“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward to those things which are before,” (Philippians 3:13)
When the great Apostle Paul said the above, he was still under training.
The great Revivalist Elijah who shut up the heavens for three and half years, underwent further training at the brook Cherith and at Zarephat before the mount Carmel experience.
Whatever the Lord is taking you through now is training for something ahead. Elijah pulled upon the Brook and Zarepath trainings to stand victorious at Carmel. You will need the experience, for all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose! (Romans 8:28)
It may be through the valley of the shadow of death, or high up on the mountain of success, He is not only with you, His grace is also with you and will sufficiently see you through!
So even as you are doing the work of the Lord, you are still undergoing training! Don’t be weary of studying.
Rather, “Study to show thyself approved to God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15).
He is a wife-beating drunk.
She is a God-fearing wife.
Between them is a daughter, the product of a love gone sour when his identity was stolen by the forces of darkness.
Read all about the fight, the intrigue, the wickedness of man and the sweet victory, as the Lord thundered in defence of His daughter.
STOLEN IDENTITY, a must read for every Christian.
Available at:
CreateSpace eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5691364
Over the years Christianity has deviated, almost unnoticeably, but assuredly from what the Lord ordained. And this is so because a major command is being neglected, overlooked and almost forgotten.
In this book, DIVINE APOSTLESHIP, I try in my little way to call our attention to this command of Jesus, with intent of challenging us to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints”- Jude:3, and return to “the old paths”. Jeremiah 6:16
The book is available at: CreateSpace eStore: https://www.createspace.com/5662747
This world is a mirage! Everything in it is a lie; fame, riches, power, education, even people!
The only tangible thing is the WORD of God and those who live by the WORD in obedience. Why kill ourselves for that which is not real! Many lack joy, peace and good health beacause they believe in a lie.
“Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The Lord hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.”
(Jeremiah 28:15)
This world and all it offers, is a lie!
Indeed, nothing of worth is in this world!
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2).
God has His will for us.
Inside that will or plan, are His promises; like a house with one main entrance yet with many doors into its rooms. It is like a seed carrying in it a forest of trees.
At creation God gave man a free will.
“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou MAYEST freely eat:” (Genesis 2:16).
God gave man a free-will, but also told him the consequence of not choosing His (God’s) will.
“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest of it thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:17).
In other-words if man obeys God, he lives and if he disobeys death will come knocking. This was clearly repeated in Deuteronomy 30.
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
“CHOOSE LIFE!” God said to man.
Jesus, like everyone of us had a free-will. But He chose the will of the Father.
“Jesus saith to them, My food is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” (John 4:34).
Again He said:
“I can of my own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I SEEK NOT MY OWN WILL, but the will of the Father who hath sent me.” (John 5:30).
In Gethsamane, he proved that the will of the Father is to be enthroned, and asked us to do the same.
He submitted His will to the will of the Father and taught us to seek the same.
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10).
This establishes TWO WILLS – God’s and man’s.
However, there is yet another will (a third), very subtle and cunning; the will of the enemy of God and man.
“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do: he was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44).
Jesus was saying in effect, “I know you are Abraham’s children. Yes you are born into the Church, but not really God’s Children, because you will do the will, desire and plan of your father – the devil.”
This third will is not only subtle but aggressive! It dominates the will man and turns him against the will of God! This is where we have the struggle, the battle!
“I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God, after the inward man: but I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” (Romans 7:21-23).
I love the word of God and desire to obey It, but I see another command capturing my will or resolve and making me do what I do not want to!
Doing the will of God takes a fight; the fight of Faith! He that refuses to fight will be at ease and compromise with the world, conforming with it!
You fight to dethrone the will of the enemy and enthrone the will of God. It takes a fight and you cannot afford to be at ease for “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion” – Amos 6:1.
You have to dethrone the will of the old-man and enthrone the will of God. You have to fight to do the will of God, for this is required of you.
“For ye have need of patience, that, after YE have DONE THE WILL OF GOD, ye may receive the promise.” (Hebrews 10:36).
The promise of God for us individually, can not come till we have done His will.
WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD?
“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; THAT IN ALL THINGS HE MAY HAVE THE PRE-EMINENCE.” (Colossians 1:18).
That is the will of God! That Christ may have the preeminence, even over your own will!
The devil does not want this! Would you let him? That is why you have to fight! The devil’s ultimate plan is to enthrone you where Christ should be.
“For men will be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;” (2 Timothy 3:2-4).
All these point to self!
Satan sold this spirit of self to Adam and Eve. He tried to sell it to Jesus in the wilderness and He rejected it. Again he tried at Gethsamane and failed.
Today he sells this spirit to Christians and we are buying it! Should he succeed with you, he turns you into an enemy of God.
HOW DOES HE SELL THIS EVIL?
Jesus talked about those that have the key of knowledge.
“Woe to you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye have not entered in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.” (Luke 11:52).
They were in the Truth (having the key of knowledge), but have deviated.
“Who have forsaken the right way, and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;” (2 Peter 2:15).
And now they “speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption:” (2 Peter 2:12).
Their teachings are hollow, without spiritual substance; filled with the traditions of men, the basic principles of this world, what they know naturally.
“Beware lest any man make a prey of you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8).
Peter calls them wells without water (2 Pet. 2:17) who when then they speak, “speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that had quite escaped from them who live in error.” (2 Peter 2:18).
They are satan’s mouth-piece, just as the serpent was at Eden. Their words appeal to, woo, stir-up lustful desires of sinful human nature – the desires of the flesh thereby putting YOU where Christ should sit! It feels so good to be “god”, to have your own way, to be under no one’s control, when unknowingly the will is under an influence! Absolute liberty is bondage!
These fleshly desires give birth to SELF centredness and should be mortfied, put to death!
“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; lewdness, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:” (Colossians 3:5).
Do not be full of yourself! Think less of yourself, more of God and His will. As the Psalmist said “delight in” (love) what God loves (Psalm 37:4), enthrone the will of God over yours and He will grant you the desires of your heart (which at this time would be things that please Him).
This is how the law of the Spirit (Rom.8:2) works. It sets you free from material life when, and only when you set your affections on things above.
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2).
No matter the limitations the enemy places against you or around you God can bring you out and take you beyond. Peter, in Acts chapter 12, was surrounded by four soldiers in four shifts totaling sixteen. Two watched at the cells door and the other two were chained to him. Herod was not taking any chances especially after hearing of his miraculous or should we say his mysterious escape from custody in Acts 5:17 – 23. The security was tight. But he could not be imprisoned! Neither can you be imprisoned!
No rescue team, no last minute legal appeals, no behind the scene bribery. Nothing! It was an impossible situation! All around you there may be obstacles, human and demonic, threatening to stop or limit you, with no hope or help in sight. Love ones may have abandoned you, those you helped in the past rather than help, turn out to be the source of the afflictions and they rejoice over your helpless and impossible situation.
But with God all things are possible! Peter knew this and was at peace! No anxiety, no fear, no worry! He slept between two soldiers (Verse 6). An anxious person cannot sleep. Peter wasn’t! Don’t allow the enemy take your joy or your sleep. Be at peace with God. Peter trusted God with his life. Whether it be death or life, he trusted! Trust God.
Your faith is your pillow in the days of storm and trial. God’s wise and good thought for you cannot manifest until you trust Him. Your trust in Him brings you Peace, for He will always speake peace to those that trust in Him.
People prayed for Peter. Jesus is presently praying for you. People you do not know are also praying for you. The 7000 prophets couldn’t have been eating and drinking. They may also have prayed for Elijah’s success at Camel. At the darkest hour of your life, God will shine His light! He has never forsaken His own, and you will not be an exception. Faithful is He. There is no door or gate that God cannot open! There is no lock that He cannot pick! There is no combination He cannot break!
Be it your job, your marriage, ministry, spiritual life, social life, finance, everything about you. God can deliver you! You can’t be caged!
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