We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. (Romans 12:6) It is time now to build up the members of the Body of Christ to maturity, as measured by the stature of the fullness of Christ. According to the Scripture, the Body is built up by that which every part supplies. This being the case, we who are leaders must do all in our power to assist each believer in learning what his gifts and ministries are and how and when to use them. Every member of the Body of Christ has been given one or more gifts or ministries by which he or she is to build up himself or herself as well as the other members, as the Holy Spirit directs. No member is excluded. All have a service to perform to the Body, just as every part of the human body has a service to perform. As far as I can see in the Scripture, a gift or ministry is not given to a local church but to the universal Body of Christ. But how many Christians know what their gifts are? How many are truly obeying the Holy Spirit in the use of their gifts? I expect, very few. And this is why we do not come to maturity. The members of the Body of Christ can come to the stature of the fullness of Christ only as each part is operating.
The whole divine design is the transformation into the fullness of Christ. Christ remains the basis of the faith. We must seek his way far above materialism and what this world can ever offer. That which is earthy is earthy, and that which is spiritual is spiritual. (John 3)Materialism is earthy and has no gain beyond this limited world. TIME TO COME UP HIGHER? The Lord is calling the church to a higher spiritual position as part of His overall divine plan. The church is supposed to move from one spiritual level to another (from glory to glory) until we attain the fullness of Christ (Eph 4:13). The degree of our ascendancy into Christ determines the measure of our own spiritual progress and that which can be given through us to our hearers. Our height in Christ determines the kind of revelation we access and to a great degree our own internal transformation. The whole goal of divine ascendancy is transformation into the image of Christ. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2Co 3:18
Can you remember the last time you cross- checked the blue print of God for your life? When was the last time you stopped to consider what you are building? Have you ever asked yourself, “Whose parameter am I using to build?” Who am I taking as a standard for my life, ministry, marriage and business? Who have I called to direct my building process? Who really committed this work into my hands? Who am I accountable to? Beloved let your heart be open today. God is not so moved by how much crowd you have been able to gather. There is a speed mentality that has hit the church today and that is making her to gather both goats and sheep together. Many are looking for popularity and large congregation without any kingdom value that can impact the world. The truth remains that every man will stand before the throne of God to give account of his work here on earth. Apostle Paul was sent to the gentiles while Peter was sent to the Jews. The Bible says that He gave to every man grace according to his capacity and assignment. Have you realized that your assignment here on earth is not by your decision but by discovery? If truly it is by discovery, how come you are copying someone else in building what He has given you to build?
Every Man his Measure Every child of God has a portion of inheritance mapped out for him or her — a particular (definable) portion of inheritance over which he or she is to exercise dominion. The apostle Paul, speaking to the Ephesians says: And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them, which are sanctified. (Acts 20:32) In a sense, every believer has his own measure of calling in God. The onus is on the individual to discover his call slot, enter it and walk in the fullness of his measure. Paul discovered that not only was he called, but also he was expected to attain a particular measure defined by God (Phil 3:12). With the knowledge of this fact, his life-long desire thereafter was to attain the fullness of his own measure (Phil 3:14), paying no attention to all his past achievements but focusing his mind on reaching his ultimate goal.
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (Romans 8:10) We cannot possess our inheritance at the present time because we are dwelling in a sin-filled, corruptible, weak physical body. When we are clothed with our body of righteousness and life we will be able to possess the earth and its peoples as God has ordained. Why is God forming Christ in our inner man? So we may be clothed with a body suited to our calling as sons of God. God cannot invest us with a body like that of the Lord Jesus Christ when our inner man is disobedient, sinful, fearful, unbelieving, impatient, self-centered, prone to worshiping idols.
For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance-now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15) "To set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." At first thought we might interpolate the word "guilt" so the text reads: "To set them free from the guilt of the sins committed under the first covenant." This is the manner in which it would be read by many teachers today.
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. (Hebrews 11:4) Some have taught that Cain's sacrifice was not acceptable because it was not a blood sacrifice. The Scriptures teach that Cain's sacrifice was not accepted because it was not offered in faith. Cain had jealousy and murder in his heart. God will accept a firstfruits of the grain harvest, but not if the heart is not right. How many believers perform their religious duties but their hearts are far from God? The Pharisees strove to be technically correct in doctrine and duty but they had little faith in God. Their hearts were not lifted up to God in faith.
Timeless song I can't forget. Beautiful rendition by TY Bello and Olufunmi. Enjoy. The song was dedicated to Mama Janet Ekundayo. If want to know more about her, please read further.
“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 show theethings which must be hereafter.” Rev 4:1 “And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, come up, hither. And they ascendedup to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.” Rev 11:12
INTRODUCTION There is no doubt that creation is in great agony as the world is being shaken to its very foundation. Systems are being shaken to its very rock bottom. The world witnessed a major financial crisis three years ago. Currently, the political agitation towards responsible governance is sweeping over the Arab world with the brutal killing of Muammar Ghaddafi few days ago. The information revolution is taking a new form as the Aljazeeras, Wikkileaks and social networks like Tweeter and Facebook are at the forefront of this global transition. Government no longer has absolute control over information dissemination even in its most despotic form, as Citizen Journalism has come to the fore. Therefore anyone with digital camera or camera phones and internet access can now submit videos and pictures of news events captured to news organizations, including leading global news networks.
“Anybody can build, but building a lasting super structure that will impact my world with a relevant and seasoned resource continuously, is my challenge.” “For we are both God's workers, and you are God's field. You are God's building ...Because of God's grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.” 1Corinthians 3:9-10 There were several instances in the scriptures where individuals, groups of people and nations set out to build notable structures. Noah, for example, was commanded by God to build an ark; Moses was instructed to build a tabernacle while Solomon was asked to build a temple. There were also some people who desired to build structures contrary to the will of God. A good example is found in Genesis 11, where the people of Babylonia desired to build a tower to the heights of heaven. We shall observe how these people built and the materials they build with and then compare with the pattern of our Lord Jesus.
All that the people witnessed at that feast was the same old ritual, repeated year after year with deep religious fervour. Because the priests did not know that the Person the whole event pointed to had manifested and was right there in their midst, the rest of the people followed blindly. They missed the time of their visitation ultimately. Likewise, we came with excitement into the Pentecostal camp where we heard God was moving. We were glad to know the fresh truth as revealed at the time. We were full of excitement for having been set free at last from religious rituals. However, for some time, we waited to hear what was next in God's end-time agenda for the earth, but we heard nothing. We waited to hear of another level but no one spoke to us. Just like the children of Israel, we settled and continued with business as usual. We believed that all we saw (and experienced also?) was the end of the journey — the miracles and the prosperity — before the rapture! We were all wrong. For the Spirit has begun to show that the journey is not yet ended.
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, (Galatians 4:19) The ministries of the Body of Christ travail until Christ is formed in the members of the Body. It is not Christ-likeness that is formed in us, as though our adamic soul could be changed into the image of God. Rather, it is the substitution of the Divine Nature and Substance of Christ for our adamic nature. We are being converted, not only in image but in actual substance and spirit. To have a personality like that of Christ is God's gift to us, a gift given on the basis of our making the choices God requires of us. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness (Romans 6:19). Adam cannot imitate Christ. Adam must die and the very Substance and Life of Christ must take his place. Only then can the individual please God, becoming the brother of the Lord.
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. (Revelation 22:1) The Kingdom of God has been a net that has brought in of every kind. It is time now for that which is wicked and evil, dark and unclean, to be removed from the Kingdom of God. The way of the Lord must be made straight. The holy must clearly be holy and the filthy must clearly be filthy. The present mixture is an abomination to God. It will be divided into the righteous and the wicked. Then will the righteous shine in the Kingdom. Then will the Lord return for an unblemished Bride. The days of judgment, of separation, are here now. The darkness is settling on us. It is time for God's true Jerusalem to arise and put on her beautiful garments of righteousness and praise. The power of redemption is present to cleanse the saints from their sin and self-rule.
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
In order to receive moral deliverance you have to be serious with the Lord. No one can lay hands on you and deliver you until you really and truly want to get rid of the sin. There is ample authority and power in the Lord Jesus Christ to deliver you; He is waiting for you to make up your mind that you are through with the sin.
An ounce of resisting the devil is worth ten thousand gallons of rebuking the devil. You resist the devil and let Jesus do the rebuking.
I am speaking of a real experience, as real and actual as having our sins forgiven; being born again; receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
It always is today. Today is the day of salvation. Yesterday's manna is not acceptable food for man or God. "The just shall live by faith" means we are to be seeking God with diligence today. Hope is an important component of faith. We are saved by hope. Hope requires much patience on our part. Today we hear the self-centered believers claiming we do not have to wait for God. "If we have faith," they say, "we can get what we want now." This is the opposite of faith. This is human presumption combined with the working of metaphysical principles. It is the False Prophet of Revelation, Chapter 13. Faith deals constantly with the invisible.
The Gospel of the Kingdom is a glorious hope for the future, not the means of becoming happy and wealthy in the world, as some are teaching. The true saint lays hold on the invisible. He sets aside his life, his hopes, his ambitions, so he may seek without distraction the invisible Kingdom of God. He lives for the Day when Christ will appear and establish righteousness in the earth. This is what it means to live by faith.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:7,8)
One of the basic principles of the Kingdom of God is that we reap what we sow. Each of us was conceived in sin and brought forth in iniquity (Psalms 51:5). We began life as a self-centered, lawless individual.
The great question of life is, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Romans 7:24).
It is the Lord's will that we be fashioned in the moral image of the Lord Jesus Christ. To this end we have been predestined.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be changed into the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers (Romans 8:29).
