about it. 

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold............; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” 1 Peter 1:18-19 KJV

You are only willing to pay a price for anything depending on how important that asset is to you. God thought you were so special that you're worth His only son. That's who you are in the mind of God. Look again at John 3:16 ; 

“For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.”

John 3:16 AMP

This is the heart of the Father as far as you are concerned. He dearly prized the you. What great love the Father has for you!! Think this way everyday and say it passionately , "I AM SPECIAL TO GOD". When life seems to go in the wrong direction, stop worrying, remind yourself , "I AM SPECIAL TO GOD". Real Christian faith is confidence in the love of the Father. 

God bought us; now we belong to Him , He made us new creatures , gave us a new life , made us righteous , gave us His own Spirit to live in us and now He is showing off through us to the world His power and glory. He is using us to spread the fragrance of the knowledge of His will to everybody. 

Accept all the beautiful realities that grace has made available. Let your life become the structure in the mind of the greatest architect , Almighty God. You are loved by God. 

Prayer : Father my lips will not stop to give you praise for all the beautiful realities your grace has made available for me. Thank you for loving me so dearly that you gave me Jesus and with Him I received all things. Father open my eyes to see all that grace has delivered to me today. I am filled with peace and joy today and I receive strength to share this message in my world in Jesus name. Amen😊

Further reading ; 

Ephesians 2:10 

John 17:23 

Romans 8:32 

The scandal of grace

“Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a noble and lovable and generous benefactor someone might even dare to die. But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.” Romans 5:7-8 AMP

In a world where everything around us is based on performance:  at work, we are paid for the hours we spend in the office , worldly people say I treat you the way you treat me , at the mall you get what you pay for and the list goes on. It is very easy to be mistaken that God is like that. 

However God is not like that. He doesn't give us what we deserve. Jesus took the place we deserved. He did no sin(He walked righteously on the earth - 1 Peter 2:22) , in Him was no sin (He was born of a virgin, His life was from God - 1 John 3:5) , He knew no sin (He had no association with sin whatsoever - 2 Corinthians  5:21). 

They found Him not guilty, yet they crucified Him. Because you & I were guilty. Jesus was made sin without deserving it so that you would be made righteous without deserving it. Not only that , He was cursed on that cross without deserving it so that you will live blessed without deserving it on this earth. I know this sounds too good to be true but that's the very reason our message is called "the gospel". 

Grace is the expression of God's unconditional love for us. Love that's not dependent on our actions. The opening scripture explains it so clearly ; when we were yet sinners , He loved us and died for us!! These thoughts stir my faith. God loved me when I was very bad. This means His love for me is completely independent of my actions. Is this true? Emphatically yes! Look at that scripture again. This is the SCANDAL OF GRACE. 

This applies in every area of your life , not just at salvation. Because of His love for you , doors you didn't deserve will open for you , places you could have never been by your own strength , you will go, relationships that are too good for you will come your way. God's grace will surprise you daily. Romans 5:2 says "...in this grace , we firmly stand". We live in favor daily glory to God!! 

Prayer 

Lord Jesus I thank you for your grace that is abundantly poured to me daily. I know I will not struggle in this life because you won the victory for me. Thank you for the knowledge of grace  that gives me rest and peace as I trust in your love. I am reigning and victorious in every situation because of your favor. Thank you Father in Jesus name! Amen😀😀

“For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)”

Romans 5:17 KJV

The voice of grace

“And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 AMP

My goal this week is for us to change the way we think , renewing our minds by the word of God. Taking on a new way of thinking, a grace filled way of thinking that will produce permanent success in this life and afterwards. 

In this world we live in , everything around us is measured by external appearance ; what job you have , how much in your bank account , what you drive or wear , how you look , what color or race you are and all these superficial attributes about human beings which perish in the end. 

The danger with this is not just how other people will look at you considering these external factors but that many of us are considering our worth by looking at these things. So many feel small , worthless and below the mark of success because of how it looks externally. I want you to look at a scripture that changed how I looked at myself and others. 

“Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a [purely] human point of view [in terms of natural standards of value]. [No] even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a man, yet now [we have such knowledge of Him that] we know Him no longer [in terms of the flesh].”

2 Corinthians 5:16 AMP

This changed my life. Can you consider yourself beyond what you see around you. Can you consider others beyond how they look or what they do. That's what God does and as His children we can do the same. This is my number one key to enriching my relationships at work , family , even with my fiancé . I have learnt to look beyond what eyes can see. Those are the eyes of love. 

Did you know that you have never looked at your face with your own eyes? I know this shocks a lot of people. Yes , you only know your face from the mirror or pictures (selfies). By the way , I am considering getting a selfie stick😀. You have believed the mirror that what you see is how your face looks. 

In that very same way , the word of God is the mirror of your spirit , the reflection of the real you. Our opening scripture says it ; as we look in the word of God as in a mirror. James says the person who doesn't do the word is like one who looks in a mirror(word) and forgets what he looks like. James 1:22-25 .

As we keep looking in this mirror of the word , we are changed ; everything about us externally begins to conform to what is in the mirror by God's Spirit. We don't have to struggle to do , we have to look and accept that we are what God says we are. This is the meaning of grace. 

The most important thing about grace is not what we receive or achieve but who we become as we receive it daily. Look at how much you have changed , your hatred towards others is gone , you are now kind all the times , now you're praying for others , now you're loving those who hate you . Your life is taking on a new meaning😊

Prayer : Lord Jesus I thank you for your grace abundantly poured towards me. I thank you that nothing that is required of me in outside me. I give you praise that I am your masterpiece , I am wonderfully and fearfully made , I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus , I am more than a conqueror in all things, I am loved by God. Yes , Lord Jesus , as you are , so am I in this world. Thank you Father God for your love in Jesus name I pray amen😀😀

Further reading : 

Ephesians 2:10 

2 Corinthians 5:17 

Psalm 139:14