Monday, February 28, 2011

Prayer For You- Pastor Chris

Open your mouth and pray these words over your life- Say "Amen" to each point








Part 2 or Pastor Chris' prayer.








Part 3 or Pastor Chris' prayer.


Sunday, February 27, 2011

Selfless Service--A Key To Greatness!

...Whomsoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant (Matthew 20:26-27).

Our opening scripture underscores the responsibility of service-selfless service-as a key to greatness!
Today the Lord is letting us know that whoever must be great should be a servant-a minister. Now, the word "minister" as used above is from the Greek word "diakonos" which means an attendant, one who serves or runs errands for others; one who renders selfless service.

You've been called to service; both of God and of mankind. God is mindful and concerned about people more than anything else. Thus, when you serve people through your work, the Lord will be mindful of you and bless you as well. He'll cause everything you do to prosper.

The Bible says there's profit in all your labour (Proverbs 14:23). In other words, when you faithfully render service, you'll surely prosper. You may be a policeman, or civil servant or even the chief executive of a corporation; it doesn't matter the job or business you do, when your goal is to render quality and selfless service, your greatness will be inevitable. Greed has stopped many from serving their nation and people as they should. Don't let that be your story. Don't let the desire for excessive and inordinate gain be your driving force in life. Refuse to yield yourself to such.

Become motivated by the joy of service. Be inspired by the importance and relevance of your job or business towards the betterment of your society. Make yourself needed, relevant and indispensable to your generation by choosing to serve, for that is the pathway to greatness.


PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for inspiring me today to be service conscious, and to be motivated by the dream of impacting others with the investment of my personality. I pray that you'll grant me increased grace and wisdom to serve you and those for whom Christ died, in Jesus' Name. Amen.



Rhapsody of Realities October 6, 2010
-Pastor Anita Oyakhilome

Snatched from twitter: A Compilation

On Friday 25th February 2011, said:

Friends, it's never a good thing to allow other people's behaviour to dictate the state of your emotions. Even above that, it's never a good thing to get easily offended.
No, I'm not suggesting that you should be some sort of weak push-over, allowing yourself to be walked on. I'm not minimizing your pain either, but Let it go.

What, you think you have no control? You think emotions come and you just have be hostage to them? No, you need to excercise some self-control.

Why am I telling you to stop taking offence so easily? When you get offended is when you see yourself in a state of victim-hood. You see yourself being victimized, while you're elevating "the offender" in your mind's eyes and friends, that's a poor state be in.

Listen this and listen well: You will never rise about the image you have of yourself.

Drop the offending spirit you've been holding on to.


On Thursday 24th February 2011, said:

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.(Joshua 1:8)

Look at that statement carefully, look at the responsibility and freedom of that statement! I was so excited the first time I got insight into it.


You are the one to make your way prosperous. It's not up to another person, not even God. What power! What freedom!

So how do you make your way prosperous? You meditate on God's Word(His instructions, how He thinks and does things), studying and speaking it continually,that way you'll observe(see, understand, have esoteric knowledge) of how to do His Word.
The result is that your path will be prosperous and successful.

Just like the woman with the issue of blood, who pulled her healing out of Jesus' clothes(without his participation), the results you desire are completely up to you!


On Wednesday 23rd February 2011, said:

Free yourself from needing others to validate you. Free yourself from feeling good because someone said something nice to you. Feel blessed no matter what! When you have joy is when you've given God access to move in your life.

Negative emotions/feelings and behaviour(fear, hate, strife, self-doubt, condemnation, inadequacy, bitterness, complaints etc) are crippling to your spirit. Rid yourself of them.


On Wednesday 23rd February 2011, said:

Folks, when you are going for something that requires the favour of men(people), when someone is in a position to say yes or no to you, (for example; you're going for a job promotion or you're trying to finance a project) that's when you bathe in the Holy Spirit.

Before leaving your house you sing songs like
"As I go out with joy, I'm led forth with peace.
The mountains and the hills break before me.
and all the trees of the fields, they clap their hands, the Words of the Lord is forever!"

-The lyrics states that you will have dominion over the people in positions of influence. And others below them will cheer you on in agreement.

You declare that "kings(people of influence) will come to your rising" that you are favoured, graced and everything you lay your hands to do prospers.

You thank the Mighty God in worship, declaring and welcoming His love and your love for him. You pray with all your emotions, constantly blessing His name.

And always remember how much God loves you.


On Thursday 17th February 2011, said:

Today, declare divine favour over your life. Say: I have the life of God in me, no weapons formed against me shall prosper,I am more than a conquerer! I am abundantly supplied! I am the favoured of God! Grace and peace be multiplied unto me! I have joy unspeakable and full of Glory! Yea, this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!

On Wednesday 2nd February 2011, said:

Folks when you're at crossways with a person, place or thing, and you go filled with hate against your opponent, you're already defeated. This is especially true if the opponent doesn't hate you as strongly as you hate her. If the person loves you, well hang up your hat and call it a day.

You may think that you're the one being hated and victimized by someone who seem to be getting away scott free;but you better not open your mouth and vocalize that rubbish. Don't try to "get even" either. Dissallow the continuance of the abuse, leave that person and LET IT GO.


Why? Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.(Galatians 6:7)


You may not see what that guy is reaping(besides, it is not for you to be sitting around gloating or behave like a sadist, enjoying someone else's pain, even if that someone was your abuser) but he most certainly is reaping the destruction that he sowed.


Love is greater than hate. The hate is a cancer, and don't think that your hate is defeating your opponent, nooooo, your anger is actually a weapon against YOU.


Leave vengeance alone. There is nothing valuable in it.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Your Set Time To Do The Impossible

...For verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you (Matthew 17:20).

I remember years ago, when I heard that the youngest first-class graduate of mathematics in the United Kingdom was a fifteen-year-old, I was stunned. For a moment, I tried to calculate how possible it was for a fifteen-year-old to breeze so quickly through high school. But then, very quickly, it dawned on me that God could do anything.

"What if the kid didn't believe in God?" you may want to ask. Well, in the scripture above, Jesus addressed a group of people and told them nothing shall be impossible to them. This group of people weren't even Christians at the time, for it wasn't possible for anyone to have been born again since Jesus hadn't died and resurrected.

Now, if people who didn't have eternal life were being told by Jesus that they could use their faith for anything, what about you that are born again, having the life and nature of God in you? It therefore means there's no limit to how much you can achieve in life! Understand that you've been called to a life of unending success, triumph and prosperity. You have the supernatural ability to do exploits because you're filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). Failure, defeat and the down-life shouldn't be part of your life.

It's your set time to do the impossible. All you need is to be conscious of God's ability in you. Notice that Jesus didn't say, "And nothing shall be impossible unto God," rather, He said "nothing shall be impossible unto you." Think about it: if nothing is impossible to you, it means you can do anything, and be everything God has planned for you to be.

Rather than look forlorn and discouraged when situations challenge your faith, get excited, for Jesus already said nothing shall be impossible unto you. It doesn't matter the strength of your adversaries, refuse to cower or be intimidated. Go on and win today.



CONFESSION
I'm a victor in this life. All things are possible unto me, because the ability of God is at work in me. I refuse to recognize limitations, or hindrances to my journey of success, victory and prosperity. I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.




Rhapsody of Realities April 10, 2008
-Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Be Determined To Walk In Love Always

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour (Ephesians 5:2).

As a child of God, you were born with God's nature of love. But the fact that you were born with this nature of love doesn't necessarily mean you'll walk in love. A human child born amongst apes might think he's an ape until someone shows him otherwise. In the same vein, though you have love in you as a Christian, you first have to know you do, then walk in it.

Every day, our love-nature is tested by difficult people or circumstances that try to make us act contrarily to our real nature. There're times when out of fear, you may be tempted to lie against a friend as a means to escape trouble or punishment. That's when you ought to be bold and determined to walk in love, you'll gain victory. The Bible says, "There is no fear; but perfect love casteth out of fear"(1 John 4:18).

When you walk in love, you'll only see the best in others because love is the purity of God. Love only sees the good in others, not because love is naive, but because love has the power to change the bad. Walking in love is a high place in God; that's why you must be determined to walk in love at all times.

CONFESSION
The love of God is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit who dwells in me. It's natural for me to walk in love, for love is a product of my recreated human spirit. I refuse to walk in bitterness, hatred or malice, but choose to walk in love today, In Jesus' Name.




Rhapsody of Realities March 10, 2009
-Pastor Anita Oyakhilome

Sunday, February 20, 2011

The Difference Between Trust And Faith

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1).

There
's a hymn I love and part of the wordings teach us the importance of trusting in the Lord; it goes thus:
"Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."
Trusting in the Lord is one of the bedrocks of the Christian faith. Trust is that confident assurance in God's personality, that He is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. Trust is for all-time, and every Christian must learn to trust the Lord with whole-hearted devotion. It's trust that'll keep you hoping for a brighter tomorrow in the darkest of nights. Trust in God will keep you standing and expecting that your miracle will eventually come to pass. Trust is so important, for without it there can be no basis for faith.

However, even though trust is the foundation of faith, faith is different from trust.
The Bible defines faith as the "evidence" of unseen realities; meaning faith is the "proof" that what you were hoping for is yours now. That means faith is not futuristic--faith is for now:
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Therefore, faith dictates the pace and the terms. Faith doesn't say "God is going to do it"; faith says "God has done it." So for the guy who is operating in trust, he will say "I know my redeemer lives; He will not disappoint me" and that's great. But the guy who is operating in faith will say, "I thank you father, for you have answered my prayer and have granted me everything my heart desires. Amen."

So, if what you desire is a "now-change" in your situation, then you have to convert your "trust" into "faith." You must move from believing that God will answer you some day to acting on the Word NOW! Make a demand, believing that you've received what you asked for. Trust has no time-limit and you can reap benefits of trust for as long as you live, even to generations after you. But faith is a now-possessor.



PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for enlightening the eyes of my understanding to know the difference between faith and trust. I trust you totally and unreservedly and I declare that my faith is working and producing results today, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.


Rhapsody of Realities March 26, 2009
-Pastor Chris Oyakhilome


Thursday, February 17, 2011

Value God's People

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10).

Imagine a nurse who relegates her job and thinks she has a wretched job; she feels terrible each time she has to treat sick people because to her, they stink. Such a nurse needs to be ashamed, not of her job, but of her reasoning. She has failed to take advantage of her job as an opportunity to touch people with the love of God.

The most valuable assets on earth are not the fancy cars, airplanes, exotic buildings or any of the physical structures; it's human beings. The Bible says, for God so loved the world, not the world of things, but the world of men, that He gave His only begotten Son to die for us and show us our value (John 3:16). You're valuable to God; that's why He doesn't want you sick or poor. He wants you well, happy and prosperous.

God expects you to value others the same way He values you. Don't despise people. It's easy to tell whether or not you love people from the way you talk to them. If at any time you've despised someone, you ought to fall on your knees in repentance before the Lord and ask Him to forgive you. Understand that no matter how famous or successful you may be, having value and true regard for people is what counts with God.

You may be a great preacher, winning thousands of souls all over the world but that's nothing to God if you haven't learned to walk in love and value people for who they really are. He's only impressed by the compassion we have and show to people around us. He's impressed by the love you show to those for whom Jesus died; that is what makes us true soul winners, and true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. "
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:35)




PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for placing so much value on me, and demonstrating your great love for me with the death of the Lord Jesus on the cross. I know I am valueable because of the great price you paid for my salvation. I ask that you'll help me value others the same way you have valued me, in Jesus' Name. Amen.


Rhapsody of Realities March 13, 2009
-Pastor Anita Oyakhilome

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

PSALM 91- THE MESSAGE- Personalized

Psalm 91


I, Trelan Hylton,who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow,
Say this: "God, you're my refuge.
I trust in you and I'm safe!"
That's right—he rescues me from hidden traps,
shields me from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect me—
under them I'm perfectly safe;
his arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
drop like flies right and left,
no harm will even graze me.
I'll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God's my refuge,
the High God my very own home,
Evil can't get close to me,
harm can't get through the door.
He ordered his angels
to guard me wherever I go.
If I stumble, they'll catch me;
their job is to keep me from falling.
I'll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
and kick young lions and serpents from the path.

"If you'll hold on to me for dear life," says God,
"I'll get you out of any trouble.
I'll give you the best of care
if you'll only get to know and trust me.
Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times;
I'll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I'll give you a long life,
give you a long drink of salvation!"

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Jesus Made Us Kings And Priests Unto The Father!

And God hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be the glory and dominion for ever and ever: Amen (Revelation 1:6)

In the Old Testament, God promised to make the children of Israel a kingdom of priests if they obeyed the covenant and kept His Word: "
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel "(Exodus 19:5-6). Their becoming a kingdom of priests was preconditioned on their obedience to God's voice.

However, in the New Testament, the Bible says Jesus has made us kings and priests unto God:
"And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 1:6 ). This is not a promise, or something that'll happen in the sweet by and by; it's a present hour reality. Jesus has made us kings and priests unto God. But the question to ask then is, to what intent did He make us kings and priests?

Revelations 5:10 gives us the answer--He made us kings and priests to reign and to rule in the earth:"
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." The Message Translation renders it beautifully; it says "He has made us Priest-kings to rule over the earth." Jesus has made you a Priest-king unto God. That makes you a master in life. You have authority over the devil and the negative forces of the world.

Kings make decrees, not entreaties. That's why the Bible says "
Where the word of a king is, there is power:" (Ecclesiastes 8:4). Thus as a king and priest, your words are backed with divine potency. When you pray, issue commands as a king, and minister to God as a priest. Kings don't beg. Hence having the consciousness that you're a king and priest unto God will eradicate all beggarly prayers from your life.

Make up your mind to live up to your priest-king ministry! Walk, talk, live and pray as the king that you are. You've been ordained to reign and rule in the realm of life; therefore be bold to make decrees, for whatever you decree shall be established unto you.



PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for making me a king and priest unto you. I declare that I'm reigning in life and I'm excercising dominion in this world. As a king and priest, my words are backed with power to change negative situations. As I minister to you as a priest, and make decrees as a king, every word I speak is established unto me in Jesus' Name. Amen.


Rhapsody of Realities January 19, 2008
-Pastor Chris Oyakhilome




Monday, February 14, 2011

Supernatural Favour

For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield (Psalm 5:12)


Supernatural favour is a blessing that belongs to you as a child of God. It opens doors and opportunities to you that can't be humanly explained. Favour brings kindness and grace into your life. It'll cause people to do things for you that they ordinarily wouldn't have done.

The children of Israel didn't leave Egypt empty-handed; they left with jewels of gold, silver and expensive clothes. The Bible says,
"And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians" (Exodus 12:36). In the same manner, the Lord can give you favour in the sight of your enemies and they wouldn't be able to do anything about it. Also remember that He turned a prisoner into the prime minister(Joseph and much more recently; Nelson Mandella) of a great empire. That's supernatural favour!

Daniel and his companions insisted they would not eat the king's meat; they asked to be given water and vegetables only. Ordinarily the prince of the eunuchs should have refused such a request, but the Bible says "...God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs" (Daniel 1:9). At the risk of his own life, he granted Daniel's request. That was supernatural favour at work on his behalf.

Esther needed the king's audience, but the law clearly stated that anybody who came into the kings court without invitation was to die (Esther 4:11). She risked all and went in and "...when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand..." (Esther 5:2). The king forgot that she was not supposed to come to him, but for supernatural favour.

Say to yourself daily, "I am favoured; the blessings of God are upon my life. I walk in favour today." Before long, you'll have people saying to you, "I don't know why I'm doing this for you but I will anyway." That's the realm of supernatural favour!




PRAYER

Dear Father, your favour surrounds me like a shield. It opens doors for me, bringing me into my place of greatness. I thank you for this wonderful blessing, because I know that with favour working in me, nothing is too good for me! Thank you so much, in Jesus' Name. Amen.


Rhapsody of Realities April 8, 2001
-Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

Friday, February 11, 2011

How to Function in Faith

If you've been reading this blog, you should get a good picture of what faith is and how to use it, but if you haven't, I'll do a quick compilation for you.

Secular North American media have mislead people to believing that faith is in the realm of religion. When you ask a joe-shmoe, who has never been to church, what faith is, he'll most likely say "oh, that's religion and stuff..." But he couldn't be more wrong if he tried.

Everyone, I said everyone, has faith. Every time you board a plane you're stepping out on faith. How do you know the pilot can do as he claims? How do you know that big hunk of metal is safe? How do you know terrorists won't be on there? Naw, you just see that you'll be hugging your mother and checking out her reaction to the home-made muffins you brought her. You even tell your friend, "mommy is so going to want my recipe!" (and guess what; you'll be right!) That's faith in the pilot, plane and fellow passengers, but can you trust God? Everyone has trust in and act upon things they believe without seeing. Folks who don't are generally residents of asylums for paranoid schizophrenics.

God's Word produces the faith for the things that God has already given you!

What is faith? Faith is a full, deep belief(that comes to a knowing) in something without physical evidence of it, and acting on that belief.
Faith calls real, that thing you've dared to hope for. Faith is not hope, faith says it's done even though your physical senses says something else. Faith is active. Faith is in the NOW.

Faith is no respecter of circumstances or situations. With faith, ALL things are possible.

You start with a desire
Faith starts with a desire for change. A yearning for a new possibility. If you have no desire or goal, ask God to give you something to desire.

So how does one get faith? So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17) Simply put, you get faith by what you pay attention to. It comes by the words you imbibe(recieve and chew on). The Word of God is the word of Life. These are the words that will grow and sustain your faith. These are the words you have to get in agreement with.

The importance of Words
Notice I kept speaking of words? Well I'll let you in on a secret; Words have power! They possess in them, the ability to cause changes.
'The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life." (John 6:63 NLV)

God used words to create the world. In fact God himself is the Word. John 1:1 says
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Genesis is filled with "...And God said"

But here's the thing, words on a piece of paper wont change anything. You have to speak it. It is the spoken word that builds faith; so when you read the word of God, you do so out loud and personalize it.

You meditate on the Word every chance you get. Understand, meditate doesn't mean you sit down, close your eyes and think, think and think some more -naw, that's some new age-y eastern religion thing. Bible meditation means you start by muttering it(your desire) under your breath, then say it out loud, then roar it(that happens when you've become fully convinced).
"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; thou shalt meditate therein day and night." Joshua 1:8

Images
Meditating on the Word produces the image you need in your spirit. Make no mistake about it; if you can't see it, you can't have it. God sees the end from the beginning (and so should you). God is a Spirit and lives in a realm that precedes( and creates) this physical one. So that fancy car you desire already exists in the realm of the spirit; your job is to pull it into the physical via your faith. But you have to picture yourself driving it, telling someone about how you took a lovely trip in it etc. If all you see is the process of you trying to get it; know that you'll remain stuck in that process. You have to picture the end results.

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (Isaiah 46:10)

And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. (Genesis 13:16) Look at that; God gave Abram a picture to see the end results of his numerous offspring! We're talking of an old man with a barren old wife here. God gave him a picture and God also changed his name to Abraham(father of many) so that the man will hear himself being called father over and over again every time someone calls his name!

Use the word to build the image so that you can live out the reality of it.

Agreement
Whatever you accept, you will get. Simple as that concept sounds, it is a functioning law. I call it the law of agreement.

I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. (Matthew 18:19)


See what Jesus said about agreement? When you and another person or persons agree on the outcome of a thing, it will go as agreed.
Another scenario is when you agree with or accept a circumstance or allow a situation. You do so with words.
Example; the doctor gives you a report that you've got cancer; stage 4. You can do one of two things; accept his report, saying "what does that mean? How long will I live..." etc or you can refuse his report and agree with the Word ("by his stripes ye were healed"), saying "I have the life of God in me! No disease that comes against me shall prosper! I function in divine health!", picturing yourself playing tennis or your favourite sport years from now.

When you hear word of faith pastors like Kenneth Copeland, Bill Winston, Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Pastor Chris Oykhilome, Charles Capps etc mentioning "getting in agreement with God", they're speaking of accepting and believing His Word as truth.

If you get in agreement with a negative word or circumstance, that's what you will have. You get what you accept. Another way to look at it is believe or imbibe. Sometimes negative thoughts and images flash in your mind, immediately use words against those thoughts and pictures.

I remember driving from lunch with a couple of friends, enjoying light conversations when one said "you know, sometimes when I'm driving I see myself in a major accident, badly injured or killed--" me and the other girl jumped on it immediately. "I bind that in the name of Jesus!" the other girl shouts, while I declared life over the girl with the evil vision. I had to counsel her to never speak such words aloud, to speak against such images and to stand against them in spirit. Had we not, she might have been dead not very long after her words to us.

When an evil thought pushes itself into your mind, cover your mouth or better yet, speak against it. Never accept it.

Act
So now you have the desire, words, end result picture and belief but what next? Now it's time to act on what you believe. Now is the time you DO the word because you've already perceived in the spirit that it's done.
You've been told by doctors that you can't bear children, but now you've built up your faith, saw yourself taking home that baby that looks just like you and your husband, got in agreement with your husband, so what's next? You go out and buy baby clothes, food etc. You clear out that extra room and paint it in pastels and baby decorations. You're acting on your faith when you do this.







kenneth-copelands-prayer-for-monthlyprayer-for-you-pastor-chris confession-of-authority-jerry-savelle

Vocalize Your Faith

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. (Mark 11:22-23)

The Master, in Mark 11:23, gave a clear picture of what true faith is. He says whatever you desire will become yours by vocalizing what you believe in His Word. Thus in the faith-arena, you agree with and say what the word of God says about you or your situation. Faith isn't just to believe God's Word in your heart, faith actually speaks.

Not effectively vocalizing what they believe is the reason many in the Church have their faith defective. In fact to them, it seems the message of faith isn't real. These ones have long over-stayed in the arena of believing. Believing is not enough, for the Bible says even devils believe and tremble (James 2:19). To believe in what God has spoken concerning your situation is wonderful, but what gets the job done is when you give voice to your believing.

Jesus showed us a practical example of this when He cursed the fig tree! After He spoke to the tree and said "No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever," the next line says, "And his disciples heard it" (Mark 11:14). The disciples heard Jesus when He spoke but they didn't observe any change in the tree. But by the next morning, as they passed by the same alley, they immediately noticed that the tree had withered from it's roots. Jesus did this to teach us to talk our faith. Learn to vocalize your faith; don't just stop with believing what the Word says, talk it!

In the area of your health for example, don't stop with merely believing that by His stripes you've been healed; vocalize it. Say, "Thank you Lord, because every fibre of my being and every cell in my body has been vitalized, repaired, energized and overhauled by the Spirit that raised up Jesus Christ from the dead."

Your life is the offspring of your confessions, not just what you believe in God's Word. So declare God's Word concerning your job, health and finances today, and always.



PRAYER
I am fully aware that the quality of life that I live is based on the faith-filled words that I utter. I hold fast to the profession of faith without waivering, therefore, I declare that my life, health, family and finances are consistent with your Word in Jesus Name.


Rhapsody of Realities February 23, 2011
-Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Be Bold To Act Your Faith

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power; and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)

I'm always so inspired each time I study the accounts of certain characters in the Bible who displayed outstanding boldness and courage in the face of fierce oppositions. David, for one, as a young lad fearlessly challenged and defeated Golieth who, according to the Bible, terrified the whole Israel, including Saul the king (1 Samuel 17:4-11). How come David was able to defeat Golieth? He certainly wasn't the only one that knew about God's covenant with Israel, but he was bold to act his faith, on basis of that covenant.

It's not enough that you know and believe what God has said about you in His Word, you must consciously take action on the basis of that knowlege! You must be bold to act your faith! Faith is action added to the Word of God that you have heard and believed. If there's no action then there's no faith, for faith without corresponding action is dead(James 2:26). The Christian life is participation in divinity, and to be able to experience this to the full, you must be bold to act your faith! You must recognize and take advantage of the dynamic ability of the Spirit that's at work in you.

The Apostle Peter understood this and boldly commanded a man that was lame from birth to rise and walk: "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk"(Acts 3:6). And when it looked as though the man wasn't going to respond, Peter, the Bible says, "took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God."(Acts 3:7-8)

The Bible says, "the righteous are bold as a lion"(Proverbs 28:1); there's a supernatural power at work in your life that produces divine courage. So like Peter, be bold to act your faith today! Be bold to address satan and negative circumstances in the Name of Jesus and expect a change.



CONFESSION
God has not given me the spirit of fear but of love, power and of a sound mind; therefore I'm bold to act my faith; I function with the ability of the spirit today for the Spirit of God is working in my life and causing me to have divine courage and confidence, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.



Rhapsody of Realities February 21, 2011
-Pastor Anita Oyakhilome

The Prayer Of agreement

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:19-20)

The Bible teaches that there are different kinds of prayer. The prayer of Agreement is one of them. The prayer of Agreement usually involves two or more people coming together and deciding to pray concerning anything in particular that they desire. If, for instance, you want to effect change in your job, family, health or anything at all, you may call up someone whom you consider stable in the Faith to pray in agreement with you.

The prayer of agreement is an effective way to share burdens in prayer. But be sure to follow the rules. Firstly the scriptures says "if any two of you shall agree"; that means it involves two or more people. Then it says "as touching anything that they shall ask"; that means you must be specific. In other words, the parties involved in the prayer must come together and spell out the points for which they'll be praying. Finally, you must pray in faith and in line with the Word.


Having done all that, you can be sure your prayers would be answered. The Bible says "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us"(1 John 5:14) The next time you want to effect change in any situation, follow the rules of the prayer of Agreement; it's a sure way of praying and getting results.

PRAYER
My Lord and father, I thank you for your Word that has come to me today. Than you for the privilege of praying in agreement with other believers, thus compelling circumstances to yield to your Word. By agreeing with other believers in prayer, circumstances and situations that are not consistent with your Word are overturned and the works of the devil in and around my sphere of contact are frustrated in the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen


Rhapsody of Realities February 8, 2011
-Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

Monday, February 7, 2011

Don't Short-Circuit The Power Of God

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21)

God can do anything. He is the Lord, the God of all Flesh, and there's nothing impossible with Him. His power is unlimited. Yet, many short-circuit that power and make it ineffective in their own lives because of doubt and unbelief. Some others try to "help" God by dictating to Him how they want Him to do what they want Him to do.

I'll explain with this example: Let's take it that you want the Lord to give you a house, a car or any other thing in the physical realm and you know its monetary value. When you pray, don't ask Him for the money; rather specifically ask for what you want. You might think, "But I can't get it without money!" But who told you that? God isn't limited by your situation or any circumstance. When you tell him what you want, He'll give it to you.

Many don't get answers to their prayers because they ask amiss (James 4:3); not knowing the Word of God. To get the right results, you must ask according to God's Word. Some will pray, "O God, use so and so to help me... " Such prayers will limit the influence and power of God on your life. Always remember that God is your help, not man. The psalmist said, "I will lift mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth " (Psalm 121:1-2).

Of course God will use people to bless and help you but He doesn't have to do it through a particular person as you have it in your mind. He doesn't want your attention to be on any man! He can use anybody and anything to fulfill His Word in your life. Many people have God all figured out. They pray but nothing happens, meanwhile they're responsible for limiting God in their lives. Once they expect things to happen in a certain way, all their attention and focus is toward that direction, which mostly is away from God and His Word. Don't be that way.

Quit looking up to man for help, look to the Lord; for your help is in the Name of the Lord!



CONFESSION

For the Lord my God is great and greatly to be praised, and my face have I set towards Him, my eternal Helper. In you Lord have I put my trust, confident that you're able to do today, exceeding, and abundantly above all that my heart can fathom, in Jesus' Name. Amen.


Rhapsody of Realities February 22, 2011
-Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

Trelan's notes:
This may be late in coming but I'll say this: Don't focus on HOW God will give you that thing you desire, instead simply SEE that thing you desire IN YOUR POSSESSION. As Pastor Chris said, God is not limited by circumstances. Let Him figure out the how. All you need to do is receive the end result.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Faith Is In The NOW!

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, that whatsoever you shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith (Mark 11:22-23).

Some Christians haven't been able to distinguish between faith and hope. Faith isn't just to believe God's Word in the future, faith is in the NOW! Hebrews 11:1 says, "
Now faith is..." Faith is actually calling real and calling done what you have hoped for! The Bible describes faith as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). That's why you don't need to see it with your optical eyes to know it's there.

The Amplified Bible says "Faith is the title deed"(Hebrews 11:1). Faith is the evidence, and if it's the evidence, then there's something it represents. For example, if you had landed a property somewhere, you may not even have been there to see it yourself , but the legal documents to the land, stating its ownership is your evidence that the land is yours. You're so sure of that document; you can even use it as a collateral. If someone comes and says the land doesn't belong to you, you simply pull out your evidence-the title deed. That evidence is faith, and God's Word is your evidence that you have what He says you have and you can do what He says you can do.

Hope presents to you a picture of your inheritance in Christ, but faith makes it real to you. It's one thing to look at a picture far away; it's another thing to take possession of it and bring it into the NOW of your life; that's faith! Hope says, "It will be mine," but faith says, "I have it; NOW!"




PRAYER

Dear Father, I thank you for faith has been stirred up in me today as a result of your Word I have heard. I change situations, alter circumstances with my faith-inspired words in Jesus' Name. Amen.




Rhapsody of Realities February 10, 2011
-Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

Jesus Came to Give Us Eternal Life

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his son (1 John 5:11).


When Jesus came into this world, He came do much more than merely die for our sins. He identified His mission in John 10:10: "...I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest"(Contemporary English Version). His death was actually a means to an end; to give us "life in its fullest." That life is eternal life. Eternal life is not life that goes on endlessly; it's the life of God. The Greek word is "Zoe," the essence and quality of divinity! It is the quality of life that God possesses.

The Bible says, "He that hath the Son hath the life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may have eternal life and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:12-13). So, eternal life isn't something you're going to have in the sweet by and by; it's not a promise, but a present-hour reality. It's the possession of the one who has recieved Jesus.

Little wonder the scriptures declare that "we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life" (Romans 6:4). That means we died in Him, and have also been raised together with Him to a newness of life. This new life is the life of God. It's the very nature of God. Your human life was supplanted with the life and nature of God the very minute you received Jesus as Lord and Saviour of your life. That life in you makes indestructible and supernatural.

This is why you must preach the gospel(the good news- of eternal life). This is what should excite you to tell men and women about Jesus. He came to do more than forgive and save humanity from sin; He came also to give us the God-life. Through him, life and immortality has been brought to light(2 Timothy 1:10). Let those around you who haven't yet known the Lord know that they don't have to grope in the darkness anymore, for God has made it possible for them through Jesus to receive eternal life, and become partakers of the divine nature.


PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I thank you for sending Jesus to die for me, therefore making it possible for me to recieve eternal life! I declare that this life is working in every fibre of my being, repelling sickness, disease, infirmity, death, poverty and everything that is inconsistent with the provisions of the divine life, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.



Rhapsody of Realities January 15, 2010
-Pastor Anita Oyakhilome

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

The Sovereign God

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and Father of us all, Who is above all and Sovereign over all, pervading all and living in us all (Ephesians 4:6 AMP)

God is sovereign! He knows all things and can do all things! The Bible says heaven is His throne and the earth is His footstool (Acts 7:49). He's the most High God and His dominion is all over thrones, peoples, and governments. In Daniel 5:21, He's described as the Supreme God who controls all human kingdoms (GNB).

God is big! He's Deity, and you can't miss His sovereignty whenever He talks about Himself: "Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: When I call unto them, they stand up together" (Isaiah 48:13). Many, however, have wondered why God, in His sovereignty, hasn't put an end to all the evil in the world. They wonder why wars and natural disasters still happen, when God in one instant, could simply put an end to them. But those who ask such questions don't understand who God is and how He operates.

Though God is sovereign, He's set principles in place to govern the earth. He's not subject to those principles but He doesn't violate them either. So though He created the world, He's not the one running the show, because He already gave man the whole earth to dominate (Genesis 1:28). Man lost his authority to the devil, who subsequently introduced an evil system that put the world in a mess.

But there's now another system in the world headed by the Lord Jesus Christ! This system is made up of us who are born-again associates of the God-kind--through whom God excercises His sovereignty in the earth. Thus we're God's agents of peace, prosperity, healing and salvation in a dying world. Just as the Lord sent Peter to preach to the Roman centurion and didn't do it Himself, He has commissioned us to excercise His sovereignty in our world. He wants to run the world through you!



PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the opportunity to hear your Word and be taught by you. Thank you for the authority you've given me to excercise dominion in the earth, and tame my world to conform to your eternal purposes, will and counsel, in Jesus' Name. Amen.




Rhapsody of Realities January 26, 2011
-Pastor Chris Oyakhilome