SHIELD OF FAITH

SHIELD OF FAITH

 Text:

Eph. 6:16 “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;”

During this week, take a shield of faith as your best tool to pull down the strongholds of the devil. Parenting is in itself warfare against principalities, powers, rulers and the spirits of wickedness which wants to take our children from us. Do not waste time trying to find out why some things are happening. Don’t even bother to pray a “WHY LORD” prayer which others do.

You cannot stop the devil to do his work. 1 Peter 5:8-9
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”
There are so many ways he tries, but we know that we are more than conquerors. Your work is to be sober, awake. This means that you must be a parent who is aware of what is happening in schools, internet and Medea as well as in your family.

It is a week to practice your authority in Christ. Having the SHIELD of faith is being sober. Being sober minded is being in a prayerful mood. It is being filled with the WORD OF GOD, which happens to be the shield. You are equipped in a way that the evil one will be defeated no matter how he tries. Just pay attention to this scripture, “If anyone attacks you, it will not be my doing. Whoever attacks you will be defeated by you,” Isaiah 54:15; (GW).

There is very clear warfare language in this scripture passage. There are also very clear results shown in this same scripture passage; “Whosoever attacks you will be defeated by you.”

Prayer:
Dear Father, I thank you from the authority you gave me over the powers of the enemy. I am on the winning team being led by the Spirit of Jesus Christ who lives in me. My children are covered and protected. I fear no evil because Christ conquered. I see no defeat because I am more than a conqueror. I have the victory. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Advertisement

 

How To Pray Effectively

By Pastor Chris – Part 1

Prayer is primarily our communication with the Lord. Communication has purpose and the purpose usually determines the mode and relevant details for the communication to be effective. Praying is such an important part of our lives as Christians. First of all, we must recognize prayer as a privilege as well as an honour. Every moment of prayer is an investment in eternity and true prayer is a romance of righteousness.

Our fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ

Through prayer we participate in the communion of the God-kind; it’s a throne room caucus rendezvous. When we pray, we make tremendous power available, dynamic in its working, causing changes in our favour.

The Prayer of Faith

In our prayer life, the principle of faith holds sway in a significant context. The prayer of faith is one among the different kinds of prayer, and it has its peculiar rules and requirements. This prayer involves making a request to God and speaking to circumstances in order to make them conform to our desires, without doubts in our hearts. In Mark 11:22, Jesus counselled His disciples to “…HAVE FAITH IN GOD.” But it’s interesting to know that the literal translation of His statement actually reads. “HAVE THE FAITH OF GOD”.

 

TALKING TO YOURSELF? Are you ……….?

Talking to myself like something is not good. We all know that talking to oneself is considered to some extend as mental illness. Some close Christian friends were chatting on-line and the question was asked, “Is talking to yourself actually a sign of mental illness?” He had just read a portion of scripture which encouraged him to talk to his situation and build himself up by doing so. That was a very easy question to the friend. The answer to that was yes. He added another statement innocently as he was trying to help his friend understand the subject, “Talking to yourself can be a symptom of schizophrenia.” This was like a blow between the eyes. He felt like all he had read in the bible was like something which has no meaning.
Then I thought of the habit that I have of talking to myself as I build up my faith as well as reaching forth to my blessings, healing, goals and so forth. These words come quickly into my conscious world. I say some of these words daily and sometimes many times a day.
“I LIVE WITH PURPOSE.
I LIVE WITH OBJECTIVITY.
I AM A SUCCESS AND NOT A FAILURE.
I AM THE HEAD AND NOT THE TAIL.
I AM ABOVE ALWAYS AND NEVER BENEATH.
I AM ANOINTED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, WHO LIVES IN ME.
and on and on.”
According to my understanding, talking to yourself isn’t always a sign of mental illness because it is one of the most common habit amongst the humans. It is normal and even healthy. Your future is actually produced and perfected in your mouth. Ask those who made it in life as well as the stars in any sport how they made it. Most of them will tell you that they talked to themselves many times that it was possible and they were able to make it. Not so convinced, read this scripture, Proverbs 18:20-22; “A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.”
Ever wondered why most of the people who came out of Egypt died in the wilderness. It was because of their testimony after the report of the spies who had no faith. They spoke negative in line with the report given to them by the spies (Numbers 13 to 14). The only two people (Caleb and Joshua) who confessed the word of God, are the ones who made it and possessed what was theirs in the promised land. DEATH and LIFE are in the POWER of your tongue. These two guys (Caleb and Joshua) spoke IN THE SPIRIT OF FAITH according to the word of God. Have a look at this portion of scripture, “We having the SAME SPIRIT OF FAITH according as it is written, I BELIEVED, and therefore have I SPOKEN; we also BELIEVE, and therefore SPEAK (2 Cor 4:13).”
If you always in the in the same spirit of faith which was in Caleb and Joshua, miracles are certain. No matter how many people stand against you and your confession, as long as you are confessing God’s word, you will not be ashamed.
KEEP ON SPEAKING GOD’S WORD INTO YOUR LIFE FOR RESULTS. Someone said, “See what you speak. The Word will create whatever you have spoken. Keep on keeping on.

 

THIS KNOWLEDGE IS IMPORTANT

If one wants to destroy your future in a smart way, he should just erase your identity from your memory. That is enough to deprive you of all your rights and benefits which includes your inheritance. That is what the devil did and is still doing to Christians. The devil causes Christians to doubt their identity in Christ. It is like a terrible sin to confess or speak out in public that they are like Christ. Yet it is very clear in the scriptures that they are like him in this world. Not in the world to come only, but starting with the life they live today. Some children do look like their parents and some don’t. Christians should know that they look exactly like God their father and as well as Jesus Christ their brother. They should be so proud of the fact that they are not only called the children of God, but that they also resemble their father. It is because of God’s love for them, his children to be that way. They are the loved children “begotten” of love and not through parental mistaken action. Check on this scripture:
1 John 4:17 (amp) in this [union and communion with him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgement [with assurance and boldness to face him], because as he is, so are we in this world.

Christians must have this awareness or consciousness in them, that they are his children. 
No need to take this as top secret, something to be known by a certain class of people only.
Christians must be proud of their identity. They should not deny their spiritual nature because of any kind of pressure. It’s not an ordinary thing, be called a child of God. It’s the best thing ever one can have in life which no one can take away from them. Those who have this grace bestowed on them are highly privileged because some died physically without obtaining it. It is the unmerited favour of God upon their lives. There is no college which can qualify people to become children of God. Neither is there any royalty rights, race, class or creed to help or place someone into the family of God (John 1:13).  
Check on this scripture
1 John 3:1 (MSG) What marvellous love the father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called God’s children! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to.

AS HE IS – SO I AM IN THIS WORLD.
I am not waiting to be like him in eternity.
He has made me his child from the day I received Christ.
He calls me his son from that very day.
His love made me his real son in this world.
And I am so motivated to have that understanding.
Hallelujah!!!

 

YEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!! I BELIEVE

The Word declares in Romans 4:19-20 that
Abraham did not consider the circumstances and
“staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief
but was strong in faith, giving glory to God”.

I do not waver in unbelief but strongly hold on to God’s promise,
glorifying Him. My faith is producing results.
I radically hold on to God’s Word and I do not waver.
He is dependable and faithful to keep His Word.
Hallelujah!

 

AN UNUSUAL TOURIST

The tent users are known to be people who are or shall be going back to their homes or their places whereever they came from. We all don’t doubt when it comes to those who believe in Christ Jesus. We live in this world, but we are not of this world.   The human body is actually man’s tent; 2 Corinthians 5:1 (MSG) says, “For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we’ll never have to relocate our “tents” again.” That is why our bodies are considered to be tents. A tent is a temporal shelter. It is mainly used by some holiday-makers, sightseers, explorers, voyagers, tourists, trekkers, wanderers or nomads just to mention a few. THAT IS THE REASON WHY I SEE TRUE CHRISTIANS AS UNUSUAL TOURISTS.

 

I am loving this subject because the word of God is sweet. Just listen to this statement from Psalm 119:103 New International Version, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Man is a spirit, but he has a soul and lives in a body. A true Christian is a person who is born again spiritually, Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’ ‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again.” The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. (John 3:3-8 New International Version)

 

There is something which is beyond human capability which takes place. According to the conversation of Jesus and Nicodemus, it is senseless, stupid, foolish, ridiculous, idiotic, mindless and unreasonable to think that one can be born again. How can that happen in this world he wondered? Here is his question, ‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. It is true, no one can be born again naturally, but spiritually. He was not understanding the spiritual connotation or meaning of the words of Jesus. The words were spiritual, so they demanded spiritual ears, which can only be created in the life of a recreated person.

 

When one is born again, his spirit is recreated; that’s why the Bible says, “If any man be in Christ, he’s a new creature. (2 Corinthians5:17)” A new type of being, animation, creature, person or a living being that never existed before is created that very moment by the Holy Spirit. A new life without past history of sins is started there and there. Just check on this scripture; Hebrews 10:16-17 (GW) “This is the promise that I will make to them after those days,” says the Lord: “I will put my teachings in their hearts and write them in their minds.” Then he adds, “I will no longer hold their sins and their disobedience against them.” All things become new just like a new born baby.

The way of life must totally change from that moment. Christ will become a resident in our body through the Holy Spirit straight way. We all know that He himself, (Jesus Christ) is in heaven at the moment, but he made sure that there will not be a time when we should be alone at all. That is why he said in the book of John 14:16, 18; (AMP) “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever— I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless]; I will come [back] to you.”

From the new birth moment, we no longer living the life of this world but the life of Christ who lives in us. His life has brought life in abundance into my life. It’s no longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me. That is why the scripture says, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live I live by believing in God’s Son, who loved me and took the punishment for my sins. Galatians 2:20 (GW).”

Because he lives in us:
We become victorious creatures.
We become creatures of ever winning attitude.
We become triumphant creatures.

We become champion creatures.
We become successful creatures.
We become conquering creatures.

Philippians 4:13 says, “I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who [a]infuses inner strength into me; I am [b]self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency] (AMP).”

  The life of Christ who lives in me can make anyone this kind. Hallelujar!!!

 

SPEAK IT – HAVE IT

SPEAK IT – HAVE IT 
By Elasto Marume

WORDS ARE POWERFUL AND CAN FORMULATE whatever you see in your vision. Words can pull you out of muddy and slimy-pit to a luxurious & pleasant place. God gave you words to set yourself on the right place of your choice.

THE BEST THING YOU CAN HAVE AND POSSESS IN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE IS WHAT YOU SPEAK TO YOURSELF AND PURSUE. Whatever is not spoken into your life is not yours.

Words are like power tools. The Magnificent, beautiful, outstanding buildings of this world were built by power tools in the hands of people of great wisdom. If they are in the wrong hands, they can be disastrous and dangerous. With WORDS of wisdom and understanding, build your magnificent, beautiful and outstanding world. Isn’t this great, to know how much potential we have to beautify our world?

In the beginning (Gen 1) God spoke to create the world. He spoke to bring out light in order to bring a change from that very dark atmosphere. His words  divided day from night so that we can measure our human life span, know the difference between days, months, years and seasons. Isn’t this wonderful?

Jesus Christ said, “Life is spiritual. Your physical existence doesn’t CONTRIBUTE to your life. The words that I have spoken to you are spiritual. THEY ARE LIFE.” (John 6:63)

If Media can influence and change life-styles, cultures, traditions, mindset and environment through MERE WORDS. HOW MUCH MORE CAN THE GODLY AND ANOINTED ONES achieve in this world. Through words, the economy grows  and falls. Isn’t this important to know?

It takes words to totally destroy your child’s future. Low self esteem and low self image are a result of spoken words. Words can build-up a confident and powerful child to influence great people in this age and even the coming generations in the future.

DO NOT MIS-USE your words. Do not speak negative words to your family, work, business or anything in your world. Death & life are in the power of your tongue (Pro 18:20-21)

“He spoke and it came to be; He commanded, and it was established (Psalms 33:9).” Whatever God spoke happened. “In this world we are like Jesus.” (1 John 4:17 NIV). “Because, as he is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17 AKJV). “Because our life in this world is the same as Christ’s.” (1 John 4:17 GNT). “Because, as he is, even so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17 ASV). WE ARE LIKE JESUS IN THIS WORLD; We have him in US right now. Our words are powerful.

Therefore, SPEAK IT – HAVE IT

 

CAST OFF FEAR

The biggest problem faced today is what the future holds for us. The world has proved to be a place which is like a boat in an unstable ocean. The world has become the troubled sea from where all bad things irrupts from. The winds are not easy to predict and stable as before in all the seas. Tornadoes and tsunamis have found their safe ground to build up and destroy the work which man suffered for so long to establish. The expects have proved to be in big trouble also when it comes to giving us the correct and straight forward wisdom to deal with problems. Science is also legging behind instead of being in advance when it comes to the discoveries and providing of the solutions. Churches which were once the best place have become another place where one has to think twice before entering. False prophets have promised and mislead many as well. Economy has become a cashing point for the rich as they trap the poor with artificial products and marketing gimmicks to better themselves by stripping the disadvantaged off the little they trying to live on. It is more of the survival of the fittest rather than a safe neighbourhood community.

This is the world I was born in which was once friendly, peaceful and loving which is also a place where my children are growing up. My children and grand children think that this is the normal life and best to live in. I look at this as I think and ponder in my heart day and night about what is going on daily. The only thing that comes into my mind is that, this world has become a very dangerous and difficult place to live in without Christ.

I am also reminded of this great scripture in the word of God.
Jeremiah 31:17
Your future is filled with hope, declares Yahweh.
I conclude and say, “search no other place other than the place I will tell you”.
There is only one place you can find your answer today.
It is in the word of God.

 

ENRICH AND DEEPEN PRAYER LIFE

By George O. Wood

No matter what our age, years of Christian service or maturity in ministry, we will always need to keep growing in the exercise and discipline of prayer. As you fulfill God’s call on your life, I want to encourage you to be a person committed to powerful prayer.

The apostle Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 comes to mind when I think of excellence in prayer. This gives several insights into the preface, posture and petitions of powerful prayer.

PREFACE

Paul starts by saying, “For this reason I kneel” (Eph. 3:14, emphasis mine). What reason? What is the reason that drives him to prayer? It is a phrase he also uses in 3:1, “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus … ” In some way, Paul connects the reason—the preface—to  the entire prayer that follows. Paul joins that “reason” to the word mystery that occurs four times in Ephesians 3 (vv. 3, 4, 6, 9). The “mystery” is that the church—composed of Gentiles and Jews—would make known the many-sided, multifaceted wisdom of God to rulers and authorities in heavenly realms. In plain speech, Paul is saying, “Before I launch into my prayer, let me tell you what stands behind it. The church has God’s name on it. We are the assembly of God. The church is His pride and joy.”

POSTURE

In Jewish prayer, standing is the normal posture (Matt. 6:5; Luke 18:11, 13). Kneeling, however, is the more intense form of prayer. Paul says, “For this reason I kneel” (Eph. 3:14, emphasis mine). This is a tip-off to the fervency of effective prayer.

One of the early church fathers put it this way: “By kneeling we demonstrate the full form of prayer. We ought not merely to incline our minds to prayer but also our bodies. We do well to lower our bodies lest we create an impression of elevation or an appearance of pride.”

What would happen in our lives, homes and churches if we fell on our knees and prayed more earnestly—going beyond the rote and routine of prayer to the fervency of prayer?

PETITIONS

The posture and preface to Paul’s prayer leads us into the intensity of three petitions he brings that we can summarize in three words: grip, grasp and grow.

1. Grip. Over the years, my daily prayer list has grown to more than 250 people. I laid Paul’s prayer over my list and realized how spot-on his prayer is because so many people on my list, including myself, need our grip strengthened with power through the Spirit.

2. Grasp. Paul not only prays for us to get a strong grip. He prays that we will also get a great grasp. Years before Paul wrote this Ephesian letter from a prison in Rome, he had planted and pastored the church in Ephesus for two and a half years. During that time, he sent letters west to the Corinthian church that was beset with all types of problems and pride. He told them in 1 Corinthians 13 what was missing in their community life. They were not rooted and grounded in love.

This is always a sobering word to the Pentecostal and charismatic church because in our desire for the restoration and presence of the charismata, we may be tempted to build on the gifts rather than the Giver, on the sensational above the ethical or moral—on success and numbers rather than love. When we are rooted and grounded in love, then we can grasp the breadth, duration and extremity of His love.

3. Grow. Paul knew that being filled with the Spirit was not just a one-time “I’ve got it” experience. When you read the last two and a half chapters of Ephesians, you can see that these Spirit-baptized believers were still being pushed to grow.

No matter what our age, years of Christian service or maturity in ministry, we will always need to keep growing, because even if we are filled now, we are not yet filled with all the fullness of God. But that is not all. He ends with, “[He] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Eph. 3:20). Great praying leads to great power—“He is able,” Paul says. And great power leads to great praise: “To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (v. 21).

The grip. The grasp. The grow. They all lead to immeasurably more. God is infinite and capable of giving more, and we are expansible and capable of receiving more.

Do you want to display the glory of the Father? Become a person who prays powerful prayers.

 

Children Learn What They Live

Poem: By HELEN NIEVES

As I was cleaning out my desk draw, I came across a poem written by an anonymous writer. I like this poem because it speaks about how children should be raised in order to develop a character that is acceptable to our society.

Children Learn What They Live
If children live with criticism,
They learn to condemn.

If children live with hostility,
They learn to fight. 

If children live with ridicule,
They learn to be shy.

If children live with shame,
They learn to feel guilt.

If children live with tolerance,
They learn to be patient.

If children live with encouragement,
They learn confidence.

If children live with praise,
They learn to appreciate.

If children live with fairness,
They learn justice. 

If children live with security,
They learn faith. 

If children live with approval,
They learn to like themselves.

If children live with acceptance and friendship
They learn to find love in the world.