In Old Testament scripts, Lepers were society rejects, outcasts, men banned from mingling with their ordinary fellow citizens. This disease excluded them from citizenship rights and divine law excommunicated them from spiritual advantages.
(Lev. 13:45 And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. 46 All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.
Yet these were the ones whom God was pleased to employ. How different are His thoughts and ways from men!
Read 2Ki 7:3-9
It is a Gods expectation that a believer be aware of his or her choices. Most of the time our “boat” (mind) is on autopilot. We act automatically. We act by force of habit. If it is a bad habit, our boat will move away from the shore of success and Gods plan heading for the -rocks. Imagine not being aware of that! Being aware of our choices means every choice WE make add to our overall goal for life.
If we are aware that our choices could influence the greater purpose of God then we even become more careful. The lepers did not know that the choice and decision they were about to make will have benefit to the entire nation.
Please notice the analytical skills and wisdom of the lepers as regards choices and decision making. They choose to do something about their situation unaware that the prophet had PROHESIED that THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT THE NEXT DAY.
God used their decision to bring to pass the prophets word, in the process also rewarding them abundantly.
We must never ever make choices that will subtract value from our God intended destiny.
To avoid such danger, we prayerfully accustom ourselves to become aware of our choices. JUST LIKE THE LEPERS DID.
We must also analyze our choices.
Why sit here till we die.
Once we become aware of the inspired need to make a decision, it helps to ask ourselves, “Will this choice help me to succeed or hold me back? These questions will help fine tune our spiritual antennae’s and enhance our sensitivity to Gods leading. Make your WISE choice. Today!
Pastor George Henry Ochieng Ogolla.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
ARE YOU AN AMBITIOUS PERSON?
Extraordinary Ambition
•Are you an ambitious person?
•What do you think of when you think of ambition?
The word ambition may sometimes cause mixed feeling among Christians because the idea of ambition raise and capture very different things.
Ambition isn’t something you have to be taught, in other words I don’t have to put ambition in my heart. It’s there though often quenched along the way.
Ask any normal child this question; what would you like to be like when you grow up.
•You will hear things like a professional, basketball, and soccer, cricket or rugby player.
•You will hear things like Doctor, lawyer, professor, pilot, physicist etc
Whatever they come to like… they want to be the greatest.
None say I want to start a business and just be average, no they see success mediocrity.
None wants to grow up and be dependant, obviously we are pulled and drawn towards greatness.
It is therefore obvious that we all have at least the traces of ambition at work in us.
What exactly is ambition?
•It is a desire that is, held dear, cared for, wanted or cherished.
•A strong drive for success
We can therefore say that Ambition is a person’s aim or objective, it is that which they are trying to achieve, it is one’s aspiration, desire, drive, and determination.
["His ambition is to own his own business"]
Today… God wants to challenge our sense of ambition.
Php 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Vainglory- is translated SELFISH AMBITION in other bible versionS.
•3 Do nothing out of SELFISH AMBITION or VAIN CONCEIT, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Many have considered these the most beautiful words of the New Testament, some the most challenging words of the New Testament.
Many of us may read these words and assume that they are call to get rid of ambition.
This is not a call to quench our ambition but to exchange it… a call from ordinary ambition to extraordinary ambition.
Often told ambition itself is a sin….Do nothing out of SELFISH ambition.
Ambition is used as positive except when selfish.
Paul said, ’Do nothing out of selfish ambition.’… not ‘do nothing.’.
God created you to be ambitious…Ambition itself is a good thing… a gift from God.
The issue isn’t ambition… but the type. You need ambition.
Every life is intended to
•Embrace its creative nature
•its power to influence
•to effect the world around them.
Actually Paul speaks of a new ambition…
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Christ has come not to quench our ambition but to transform it… to change the very center of our drive and determination from self to servant.
The new ambition which Christ imparts is to become a servant of others for God.
There is no greatness to be achieved within the limitations of yourself. Greatness is only found in what you can do to add to the lives of others.
God bless,
Pastor George.
•Are you an ambitious person?
•What do you think of when you think of ambition?
The word ambition may sometimes cause mixed feeling among Christians because the idea of ambition raise and capture very different things.
Ambition isn’t something you have to be taught, in other words I don’t have to put ambition in my heart. It’s there though often quenched along the way.
Ask any normal child this question; what would you like to be like when you grow up.
•You will hear things like a professional, basketball, and soccer, cricket or rugby player.
•You will hear things like Doctor, lawyer, professor, pilot, physicist etc
Whatever they come to like… they want to be the greatest.
None say I want to start a business and just be average, no they see success mediocrity.
None wants to grow up and be dependant, obviously we are pulled and drawn towards greatness.
It is therefore obvious that we all have at least the traces of ambition at work in us.
What exactly is ambition?
•It is a desire that is, held dear, cared for, wanted or cherished.
•A strong drive for success
We can therefore say that Ambition is a person’s aim or objective, it is that which they are trying to achieve, it is one’s aspiration, desire, drive, and determination.
["His ambition is to own his own business"]
Today… God wants to challenge our sense of ambition.
Php 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Vainglory- is translated SELFISH AMBITION in other bible versionS.
•3 Do nothing out of SELFISH AMBITION or VAIN CONCEIT, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Many have considered these the most beautiful words of the New Testament, some the most challenging words of the New Testament.
Many of us may read these words and assume that they are call to get rid of ambition.
This is not a call to quench our ambition but to exchange it… a call from ordinary ambition to extraordinary ambition.
Often told ambition itself is a sin….Do nothing out of SELFISH ambition.
Ambition is used as positive except when selfish.
Paul said, ’Do nothing out of selfish ambition.’… not ‘do nothing.’.
God created you to be ambitious…Ambition itself is a good thing… a gift from God.
The issue isn’t ambition… but the type. You need ambition.
Every life is intended to
•Embrace its creative nature
•its power to influence
•to effect the world around them.
Actually Paul speaks of a new ambition…
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Christ has come not to quench our ambition but to transform it… to change the very center of our drive and determination from self to servant.
The new ambition which Christ imparts is to become a servant of others for God.
There is no greatness to be achieved within the limitations of yourself. Greatness is only found in what you can do to add to the lives of others.
God bless,
Pastor George.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
ATTITUDES THAT LIMIT GOD.
Luke 5:36-38
36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. 37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. 38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
Jesus told them this story:
•No person takes cloth off a new coat to cover a hole on an old coat. Why?
Because he ruins the new coat, and the cloth from the new coat will not be the same as the old cloth.
•People never pour new wine into old wine bags. Why?
Because the new wine will break the bags, and the wine will spill out and the wine bags will be ruined. People always put new wine into new wine bags."
Key Thought
Jesus' point is clear. Don't try to limit God's new life in Christ.
•Don't try to contain it with your old religious categories.
•Don't try to dilute it with your old religious practices.
Jesus brings something new.
•Celebrate it.
•Enjoy its blessings.
•Be challenged by its demands and rejoice in its promises.
But don't ever try to simply attach it to what you had before.
The call of Christ is new, fresh, and all encompassing.
Begin each day with fresh eyes and new ears with the expectation that the Lord will do something you have never seen or expected.
You won't feel safe. It won't be predictable. But, it will be marvelous!
Unbelief limits God,
We all need a miracle at times, but there can be hindrances to receiving it.
The Lord tells us not to have hardened hearts of unbelief, as they did in the wilderness. Because they did He said:
Hebrews 3:11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 12Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
.Because of unbelief they could not enter the promised land (vs.19).
He warns us not to do the same thing. Limiting Him grieves the Spirit of God. We must guard against it.
Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Psalm 78:40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert 41Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel
They are an example to us to learn from so we will not make the same mistake. If you are in unbelief, the Word will not profit you.
When Jesus was in his hometown it says
Mark 6:5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 6And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
That boggles the mind of some. This did not say Jesus would not do it, but it says he could not .
Why ?
•Because he cannot work in an atmosphere of unbelief or doubt . Unbelief limits God. Jesus went to pray for the damsel who died.
Mark 5:40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. 41And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
He put them out of the house as to not hinder the power of God.
It may seem that is impossible but He chose in His sovereignty to give us a choice,
a free will.
•He responds to our faith rather than need.
If He responded to need then every need in the world would be met and it would be heaven on earth right now.
Holding on to the past limits God.
In Luke 9:62 Jesus said, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back to the things behind is fit for the kingdom of God.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.
•God only works through our faith in to the degree we allow Him to.
Being self willed limits God
•Not giving Him liberty to move in our lives.
Wrong thinking can limit God in our life.
•What we think gets in our heart.
Jesus said, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34).
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
How we think and speak does affect our lives.
Although God said in Numbers 13:2 He gave the land to the children of Israel, they said they could not possess it, and they didn’t.
But Caleb and Joshua said they could. And they did.
David prayed the words of his mouth and meditations of his heart would be acceptable to the Lord.
Don’t limit God through your words.
Proverbs 6:2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
Don’t allow religious ideas and people to limit you.
Mark 7:13 (KJV)
13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Jesus told the Pharisees they were “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition..
“because they were teaching man’s doctrine and calling it God’s teachings ( Mark 7:13 ).
•Much of the preaching in churches is religious thinking and is not scriptural.
If we put man’s traditions and doctrines above what God says, then His word will be ineffective in our life.
Galatians 5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
•He is the God of more than enough, the God of the impossible!
•Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
When we know it is impossible with man and only God can bring it to pass, then He gets all the glory!
Nothing is too hard for God. Believe for the impossible!
Luke 1:31 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Don't Try to Limit God's Newness IN YOU.
Pastor George H O Ochieng.
36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. 37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. 38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
Jesus told them this story:
•No person takes cloth off a new coat to cover a hole on an old coat. Why?
Because he ruins the new coat, and the cloth from the new coat will not be the same as the old cloth.
•People never pour new wine into old wine bags. Why?
Because the new wine will break the bags, and the wine will spill out and the wine bags will be ruined. People always put new wine into new wine bags."
Key Thought
Jesus' point is clear. Don't try to limit God's new life in Christ.
•Don't try to contain it with your old religious categories.
•Don't try to dilute it with your old religious practices.
Jesus brings something new.
•Celebrate it.
•Enjoy its blessings.
•Be challenged by its demands and rejoice in its promises.
But don't ever try to simply attach it to what you had before.
The call of Christ is new, fresh, and all encompassing.
Begin each day with fresh eyes and new ears with the expectation that the Lord will do something you have never seen or expected.
You won't feel safe. It won't be predictable. But, it will be marvelous!
Unbelief limits God,
We all need a miracle at times, but there can be hindrances to receiving it.
The Lord tells us not to have hardened hearts of unbelief, as they did in the wilderness. Because they did He said:
Hebrews 3:11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 12Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
.Because of unbelief they could not enter the promised land (vs.19).
He warns us not to do the same thing. Limiting Him grieves the Spirit of God. We must guard against it.
Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Psalm 78:40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert 41Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel
They are an example to us to learn from so we will not make the same mistake. If you are in unbelief, the Word will not profit you.
When Jesus was in his hometown it says
Mark 6:5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 6And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
That boggles the mind of some. This did not say Jesus would not do it, but it says he could not .
Why ?
•Because he cannot work in an atmosphere of unbelief or doubt . Unbelief limits God. Jesus went to pray for the damsel who died.
Mark 5:40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. 41And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
He put them out of the house as to not hinder the power of God.
It may seem that is impossible but He chose in His sovereignty to give us a choice,
a free will.
•He responds to our faith rather than need.
If He responded to need then every need in the world would be met and it would be heaven on earth right now.
Holding on to the past limits God.
In Luke 9:62 Jesus said, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back to the things behind is fit for the kingdom of God.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.
•God only works through our faith in to the degree we allow Him to.
Being self willed limits God
•Not giving Him liberty to move in our lives.
Wrong thinking can limit God in our life.
•What we think gets in our heart.
Jesus said, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34).
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
How we think and speak does affect our lives.
Although God said in Numbers 13:2 He gave the land to the children of Israel, they said they could not possess it, and they didn’t.
But Caleb and Joshua said they could. And they did.
David prayed the words of his mouth and meditations of his heart would be acceptable to the Lord.
Don’t limit God through your words.
Proverbs 6:2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
Don’t allow religious ideas and people to limit you.
Mark 7:13 (KJV)
13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Jesus told the Pharisees they were “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition..
“because they were teaching man’s doctrine and calling it God’s teachings ( Mark 7:13 ).
•Much of the preaching in churches is religious thinking and is not scriptural.
If we put man’s traditions and doctrines above what God says, then His word will be ineffective in our life.
Galatians 5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
•He is the God of more than enough, the God of the impossible!
•Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
When we know it is impossible with man and only God can bring it to pass, then He gets all the glory!
Nothing is too hard for God. Believe for the impossible!
Luke 1:31 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Don't Try to Limit God's Newness IN YOU.
Pastor George H O Ochieng.
Monday, July 12, 2010
THE SET TIME HAS COME
Ps. 102:13 – "Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favor her, yea, the set time, is come."
When some people think of FAVOR, they typically associate it with being delivered from a fate that they would generally deserve.
For example, someone may have run a stop sign and ended up in traffic court.They may ask God for favor with the judge. It frequently has been discussed in connection with court proceedings.
But God’s idea of favor means much more than that.
PROVISION – Ps. 44:1-3.
1 God, we have heard what you did. Those who came before us have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.2 With your powerful hand you drove out the nations. You settled our people in the land. You crushed the people who were there. And you made our people do well.3 They didn't win the land with their swords. They didn't gain success with their powerful arms. Your powerful right hand and your mighty arm gave them success. You looked on them with favor. You loved them.
God gave his covenant people land that they didn’t have to fight for. He brought them into their inheritance. This God did because He had favor unto them. HE IS DOING AND WILL YET DO, THE SAME FOR US!!!
The favor of God caused the Egyptians to give both silver and gold into the hands of God’s covenant people. That same favor WILL operate on your behalf. The same type of favor is available to believers right now.
EXALTATION – Exodus 11:3 – 3 The Lord caused the Egyptians to treat the Israelites in a kind way. Pharaoh's officials and the people had great respect for Moses.
Moses was very great!
The favor of God will raise you up; lift you up; cause you to lift up your faces and be seen, that God’s glory will be seen in you!!!
INCREASE – In all areas that pertain to life! In the favor of God there is life. Life to any and all dead areas.
STRENGTH/ABILITY TO STAND FIRM – Ps. 30:7. Lord, when you showed me your favor, you made my mountain stand firm.
PROTECTION – Ps. 5:8-12. Cocooned with favor. On all sides. Compassed about; crowned with favor.
One of the most important keys to living where God want you to be is to discovering how to experience more of God's favor.
The bible states in Psalm 8:5 “that God has crowned us with glory and honor”
That word HONOUR can also be translated as FAVOUR.
I have said before that FAVOUR is an act of gracious kindness that will Promote and ASSIST you get special advantages and also BESTOW upon you special treatment.
How can it be that our God who is full of compassion and love, who paid such a high price for your redemption fail to come to your aid in times of need.
Because of HIS kindness, the yoke of SATAN that makes your life a burden and a task grieves HIS Heart, for He made you in His Image. He therefore wants...
•To make your life meaningful.
•To assist you achieve goals that will make HIM all over the world.
•To promote your purpose and mission on earth for His glory
•To give you advantages so that nothing can stop his plan in your life.
Has somebody been mistreating you recently? Remember our lesson on Hannah and Peninnah?
•Rather than getting angry or trying to pay them back, start saying, "Father, I thank you that your favor is going to cause these people to start treating me well."
If you are struggling financially,
•Say something such as, "Father, I thank you that you're causing me to be at the right place at the right time.
•You are bringing wonderful financial opportunities my way."
If you will live with that sort of attitude, God's favor is going to show up and that difficult situation will turn around to your benefit.
Job 10:12 You have granted me life and favor, And Your care has preserved my spirit.
We know that this man went through one of the most trying times any person could ever endure.
•In less than a year, he lost his family, his business, and his health.
•He had boils over his entire body and no doubt lived in continuous pain.
But in the midst of that dark hour we hear Job saying, "God, I know that You have granted me favor".
Now, here's the amazing part of the story: There are forty-two chapters in the book of Job. Job made this statement of faith in chapter 10.
He was not delivered, healed, and set free until chapter 42!
But at the very beginning, when his circumstances appeared darkest and most hopeless, Job looked up and declared, "God, I know you have granted me favor. “That’s real faith.
Job was saying,
•"God, I don't care what the situation looks like.
•I don't care how badly I feel.
I know you are a good God, and your favor is going to turn this situation around."No wonder God restored to Job twice what he had before!
IF ONLY YOU CAN
•Learn to stay in an attitude of faith.
•Learn to boldly declare the favor of God in your darkest hour
•Learn to seek him diligently regardless of your setbacks
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
God Bless you
When some people think of FAVOR, they typically associate it with being delivered from a fate that they would generally deserve.
For example, someone may have run a stop sign and ended up in traffic court.They may ask God for favor with the judge. It frequently has been discussed in connection with court proceedings.
But God’s idea of favor means much more than that.
PROVISION – Ps. 44:1-3.
1 God, we have heard what you did. Those who came before us have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.2 With your powerful hand you drove out the nations. You settled our people in the land. You crushed the people who were there. And you made our people do well.3 They didn't win the land with their swords. They didn't gain success with their powerful arms. Your powerful right hand and your mighty arm gave them success. You looked on them with favor. You loved them.
God gave his covenant people land that they didn’t have to fight for. He brought them into their inheritance. This God did because He had favor unto them. HE IS DOING AND WILL YET DO, THE SAME FOR US!!!
The favor of God caused the Egyptians to give both silver and gold into the hands of God’s covenant people. That same favor WILL operate on your behalf. The same type of favor is available to believers right now.
EXALTATION – Exodus 11:3 – 3 The Lord caused the Egyptians to treat the Israelites in a kind way. Pharaoh's officials and the people had great respect for Moses.
Moses was very great!
The favor of God will raise you up; lift you up; cause you to lift up your faces and be seen, that God’s glory will be seen in you!!!
INCREASE – In all areas that pertain to life! In the favor of God there is life. Life to any and all dead areas.
STRENGTH/ABILITY TO STAND FIRM – Ps. 30:7. Lord, when you showed me your favor, you made my mountain stand firm.
PROTECTION – Ps. 5:8-12. Cocooned with favor. On all sides. Compassed about; crowned with favor.
One of the most important keys to living where God want you to be is to discovering how to experience more of God's favor.
The bible states in Psalm 8:5 “that God has crowned us with glory and honor”
That word HONOUR can also be translated as FAVOUR.
I have said before that FAVOUR is an act of gracious kindness that will Promote and ASSIST you get special advantages and also BESTOW upon you special treatment.
How can it be that our God who is full of compassion and love, who paid such a high price for your redemption fail to come to your aid in times of need.
Because of HIS kindness, the yoke of SATAN that makes your life a burden and a task grieves HIS Heart, for He made you in His Image. He therefore wants...
•To make your life meaningful.
•To assist you achieve goals that will make HIM all over the world.
•To promote your purpose and mission on earth for His glory
•To give you advantages so that nothing can stop his plan in your life.
Has somebody been mistreating you recently? Remember our lesson on Hannah and Peninnah?
•Rather than getting angry or trying to pay them back, start saying, "Father, I thank you that your favor is going to cause these people to start treating me well."
If you are struggling financially,
•Say something such as, "Father, I thank you that you're causing me to be at the right place at the right time.
•You are bringing wonderful financial opportunities my way."
If you will live with that sort of attitude, God's favor is going to show up and that difficult situation will turn around to your benefit.
Job 10:12 You have granted me life and favor, And Your care has preserved my spirit.
We know that this man went through one of the most trying times any person could ever endure.
•In less than a year, he lost his family, his business, and his health.
•He had boils over his entire body and no doubt lived in continuous pain.
But in the midst of that dark hour we hear Job saying, "God, I know that You have granted me favor".
Now, here's the amazing part of the story: There are forty-two chapters in the book of Job. Job made this statement of faith in chapter 10.
He was not delivered, healed, and set free until chapter 42!
But at the very beginning, when his circumstances appeared darkest and most hopeless, Job looked up and declared, "God, I know you have granted me favor. “That’s real faith.
Job was saying,
•"God, I don't care what the situation looks like.
•I don't care how badly I feel.
I know you are a good God, and your favor is going to turn this situation around."No wonder God restored to Job twice what he had before!
IF ONLY YOU CAN
•Learn to stay in an attitude of faith.
•Learn to boldly declare the favor of God in your darkest hour
•Learn to seek him diligently regardless of your setbacks
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
God Bless you
Thursday, June 11, 2009
EMBRACING THE SPIRIT OF CHANGE. ARE YOU A FOSSIL?
If you are ever going to effectively enjoy the benefit in Gods kingdom, you must understand the nature of walking with the Lord. Walking with God means, making constant adjustments to His seasons.
When you adjust, you move, but when you don’t, you die. You should avoid existing in a changeless situation, stagnated, unsuccessful and never experiencing the blessings of your inheritance.
I have discovered that one of the biggest hindrances to successful living is the curse of tradition.
A Tradition is an inherited pattern of thought or action. A specific practice of long standing in your mind, family, organization, church etc that govern conduct and behaviour.
I inherited a way of doing things from my parents, who inherited them from their parents, who inherited them from their parents. They instilled in me some values which guided my way of thinking and living as long as I was under their roof.
When I married my wife and started to live on my own, I changed the way some things were done. If I had continued to hold and do things the way my parents did, I would never have broken ground in many areas of my life.
My plea to you today is “do not live your life by trial and error” There is a way you can live a rewarding, fulfilling satisfying life on earth. Even if you think your life is far spent.
People who live by trial and error [Experimenting until a solution is found]kind of assume and take for granted that eventually things will work out even if they are falling apart.
That their marriage will eventually work out.
That their friendship will eventually get better.
That relationship with people will just fall in place.
That a child grows to be a successful person without Godly supervision and values. That because you have an education, you automatically earn a right to wisdom.
That you can be rude, disrespectful and vulgar and still enjoy fulfillment.
That you can waste your life and still enjoy a flawless life without consequences.
All of us are born with a potential of all these things, in fact some of them were in my life long time. I was not born with the qualities which I posses at present. I had to do a very painful surgery to change and eliminate many things in my life. My mirror was the word of God. Anything that did not align to that mirror I plucked off and still continue to pluck.
Often I meet people stuck in various LIFE situations. They met with a challenging situation somewhere between the intersections of life. In between the point of departure and the point of destination they fell in a rut and boy oh boy they got STUCK and a journey began, a fast journey downhill towards frustrations, dissapointments and heartache, scrapping the bottom pan of life, yet they were destined for GREATNESS!
Sadly very Few people connect their personal stagnation in life to their failure to submit to the dictates of higher powers and authority; they live in subtle misplaced pride governed entirely by tradition and futility of their minds.
Let me teach you something. If you ever want to see unequal divine promotions in your life show deference to divine authority.
This means to respectfully yield to the authority of God in your life.Your stubbornness will stop you from effectively transitioning with God in all areas of your life.
For he resisteth the proud and gives grace to the humble. Religion and tradition is an absolute stronghold which sometimes causes people to become fossilized.
A fossil is a creature that failed to make the transition when change came. It became fossilized in its original state and did not adapt to the new, so we call it a fossil.
People, churches, movements, denominations and governments that are mentally inflexible can accurately be referred to as fossils.
It means they have become fixed and Set in their state. It means they are Hardened against the changes that God desires to bring about in their lives. You cannot be lead if you are stubborn. You cannot be led if you are not submitting. You cannot be led if you are afraid of change.
God wants to lead you into His seasons with the knowledge that He is the One guiding you. Your life can move up once again.
God is calling you towards this change Will you respond? I did.. ITS UP TO YOU
Pastor George Henry Ochieng
When you adjust, you move, but when you don’t, you die. You should avoid existing in a changeless situation, stagnated, unsuccessful and never experiencing the blessings of your inheritance.
I have discovered that one of the biggest hindrances to successful living is the curse of tradition.
A Tradition is an inherited pattern of thought or action. A specific practice of long standing in your mind, family, organization, church etc that govern conduct and behaviour.
I inherited a way of doing things from my parents, who inherited them from their parents, who inherited them from their parents. They instilled in me some values which guided my way of thinking and living as long as I was under their roof.
When I married my wife and started to live on my own, I changed the way some things were done. If I had continued to hold and do things the way my parents did, I would never have broken ground in many areas of my life.
My plea to you today is “do not live your life by trial and error” There is a way you can live a rewarding, fulfilling satisfying life on earth. Even if you think your life is far spent.
People who live by trial and error [Experimenting until a solution is found]kind of assume and take for granted that eventually things will work out even if they are falling apart.
That their marriage will eventually work out.
That their friendship will eventually get better.
That relationship with people will just fall in place.
That a child grows to be a successful person without Godly supervision and values. That because you have an education, you automatically earn a right to wisdom.
That you can be rude, disrespectful and vulgar and still enjoy fulfillment.
That you can waste your life and still enjoy a flawless life without consequences.
All of us are born with a potential of all these things, in fact some of them were in my life long time. I was not born with the qualities which I posses at present. I had to do a very painful surgery to change and eliminate many things in my life. My mirror was the word of God. Anything that did not align to that mirror I plucked off and still continue to pluck.
Often I meet people stuck in various LIFE situations. They met with a challenging situation somewhere between the intersections of life. In between the point of departure and the point of destination they fell in a rut and boy oh boy they got STUCK and a journey began, a fast journey downhill towards frustrations, dissapointments and heartache, scrapping the bottom pan of life, yet they were destined for GREATNESS!
Sadly very Few people connect their personal stagnation in life to their failure to submit to the dictates of higher powers and authority; they live in subtle misplaced pride governed entirely by tradition and futility of their minds.
Let me teach you something. If you ever want to see unequal divine promotions in your life show deference to divine authority.
This means to respectfully yield to the authority of God in your life.Your stubbornness will stop you from effectively transitioning with God in all areas of your life.
For he resisteth the proud and gives grace to the humble. Religion and tradition is an absolute stronghold which sometimes causes people to become fossilized.
A fossil is a creature that failed to make the transition when change came. It became fossilized in its original state and did not adapt to the new, so we call it a fossil.
People, churches, movements, denominations and governments that are mentally inflexible can accurately be referred to as fossils.
It means they have become fixed and Set in their state. It means they are Hardened against the changes that God desires to bring about in their lives. You cannot be lead if you are stubborn. You cannot be led if you are not submitting. You cannot be led if you are afraid of change.
God wants to lead you into His seasons with the knowledge that He is the One guiding you. Your life can move up once again.
God is calling you towards this change Will you respond? I did.. ITS UP TO YOU
Pastor George Henry Ochieng
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