The Spirit of Faith (2)

Matthew 17:20(NKJV) ... for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

I am healed!
For about two years, I had been struggling with this painless inflammation just below my right lung. I found it difficult to sit upright on my chair in the office. I discovered that I only had this discomfort whenever I am in the office as a result of the A/C. Well I did all I could for the temperature to be adjusted; yet there was no improvement.

Within me I purposed not to go see any doctor, because I would be given a report that would stir up fear. I chose to believe God for divine healing, on Sunday while ministering, the Pastor gave a word that God was healing people with tumors, I wasn’t sure of what I had but I did not just like the sensation I had below my right lung. I chose to believe that God would heal me of this ‘nameless discomfort’.

I started thanking God for complete healing – remember the ten lepers? I believed I was healed. Monday morning in the office was the litmus test; I got to the office and here’s my report.

Day 1- Inflammation had thinned out
Day 2 – Inflammation was negligible
Day 3 – Inflammation was completely gone

I am completely healed. I am ever so grateful to God for healing me completely, not halfway and for giving me the grace to trust him to the end.

The Spirit of Faith

2 Corinthians 4:13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak

In the book of Genesis, we see God calling things that were not into existence. Light be! Fishes, Plants, all we see today in nature was created by the spoken word. God created Adam and breathed life into Him. Job said the breath of the Almighty has given my life (Job 33:4 - The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life). That same breath from the spoken word gave life to all that exists today.

Have you ever wondered that no matter the quantity of fish and vegetables consumed globally, there’s still abundance and yet to be discovered variety. This is as a result of the spoken word (life) “Be fruitful and multiply.” Do we have a choice in the matter?

Now, how does this apply to us, (Prov 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.) What are we saying with that same spirit of faith? 2 Corinthians 4:13- It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak.

What do we want to see in our lives? The doctor's report says this case is impossible, what does God say about it? With me nothing shall be impossible… whose report will you believe? Whose words will you appropriate in your life? The world says this “Economic Meltdown” will last a while, as if this is the first global famine, remember Joseph in the land of Egypt - the children of Israel did not lack and even had the best portions of the land. What does God say? (Psalm 37:19 - In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty - NIV) Question is am I one of God’s people? Of course then I shall be satisfied with PLENTY, there is no lack in God’s kingdom, I am abundantly satisfied with the fullness of His house. (Psalm 36:8)

We must daily begin to call forth those things that be not as though they were and see God transform our world with His power, as long as we are in alignment with His will.

To be continued.

Practical
During services, “nursing parents” sit at the back in church for convenience and to minimize distractions. Well my daughter really likes her freedom, she doesn’t believe she should sit still on her seat and listen to the message, she prefers to walk around the aisle. For a while, this was making me embarrassed having to always get up from my seat and go pick her up before she goes too far. My husband and I had tried all sorts of tricks, all to no avail.

Last week Sunday, I was pondering on how to deal with the situation, it just occurred to me that I could ask God to help me. So I did just that. I said it in my heart, Esther you will not roam in church today, well the praise and worship session began and she slept half way through, had some snacks and then the message! Ha she remembered she had to take a stroll down the aisle, I said no, you are going no where today, I tried to block her exit point, after a while my sister-in-law (by the way my husband went for prison fellowship ministration – gist for another day) asked me? “Anty are you sure that will work?” I reject doubt in Jesus Name. Amen. No way I will put my faith to work.
I did put my faith to work ignoring doubts from wherever it was coming, and to the glory of God, after a while, Esther decided to behave herself!

Complain – Compare – Covet – Idolatry

Be thankful to God for everything
Be thankful to God in everything
For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:24

When we begin to complain about the things we don’t have, it ultimately leads to idolatry. Complaining instead of being thankful to God for everything and in everything, makes us begin to compare ourselves with others, whom we think are doing better than we are or seemingly have no problems.
This eventually leads to covetousness and then idolatry … Covetousness is as the sin of idolatry. Col 3:5
To prevent us from degenerating to this level, we should be thankful always to God for the life He has given to us and live it to the fullest, whether we have or have not!

Pride

Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God and He will lift you up…. (1 Pet 5:6)

Pride manifests itself in many ways.


When we find it difficult to submit to God’s dealings in our lives, and end up complaining and wondering why we should be going through challenges, pride is at the root of it, sometimes we have this I don’t deserve this mentality making it hard for us to accept those dealings quietly, trusting God that says in His word Isa 43:8
There is a saying that “when you can't seem to find Him, just trust Him.” His ways are not our ways and He knows us better than we know ourselves.

I believe that storms, difficulties come for a reason and if in His wisdom He allows them, then our attitude should be to simply trust Him quietly and see the end He has in mind, remember Job, it is not always going to be easy, but God has not called us to do anything His Son Jesus manifest in the flesh has not done, and He knows that His grace made available to us is able to carry us through to the end if only we can be patient.

Your Love! Psalm 139

You've examined my heart

And Lord, you know me

There's no pretending

You see right through me

You know where I am

You see all I do

Lord, you're never sleeping

You know all my words

Before I speak

You see where I stand

And what I seek

You know if I'm laughing

Or if I'm crying

Lord, you're never sleeping

There's no place I can hide from Your love

I can only survive through Your love

Show me somewehre to go

A place You don't know

To cover my soul

On the wings of the dawn I might fly

To the ends of the earth beyond the sky

I can go anywhere

But You'll always be there

Wherever I go

You know where I sit

And where I stand

Each moment I live

I'm in Your hands

I can't get away

From Your sweet Spirit

Lord, you're never sleeping

Long before I was born

Your eyes could see me

You knew all my days

Before they ever reached me

So come what may

I know You'll be there

Lord, you're never sleeping

There's no place I can hide ...

A call to intercession

Job 42:10 (NKJV)
And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

in·ter·cede [in-ter-seed] –verb (used without object), -ced·ed, -ced·ing.

1. to act or interpose in behalf of someone in difficulty or trouble, as by pleading or petition: to intercede with the governor for a condemned man.

2. to attempt to reconcile differences between two people or groups; mediate.

3. Roman History. (of a tribune or other magistrate) to interpose a veto.

Our Heavenly Father desires to express Himself through us here on earth. He does find expression through us when we lend a helping hand to others, visit those in prison, help widows and orphans and in many other ways.

Often, we are occupied with our desires when we seek His face, yet God seeks to express Himself through us in the place of prayer. We have friends going through challenging times needing encouragement, some desire God’s intervention in their situation, others a complete turn around as one in captivity.

If only we could learn to be still in His presence and let Him bring up those people in our hearts and pray through us for them, just like Job did, who knows, our losses could be restored? It is quite a rewarding experience to share in the ministry of Jesus, who ever lives to make intercession for us! Hebrews 7:25 (NKJV)

...He daily loads us with benefits... Ps 68:19

Going on a shopping spree!

Yes indeed He does, He's our Father.

I can remember times in my childhood, when my father took us out for shopping!

Yet I've never come to see God in that light as a Heavenly Father who "daily loads us with benefits".

Imagine God taking us out on a shopping spree! How wonderful, He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places Eph 1:3 .

Our Heavenly Father indeed cares about our welfare, ...He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly John 10:10.

So expect His load of benefits DAILY!

Sludge of Unbelief

I'm trusting Him for something great, praying always, yet I feel the matter is not settled in my Spirit. He began to show me areas of my life that need to be dealt with.

Firstly, my intimacy with Him was questionable, then unbelief had crept in over time, building a stronghold deep within. Unbelief due to some past unmet expectations.

Interestingly I discovered I was praying without really believing, just like the brethren that prayed for Peter's release from jail without expecting results (Acts 12:5-16).

This year has been declared a year of laughter, no more sorrow at all! Psalm 126. I was in church that night and God confirmed what He had told me a couple of weeks before the watchnight service, yet I still battled with unbelief. I had to ask Him to restore my faith and confidence in Him. I felt like a sludge in the engine of my heart had been removed, Praise God!