Promise Of Ease

And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven
[Matthew 16:19, NLT]

Peter demonstrated a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ when he answered the question posed to the disciples. His knowledge of who Jesus is came from God’s own revelation, which commanded a declaration of blessings upon the Church and upon the disciples. And Jesus said, ‘I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven’. This was repeated to the rest of the disciples in Matt 18:18.

As Children of God, the blessings of our Father extend to us when we walk with God in faith (the faith that brings about our salvation and makes us his disciples). The Holy Spirit comes into our lives and gives us personal revelations of who God truly is. With the revelation of God in our hearts, we are given the keys of the kingdom of heaven. This represents secrets that unlock the favor and support of God himself. It causes the heavens to open up over our lives with no holds barred. So much so that whatever we forbid on earth is forbidden in heaven and whatever we permit on earth is permitted in heaven.

As disciples of an all-mighty God we are given special privileges to operate in ease because Heaven gives us full support and backing. Whatever we ask according to His will, we will receive by the promise of His word. Let’s embrace the opportunity given us and refuse to live in lack or oppression as we exercise the full support of heaven to glorify God here on earth.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for revealing your truth to me. Thank you for empowering me to live a life of ease and plenty, thank you for making me victorious in everything. Lord Jesus I ask for the revelation of your kingdom that will enable me to access open heavens in my life. With your backing, let me influence other lives and speak peace to their conditions, let your glory reign in Jesus name.

One-Year Daily Bible Reading Plan - June 25 2010 - Psalm 1-5 (OT), Galatians 1 (NT)

Pray for someone today - Let’s pray for God’s children who are not exercising their God-given authority to rule here on earth. Son’s and daughter’s of God set apart for exploits but operating otherwise, that they will rise and take their place in the working of the kingdom.

God's love and mine...

A Heart That Bears Fruit

Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

[Matthew 13:8, NIV]

When Jesus Christ was explaining the parable of the sower and the seed, He explained that the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces fruit, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

We often times desire to see every area of our lives yielding fruit. We would expect that when we study, we will pass with good grades. We will expect that when we work, we should get recognition, even promotions. We expect that when we minister, we bring in a harvest of people. We also expect that when we sow, we reap.

But Jesus Christ explains that the man that produces fruit, who yields many more times that he sowed, is the man who hears the word and understands it. To truly understand the word, some things must be in place:-

1. You must be born again, for the person who is not born again cannot understand God's Word: The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

2. You need to hear the word: You hear the word through avenues like listening to scriptures and messages, attending services and fellowships, etc.

3. You need to know the truth as found in God's word: To do this, you need to read the word, memorize it, make out time to study the word and meditate on it to enable you get insight into the word. 

4. You need to take advantage of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit has been sent freely to you to teach you things and bring things to your rememberance. When you want to read or as you are about to hear the word of God, you can ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand it.

5. You must realize that understanding is a gift from the Lord and hence you need to be right with the Lord, be spiritually prepared and ready to receive understanding from Him.

Like Jesus Christ has taught us, to bear much fruit, you need to understand the word of God that it will have application in your life. Understanding the word of God, in such a way that it dwells richly in you, does not happen overnight. It builds up. It involves effort. Do not feel discouraged if you are not there yet. Your Loving Father is ready to help you once you call on Him. As the word of God continues to dwell in you and transform you, and as you apply the word, may your life bear much fruit. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Prayer: My Loving Father, when You created me, You commanded me to be fruitful. I desire to see every area of my life bear fruit. But on my own, I cannot do it. Thank You for Your Word, which is seed to be sown in my heart. I pray, Father, that I come to that point where I understand Your word, that I will begin to apply it in every area of my life. Prepare my heart to be good soil to receive Your word. As I continue to spend more time in Your Word, may my life continue to bear fruit, more than I have sown. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

A Heart Amongst Thorns

The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.
[Matthew 13:22, NIV]

In the parable of the sower, Jesus described a kind of person who received the word of God and their soil was fertile enough for their roots to grow deep. The word of God germinated in their lives in a promising way, but just before they could begin to bear fruits they get choked by thorns and die.

This kind of soil describes a vast majority of Christians who receive the word of God with delight. The heart of this Christian is very well cultivated and conducive for the word of God to flourish. This person has a genuine love for God and the things of the kingdom, they start on a promising note, you could see the future of this person blessing God and his generation, indeed there is potential. However, God's dream for this life doesn't get to fruition despite the amount of Godly awareness, despite the knowledge of God and personal encounters with God.

Along the way, this heart got involved in many things at the same time. Worldly engagements got our friend uber busy with any or several seemingly legitimate concerns. The heart amongst thorns is so pre-occupied with work it cries out, 'This job is not letting me serve God like I should'. In other forms, our friend is concerned with enjoying this life to the fullest, not wanting any pleasure to pass by in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and traces of God are wiped out with every exposure. We hear this heart say '... I remember the days when I walked with God like no other'. In yet another instance, this heart has grown so rich by worldly parameters (money, fame, power, etc), Godliness becomes unfashionable and too demanding. The fear of God is quenched from this heart and it becomes business as usual.

As children of a loving God, let us examine ourselves and be wary of things around us that strive to separate us from our father and choke our faith. Stay clear of things that make us unfruitful in our Christian walk but cling to those that draw us closer to God. 1 Corinthians 6:12 tells us 'All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any'. Whichever voice we choose to obey between God and the pleasures/worries of life becomes our master. The good Lord bless your every effort as you make Him first in your life in Jesus name.

Prayer: Dear Father, grant me the wisdom to identify thorns in my Christian walk, give me the will power to overcome their influence and help me to bear fruits according to your call on my life. I pray Lord that I will shine your light in my life that men may see your good works and glorify you in Heaven. Blessed be your name forever in Jesus name.

One-Year Daily Bible Reading Plan - June 23 2010 - Job 37-39 (OT), 2 Corinthians 12 (NT)

Pray for someone today - Pray for Christians who have forgotten their first love for God and have been carried away with the events of life. Pray that the grace of God will find them where they are and guide them back into His fold.

God's love and mine...