So you need a breakthrough?5

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”” John 8:31-32

I want to conclude this teaching about Elisha’s breakthrough by re-defining breakthrough. A breakthrough has been rightly defined as opportunity meets preparation. It has also been rightly defined as crossing through barriers and oppositions. So also breakthrough is being in the right place at the right time. I want to add another definition which is acquiring the truth and making use of it. Elisha needed the double portion of Elijah’s anointing. Elijah told him what he needed to do to get it. He did it and got it. That is the summary of Elisha’s breakthrough.

If you have found Jesus, you are a breakthrough!!! This breakthrough is activated by continually sitting at His feet. John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” In Luke 10:42, Jesus said to Martha, “but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” You are just a piece of information away from your breakthrough.

If you are looking for a breakthrough it means you are looking for a piece of information, a truth about a matter. May you find it and when you have found it may you use it in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Oh Lord show me something and let me hear something that will establish my breakthrough in Jesus name.

So you need a breakthrough?4

“And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”” 2 Kings 2:9

The question of what do you want looks so simple but if many have been able to answer this question correctly, they would have experienced their breakthrough long time ago. What some people are looking for will not actually change their levels if they eventually obtain it. Take for example the lame man at the beautiful gate of the temple in Acts 3. He was looking for coins from Peter and John. If they had given him the money, he would have returned to the same spot the following day begging again. They, however, gave him the power of God which brought an end to begging in his life.

Jesus asked the obviously blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:31, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The point is that you may think what you need is money whereas what you really need is a breakthrough idea or divine connection. This similar question was asked Joseph in the desert when a man found him wandering about. The man said to him in Genesis 37:15, “what are you looking for?” The truth is that everyone is looking for something but not everyone is looking for the right thing. One major step for Elisha to experience his breakthrough was the correct answer to the question of what he wanted from Elijah.

My point this morning, if you really desired a remarkable breakthrough, you must desire also a revelation of what you really need to pursue with your life.

May you not pursue the wrong goal this year. May God reveal to you what you really need in your life in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Oh God reveal to me what you want me to do with my life this year in Jesus name.

So you need a breakthrough?3

“And he strengthened himself, built up all the wall that was broken, raised it up to the towers, and built another wall outside; also he repaired the Millo in the City of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance.” 2 Chronicles 32:5

I am still on Elisha’s story but my text this morning is taken from 2 Chronicles 32:5. If you are interested in a long-lasting definite breakthrough, you must conquer yourself first. You must tell your flesh what to do and not the flesh telling you what to do. You must strengthen yourself, repair the broken walls, put yourself on the right side of God. You must conquer greed, impatient, ignorance, powerlessness, laziness and such. If you don’t conquer the enemy within, you cannot conquer the enemy without. You must be willing to stay in the right course of action until it yields the expected result. There is no overnight breakthrough. If it happens overnight, that night must have been long years of discipline, hard work, consistency, and persistency.

Elisha followed Elijah until the end. He was disciplined enough to keep his eyes on the goal. He refused to stay at Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho but kept on following the one who had what he wanted. See how many protégées have left their mentors half way today! When Elijah crossed Jordan, he crossed with him believing that he would be able to cross back alone. He was disciplined enough to do what must be done so that he could have the double portion of Elijah’s anointing.

May you conquer yourself, may you experience the long desired breakthrough in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Let my body, soul and spirit cooperate with my breakthrough in Jesus name.

So you need a breakthrough?2

“Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”” 2 Kings 2:5

Some people need to be told to keep quiet if you really want to experience a breakthrough. Beware of people who have information but don’t use it to achieve a vision or a goal. Beware of people who have information but do nothing about it. Beware of people who have the correct information but wants to distract you from your main goal. If you make such people your companion, you will lose grip of your vision and be swallowed in their company.

The sons of the prophet knew what Elisha knew but were not willing to do anything about it. In actual fact, they were in a way happy that Elijah was being taken away and Elisha would be stranded. But Elisha quickly silenced them, he was not going to be distracted neither would he be discouraged. Elisha could have started a blaming game and said to Elijah that, “after spending so many years with you why are you not telling me that you would be taken away.” He did not do that, he focused on his expected breakthrough. You may feel good blaming someone but that will not deliver your desire. When you are supposed to look for the information you need for your breakthrough, you are wasting time looking for who to blame if you don’t get the breakthrough. Don’t do that. Silence those voices who might be telling the truth but will prevent you from getting to your destination.

May the negative voices appearing to be good voices be silenced around you in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Every strange voice that wants to hinder my breakthrough, be silenced forever in Jesus name.

So you need a breakthrough?1

“And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”’” 2 Kings 2:9-10

This is an information-driven world. You have a piece of information you prosper with it. You are ignorant, you suffer for it. Any time anything looks hard or difficult, it means more information is needed. If you are really in need of a breakthrough, three things are important:

 1.       Be specific. If you really need a breakthrough you must be specific, you must know exactly what you want. Elijah asked Elisha,” what do you want?” If Elisha was uncertain and just talking incoherently, he would have lost the opportunity. He knew exactly what he wanted and he expressed it clearly.

2.       Know what it takes. If there is a destination, there is a path to get there, find it. Some breakthroughs are easy while some are hard. What Elisha asked was hard, according to Elijah. But he gave him what he must do to make the hard thing possible, he must see Elijah when he is being taken. You must find out the requirement to achieve your breakthrough. If you don’t know, you are grounded.
3.       Do it. Don’t tell me the information you have, but tell me what you are doing with it. In this world, things are made to happen. Elisha saw Elijah when he was being taken and he got the double portion he desired. Do something with the information you have acquired and your breakthrough will come.

May God grant you your heart desire in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Oh Lord, this is my request, show me what to do and give me success in Jesus name.

Physical strength is not enough

“But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Mathew 4:4

No man can make it by physical strength alone, the strength obtainable from God through His word, is needed to fulfil destiny. Physical food will give you vitamins that will help you grow bodily strength and resistance to attacks from bacterial and other dangerous microorganisms. The word of God which is the spiritual food, will give you direction, wisdom, anointing, grace and favour, which are not physically visible but are necessary for distinction in destiny.

In all your getting, get a word from the Lord, daily, weekly and yearly. Your life depends on it. Level changes when a man eat from God’s table of His word. You cannot hear God and remain the same. You cannot hear God and be consumed by the adversary. You cannot hear God and not shine. Luke 5:5-7 says,” “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.”

What should you do? There is no short cut to it, if you are desperate for God’s word, you must separate yourself from the crowd to fellowship personally with the Lord. Do it daily until you gain access to His word. (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1, Psalm 119)

May you hear God today in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Speak Oh God, I am listening in Jesus name.

Persist

“Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”” Genesis 32:26

Don’t leave the path to your goal until you arrive there. Strongly persist in the execution of the strategy you have identified to achieve your goals or vision. Whatever you have chosen to do, be it prayer, studying, ministry, career, business, and so on, you will be resisted. Persistence is the answer to resistance. Even if you are talented and skillful but lack persistence, you may not achieve your goals. Keep at it, no matter the barrier or opposition. Robert Brault said and I agree, “Stubbornly persist, and you will find that the limits of your stubbornness go well beyond the stubbornness of your limits."

This was what Jacob did in that night prayers, he stubbornly persisted until he got the blessing. Fortunately for him, the situation was like, “he either gets the breakthrough or perishes with his family.” He had to put in all his energy to achieve the breakthrough in prayer. The enemy of persistency is alternatives. If you have options, you will lack the drives to persist through resistance and obstacles. Don’t let go until you get there!!

Beloved, your breakthrough is near, persist until you get there.
Prayer for today: Lord, I refuse to give up, it is my opposition that will give up in Jesus name.

Give God something to work with

“And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.” 2 Kings 4:2

“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” Proverbs 22:29

What is your present financial situation? Whether you are in scarcity or in abundance, whether you are in debt or in surplus, you must give God something to work with if you want a great financial future.

The story of Colonel Sanders, the founder of KFC is truly inspiring. But something needed to be identified. He was a great cook. He decided to be a cook and he was good at it. That was what God used to turn his financial situation around.  In our text today, the widow was in debt to the extent that the creditors were coming to take her two sons. The first thing the prophet asked her was what she had for God to work with in order to turn the situation around. The little oil she had was enough. In similar situation in Mathew 17:24-27, Jesus told Peter to go and cast a hook so that he could catch a fish with gold in its mouth to pay their taxes. Peter was a great fisherman.

Beloved, if you want a great financial future, you must be good at something. Learn a trade; develop a skill; study something. If you don’t have a hook or a net, there is no prayer that can make you to go home with fish, even if you stand beside a river for a long time. But if you cast your hook and apply diligence, reward will come. No matter your present financial situation, find something you want to invest your whole life in and be good at it.

I ask God to bless the work of your hand in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Oh God lead me by the way I should go and teach me to profit in Jesus name.

The blessing Isaac pronounced on Esau

“And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.” Genesis 27:39-40

The blessing that Isaac eventually pronounced on Esau was to accomplish two things: to make him prosperous and also to deliver him from the lordship of his brother, Jacob. It is important to note that Esau never served Jacob however, he became a fighter. By the time Jacob was returning, Esau was going to meet him with 400 soldiers who were being fed in his house.

Now the blessing revealed one major thing: when servitude is in place, fighting is inevitable, but the acquisition of dominion is the termination of servitude. Esau could only get out of servitude by fighting and having dominion. But fortunately for him, the blessings that was supposed to make Jacob lord over him never rested on Jacob, so he did not have to serve him.

The message to you today as a Christian is that you do not have to be under servitude to any personality, because dominion is available to you in Jesus Christ. You are too anointed to be under any yoke. It is time for you to activate the finished work of Christ on the cross upon any personality trying to enforce negative situation on your life. Say no to the spirit of failure, infirmities, poverty, stagnancy and the likes.

Beloved, you have dominion in Christ Jesus, you are not a slave to any personality.

Prayer for today: I take authority over any personality that is against me, I subdue you in the name of Jesus. I pronounce myself blessed and prosperous in Jesus name.

If these blessings had rested on Jacob

“And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed: Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.” Genesis 27:27-28

Our text this morning is the blessings that Isaac pronounced on Jacob when he pretended to be Esau. If the blessings had rested on him, three things would have happened according Genesis 27:37

1.       The blessing was to make him Lord over Esau.

2.       The blessing was to make all his brethren to become his servants

3.       The blessing was to make him to have abundance of grain and wine to sustain him.

It is evident that the blessings did not rest on him if you look at what happened to him from the time the blessing was pronounced till he met God in Genesis 32. However, that is not my point this morning. My point this morning is that you can pray these blessings into your life.

As you pray these blessings into your life, may your prayers be answered in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Oh God, let the blood of Jesus wash away whatever is resisting your blessings in my life in Jesus name.

Avoid a divided family

“And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.” Genesis 25:28

My message to you this morning whether you are a wife, a husband, a son or a daughter, please avoid a divided family. How can a family with one wife and one husband experience a kind of division that can only be found in a polygamous family? Isaac chose to love Esau because of venison while Rebekah chose Jacob. As a result, this brought “witchcraft” into their home. Manipulation, lying, deceit was evident in the family.

One of the wickedness that have wasted children of great destinies in Africa is called polygamous witchcraft. When a man is married to many wives, it is a war in the home. Many talented children have died prematurely because of this wickedness. Many have become dead while alive, and are unable to do any meaningful thing with their lives. Why, they have been caged in the snare of wickedness called polygamous witchcraft. But why will you allow such in your home? Children need to love one another while the father and the mother in the house must avoid having favorites among their children. Otherwise what befell the home of Isaac is imminent in their homes. Rebecca died prematurely, Esau became wide and Jacob wasted years trying to find his feet. May this not become of your family in Jesus name.

As much as it lies within you, keep your family together in unity.

Prayer for today: Let there be no division in my nuclear family, let there be unity, peace, progress and prosperity in Jesus name.

Beware of double identities

“And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.” Genesis 27:22-23

If you want something from a man, you may deceive him to get it. But if you want it from God, you cannot successfully deceive Him. Jacob successfully deceived Isaac, but he did not successfully deceive God. God sees the intents; He knows your heart. God said to Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7, “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”

The life of Jacob actually became stressful and tempestuous after receiving the so called “blessing.” He had to run from his father’s house into the hand of Laban who was a classified deceiver, a man far better than him in the business of manipulation and deception. On the other hand, Esau that got the “second hand” blessing had become great and mighty, even having 400 private soldiers (Genesis 33:1). As at that time Jacob was just asking God to bless him.

God will never bless a man without a clear identity. The blessing never rested on Jacob until he prayed for it in Genesis 32. Yes, God chose him from the womb but he went about it the wrong way and the journey became longer. Man may pronounce the blessing; but the activation is of God.  In Zechariah 3, Joshua could not be helped because he had a wrong garment on. Until the garment was removed, he was resisted. Beloved, be a man of clear identity, don’t engage in double standards and deception. If God blesses you, sorrow will be far from you.

Prayer for today: Oh God I am your son (daughter), (mention your name), bless me indeed and enlarge my coast in Jesus name.

Give it some time

“And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.  And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” Genesis 27:21-22

When making decisions, adequate information is needed. If you are wrongly informed, “halfly” informed or quarterly informed on a matter, you cannot make a quality decision. You must be fully informed. Now in case you have a conflicting information, you need to do either or both of two things. You need to either give it time or clarify by getting more information. Do not make any important decision in a hurry, give it some time. And within the time, get more information.

Isaac wanted to bless Esau but not Jacob. His wife overheard and set Jacob up to receive the blessing in a deceitful manner. Jacob knew that he was not hairy like his brother but his mother advised him to put of the skin of the goat that was killed to prepare the venison. He also wore a garment of Esau so that he could smell like him. When Jacob came to Isaac, he recognized that the voice was that of Jacob so he asked him to come closer. But the hands were already prepared to feel like Esau’s and his body was also prepared to smell like him.  Isaac confessed that the information was conflicting, the voice was Jacob’s but the hands were Esau’s. If he had waited and given it sometime, the truth would have unfolded. Esau came in few minutes after he had been successfully deceived to bless Jacob.

Beloved, if it is important, give it some time and in the process gather more information. Many have lost precious things because they were in a hurry to make major decisions. May you be protected against deceivers, manipulators and scammers in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: I refuse to be pressurized into making wrong decisions in Jesus name.

Seeking God

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:10-13

Seeking precedes finding. Jeremiah revealed to us the mystery behind seeking and finding God. This I will simply explore this morning. How desperate are you to find God? You cannot find God and remain the same. It does not matter the history or the present situation, there is always a radical transformation in the life of a person who finds God, both physically and spiritually. May you seek and find God early in Jesus name. Three actions are important in seeking God. The first is trust, the second is pray, the third is wholeheartedly.

Trust: God wants to give you an expected end. You can trust God with your life. You can be confident that He can take good care of you. If you don’t trust God, you cannot seek Him successfully. God has a good plan for you. His plan may be different from yours but I can assure you that His plan is the best for you. God can be trusted more than your mother that gave birth to you (Isaiah 49:15-16)

Pray: If you trust God, you will turn to Him in prayer. Jeremiah said if you trust Him and pray, He will answer you. We have many promises from Him that He will hear us: Jeremiah 33:3, Mathew 7:7, Luke 18:7. When seeking God in prayer, never stop until you have been visited by Him. If you trust Him, you will stay long enough in prayer for Him to visit you.

Wholeheartedly: You must seek him with an undivided heart (mind). The enemy of wholeheartedness is alternative. If you have an alternative you cannot seek God with your whole heart. When you seek Him in prayer don’t let your mind waver. James 1:6-8. You want to get to the land where you will find God, you must seek Him with your whole heart and not a divided heart. Don’t put a leg in the water and another on the land. You must put both leg in the water if you want the water to divide.

May God visit you today in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Oh God give me a personal encounter that will change my life in Jesus name.

The engine 4

“So faith comes from hearing the Good News. And people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ.” Romans 10:13 (Easy to read)
“Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid. The army that fights for us is larger than the army that fights for Aram.”
Then Elisha prayed and said, “Lord, I ask you, open my servant’s eyes so that he can see.” The Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and the servant saw the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire. They were all around Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:16-17 (Easy to read)

“The sower soweth the word.” Mark 4:14 (KJV)

Faith or fear can be born in your heart depending on what you are hearing or what you are seeing. Faith in your heart means victory while fear in your heart means defeat. You need faith to live in this world. For you to keep your heart or to be careful about your thinking, you must take charge of what you are hearing or seeing.

When you listen to someone, something is being sown into your heart. When you watch or see something, something is being sown into your heart. When you read a book, listen to a program or watch a program, something is being sown into your heart. These are the things that grow in your heart and eventually determine your life. You cannot listen, watch or read for fun, something is being planted in your heart that will affect your life forever. Apart from this, sound mind is a product of sound heart. Sound heart is a product of the word or information being planted in it. If you are seeing or hearing correctly, you will have access to divine ideas that will profit your life.

Beloved, may you see correctly; may you hear correctly in Jesus name. May your heart be kept with all diligence. Be in control of your heart by controlling what you are hearing and seeing.

Prayer for today: Oh God, open my eyes to see correctly, open my hear to hear correctly, grant me access to information that will change my life in Jesus name.

The engine 3

“Don’t be fooled: “Bad friends will ruin good habits.”” 1 Corinthians 15:33 (easy to read)

“Be friends with those who are wise, and you will become wise. Choose fools to be your friends, and you will have trouble.” Proverbs 13:20 (Easy to read)

The information you feed your heart will determine the fruit of your life. One major source of information is the people around you. Primarily your parents and siblings. Secondarily and later in life your friends, mentors, pastors and even colleagues. You cannot choose your parents and siblings but you can choose your friends and the people you follow.

It is important for you to know that it is easy for you to keep your heart when you are in the right company. Whoever you listen to has direct access to your heart and consequently your life. It is easy for you to change your life by changing the company of the people you keep. In Mathew 4:19-20, “Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you a different kind of fishermen. You will bring in people, not fish.” Simon and Andrew immediately left their nets and followed him.” When they changed company, they ceased to be fisher of fishes but became fisher of men. Our text today says if you keep bad friends, you will consequently have bad habits. If you are friend with the wise you will be wise, and if you are friend with fools you will have trouble.

Beloved, in order to keep your heart and be careful about what you are thinking, you must choose right friends.

May you be in the company of people that will influence you to serve God and fulfil your destiny in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Oh God let the wrong people leave my life and let the right people come into my life in Jesus name.

The engine 2

“Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” Mathew 12:33-35

We established yesterday that the heart is the engine of all issues of life. There is one basic understanding we should have, the heart and the mind are used interchangeably in the bible. When you keep your heart then you are careful about what you are thinking in your mind. You can keep your heart and when you do, you are keeping your life. You keep your heart by taking charge of what gets into it. It is what gets into your heart that gets into your life and consequently becomes evident in your life. What fills your heart is what fills your life. What you say or do is directly from the contents of your heart.

When you fill your heart with instructions or information about a matter, you will eventually find an opportunity to do it. So if you want to change your life, you must change your heart. If you want to change your heart, you must change the information you are feeding it.

“If they were thinking about the country they had left, they could have gone back.” Hebrews 11:15 (easy to read version)

“Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.” Romans 12:2 (Easy to read).

If you are tired of your present position and earnestly desire a change, you must start from within, from your heart. Start filling your heart with the information about the change you desire then you will soon get an opportunity to secure the change.

May you be blessed with fresh information for a fresh life today in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Oh God purge me of every information that is poisoning my heart in Jesus name.

The engine 1

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

Have you ever used a car which has engine problems? It is better to be without a car than to have one with engine problems. You end up spending more money and it can refuse to start at anytime even in the middle of the road. But the engine can be replaced to bring peace to the owner. The heart is the engine of all issues of life and must be kept diligently. Out of the heart comes faith, wisdom, and even folly. The heart of all life matters is the matter of the heart. The strong point is this: if you can keep your heart diligently, you can handle all issues of life, be it spiritual, physical, health, finances, marriage, career, relationships. I mean ALL. When the heart is wounded, the life is wounded!

The Easy to read version simplifies this statement in Proverbs 4:23. It says, “Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life.” The implication is this if you are careful about what you are thinking then you are keeping your heart diligently. And if your thinking is right, your life will be right. The question is this how do you become careful of what you are thinking or how do you keep your heart? This question will be handle in subsequent messages.

Let me quickly make the second point in this introduction. A new engine must be serviced if you want it to last and give you peace. In the same way, your heart or your thinking pattern must be serviced for you to handle issues of life successfully.

May your heart be filled with the wisdom of God in Jesus name.

Prayer for today:  Oh God help me so that my heart is right with you in Jesus name.

Faith is a force

“For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.  And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.  And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?” Mark 5:28-30

When you act on your belief you generate a force that makes things happen. This is the force of faith. This force can kill infirmities, poverty, failure and such. It can make fire to lose its power to burn and it can prevent lions from eating flesh. This force can bring about unusual unexplainable promotion and can also shut down your adversaries.

In our text this morning, a woman who had an infirmity for twelve years activated the force of faith to terminate the infirmity forever. She believed that Jesus had power to heal her. She proceeded to act on her faith by touching Jesus. The touch drew virtues out of Jesus. Jesus knew it, the woman knew it.  Let me ask you, if you are sure that God is with you, what will you do right now about your situation?

This force can also be generated by bold declaration.

 Jesus said in Mark 11:23, “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”

The force has capability to terminate any mountain harassing you if you activate it by speaking words that are filled with faith.

May your mountain move into the sea; may your troubles be terminated as you activate the force of faith in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: I speak to the Jericho wall standing between me and my breakthrough to come down in Jesus name.

Faith is a risk

“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17

“(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)” 2 Corinthians 5:7

Faith is a risk that must be taken to enjoy supernatural life. Faith is a risk that is based on a substance.  The substance is either the word of God or His promises. If you take it, you live; but if you reject it, it leads to death (stagnancy, wasted years, open doors for the devil).  Faith is a risk that if taken gives you victory over fear. Faith is a risk that if taken proves that you believed God. Faith is a risk that if taken makes satan to fear you.

“But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.  And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.” Mathew 14:27-29

Peter stepped on water. Why? Because Jesus said so. Jesus said to him, “come.” So he climbed out of the ship and did the humanly impossible, walking on water to meet Jesus. Faith is a risk that must be taken if you want to walk on the water of sickness, debt, poverty, limitations and such. If God tells you to give the last money in your hand, what will you do? If God tells you to leave where you are and go to another place, what will you do? If God gives you an assignment that is more than your physical capability, what will you do? Beloved, if you really want to see increase, growth and promotion in any area of your life, faith is a risk that must be taken.

May you hear God and obey in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Oh God give me the grace to hear you and to obey for my supernatural lifting in Jesus name.

The necessity of praying through

“And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed. And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.” 2 Kings 13:18-19

Pray through on your visions, goals and your destiny. Some people pray, see little miracle and then stop praying. Sometimes praying is like digging a well. The first contact with water is dirty water and colored water but it is still water. If you dig further, you will get to the aquifer where the water is clean and pure.

Praying can also be like hitting a wall with an hammer. The first strike may not show but the wall is wounded within. You may have to strike for about hundred times before the wall collapses. The wall starts collapsing with the first strike but if you stop at the ninety-ninth strike you may not see the breakthrough. The King in our text missed the total breakthrough because he stopped after three times.

“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” Luke 18:1

“And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” Genesis 32:26-28

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24

Receive grace to pray through in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Holy Spirit help me to pray as I ought, intercede for me with groanings that cannot be uttered in Jesus name.

The necessity of taking godly risk

“But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.” 1 Samuel 17:34-36

Be prepared to take actions because you believed God. Be prepared to take risks be because you heard God and you are willing to obey Him at all cost. The future belongs to godly risk takers. Enlarge your capability to receive God’s miracle by taking risk based on your faith in God. Be prepared to leave your comfort zone because you believed God and you are willing to be carried by Him alone in order to experience supernatural increase and enlargement. If you are not willing to do what has not been done before you are not qualified to experience the miracles and breakthroughs that have not been experienced before.

“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,” Hebrews 11:17

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”” Esther 4:16

“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”” Daniel 3:16-18

You want to be blessed beyond your imagination, you want protocols to be broken and be promoted supernaturally, then be prepared to take godly risks. It is more risky not to take risk. This is because if you are not taking godly risks, you are sacrificing your future for the present.

Prayer for today: Speak to me Oh God and I will obey at all cost in Jesus name.

The necessity of focus

“And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver. And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.” 1 Kings 20: 39-40

Your goals need all your energy, don’t break your focus. When focus is broken, chances of success are reduced and in some cases may be totally lost. Beloved, don’t be busy here and there, focus on your assignment and God will bless you with success.

In innovation, concentration (focus) brings illumination. When you focus, you will be able to see all that is needed to see and consequently be able to do all that is needed to do. Jesus said, “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” Focusing all your energy on one major important assignment you have identified, will give you breakthrough. The servant in our text today was given an assignment to keep a man during a battle. He was told that if the man should escape, he would pay a fine or worst, with his life. But the bible says, as the man was busy here and there, his target escaped. He lost because of broken focus.

Beloved, deal with distractions and your success is guaranteed.

Prayer for today: Oh God help me to focus on my assignment (s) this year, deliver me from any form of distraction in Jesus name.

The necessity of continuous learning

“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:” Proverbs 1:5

Be current, be relevant in your field if you don’t want to be left behind. I don’t care about when your formal school education stops but you must continue to lean and unlearn to stay in the game of life. Ignorance is the strongest enemy of life. An ignorant person will be stagnant, prone to frustration, pay more and can be easily subdued. Inadequate knowledge in any field or business is one of the reasons for failure.

“The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.” Eccl 10:15.

“Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” Provers 23:23

No price is too much to pay in order to gain knowledge and kill ignorance. The cost of being ignorant is always higher than the cost of acquiring knowledge. Fortunately, we are in the information age, there is hardly anything you cannot learn on the internet. Documentaries abound to make you better in your field and also for you to contribute. Your choice of friends can also determine whether you will remain ignorant or you will gain knowledge. There is someone there who knows what you don’t know, if you follow him, you will gain knowledge.

Be aggressive in learning, your future depends on it.

Prayer for today: Oh God give me passion for knowledge in all areas of life in Jesus name.

The necessity of a definite goal(s)

“And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?” Genesis 37:15

Your goals determine the questions you will ask, the prayer you will pray, the information you will seek, the people you will move with and the places you will go. If you have no definite goal that you are passionate about and are willing to die for, I am afraid, failure is inevitable. But I decree you will not fail in Jesus name.

Have you ever entered a library? You will see plenty of books at different sections. If you don’t have anything in mind, you will become confuse. But if you know what you are looking for, you will just go to the section and search for the exact information you need. There are many tempting things in this world but most are not relevant to you. God has designed you specifically for certain purposes and assignments. You must discover yourself and set the right goals for your life to be meaningful and impactful. Sit down and write down what you really want to achieve this year. If God has spoken to you then make that your pursuit. If you have not heard Him, chose what you want to do with your life, He still recognizes your choices. Although I advise you to seek His face to know what He wants you to do with your life. If you hear Him, your breakthrough has started.

May you be a thousand times better this year than last year in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Oh God, lead me the way that I should go and teach me to profit with my life in Jesus name.

The necessity of early mercy

“O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90:14

It is important that you and I start the year with the satisfaction of God’s mercy. This will guarantee celebration throughout the year. May you experience the mercy of God early this year in Jesus name.

When God’s mercy is in place, judgment submits, protocols are broken, favor is compelled, lifting is inevitable and celebration is guaranteed.

The thief on the right hand of Jesus was condemned by the law of men but when God’s mercy showed up, he was justified by God. He secured a place in paradise by God’s mercy. I decree where you are supposed to be judged you shall be justified this year in Jesus name.

Esther was not supposed to see the king but when the mercy of God showed up the king extended his scepter to her and the protocol was broken. I decree that protocols shall be broken for your sake this year in Jesus name.

Laban was going to do harm to Jacob, the mercy of God showed up. God said to him you cannot hurt him, so he was compelled to favor him. Men and women shall be compelled to favor you this year by God’s mercy in Jesus name.

When mercy appeared, Mephibosheth was lifted and became part of the people that ate with the king. By the mercy of God, you shall be lifted this year in Jesus name.

The mercy of God is at His prerogative but the bible gave us some advice on how we can attract it. Be merciful to others, walk in obedience, choose to walk with people who love God and seek God very early.

Prayer for today: Oh God satisfy me early with your mercy this year, that I may rejoice and be glad throughout the year in Jesus name.

The necessity of wisdom

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.” Proverbs 4:7-8

There are two instruments that make things happen on earth, they are instruments of power and of wisdom. I shared with us about power yesterday. Wisdom is action based on knowledge. This morning I will define two kinds of wisdom based on the kinds of knowledge. The first one is wisdom based on information which gives natural breakthrough. The second is wisdom based on revelation which gives supernatural breakthrough or what we called miracles. Both are needed for destiny fulfilment. As a Christian, you must be getting results both naturally and supernaturally.

It was asked of Jesus in Mark 6:2, “……From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?” The answer is found in His statement found in John 5:19, “He does what He sees the Father do” He had revelation. And He also said in John 10:35 that if you also have revelation you will be “gods.” May you have revelation regularly in Jesus name.

If you have information and act on it, it will also give you breakthrough. It is wisdom. The information may come through your research, books, video, audio, your mentor or pastor, a friend or someone who has the answer. Genesis 37:15-17 says, “And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou? And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks. And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.”

May you have access to the right information both physically and spiritually. May all your struggles be terminated in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Oh God baptize me with wisdom in Jesus name.

The necessity of power

“And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.” Genesis 27:40

“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49

If you are tired of the yoke of the enemy, you must acquire power and if you must take what belongs to you power is definitely needed. Jesus told His disciples that they needed power. Unfortunately, our enemies only understand the language of power they don’t understand begging.

I am glad to announce to you that the greatest power in the universe is the power of the Holy Ghost and you have unhindered access to it. If you are willing to acquire this power, there are few things you need to know.

1.       You need separation. Jesus said you need to tarry in God’s presence. You cannot be running around with people if you are desperate for this power, you must separate yourself and spend time with God.

2.       You must love righteousness and hate iniquity if you are serious about this power. Hebrews 1:9 says, “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

3.       You need faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Hear the word of the Lord, fresh power is needed for the year 2019.

Prayer for today: Oh God endue me with power from on high in Jesus name.

Enforcing prophetic words

“This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;” 1 Timothy 1:18

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12

I am sure your Pastor has told you what you should expect for this year. And if you are connected to other ministries too, you would have received prophetic words from those ministries you believe in. But don’t just go and sleep expecting the fulfilment to just fall on your lap, enforce it. Prophetic words are basis for faith and must be enforced. Paul advised Timothy to war a good warfare with the prophetic words that went before him. Let me share with you few ways to enforce the prophetic words.

1.              Declare it boldly. If you believe it, you will declare it. If you declare it, you will experience it.  

            Romans 10:10 says, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the

            mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

2.              Pray it through. That was what Elijah did in 1 Kings 18 after declaring to Ahab prophetically that, “Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.” The bible says, he went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, and prayed. He did not stop until there was a little sign that rain was coming. Beloved, I advise you to use the first few days to pray through on the prophetic words you have received.

3.              Honor God with your first fruit. Take your first fruit for the year, tag it with the prophetic word and sow it unto the Lord. Proverbs 3:9-10 says, “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:  So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”

I decree that every good prophetic word that you have received shall come to pass in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Oh God I believe the words that you have sent to me and I enforce them in my life in Jesus name (mention them specifically).

Come up hither

“After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.” Revelation 4:1
Hear the word of the Lord, come up here so that you can see and experience new and greater things in your life through the working of my power.

Beloved, you need a change of spiritual level to find new experience of God in your life. It is your responsibility to step up and take a new spiritual plane. You must change your level of spiritual inputs to experience a new level of outputs, physically and spiritually. Physical results are products of spiritual breakthroughs (Mathew 6:33; Jeremiah 29:13)

Now the first thing you need is an accurate assessment of your spiritual levels. Do you fellowship with God regularly? How often do you fast, pray and study God’s word? What is your input to God’s work? Do you evangelize, give and engage in helping others? Is your obedience partial or total? Do you hear God regularly? What is your faith level? What is your level of anointing? After doing this, you must take an action to step up. Increase your investment of time and energy in the aforementioned areas. If you do, you will position yourself to have greater testimonies of the manifestation of God in every area of your life.

May your spiritual level increase as you enter the year 2019 in Jesus name.

Four Implications of His birth 4

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

“And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:38

The fourth implications of His birth is that your life depends on what you are hearing, believing and acting upon. Let me put it this way, your life is a reflection of the information you have received, believed and acted upon.

The word became flesh. Mary said “let it be unto me according to the word you have spoken to me” You cannot live beyond the level of information you have accessed. In the realm of the spirit, the level of your faith and power depends on the access you have to divine information, the word of the Lord. What must you do? Study the word of God and also know how to search for the right information in any area of your life be it finance, health, marriage, relationship, career and such. Whenever you find any useful information and you apply it you have a breakthrough. The biggest breakthrough is when you hear God and you believe Him.

May you hear God today. May He give you a word and a vision for the coming year. May the will of God be done in your life in Jesus name.

Prayer for today: Oh God, let the heavens be opened, let me see the vision of God, let the word of the Lord come expressly unto me and let the hand of the Lord be upon my life in Jesus name.