Friday, July 13, 2012

MANIFEST!

Manifestation is one word the Church needs to come to terms with if we must fulfil our eternal destiny. It must become our watchword. It must become the inspiration behind all our kingdom work. Looking through the Scriptures, especially under the New Covenant, we see that God gives the Church a perfect picture of what is on His mind. After the Lord Jesus Christ had finished all the work the Father had committed unto Him, on that cross He said these 3 staggering words “IT IS FINISHED” and really that was the end of the eternal work. Now the Divine commission for the Church is simple: Manifest what Jesus Christ had already accomplished for the world – show it forth! This is the very reason the Holy Spirit is at work on the earth today. This is the very reason the Holy Spirit is poured out upon the Believer. The Holy Spirit is the Manifester of the finished work of Christ and He manifests this through the Church! The summary of the great commission is: Go and manifest Jesus everywhere! This is the reason why the Gospel must be preached everywhere. The Gospel is not for hidden corners, it’s for the rooftop. This is the reason why the Gospel is not to be whispered in secret but declared with every authority and audacity. Because of the power the Gospel releases when declared out loud, the devil would do anything possible to silence those who herald it. But we’re not going to give up or give in. We have set our hands on the plough and there is no looking back! This is it! The Word of God tells us in Colossians 1:27 “...Christ in you, the hope of glory.” The word ‘glory’ here means manifestation. In other words, Christ in us is the hope of manifesting, revealing, showing forth, displaying etc. What are we manifesting? The grace of God within us! The work of Christ in us! The Father always desires to show forth Himself through His children. And He so desires to do that through you and me today. We must let Him do so in and through our lives. How do we let Him manifest in our lives? We see that in Isaiah 60:1-3. It says “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” It’s time to arise. It’s time to get up and shake off the dust. We are the light of the world. We are the salt of the earth. We are the yeast of the world. I sense in my spirit the Lord is saying to us: “This is the time to let my grace be displayed to the world through you.” Praise God forevermore! I Peter 2:9 says “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” The Spirit of the Lord tells us through Apostle Paul that “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:19). Saint, the world needs to hear this Gospel today. The Word of God on your lips would change destinies and determine the eternal destinations of many. Just like Paul the Apostle, we must never be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ “...for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16). So, Manifest Jesus everywhere everyday!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

READY FOR CHANGE?

Everyone desires change in one area or the other of his/her life but only very few are experiencing changes in their lives. What could be the problem? Why is that so? This is revolutionary! Job asked a major question in Job 14:14 “If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.” Many people so desire change but when it comes down to the matter, they are not really ready for change. When you study through the Scriptures, you will realise that whenever change is needed there is always a part for the seeker to play. Romans 12:2 shows us the method by which we can achieve the greatest change we could ever experience after our salvation. It says “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed [changed] by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Bible in Basic English puts it this way “And let not your behaviour be like that of this world, but be changed and made new in mind, so that by experience you may have knowledge of the good and pleasing and complete purpose of God.” (BBE). It is then so clear that change is a decision and not just an incidence. Change is a decision that starts up a process that eventually manifests the desired result. It is so important that we understand this if at all we would make reasonable progress in this life. Change is responsibility. If you want anything to change, the only way you can tell how serious you are about it is by taking up the required responsibility attached to such a change and we can only see that in the Scriptures. Many a times change seems almost impossible because we haven’t understood our role in bringing about the desired change. God has a part and we have our own part and God wouldn’t play our part neither can we play God’s part. It’s a kind of specialization. However, if only we could understand, by revelation, that God has already played His part in whatever change we desire, it would change us. If only we could see, by the Spirit, that we are the ones causing the delays having not played our own parts, it would inspire us to action for change. As a result of what He has done, God could rightly say to us “whatever is not right or you don’t like in your life change it!” God has given the New Creation the ability to change anything whatsoever! We’ve got the Word. We’ve got the Holy Ghost. We’ve got the Anointing and every empowerment we need to have it. Change is ours for the taking! We must believe and receive this if we must function in it. It is a conscious decision we must make to see this happen in our lives or situations. It’s really up to us. There is never a significant change without a price. When I talk of the price for change, I’m talking about getting involved in the process of change – facing it! Many would rather give excuses and reasons why they or their situations wouldn’t change than facing the challenge for change headlong. Humans naturally fear change because of this one thing. Change will always be a process. Of cause some changes could happen instantaneously but maintaining them would be a process. For instance, you might receive an instant healing from the Lord, but you would need to be ready to keep your healing by staying in faith no matter the symptoms that might try to make you feel as though the sickness is returning. It’s real work! Humans are naturally afraid of treading new grounds because of the uncertainties. This is the reason why everyone is talking about change but only a little is actually changing. We must be ready to face and go through the process of change if at all we must have it. The question then is: how serious are you about a change. The very word from which change is gotten (metamophoo) speaks of a process – the process of a butterfly (from laver to pupa to maggot to the full grown butterfly). Romans 12:2 shows us that. The mind of every man is the platform for change. Remember that sometimes for change to happen, the mind might have to unlearn some things it had previously learned in under to accept change. It is impossible for a man to experience change when the change hasn’t happened on the mind first. Hence Romans 12:2. There is a great connection between change and the Word of God. This is the reason why those who aren’t born again would find change very difficult or even impossible. This is because the power for change is in the hearing and doing of the Word of God. Remember Romans 12:2 “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.” This portion of Scripture is so powerful and revolutionary. God has a will concerning every area of our lives. The will of God is the Word of God and so to find out what His will is about a matter you must look into the Word. Once you locate what His will is about a matter, you are then empowered by that Word to produce the desired change! This is so important because the Lord is showing this to you so that you can change anything, no matter how seemingly impossible it is. Friends, understand that change doesn’t come by crying. Change doesn’t come by trying. Change comes by the Word. There is so much power in the Word of God to change any situation. Change can happen to anyone. It’s just a matter of how crazy you are for change. One amazing thing about change is that after we have experienced a change in any aspect of our lives under God, God takes us to a higher level in that area such that we become the change. We begin to help people who need those same changes in their lives. It is my earnest prayer that you will truly experience change in whatever area of your life you need it most and then be the change the world is searching for. Get ready! Change is coming! It will come big!