UNVEILING THE MYSTERY OF FAITH

God is a God of possibility! With Him, there is nothing impossible, and as God’s children, we are also ordained for possibility -Luke1:37, Mark14:36, Luke18:37, Jer32:17. Through the miracle of regeneration by the Holy Spirit we have been made one God- John1:12, 3:6, 4:24, John10:30.

The key to a world of possibility is “faith.”

Examples from Scripture

1.The Healing of the demon possessed man in Mk9:18,19; , Heb11:11

2.The miraculous conception of Sarah in Genesis 18:19. Sarah through faith and hospitality receive strength to conceive.

3.The healing of the woman with the issue of blood in Mk5:25-34

4.The healing of the two blind men in Matt9:26-30

WHAT IS FAITH?

Faith is not a principle or a strategy; it is a spiritual force

“My message and preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the spirit’s power so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power”. 1Cor2:4-5.

Faith is being fully persuaded of the truth, the circumstances not withstanding, until the truth triumph. Through faith Abraham obtained the promised of God -Rom4:17-21

HOW DOES FAITH COME?

Faith comes by hearing from God. There is difference between information and revelation. Information is what our senses tell us while revelation is directly related to God. It is revelation that produces faith and not information. Contrary to prevailing situation, Abraham heard God and through hearing God he receives faith.-Rom4:17-21. Paul overcame all challenges through faith. Acts27:22-38

The ever winning faith comes by hearing from God.

WHAT FAITH DOES

1.Faith pleases God.- Heb11:6

2.Faith guarantees answers to prayer –Mark11:24, Jam1:5-8

3.Faith overcomes – 1John5:4, Eph6:16

4.Faith guarantees performance – Lk1:45

5.Faith command signs and wonders – Mk16:17,18

ENGAGING THE MYSTERY OF TITHING

Covenant is a solemn agreement binding on all parties involved. This is an agreement between God and His people whereby God has promised blessings when the people key into it.

FEATURES OF THE COVENANT

1.      It is a place to make us …………………

2.      To exempt us from calamities, hardship and torment that those who are not in the promise suffer.

3.      To prove that God is fully committed to whatever He has promised. No child of God can have access without submitting to the law of tithing. Job22:21-27. Without the tithe, nothing shall come forth. Prov.3:9-10

WHAT IS TITHE?

It is simply ten percent of our increase or income. Deut.14:22, Matt.23:23. It is God’s covenant portion that opens all the avenues of supernatural blessings to us. Mal.3:10.

It is a spiritual transaction for provoking spiritual blessings. When we pay our tithe, the Lord receives it, not the Pastor or the Church. Heb.7:7. Tithing is the master key to financial blessings. For example, Abraham gave tithe of his increase to Melchizedek (meaning my king of righteousness) which also refers to the personality of Christ. This event changed the identity of Abraham henceforth.

God is interested in giving our tithe from our hearts, not just out of obligation or for record purposes. Gen.28:22. Abraham passed on the tithing culture unto his generation. We cannot enjoy the Abrahamic blessings without following his steps. Isa.51:1-3.

HOW DO WE TREAT OUR TITHE?

1.      We must make sure it is set aside and present it reverently; in an attitude of worship.

2.      It must be paid to the storehouse where we receive spiritual nourishment. Deut.12:4-6.

3.      It must be given joyfully, not grudgingly.

4.      It must be given in faith. Heb.11:4-6

THINGS TO RECOGNISE

1.      Tithe is not a financial donation to help God or the Church. Isa.66:1-3.

2.      Our Covenant fathers were tithers. Gen.14, 28

3.      The tithe is not your own in the first place. Mal.3:8

BENEFITS OF TITHING

1.      Tithing averts all curses. Mal.3:11

2.      It stops wicked activities of devourer.

3.      It guarantees a debt –free life. Mal.3:10, Ps.112:1-3, Ps.37:33

4.      It provokes access to divine ideas. Gen30:40-45

5.      It guarantees long life. Gen. 25:7

NOTE: Though, tithing is the arrowhead to supernatural blessings, you should not stop other givings.

YOU MUST WORK

We must understand that God wants us to work. After God created man, He gave him work to do in the Garden of Eden. Gen.2:15. Man’s responsibility was to dress and keep the garden. Work is a gift of God which has three major impacts in life:

1.       Work is a gift of God to you personally because it enables you to discover and use your dormant abilities.

2.       Work is a gift of God to your family because it serves as a means of income to your family. If you will not work, you will not be paid and your family will not benefit.

3.       Work is a means of benefit to others around you. The work you do meets someone’s need directly or indirectly.

Work is a commandment! It is what God has commanded man to do. 2Thess.3:10. When you are idle or not working, you are only being disobedient.

Examples from the Bible

• God worked, and on the seventh day, He rested. Gen.2:3
• Jesus said “..my father worked hitherto…and myself, I worked..” John 5:17
• The Holy Spirit in you is also working.
• The Patriarchs worked; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Even, our father in the Lord, Bishop David Oyedepo works as a good example to us. You must work when you have the energy and strength. The night time is for men to sleep and relax; eating from the labour of their daytime. When you are young and you fail to work, you will definitely work when you are old. Lam.3:27. God is against idleness! Matt.20:1-8. (He hired workers at all hours). Even as a student, you can work and make money. Also, house wives can work and make extra income at home.

Work begins in your mind. When your mind is empty, your hand will be empty. (Neh.4:6). Engage your mind in productive thinking, and also engage your hands. There should be no vacuum in your life.

WHY MUST YOU WORK?

1. It is a commandment from God. 2Thess.3:10.
2. There is dignity in labour. Bishop Oyedepo said “It is your work that determines your worth.”
3. It guarantees good health. Eccl.10:18
4. It commands wealth or prosperity. Prov.10:4. God has nothing to bless if you don’t work. Ps.1:3. The prosperity of your work gives birth to your prosperity.
5. The sleep of a labouring man is sweet. Eccl.5:12. If you must sleep well, work hard in the day.

HOW TO SECURE A JOB

1. Destroy your pride. Pride is overestimation of yourself. Humble yourself to work. Prov.14:23, Eccl.9:10.
2. Don’t wait for job, create job. It is not a must that you work for somebody, you can establish yours. Remember, if you wait, you will waste! Matt.25:14
3. Be willing to start small. Rome was not built in a day. Start small and work on it. Zech4:10, Job8:7.
4. Vow not to be a burden. Don’t be a dependant or a parasite. Stop making yourself a welfare candidate. Learn to take responsibility for your life.
5. Leave your house, latest by 8a.m for work.

WAGING WAR AGAINST UNFRUITFULNESS

 The first blessing that God pronounced on Man after creation is “..be fruitful and multiply…” Gen1:28.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE FRUITFUL?

It means to be productive, to bring forth fruit or to bear fruit. The following are areas of our lives that we need fruitfulness (Deut.28:4, 11):

1.   The fruit of the body. Your body is meant to be fruitful and productive; the fruit of the womb. Ps.127:3, Ps.128:3, 6.

2.   In the work of our hands. Deut.28:4, 11, Ps.1:3, Luk.5:1-6.

3.   In our finances. Deut.28:4,11, Job1:3.

4.   In our Spiritual lives. Your fruitfulness spiritually will affect all other areas of your life. If you are spiritually fruitful, you will bear fruits of righteousness. 2Cor.9:10, Phillp1:11, Gal.5:22-23, Jn15:16. As a child of God, you need to bear fruit unto Salvation. Spiritually, we are made to be fruitful.

WHY WE MUST BE FRUITFUL

1.   It is the will of God for you to be fruitful. Gen.1:28. It is a command of God for man to be fruitful.

2.   God reacts against unfruitfulness. Luk.13:6-7, Mk11:13-21, Isa.5:1-7, Jn15:1-2. Unfruitfulness displeases God and attracts His wrath.

3.   God destroys unfruitfulness. Matt.20:1-8, Gen.21:1-8, 1Sam.1:1-21, Luk.1:1-80.

4.   God has made provision for your fruitfulness. There is no excuse not to be fruitful but you need to do the following:

a)   Discover what God has said about your fruitfulness in His Word. Don’t allow anything to shift your focus from His promise. Rom.24:18-22. Hold unto your discoveries (in His Word), and not discouraged. Luk.1:45, Deut.7:14, 1Sam.2:5, Ps.113:9.

b)   Take it to God in prayers. Gen.25:20-21. Here, the word “Intreated” is the same as “Entreated” which means to ask earnestly for something. You are to pray earnestly. 1Sam.1:10-20.

c)   Be joyful and praiseful at all times. Your joy affects you both physically and spiritually. 1Sam.1:18. If God must change your story, you need a cheerful countenance. Ps.137:1-4, Habb.3:17-18, Isa.54:1

d)   Release your faith. Heb.11:1.

BREAKING GENERATIONAL CURSES

WHAT IS A CURSE?

A curse is a force in the unseen realm having power to bring evil to pass. The word “force” connotes power or spirit. It is an evil pronouncement against a person, place or thing. A curse is the opposite of blessing. That is, it is either you are blessed or cursed. Note that if curses are not addressed, they have long-lasting effects and so become generational; passing from one generation to another in the future (Generational curses).

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CURSES

1.   Curses are real. They are not mere illusion or imagination.2Sam.1:21

2.   Behind every curse, there is a cause or reason. Curses usually manifest as a result of what someone has done. Prov.26:2. Note that it is not every curse pronounced on someone that comes to pass if not warranted.

3.   Most curses are self procured or generational. Ex.20:5, Deut.28:45-46.

4.   Anything can be cursed. E.g Man, land, business, cars e.t.c

5.   Curses can be broken or lifted. It doesn’t matter for how long but it can be lifted. Reuben was cursed in Gen.49:3, and the curse was lifted in Deut.33:1,6.

EFFECTS OF CURSES

1.   It brings continual defeat or failure.

2.   It brings unseen resistance.

3.   Struggling to make ends meet.

4.   Delay. That is, good things don’t come easily or on time.

5.   Financial hardship.

6.   Accident prone.

7.   Barrenness or unfruitfulness.

8.   Unsettled marriage.

9.   Repeated unnatural or untimely death.

10.                Particular sickness or disease in a family.

TYPES/AVENUES OF CURSES

1.   The curse of God. This is the greatest of all the curses because when God curses, no one can lift. Gen.3:14. The following are things that attracts curses:

(a)Rejection of God.

(b)Putting confidence in man.

(c) Robbing God in Tithes and Offerings.

(d)Through wilful disobedience.

(e)Having alternative.

(f)  Through idolatry.

2.   The curse of Parents (Biological and Spiritual). These two have the power either to bless or curse. 1Cor.4:15-16, Eph.6:1-3.

3.   Self procured curses (The curse of seedtime and harvest). This curse is about what you have sown. Gen8:22, Gal.6:7. Whatever you sow is what you reap!

4.   The curse of Satan. This is the curse that the people fear most but it is actually the least of all the curses. Num.23

HOW TO BREAK GENERATIONAL CURSES

1.   Acknowledge your wrongs and those of your fathers, and ask God to forgive you. Ps.119:67, 1Jn.1:8-9, Rom.3:25.

2.   Renounce all contacts with demonic religious and destroy all demonic objects in your possession. Rom.6:1, Gal.5:1. All satanic sacrifices must cease and stop all demonic consultations.

3.   Break the curses by aggressive prayer. In prayer, you cry for mercy and engage the blood. Rev.12:11, Zech.9:11, Heb.12:24. In prayers, stand on the authority of the Word of God.

4.   Call forth the blessings. Declare generational blessings. 2Tim.1:5, Josh.24:15, Gen.22:17, 24:60.

5.   Release your faith. Gal.3:13-14.

                  

ENGAGING SPIRITUAL GIFTS FOR SUPERNATURAL TURNAROUND

WHY DO WE NEED SPIRITUAL GIFTS?

These are proofs of God’s manifestation in your life as a believer. Spiritual gifts are exclusively preserved for those who belong to God in truth and spirit. When you are in Christ and not experiencing the gift of God, it goes dormant. Men can exhibit talents but spiritual gifts are for those who are special before God; they are for those who have a craving for these gifts.

WHAT IS THE REQUIREMENT FOR SPIRITUAL GIFT?

This is the unreserved love for God and man; the love for God and things of God, and this is what makes you give your best (Jn.3:16). Giving has its root on love and love can be proven by sacrifice. Give until there is nothing else to give. That simply means giving yourself. Every genuine gift has its root in love, and love is not completed without sacrifice (Philp.1:21, Rom.8: 35-36). Giving yourself will qualify you for all of God.

Apostle Paul was richly blessed with spiritual gifts. He operated with the following secrets:

1.He lived for Christ. Philp.1:21

2.Nothing separated him from the love of Christ. Rom.8:35.

3.He placed value on the grace of God. 1Cor.15:16

4.He was richly blessed such that he imparted it on other people’s lives. Rom.1:11

It is the fullness of the love of God that brings out the fullness of God in your life. Spiritual gifts have nothing to do with education, gender or title. All you need to do is to submit yourself to God. You can have your share of spiritual gifts as long as you are saved.Eph.3:17-19, Jn.1:12-13, Isa.11:1.

The seven spirits of God are expected to manifest in Christians. 1Cor 12:7.

1.The Spirit of wisdom is the spirit of sound mind. It empowers us for enthronement. Joseph, Moses, Daniel and Solomon operated the spirit of wisdom in their time but Christ has given us a leverage to even do better than them. Deut.34:9, 2Pet.3:15, 2Tim.1:6-7, Dan.5:11.

BENEFIT FROM THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM.

1)                It helps us in solving problematic situations. 1Kgs.26

2)                It helps our defense before hostile people (Mat.10:19-20).

3)                It helps us in giving answers to unbeliever’s argument. Mat.22:21

2.The Spirit of counsel. Prov.14:12, Prov.11:14

This spirit of counsel brings safety. Prov.20:18. A man of counsel is a man of victory. Isa.48:17-21. The Spirit of counsel empowers us for divine guidance, and through this we enjoy:

a. Profiting

b.True peace

c. Enjoy progress

d.Suffer no lack

ENGAGING SPIRITUAL GIFTS FOR SUPERNATURAL TURNAROUND

WHY DO WE NEED SPIRITUAL GIFTS?

These are proofs of God's manifestation in your life as a believer. Spiritual gifts are exclusively preserved for those who belong to God in truth and spirit. When you are in Christ and not experiencing the gift of God, it goes dormant. Men can exhibit talents but spiritual gifts are for those who are special before God; they are for those who have a craving for these gifts.

WHAT IS THE REQUIREMENT FOR SPIRITUAL GIFT?

This is the unreserved love for God and man; the love for God and things of God, and this is what makes you give your best (Jn.3:16). Giving has its root on love and love can be proven by sacrifice. Give until there is nothing else to give. That simply means giving yourself. Every genuine gift has its root in love, and love is not completed without sacrifice (Philp.1:21, Rom.8: 35-36). Giving yourself will qualify you for all of God.

Apostle Paul was richly blessed with spiritual gifts. He operated with the following secrets:

1.      He lived for Christ. Philp.1:21

2.      Nothing separated him from the love of Christ. Rom.8:35.

3.      He placed value on the grace of God. 1Cor.15:16

4.      He was richly blessed such that he imparted it on other people’s lives. Rom.1:11

It is the fullness of the love of God that brings out the fullness of God in your life. Spiritual gifts have nothing to do with education, gender or title. All you need to do is to submit yourself to God. You can have your share of spiritual gifts as long as you are saved.Eph.3:17-19, Jn.1:12-13, Isa.11:1.

The seven spirits of God are expected to manifest in Christians. 1Cor 12:7.

1.      The Spirit of wisdom is the spirit of sound mind. It empowers us for enthronement. Joseph, Moses, Daniel and Solomon operated the spirit of wisdom in their time but Christ has given us a leverage to even do better than them. Deut.34:9, 2Pet.3:15, 2Tim.1:6-7, Dan.5:11.

BENEFIT FROM THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM.

1)      It helps us in solving problematic situations. 1Kgs.26

2)      It helps our defense before hostile people (Mat.10:19-20).

3)      It helps us in giving answers to unbeliever’s argument. Mat.22:21

2.      The Spirit of counsel. Prov.14:12, Prov.11:14

This spirit of counsel brings safety. Prov.20:18. A man of counsel is a man of victory. Isa.48:17-21. The Spirit of counsel empowers us for divine guidance, and through this we enjoy:

a.      Profiting

b.      True peace

c.       Enjoy progress

d.      Suffer no lack