September 2017 Theme – The Changes That Birth Progress

Progress is one thing that everyone desires. We all want to move forward. We want to advance. We want to forge ahead in life. No one in their right mind wants the opposite.
The bible tells us in Psalm 75: 6-7 ‘For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another’.
The question however is, why will God put one down and set up another? Could the personal state of the two people in question warranted that judgement of God? Very likely. It is possible for one to show certain attitude, disposition and/or deeds that can dispel progress. While it is possible for another to show aattitude, disposition and/or deeds that can propel progress.
The story of the man in John 5:1-15 is a good example. His attitude, disposition and deeds have seemingly kept him in sickness for 38 years, and not because there is no one to help him. His focus had always been on not having a helper, rather on how he could have made changes to help himself.
For years, he had been lying down under any of the five porches around the pool, so that when an angel stirred the pool, someone very close to the pool would have entered before him. Since he could at least walk, I suppose he should be sensible to stay very close to the pool after few years of disappointment, but for 38 years, he didn’t! To the extent that when Jesus who could heal him without the stirring of the pool was asking him if he wanted to be healed, his state of mind shows that he was not still ready. If Jesus had not have special compassion on him, he would have died in that condition.
As we enter September, God has impressed it upon my mind, that some may not have experienced the progressive change they are expecting, not because ‘the pool hasn’t been stirred or the angel been sent’, but because their attitude, disposition and/or deeds are such that they are in a spiritual state that cannot propel the change to happen.
It is needful for me therefore, to charge us all to examine ourselves, and so make necessary inward changes that can birth the sort of progress we desire from God. May the required willingness and grace come upon us in Jesus name.

August 2017 Theme- Unhindered Advancement

Advancement can be defined as ‘a forward step; an improvement; a progress; a promotion or an act of moving forward’. Unhindered on the other hand can be defined as ‘not slowed down; not blocked or not interfered with’. So that unhindered advancement could then be said to be a forward step that cannot be slowed down; an improvement that cannot be blocked; a promotion or a moving forward that cannot be interfered with.

The Divine mandate upon Apostle Paul was to take the gospel of Christ to the Gentiles. Despite all the plans and attacks of the Enemy of the gospel (Satan), Paul was very successful in ministry. His ministry spread from Judea to the present day Middle East, Europe and parts of Asia.

In I Cor. 16:8-9, Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth that he would tarry a bit in Ephesus City as there was a great opportunity for him to preach the gospel, though there were many opposition. As a result of his stay, a very thriving church was birthed in Ephesus that could not be hindered by all kinds of opposition (Rev. 2:1-7).

Also, God promised Paul that He would make him to stand before Caesar in Rome to preach Christ. So that somehow, the Jews convicted Paul and sentenced him to death for spreading a new religion, which made Paul appealed to Caesar. Paul was bound by chain and sent on a ship to Rome. Along the way, God sent a tempest that got rid of Paul’s shackles. Not too long after he arrived in Rome, someone who was supposed to be locked up in prison began to live in his own rented apartment and was able to preach Christ to everyone for over two years (Acts 28:30-31).

In this month of August and beyond, God has impressed it upon my spirit that as a church we are to experience unhindered advancement: a forward step that cannot be stopped or slowed down; an improvement that cannot be blocked; and a promotion that cannot be interfered with. May we all experience these in Jesus name. Amen!

July 2017 Theme – Moving Higher In Glory

The life we live is continuously changing. Nothing appears to be constant. The bible makes us to know that “To everything, there is a season, and a time to everything under the heaven” (Eccl. 3:1).
Within those seasons and times, other variations still occur. Just like there is a time to be born and a time to die, within which other variations still happen.

Only God possess the attribute of being constant and never changing (Mal. 3:6). He is the Ancient of days; Unchangeable God; the I am that I am, etc. As for us humans, our lives do change. There is the possibility of a life moving from bad to good; worse to good; good to worse; good to bad; good to better; better to best; etc.

Interestingly, Apostle Paul says that for a Christian who pays attention to Christ and His words, the life of such a believer will receive transformation unto the image of Christ, and if the believer still keeps his gaze on Christ Jesus, he/she will keep moving from glory to glory (2 Cor. 3:18).

The bible make us to know that Joshua was among the 12 spies who went to view Canaan, that alone was a level of glory and honour (Num. 13:1-16). Joshua was also an aide to Moses, which also conferred great recognition to him (Num. 27:18-23).

At the departure of Moses, Joshua entered into a higher level of glory and honour that he had never been before. No one was able to stand before him or fight him (Jos. 1:1-6).

To experience glorious living is sweet, to move up in levels of glory is even more so. In this month and beyond, God will increase us tremendously in glory and honour; He will put His fear upon us, so that no power will be able to mess about with us. May this be our portion in Jesus name. Amen!

June 2017 Theme – Greater Power And Greater Grace

Power can be defined as the ability to do something or act in a particular way. It can also be the rate of doing work.

An interesting thing to know about power is that it is not the same for all objects. To this effect, power has a unit whereby it can be measured. Therefore, the attained level of power of a particular object can be calculated or determined.

Another interesting aspect of power is that it relates to time. The extent of work done by an object or the rate per time at which it is done will give an indication of how powerful that object is.

One of the most powerfully anointed prophets in human history is Prophet Elijah. In his days, he was able to call down physical fire from heaven; raised the dead; made rain to fall; brought supernatural provision in time of famine; separated the Jordan River; etc. In all, the bible recorded 16 miracles performed by God through the hands of Elijah.

Due to the level of power wielded by Prophet Elijah, it would be unimaginable to think that someone else could or can be more powerful than he was. Yet Prophet Elisha that took over from Elijah enjoyed greater power in double measures.

In his own time, Elisha was recorded in the bible to have done 32 miracles while living and an extra one in death. He was able to raise the dead; brought supernatural provisions; separated the Jordan River; brought miraculous military victories; etc.

The ability to enjoy greater power in life comes from enjoying greater grace from God. This is because all power belong to God. King Saul’s son – Ishibosheth controlled a bigger army than David did. However, the team of David became stronger than those of Ishibosheth because David enjoyed greater grace (2 Sam. 3:1).

This month of June, the Almighty God is prepared to endue us with greater power and bestow upon us greater grace for the days, months and years ahead. May these be our portion in Jesus name. Amen!