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

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!

"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

--Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

Get Pastor Chris' message on three kinds of knowledge

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

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

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

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

Psalm 112-- The Prosperous!

 Psalm 112 (The Message) -Personalized

    Hallelujah! I'm a blessed woman, because I fear(respect, love and heed) God,
   I cherish and relish his commandments,
   My offspring robust on the earth,
   And my homes blessed, because I'm upright!
   My houses brim with wealth
   And my generosity that never runs dry.
   Sunrise breaks through the darkness for me, because I'm a good person—
   God gives me grace and mercy and justice!
   Trelan Hylton, the good person, is generous and lends lavishly;
   No shuffling or stumbling around for me,
   But a sterling and solid and lasting reputation.
   I'm unfazed by rumor and gossip,
   Heart ready, trusting in God,
   Spirit firm, unperturbed,
   Ever blessed, relaxed among enemies,
   I lavish gifts on the poor—
   My generosity that goes on, and on, and on.
   I live an honored life! A beautiful life!
   Someone wicked takes one look and rages,
   Blusters away but ends up speechless.

 

Psalm 112 (King James Version)

 ¹Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

 ²His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

 ³Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

 ⁴Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

 ⁵A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.

 ⁶Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

 ⁷He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.

 ⁸His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.

 ⁹He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

 ¹⁰The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

The True And Firm Foundation

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste (Isaiah 28:16).

The prophet Isaiah, in the scripture above spoke prophetically about the "stone" which the Lord God would lay in Zion, I want you to observe the way this "stone" is described. First he refers to it as "a tried stone"; secondly, he calls it "a precious corner stone," and then thirdly, he refers to it as a "sure foundation." Being a "tried stone" mean it's been tested and proven; then as "a precious corner stone" it means it's the most important stone in the building; while as a "sure foundation", it means you can stake your life on it.

That's who Jesus is; He's the only true foundation upon which you should build your life. No wonder He said in Luke 6:47-49: "Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great."

It matters the foundation upon which your life is built. The Bible says "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."(1 Corinthians 3:11). He is the true and firm foundation. Make Him the foundation of your success today by employing the principles of His Word in all your dealings. That way, when contrary winds blow against you, you'll remain standing because you're founded upon the Rock, Christ Jesus! In the face of adversity you'll be unshaken because on Christ, the Solid Rock, you stand.

Remember, the foundation is what makes the difference. Both houses in the illustration given by Jesus in Luke 6:47-49 were confronted by the same flood; but the one without foundation came to ruin. No wonder that the songwriter wrote, "On Christ the Solid Rock I stand; All other ground is sinking sand! All other ground is sinking sand."

Let Christ, the Solid Rock, be the foundation and anchor of your life! Be a doer of His Word, for that's how to build your life on the solid rock. That's what will keep you on the path to success and prosperity all your life.

PRAYER

Dear Father, you've taken me out of the miry clay, and planted my feet firmly upon the rock, Christ Jesus. Now I know that I'll remain unshakeable even when the storms of life blow against me, for I've been securely planted on the true foundation-- Jesus Christ the Rock. Thus, no situation can overwhelm me in this life because I'm not just a hearer but a doer of your Word. Amen.

Rhapsody of Realities      November 28, 2011

--Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

Can You Believe?

Belief is something a lot of people struggle with. People struggle with seeing a new and greater reality than the one they're currently aware of. A wheel-chair bound man, for example, can't recast himself as running and jumping, while playing basketball. He can't see the muscular definition in his lean, strong legs. He only sees the atrophied reality.

A woman raising a mentally retarded teenager can become a life coach, and the only possibility she can show you is how to navigate situations while burdened with handicaps. Some people suffer in a condition for so long that they see absolutely no other possibilities. It's like getting so used to the stench of rotting flesh that it no longer offends you, and has become a part of you.

One would think that such people and conditions are not only permanent, but universal, yet people have been emerging from oppressive conditions to new realities.

In places(such as areas in Africa & South America) not touched by the influences of modern media, people are walking out of being crippled from birth, the only condition & reality they ever knew. While others in more "civilized" societies strain under the oppression of a plethora of conditions yet unknown to those remote nations. Why is that?

A Pastor from America saw the state of these remote places, the lack of medical facilities and all the modern accoutrements, so he decides to bring salvation to the wild. He goes around and gathers all the village chiefs willing to participate and have their subjects partake. Pretty soon he has a small crowd, open and waiting for something; expectant. He preaches on healing, and randomly, people in the crowd are being released from blindness, deafness, pain...

The Pastor is flabbergasted! He hadn't even called people to be healed, hadn't even prayed for them, wasn't even aware that a message imparted by him could have such an effect. He's never experienced this before. Man!

What happened there?

How is it possible that a Pastor can preach one message in his home church in Ohio, then preach the same message with slight tailoring to fit an African audience, yet get two vastly different effects? How can he preach on healing miracles in church, have loyal, longstanding, dutiful church members suffering diabetes, wheelchair bound, etc, yet a stranger sits in on one message and is automatically released from cancer. How did that happen? 
 

The problem the civilized people have is their inability to be persuaded by Truth. The Word has become common for the church members such that they are loyal to the church for intellectual reasons. People have magnified intellect to the point where it's a giant in their lives. Every experience (and I use "experience" very loosely here) is cerebral. Every message has to be analyzed, dissected and look at from various angles, but at a distance. It never gets in the analyst's spirit. But how can it when it's been categorized as historic information, appreciated for etymology and allegory?

Somehow people have been convinced that being "brainy" is the ideal to be attained. Some Christians form a process called "Apologetics" in order to debate the atheist on an intellectual level. Such Christians even run the risk of being swayed towards the dead's perspective. Have they won over any atheist? Some have, but how lasting is mental maneuvering without intimacy with Truth?

If you're a Christian intent upon winning over the carnal man who is mind ruled, you've got to get past his intellect and reach his spirit. Trying to win him over by mental gymnastics is next to futile because that's his territory. Don't focus on refuting his arguments in debate, because that's when you're dancing to his music and it won't work. Take him out of his comfort zone. Your mind won't tell you how to do that well, so you have to ask the Holy Spirit to give you utterances that will shake his "foundation". Utterances that will reach into his core. Now you may not see the immediate shake, but he will leave the conversation with niggling questions of his position. The dam has a hairline crack...

Listen friends, our God is a supernatural God. He functions in the realm where all things are possible. You've got to take advantage of the grace you received when you confessed Jesus as Lord.

In his first letter to the Corinth Church, Paul said "...when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. ...but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). You have to come out of the realm where you see words in the Bible as mere words. Make them real to you. Experience them.

A man's soul(mind, will and emotions) is the gateway to his spirit. Your spirit is where ideas, behaviours, life boundaries and directions live. It is the person God's Spirit connects with. The same way food and eating habits shows up in your body (whether you're svelte and healthy or overweight and disease prone) is the same way the ideas, words, pictures, thoughts and emotions show up in your life and present state. Feed Truth to your spirit.

Start with his mind: We experience the world through our physical senses but did you know we have spiritual senses? The same way your eyes allow you to experience the physical world, you have the ability to see with the eyes of the spirit, to use your ability to picture possibilities. 

Your ear allows you to experience sounds, to decipher positions and directions based on sound vibrations. The ability to hear the state or condition a person is in, to hear past and future conversation via thoughts, to get directional vibration, is within your spirit. We have the ability to imagine. The Bible is replete with admonition to meditate (examples are Joshua 1:8 and Psalms 1:2) on His Truth.

Touch his soul's will: We drop our defenses and allow ourselves to trust Truth. We stop seeing ourselves as inferior, undeserving or in condemnation, so that we can step boldly to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). Having the conscious awareness of who we are, who God is and our relationship, allow us to dwarf any and all circumstance that tries to exalt itself above the knowledge of God. Take action on God's Word.

Grab his emotions: Our physical bodies allows us to experience sensations of pleasure or pain; similarly our emotions/ feelings allow us to experience various forms of either joy or hurt. As we meditate God's truth over current physical circumstance, we allow feelings of well-being and gratitude for our change in state. We rest in His Truth.

This is how belief works. What a man meditates on in the spiritual becomes reality in the material. But here is a key, the reason people in third world countries experience miracles in cases where North Americans cannot is simply this: No is not an option. They've meditated on a new reality such that it's now their experience and no other possibility exists. Influenced by media, and "logical" people in their lives, North Americans have made God's Word foolishness in their own sights. As a result, they live oppressed lives.

Read on the woman with the issue of blood (Mat 9:20-22; Mar 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-47). She'd been oppressed by an issue of blood(probably fibroid) for 12 long years, then she heard  of Jesus and his working of miracles and made a decision(her will) that today she will be free. She saw no other possibilities except a healing. How do I know? Levitical law pronounced her as unclean in such a condition, so legally she's not allowed to go into crowds (Leviticus 15:19-28), but her meditated experience was so real to her that she was blind to legalities and possibly consequences. She acted on what she said within herself (If I touch his garments I'll be whole). And get this, Jesus' own will/faith had nothing to do with it!

If you're a Pastor struggling with a bum knee, hear me, that's wrong! Don't vacillate between Truth and present circumstances. Staggering between two stories only lead to failure (James 6-8). Let go of vain reasoning and lose yourself into Truth!

Talk Your Spirit Up!

 Hey, look what I found! 

If our minds are ruled by our desires, we will die. But if our minds are ruled by the Spirit, we will have life and peace (Romans 8:6 CEV).

The activities that take place in a man’s spirit are mostly what govern his life. Whether or not you’re going to be successful in life depends on what happens in your spirit, for out of your spirit are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23). As you navigate your way through life, it’s important that you train your spirit with the Word to be a sure guide.

Negative thoughts and ideas (thoughts of failure, weakness, wickedness, sickness and sin) may come to your mind, but as long as the Word of God is stored in your heart richly, you’ll be able to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of the Word (2 Corinthians 10:5). One way to achieve this is by meditation. Through meditation you talk your spirit up, while drowning the negative voices around you.

When I first learnt to do this as a young lad many years ago, I’d sometimes get into my dad’s car, in the garage, just so I could be alone in a quiet place and there talk my spirit up. You need to do this from time to time. You need to lock yourself away in a private place so as not to disturb others and then shout the Word until you completely drown every negative thought of fear, unbelief or failure. As you do this, the Word will gain the mastery over your mind, and your spirit will have the controlling influence.

To live the ever-glorious life in Christ continually, you have to learn to talk your spirit up, and that way dispel negative thoughts from your consciousness. As you shout the devil and your mind down, your spirit will gain the mastery.

PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to receive your Word into my spirit for it to affect my body and influence my mind! Your Word is imparting wisdom to my spirit and renewing my mind to think at your level; thoughts that are consistent with your eternal purpose and will for my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 Rhapsody of Realities     August 1, 2011
-Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

Holiness Versus Righteousness

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Some believers have confused holiness for righteousness, assuming that there's no difference between both. Though often used by many interchangeably, holiness is not the same as righteousness and the difference between the two needs to be clear. 

Holiness is a place in God; a condition. When God sanctifies something, whether it's a place, a person or a thing, it becomes holy. That person or thing becomes separated from all others unto God. It includes two aspects. Firstly, the Lord separates you or sets you apart; and then secondly, He separates you to Himself. It is one thing to separate anything or anybody to other things, but that doesn't mean you've separated that thing to yourself. But in this connection, God separates you from others to Himself; for His sacred use, thus you're holy!

As God's children, we've been sanctified by the Spirit of God. So we're called holy. That's our condition. Also, when God's presence comes upon someone or when God's presence comes to a place, like it did on Mount Sinai in the Old Testament (Exodus 24:16) it becomes holy. The temple in the Old Testament also was called holy because the presence of God was there, and God had separated that place for Himself.

Righteousness, on the other hand, is a nature. It's the nature of God that describes His rightness; His ability to do, and be right. He is never wrong, He's always right. Whatever He does is right. When He imparts this ability to be right and do right into your life, you automatically become righteous. This also gives you right-standing, which means you can stand in His presence without a sense of condemnation, inferiority or guilt.

Righteousness is your nature now; it's the character of your spirit. You're not the only the righteousness of God in Christ, as the scripture says in 2 Corinthians 5:21, instead, you're both righteous and holy (1 Corinthians 3:17). In Hebrews 3:1, we're called holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling. You share the same life and nature with the Lord; His nature of righteousness and holiness have been imparted to your spirits; you're one with Him now: "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren" (Hebrews 2:11). 

CONFESSION

I am the temple of God and God's Spirit lives in me, therefore, I am holy, as He is holy. By virtue of Christ's death, burial and resurrection, I've been declared righteous, justified and sanctified unto God, therefore, I live and walk daily in the nature of God that has been imparted into my spirit. Praise the Lord!

Rhapsody of Realities        November 25, 2011

--Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

Don't Joke Against The Word!

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned (Matthew 12:36-37).

Some Christians, in their confessions, are sometimes positive, and some other times negative, and that's the reason they experience "ups" and "downs" in their lives. Have made a wrong confession they'd say: "I didn't really meant what I said," or "I was only joking when I said that." Well, in the realm of the spirit, you have whatsoever you say, whether or not you meant it. In Mark 11:23, Jesus didn't say "You shall have whatever you mean," He said "You shall have whatever you say."

If you must joke, let it be positive, and don't joke against the Word. Don't make careless statements for they'll produce results for you. That's why you must say only what you mean, and be sure it's consistent with the Word. 

Jesus said "...by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Matthew 12:36-37). In the realm of the spirit, words are extremely important. Interpreting the Master's words above literally means, a man will go to heaven or hell because of what he said or didn't say. But beyond that, your life is the character of your words. If a man's words are confusing, his life will be confusing. In the same way, if a man's words are wholesome, his life will be wholesome. This is why you must watch what you say! 

PRAYER

Dear Father, thank you for teaching me about the power of words. Through your Word, and by your Spirit, I'm culturing my tongue to speak only faith-filled words! No unwholesome communication is allowed to proceed from my mouth. I speak only life-giving words that are consistent with your plans and purposes for my life, and I declare that my future is secure in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Rhapsody of Realities    November 15, 2011

--Pastor  Anita Oyakhilome

Created In His Image

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:23-24).

The natural man, the man who is not yet born again has his understanding of spiritual truths darkened. He is estranged from the life of God because of his ignorance and the blindness or hardness of his heart. "Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart" (Ephesians 4:18).

But for you that are born again, you have the life of Christ in you; you have God's nature, which is completely contrary to the flesh. When you believed in your heart and confessed the Lordship of Jesus with your mouth, you were at once recreated in righteousness and true holiness, after the image of Christ.

Unlike the unregenerate man, you're not spiritually separated from God; you're alive to the fatherhood of God. The Bible says now are we the sons of God (1 John 3:2),  therefore it's not blasphemous for you to declare that you're an associate of the God-kind; you have a sonship relationship with the Lord: "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father" (Galatians 4:6).

You're now a partaker of the divine nature, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him (Colossians 3:10). Operate in this new realm of life--where you know you have the life and nature of God in you.

CONFESSION 

I'm excited about my new life in Christ. I've passed from death to life; from sin to righteousness; from sickness to health; from poverty to wealth. I have the life and nature of God in me; I've put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness, and true holiness. Praise the Lord!

Rhapsody of Realities   November 12, 2011

--Pastor  Anita Oyakhilome

The Truth About TRUTH -- Part one

 What is Truth?
Online, the Oxford Dictionaries describes truth as : "...that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality"

Can I tell you though, they don't know even the half of it...

I've often hear some people use the word "Truth" in respect to the state of their lives; specifically, if they go through some personal struggle, be it addiction, sexual abuse, life-style choices etc, that they've come to accept and regard  as "their personal truth". Some think that somehow their personal experience determine the truth of things and processes. 

People who observe and study behaviours and functions of (other people and) existing materials often err the same way.  A consequence of lacking the ability to discern the things of God, (carnal) scientists and doctors can only make guesses at best. (This is why one month you see a study of how awesome chicken eggs are for you, and the next month, a new study of how bad they are.)

The oxford dictionaries got it wrong because Fact is NOT Truth...

...Fact is lesser than truth.

What, did I shock you? At least you're not offended, hang on!  Facts are what you are able to observe with all physical faculties available to you, and this is why it is usually not truth. I said usually, because sometimes you get it right... Hold on, don't take offense now, I'm not done yet.  Take this example; mid-afternoon, the sky is clear, I ask its colour and you declare, "it's blue!" But is that true? Well not for a dog. A dog doesn't experience colour the same way the human does. It only sees in black, white and shades of grey.  (I won't bother to go into a greater truth that colour itself is only a function of types of lights, the way they hit an object and their relationship to your eyes and brain. Neither will I go into the concept of "sky"...) That the sky is blue, while being a fact, is only a human perception.

Truth comes from the Spirit of God. Why do I say this? Some years ago I sat in church and for the very first time, heard the story of the spies and the promised land. (I said for the first time because while my mother is a very spiritual woman, growing up, we only read the Psalms. Man, I could recite you some Psalms...) Reading the story I thought "man, how just is it to go occupy an already occupied land--" (not the best idea to read with outside stories, colouring the material...) until I bumped up into Numbers 13:32-33 "And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." 

Why would the Bible called what the 10 spies reported as evil when in fact they actually saw gigantic men of great power?  Those spies were meant to see beyond the physical, with the eyes of the spirit, good possibilities. Excellent outcomes. Instead they saw these men as beyond them, and themselves thoroughly defeated.

The 10 spies saw and agreed with facts. As a consequence, they were left to wander a small desert for forty years until they all expired.

You know the saying "It's too good to be true"? Every time I hear it my skin pricks up (well not literally, but you get the idea). I know people are attempting to protect themselves from being deceived, but they're going about it the wrong way. 
Practical example: a couple weeks ago I had a conversation with a woman who works with her husband, he's a massage therapist, and as a compliment to his work, she does facials. Being married 38 years(much longer than I've actually existed hah aha), she only speaks of her husband as if he were the greatest thing ever.

I told her, "your husband is so blessed to have such a supporting wife. That's what I've noticed lasting marriages consist of, a loving and supporting wife, and a providing and protecting husband."

She pipes in "He's a very good provider, very good!"

I don't doubt it either, her clothes are always so cute, you wouldn't guess she's 58.

Another person was in the room with us, a woman in her mid to late 20's. She chimed in, "yeah, but men seem to like me only because I'm helpful, they don't like me for me." To me, that was a very strange statement. She explained would like them to compliment her on her looks etc

"But that's a part of your character, that's what lasts..."

Little did I know that earlier that morning she had called the older woman aside and asked her a series of questions...

The woman had been wearing a beautiful yellow dress that other ladies complimented her on, and she responded "Thanks, my husband loves it too!"

Somehow, this bothered the younger woman so she called her aside and asked "Are you OK, are you being abused?" Puzzled, older woman said no. The younger persist, "Are you afraid your husband will leave you?"

To that the older woman asked "why do you ask me these questions? Where is this coming from?"

"Because I see a void in you... a vacuum..."!!!

Now, I hadn't mentioned that the younger woman defines herself as a life-coach, yet somehow, she saw a healthy marriage as being too good to be true; there must be something wrong with it.

Of course she might have concluded that the older woman was a victim on account of her being Asian. In North American skewed mindset, people tend to view Asian women as being docile, cowered by dominant men. But if that were true, the wife, living in Canada for 30+ years, had opportunities to not see and express love for her husband. But she remains loyal and loving.

Why would the younger woman see a void where there was none? She, herself, had been a victim of sexual abuse by her own father, coupled with a neglectful mother, and as such, not only does she wear a badge of victim-hood, but she sees other women through that prism. (In fact, the only reason she gives for her career is to protect other children by teaching them her personal truth).

What the older woman told to me saddened me. That a person who defines herself as helpful, is unable to tell good from evil (whether with her own character that she defines as her helpfulness(though misguided), or with seeing true joy in other people).

One day I'll do a blog about seeing and pulling value out of people instead of searching for things that are (only possibly) wrong. Often, when you go searching for things that are wrong, if you don't find them you might make them up and call them true. Be careful with that...

James said "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."(James 1;17)

Goodness comes from God and if it's good then it's True!

This reminds me of Jesus' response to a man who asked, "Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"

Jesus' responded to the designation of "Good" saying: "Why call me good? there is none good but one, that is, God." (Mark 10:17-18). Now with that one statement people veer off in various directions (whether to question Jesus' deity, or the Bible itself etc--generally because some people read with an intention to find faults), but I got what Jesus told that man; God is goodness personified, i.e God is the Spirit of Goodness. Well that's the same way I see Truth...

John said in John 16:13: "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth..."

All truth? Does that mean that there are multiple truths or does it mean that truth is multi leveled?

Well let's look at Truth different angles...

Truth creates...

Have you ever had a revelation that struck you so hard you remember the exact time and place it happened? I had been listening to a message taught by Pastor Chris earlier (I can't say if it was that day or not because sometimes I let a message remain in my car's CD player for a week or two ), where he emphasized that the reason God cannot lie is because whatsoever He says gets established. If today was Tuesday and He declares it's Saturday, it becomes Saturday. He's God.

This is why we read in Hebrews 6:17-18 that He's bound Himself to His oath and as such, it is impossible for Him to lie.James chapter 1 verse 18 says "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth..."

Whenever God spoke, His word got established. Through words of creation, backed by faith, our physical world came into existence. "So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)

God's Word is known (and the "known" I'm using is one of intimacy and communion) as Truth such that whosoever agrees with it overcome circumstances and situations that had them under oppression. If a man has been oppressed by cancer or some other disease, if he confesses God's truth( by His stripes, I was healed - Isaiah 53:5) over the state of his body, believing with his heart, his body has to obey and be made  whole. 

God's Word changes the state of (things in) existence and as such, God's Word is Truth. 

How was it possible for a man to walk on water? (We know about the basilisk lizard, with large hind feet, speeds atop water surfaces, but Jesus, at regular gait, walked on rough seas.) How is that explained? Jesus used words of Truth. He spoke to inanimate material as though he would a person, backing the words with faith, and they obeyed. I wouldn't doubt that he had told the sea to accommodate his stroll.

Moses held a rod over the red sea and commanded it to part. He spoke words that the Spirit of God gave him. The red sea had no choice but to obey. Jesus himself  told us that all the miracles he worked were according to the Words (will) of God.  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. (John 5:30). 

It is actually the Holy Spirit, also known as the Spirit of Truth (John 15:26), who changes the state of things.  

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2).  

Fortunately for us, children of the Most High God(1 John 3:1-2), we have full access to the Holy Spirit who dwells in us and with us. If you've not yet receive the Holy Spirit of God, ask Him in then be filled daily (using the steps laid out in Ephesians 5:18-20). ...You shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you... (Acts 1:8 Amplified). 

 Power is the ability to cause changes, (changes that work dynamically). As such, through the Spirit of truth, the addicted have power to conquer addiction, the sickly have power to live in divine health, the simple have the power to walk in wisdom. 

Live in Truth...

See Part Two Here