Friday, December 30, 2011

What Can You See?

And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever (Genesis 13:14-15).


When the Lord told Abraham to lift up his eyes and look in the scripture above, He wasn't referring to the man's physical eyes, but to the eyes of the spirit. God told him all the land he could "see" was his; it was now up to Abraham to decide how far he wanted to see. Being a man of faith, he looked from his spirit and saw the whole world. The Bible says "For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith." (Romans 4:13). Abraham became the heir of the whole world by faith.

Now, that's not the end of the story. The Bible says "So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham" (Galatians 3:9). You're as much the heir of the world as Abraham: "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:29). No wonder the Bible declare that God has given you everything require for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). However, it's that which you've taken possession of by faith, that which your spirit has embraced, that you can enjoy. So it's up to you! As far as your eyes can see, that's what the Lord has given to you for an inheritance.

The question then is, "What do you see?" Concerning the coming year, for example, what do you see? Can you see yourself making progress? Can you see yourself walking in health, prosperity, joy and peace? You've got to see it, for that's the key. See yourself walking in the wonderful blessings of God in the coming year.

As you fast and pray about the coming year, see yourself making unprecedented progress in every area of your life. See God taking you from glory to glory. Perhaps you've been praying and asking God for a child, see the child with your spirit first. Whatever you've taken possession of from within, will certainly manifest in the physical.

Start practicing how to see from your spirit, for your spirit is where the light of God is. God doesn't function in the realm of the mind or senses. If your going to enjoy all the wonderful benefits of salvation God has in store for you, then you've got to see with the eyes of faith and speak forth what you see.


CONFESSION
I declare that I'm living in divine health, absolute prosperity, unending success, abundant joy and indescribable peace today. As I look into the coming year with my eyes of faith, I see myself walking in the glory of God and expressing unprecedented progress and success, in Jesus' Name. Amen.



Rhapsody of Realities    December 27, 2011
-Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Acknowledge The Holy Spirit As A Person!

 Hollywood and popular culture taught us that God is mystical, vast and "out there--somewhere... perhaps". God is often depicted by soft misty clouds floating in blue skies. Others see Him as reams of light bursting through thick clouds, flooding the earth. Somewhere in middle America, there is a gospel Pianist, with said sky and clouds painting on his piano. I heard a preacher, a man who speaks in tongues, refer to the Holy Spirit as "it".

People see God as unreachable; unsure that He'll even hear or answer prayers. The implications of such thinking is that people miss out on power, authority and the ability to function in God's will for their lives. 

"...the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." Paul, in his letter to Philemon (1:6), prayed that Philemon may have full, experiential, intimate knowledge(Greek: "epignosis") with Truth, so that he will become effective(in his faith works).

Acknowledgement itself is key 
Grace to you, and peace be multiplied in the acknowledgement of God and of Jesus our Lord!(2 Peter 1:2 Young's literal)
Did you ever notice that Jesus acknowledged a tree? Did you notice that he answered it as if he were seeing it as an intelligent respondent?(Mark 11:13-14).  He taught His disciples to acknowledge a mountain. God told Moses to acknowledge a rock, Moses didn't and as a result, wasn't catapulted to the level that God wanted to take him and his people (Numbers 20:8-12).  God told Ezekiel to prophecy to the wind (Ezekiel 37:9). 
Why? All matter has (intelligence and) a spiritual base that responds to commands. But if acknowledging the spirit of an inanimate object enables you to direct it, how much more power when you acknowledge and commune with the person of the Holy Spirit?

Every miracle that I've ever participated in, every miracle that I've ever worked, was brought about through the acknowledging of the Person who is The Holy Spirit. Speaking rightly is excellent, so also is meditation and working the laws laid out, however, your miracle would happen that much sooner if only you would acknowledge and commune with the Spirit of  the living God.

But first, is this a person I'm asking you to be friends with? The Holy Spirit is the person Jesus promised us would bear witness of him, help you, teach you, and guide you into all truth. 
 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one (1 John 5:7). Jesus was the Word of God, made flesh; the one and only Word(or voice of the Father) by which all things are made (John1:1-3). The Word is obviously a person, because not only did He walk in the garden(of Eden) in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8), but He manifested in the person of Jesus, who has a mind, His own will(Luke 22:42), and emotions(Matthew 9:36).
The Spirit likewise, is a person, possessing a mind(Acts 15:28), will(1 Corinthians 12:11) and emotions (Isaiah 63:10). Like Jesus, He doesn't concern Himself with His own will, but He does what He sees the Father do. So all three are cohesive.

The Holy Spirit is a helper and standby.
(In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. -Romans 8:26 NIV)
I'll give you a practical personal example of help. 

If you weren't born in the country you live, you'll be required to have a ceremony for citizenship. The government will send you a list of required documents, top-most of which are identification documents. Me, I easily gathered the required documents from the list. Sa-tis-fac-tion!

One would have thought, ah, you had no troubles, therefore, no story! Don't be so hasty, hold a sec--
I had forgotten the exact time of day I was required at the government office, but I couldn't check the letter they had sent, because I had thrown it out days before(too much clutter). So I called the 1800 number I had become familiar with. On the first ring, like all times before, the voice response system answered. I clicked through to the right menu item, entered ID and voila! All required information needed, including the time and list of documents. But not quite the documents I had previously believed... One document was required that I no longer possessed; the list itself!

Oh my goodness, Oh my goodness! I ran over to the trash can; no document. It must have been in the trash I dropped down the chute a day earlier. Yet somehow I hoped I was wrong and it was still available, so I digged through my documents, all my drawers, all bags and purses, the back of a chair, under the bed, everywhere I could think of. No. List. Letter. 

Panic. Time kept on slipping... Then I remembered that every time I'd ever found a profoundly lost item, I had ask God to help me, and within mere seconds, I'd find it. So I asked "Holy Spirit, please help me find this document..."  Still time crept on; it wouldn't be found, because I threw it out!  

"What to do-- what to do-- I have to reschedule or  hopefully, get the letter faxed to me."  I picked up the phone to call the 1800 number. The phone would not ring! I tried three times. Nothing. 
I was about to make a fourth attempt when I found myself strongly urged to speak in tongues. I spoke in tongues(uttering unfamiliar words and phrases) for about a minute if not less. (All while my mind ran a hundred miles a minute.) Thanked and glorified God, then went back to the phone. ( You would have thought I'd learn to leave the phone alone, instead I thought the tongues helped me open the phone lines.) Again the call wouldn't go through; frustrated, I threw the phone on the bed and-- what do you know-- the document laid right next to the phone!
The Spirit had interceded on my behalf, because I hadn't asked right to begin with.

The Holy Spirit is the King's Council
Often people ignore the spirit realm, thinking that all they see is all there is, because they don't know, but even worse, they don't know that they don't know. But Glory to God, the Holy Spirit isn't limited to your knowledge, time or space. As Jesus said, He will guide you into all truths.
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you."
Just last week, my sister in Jamaica was on the other end of my phone with urgent news; a close family member was about to be incarcerated for assaulting a police officer!
"Let's agree that her record remains unblemished-- that no weapons fashioned against her shall prosper! Favour and grace surrounds her!"
We both prayed in tongues, making declarations as we go, when I stopped praying I noticed that she was no longer on the line. 
A song popped in my mind "He is here, right now, yes He's here, right now, to meet every need-- and I will praise praise, Your Name..." I noticed that the Spirit often speaks to me through song lyrics, so there He was telling me that God was present with me in the car...

I learned from a long time ago that God manifests to you in the very way you praise Him, just like Jesus urged His disciples to pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send labourers (Luke 10:2), I sang for a record unblemished, and divine protection for my loved one "You do mighty things, you do glorious things, you're a faithful God, awesome is Your Name--"
As I sang, I was urged to pray in tongues and raise my hands (goose pimples and cool air swirl around my arms and fingers), because while praying in the car was good, the heavy feeling (I had all day, no less now that the cause was revealed) in my spirit remained. In my room, as I stood before God, giving Him praise, I could feel the darkness lift and joy/love flood my spirit.

That's the answer I'd been waiting for so immediately I texted my sister, "She has been released, no problems, yes!"
Then I called the family member and she responded "Yes I'm still at the station-- the police lady is right here, she's such a nice person!"

But that wasn't the full story. Turns out that the catalyst for the threat of incarceration, and whatever else Jamaican police are known for, had started because the police tried to organize a crowd entering a bus(yes, a totally unnecessary task, I know, but keep reading :-) ) and the family member ignored three orders to step back, so as the officer stepped back, she stepped on the family member's toes, (now don't laugh as I tell you my family member's reaction) and the family member heaved back and wha-dow! Pushed the officer!

Consequently the police tried to get her in their squad car. Well she wasn't keen on getting in the car so she kept declaring her innocence, struggling against them, only to have the Spirit tell her "Stop. Go with them calmly." So she obeyed.

Still the story continued, the police officer was a new Christian herself, and the night before, in a dream, the Holy Spirit told her, today something will happen but handle it wisely. All throughout the day everything was perfect so she wondered, why did I get that dream? 
Well during the exact time we interceded the admonition in her dream came back. As she looked upon my family member, all she kept seeing was her mother. She couldn't lift a finger against her, instead they both launched into conversation about God and His Holy Spirit!

Even when we are in the wrong, God's grace is lavished upon us. The Holy Spirit can organize events to get you out of your own (legal) troubles, why not relate with Him as the person He is?

How can you experience the Holy Spirit in such tangible way? One way is to love Him. When you love God you enter in His glory, for He is love. I know people often say they love God because he first loved them, John said as much (1 John 4:19) but what if your parents waited for your love before preparing for you? You should love God because He is God. Don't add a reason or condition to love Him. 
Set aside time to fall on your knees and declare your love for Him. Love Him in the midst of turmoil. Love him when things are beautiful. Just love Him.



Another way to commune with Him tangibly is through trust and obedience. You may not see the point of Him waking you up at 4am (and if you go to bed an hour early, He shakes the bed at 3am!) but you should trust that He has a reason. One could be that he's training you like a soldier. 

The faster you respond, the louder His voice will be. Correspondingly, the slower or lesser times you respond, the fainter His voice will get. Then you'll start wondering if He departed from you-- but He's with you always, so tune up your ears by praying in the spirit, speaking in tongues, talking to Him and sing praises to Him. 


Listen, when He gives you a revelation to publish, do it quickly, so you can be open to receive greater revelations. (Do you know this article should have been written a month ago? Over the past few days He kept reminding me of Jesus' parable about the talents(Luke 19:12-28) ).


When the Holy Spirit calls you to a task, don't look down on yourself, saying "I'm not qualified--". You possess all the requirements needed(the character qualities); for the skill-set itself, the Holy Spirit will teach you things even the well schooled "experts" don't know.
 
Ever heard of a man named Robert Gilmour LeTourneau? He's described as a prolific inventor of earth moving machinery and God's Businessman. He left school at the age of 14! The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth!



"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:6)
Another way is to recognize and acknowledge Him as a person. Talk to him always, not just pray. I'm glad my mother advised me to talk to the Holy Spirit. When you relate with Him the same way you would to your mother or another person, he responds in a tangible way.

Years ago a friend tried to win a debate by asking: "Does God answers all your prayers?" (Some Christians enjoy debate just for the sake of debating) of course I answered "Yes". Stumped him, not expecting such an answer. That memory remained with me because I thought; why is he wasting time praying if he doesn't expect to be answered? 
I was in my early teens when I recognized that my prayers were being answered. I also recognized that I'm special to God, He loves me and wants the best for me, so instead of praying to the universe or sending out prayers in "the ether", I prayed to God the person. 
The same way your pastor might advise you to not pray vague prayers, I'm advising you, don't pray to a vague God!
  

Yet another means of experiencing God physically: purpose your life and intentions towards His goals and visions. No, I'm not advising you to become a pastor; I'm saying love what God loves. Value people. Cultivate qualities that God admires.
Throughout the Bible, certain people were chosen leaders and the trend I've noticed is that they had great qualities, excellent intentions and they valued people. Were they flawed? Very much so, yet God remained with them. 
Moses wasn't the most brave of persons:
-after killing an Egyptian soldier in defense of one of his people, then finding out that it was well known, he fled Egypt for forty years.

-He went with the fear-filled, inferiority complex-filled report of 10 spies(Numbers 14:5), instead of Caleb and Joshua's report that they could possess Canaan (the promised land). 

-Through self-consciousness, he felt he needed his brother Aaron to speak for him because of his speech impediment.

-God had to admonish and advised his successor, Joshua, to be fearless and strong. Look at Joshua 1 and count how many times God told Joshua to "Be strong and very courageous!"

Yet Moses was a friend to God, despite his flaws. Why? Moses, would rather leave his favoured position in the Egyptian government, for the plight of his people. Despite the fact that through fear, he ran, he kept the dream of setting his people free. 

Moses even challenged God (fearlessly, I'll add) when God's anger was kindled against the wicked, ungrateful people of Israel. "...“O Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened."
Moses loved God and people. He was compassionate and selfless. What's your purpose?

Why did God choose David? David's love for sex and women drove him to murder a man in order to get his wife. David had a plethora of wives and concubines. One of his own sons tried to disgrace him by taking what he loved; one of his wives. 
Yet David is described as a man after God's own heart.
Why? He was fearless, loyal to his word, and especially loyal to God and the anointing. He had so much respect for the anointing that when he had an opportunity to kill Saul, a wicked man who was hunting him down to kill him, he didn't and commanded his soldiers not to. All because Saul had been anointed by God.  In fact, in one of David's many Psalms to God he sings "...Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm" (1 Chronicles 16:22). 

Look at Paul. Why would God choose Paul? Paul participated in the stoning death of Jesus' disciple, Steven. He persecuted followers of Christ relentlessly. He was so successful in this and the traditions of the Jewish religion, that he profited above his equals (Galatians 1:13-14). 

Notice that Jesus wasn't especially keen on the ceremonial practices/traditions of the Lawyers, Scribes and Pharisees (Luke 11:37-46)? This says though he was successful, Paul hadn't excelled in the will of God as he excelled in religious traditions.

Yet God chose Paul. Why? Not only was Paul an exceedingly intelligent man, he was so fearless and zealous about God that he didn't much care what his former  leaders or fellow combatants thought. He wasn't one of those people who danced to other people's music.  He was wise enough to know his true source, be self-less, and recognize man's fickle nature. ("For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."-Galatians 1:10).
Paul knew his purpose and desired to do big things for God. 


Enoch walked with God and was not; for the Lord took him -Genesis 5:24 (He didn't see corruption; his body didn't decompose because he didn't die!). So what does that mean for you? Listen, every revelation to you means the same possibility is available to you! Don't just hear for the sake of hearing. Hear with purpose!


#NOTE - these are my revelations of why God chose Moses, David and Paul. I'm sure there are greater revelations of the "whys". 
Just as someone once asked why God chose Israel, and my response was, 1. they were direct descendents of Abraham(who had promises from God regarding his seed); and 2. They are excellent record-keepers(look how they traced Jesus' record all they way to Adam) and great storytellers. Two ways of expressing the nature and things of God to teach generations. 

Fasting, speaking in tongues, making melodies to God, and spending time in His Word allows you to hear and experience God on another level. 
Now don't start thinking of how overwhelming or taxing those might be; like Jesus said "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:30 

You can speak in tongues anytime, when you're driving, having breakfast, anytime. You can talk with Him any any any time. You don't need to be deep. Just acknowledge His presence. You can sing to God in the shower, while you pump gas, when you're trying on that cute outfit, anytime!

Wouldn't it be nice to know that you can hear future conversations before they happen? That you can decree a thing and watch it established? That you can discern the nature of things without being taught by men? 

Wouldn't you love to continually walk in favour? That you can heal your own body through methods taught by the Holy Spirit? How awesome it is to affect the lives of others in profound ways! To actually have the Holy Spirit comfort you physically is beyond awesome. (If I told you that testimony... )


NOTE- This article assumes that you've already received the Holy Spirit. If you haven't, take Jesus' advice and ask God for His Holy Spirit - “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” -Luke 11:9-13


Be not a law major, but major in the Spirit. Acknowledge God. acknowledge the Holy Spirit as a person!

Monday, December 19, 2011

"Epignosis" The Highest Kind Of Knowledge!

...That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge(Epignosis) of him (Ephesians 1:17).

When you receive Christ into your life and the Holy Spirit takes up His abode in you, you're brought into a new kind of knowledge, which has nothing to do with your intellect. The revelation knowledge of God's Word unveiled to you. Things the human mind can't easily perceive, for instance, the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus are unveiled to your spirit. The Greek word for this kind of knowledge is "ginosko"; it's revelation knowledge.

After that, you're brought into awareness, a different kind of knowledge that shows you all the wonderful blessings God has deposited in your life. It's like when you enter a dark room and the lights are turned on, you become aware of all the things in the room. This is another form of revelation which in Greek is called "aido" knowledge. It means knowledge with awareness.

It is not enough, however, to be merely aware of all the wonderful blessings God has bestowed on you. You have to start enjoying or living in those blessings! You have to participate  in your awareness. This is where another kind of knowledge, which in Greek is called "epignosis" comes into play. "Epignosis" is knowledge with participation; it's revelation knowledge that comes to you full through your participation in that knowledge. Through "epignosis" you understand how to apply the knowledge you have received, and the power behind that revelation. It's the highest kind of revelation knowledge, and it comes to you through meditation.

Functioning with "epignosis" will bring you to the realm where you operate in the fullness of God, and that's the will of God for you: "...that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God"(Ephesians 3:19). No wonder the Apostle Paul prayed in Colossians 1:9 for God's children to be initiated into this kind of knowledge: "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge  (epignosis) of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;"


PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for granting me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of you. You've initiated me into the specialized knowledge that enables me to function in your fullness. Thank you for granting me the epignosis of your will, in Jesus' Name. Amen.



Rhapsody of Realities -- June 29, 2008

Present Your Case Legally!

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool (Isaiah 1:18).


When you need to pray about certain things that are not within your immediate control or personal territory, you'll have to  pray an argumentative prayer. It's the kind of prayer where you present your case legally before God. We see this happen with Elijah as he prayed earnestly for it to rain after a three and half  year drought. Elijah didn't have absolute legal jurisdiction over the rain, so he had to pray argumentatively and plead his case with God.

When you study the account in 1Kings 18:42-43, you'll observe that after Elijah declared to King Ahab that it was going to rain, he went into intense, heartfelt intercession, pleading his case with God: "So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times."

Elijah had to pray argumentatively and continued in that manner because he realized God is the one soley responsible for rain. They're those who think it's Satan that brings rain, but that's not true. There's nowhere in the Scriptures where it's recorded that Satan was responsible for rain. Rain, according to the Scriptures, is a blessing from God to the world. In Leviticus 26:3-4, God told the children of Israel: "If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season..." Also in Matthew 5:45, Jesus said, "...your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."

If Satan were to be the one responsible for rain, Elijah would have prayed differently; he would simply have commanded the rains to fall! Rather, he prayed argumentatively, bringing forth his strong reasons before the Lord. This is how you pray when you desire a change concerning any situation that's outside your personal territory; your present your prayer with a legal twist! You bring God's Word back to Him in earnest, heartfelt and continued manner until you prevail.

Perhaps you've been praying for the salvation of a loved one; this is the way! Present your strong reasons before the Lord. Bring His Word to Him as evidence and basis for which you're demanding a miracle for that loved one. Continue in prayer until there's a change.


PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the power of earnest prayer, and the joy to know I can plead my case with you, and prevail against unfavourable circumstances. I apply the revelations that I've learnt in your Word today to bring about tremendous changes in my life, and that of my loved ones, in Jesus' Name. Amen.


Rhapsody of Realities    December 19, 2011
-Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

No Fear In Love!

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:17-18).


The reason fear takes a hold of certain people is due to the kind of information they've opened themselves to. When someone exposes himself to negative information--news about all the evil, wickedness, disasters and acts of terrorism happening around the world, fear will rise up in him like a giant and bind him.

Fear is the most deployed tool of the adversary. Satan knows if he can get you to be afraid, your faith will not work, for fear hinders faith. This is the reason you must refuse to fear no matter what happens! According to the Word, you don't even have to try to fight fear. Our opening scripture lets us know what the antidote to fear is--love! Perfect love casts out fear. This means there's no need for an effort on your part to dispel fear if you'll only walk in love; if you'll only love the Lord and trust in His love.

1John 5:3 says, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." His commandments, as used in this portion of scripture doesn't refer to the commandments God gave Moses for the children of Israel in the wilderness. Instead, it refers to the instructions to us in God's Word-- in the New Testament. So the love of God, which according to Romans 5:5, has been shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit is proven each time you act on God's Word. And remember, acting on God's Word activates your faith; and when your faith is activated, it dispels fear.



CONFESSION
Dear heavenly Father, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I walk in dominion today, because you've given me the spirit of power, love and of a sound mind! I walk worthy of you today, unto all pleasing, rejoicing that you're that you're the one causing me to triumph over fear, Satan, and the world. Hallelujah.


Rhapsody of Realities     December 17, 2011
-Pastor  Anita Oyakhilome


Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Be Supply Conscious

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).


There are Christians who are more conscious of what they think they don't have, than they are of the provisions of the gospel that reveal our limitless wealth in Christ (Ephesians 3:8). David declared in Psalm 23:1, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures..." He was supply-conscious, and that's the kind of mindset you ought to have.

The man who is lack-conscious is the one who says "I would have done such-and-such, but I don't have enough money"; he measures himself by how much he has in the bank. On the other hand, the man who is supply-conscious measures himself  from the perspective of God's Word! He's conscious of the fact that all his needs (not some) are abundantly supplied to God's riches in glory by Christ Jesus, not according to how much he has in his bank accountant (Philippians 4:19). When he has a project to execute, he knows he can do it once he sets his mind on it for God is His source.

This is the mindset you ought to have as a child of God. Never be conscious of what you think you lack; notice I used the word think because all "things" are actually yours. 'Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours" (1 Corinthians 3:21). Train yourself through the Word to be "supply-conscious". That's how Jesus functioned when He walked the earth! He had no sense of lack; He knew that whatever He required was available to Him, even if He had to create it!

The next time you require something and it appears that it isn't available to you, think of the fact that all things are yours and call forth what you need! Remember, you're blessed; you're favoured; you're abundantly supplied; this should be your mindset always.


CONFESSION
I'm abundantly supplied. All my needs are met according to God's riches in glory by Jesus Christ. I'm supply-conscious for I live in the realm of superabundance. I know no lack! Everything I require for life and godliness have been made available to me in Christ Jesus, and I'm conscious of this reality today. Amen.



Rhapsody of Realities  - December 22, 2008
--Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Born With The "Love Nature"

Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us (Romans 5:5 AMP).

In Matthews 5:17, Jesus said "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." He said this because He lived as a Jew, born under the Old Covenant; under the Law. So He had an obligation to keep and fulfill the requirements of the Law: "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Galatians 5:14).

Love is the new and only commandment the children of Israel had to obey: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (John 13:34). God knew if they would walk in love, they would have obeyed all the other commandments He gave through Moses. But they were unable to keep those commandments because they didn't have the love-nature. Their hearts were hardened, for they were unregenerate men. The Lord declared He would give men a new heart and a new spirit: "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26). 

This is the reason when you're born again love becomes your nature. Romans 5:5 says "...And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." This was God's plan all along, to usher into the scene a new class of men, born of Him, with His nature of love. When Jesus died, and was raised back to life, the greatest miracle  ever occurred: This new species of love-led, love-filled and love-dominated beings was born!

We're the ones the Apostle Paul describes as new creations in 2 Corinthians 5:17, with the life and nature of God in our spirits. Now, you don't have to struggle to walk in love; you can live the love-life naturally. You can now love those around you with the same supernatural love that God expressed in John 3:16.



PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for your nature of love which has been poured into my heart through the Holy Spirit. I manifest that love lavishly today to everyone around me, showing them the higher and more excellent way of the Kingdom life-- the love-way! Thank you for loving me eternally, and teaching me to love you in return, in Jesus' Name. Amen.



Rhapsody of Realities   December 3, 2011
-Pastor  Anita Oyakhilome