EXPANDING OUR TERRITORY.

The word, “expand” means to enlarge or “increase.” It can also mean, “Multiplying.”

The word translated, “territory, “literally means a “cord.” It carries with it the idea of a border that has a rope around it to let everyone know its dimensions and limitations.

In Genesis 9:27, Noah asked God to “extend the territory of Japheth.”

Exodus 34:24 reveals that God was interested in giving an expanded vision to His people when he said, “I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your territory…”

Jabez prayed that God would enlarge his territory or expand his coast. 1chronicles 4:9-10

When you ask GOD for expanded territory you are saying, God stretch the boundaries that had been imposed on me by circumstances beyond my control.

Psalm 124:7 “Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped”. The verse you have just read, gives a wonderful picture of what is called breakthrough. Imagine the scene of a bird that is living in a cage. It has been caged by captors.

Even though the bird has ability and potential to soar high and travel for miles in the sky, it has been reduced to a creature that cannot move past the cage. It now lives in surroundings that limit its full potential.

A violent wind breaks out one day, the cage is lifted up by unseen wind power and violently smashed on the ground, the force of the impact flings the doors open.

Now the bird for the first time has an appointment with destiny. It seizes the opportunity to fly towards purpose, saying bye bye to the Cage and a life of captivity.

We can say that the territory of the bird has been expanded.

If you’re in the grip of a bad habit.
Or feel tethered to the tentacles of your past.

God did not create anyone to come to this world and fail. To be caged by issues, failures heartaches headaches and whatever aches.

• Do you want God reposition your ropes and blast your current boundaries out with dynamite.
• Do you want God to intensify your impact in the society and to multiply your dreams, ministry or goals?
• Are you saying- now that I have this far. God I will not hold back any longer.
• Are you determined to move out for God?
• You want to make a difference.
• Do you want to be an impact player in the game of life?
• Do you want to been trusted with more responsibility

I want you to trust God from the outset to help you break out of whatever will or is limiting you.

Don’t settle for just plodding through life. You don’t have to have money, influence, intelligence, or family connections. Start by finding out what God wants you to do with your life…

Pastor George.

THE ALL SURPASSING POWER OF GOD

Joshua 17 v 14-18 gives us an account of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh’s ( the people of Joseph) plea, or shall I rather say complaint ,with Joshua about the unfair allotment of land to themselves.

They attested that they were numerous in number and therefore required more than just one lot as an inheritance that had been apportioned to themselves in the promised land.

Joshua agreed with the merits of their plea. He therefore advised them to go to the forest land of the Perizzites and there, clear ground for themselves. The people of Joseph also chose to vent their frustration and channel their complaints toward the people of Canaan, who dwelt in plains (flatlands).

Although they envied these people’s occupation of these plains, they were terribly afraid of occupying these lands as these Canaanites had a formidable army (sic) with powerful weaponry. We can equate the Canaanites “chariots of iron” to modern day war tanks.

Joshua reaffirmed the people of Joseph’s status as powerful people of God and directed them to clear the forest land, possess it to its furthest borders and in the process of doing so, to drive out this supposedly mighty Canaanite people.

In light of the above, we can clearly identify 2 issues that the people of Joseph had been struggling with namely:

• They were not interested in the “hard work”of clearing the lands and
• They were fearful of the Canaanite people.

If we equate these circumstances to modern day Christian life the 2 aforementioned struggles often rears its ugly head so to speak. Translated to modern day, these 2 principles for me would mean:

People are sometimes not keen enough to make conscientious concerted efforts to forge ahead in areas that require hard work to change their status quo, in areas that the enemy has a stronghold on.

People live a life of fear, terrorized that the enemy is powerful when in reality he is weaker than he purports to be.

Let’s look back at the scripture, supra:

Firstly, the instruction from Joshua to them to go conquer the Canaanite people was an instruction to the people of Joseph to do it single-handedly, in other words ,without the help of the other tribes, considering that other tribes such as Zebulun , Judah etc were probably at their disposal to assist. It was to be an internal effort by the people of Joseph and not a collective one involving other tribes.

Secondly, Joshua affirmed to them what they ought to have known and that is that they were a powerful people who would conquer the enemy.

My take on this is translated to modern day is that sometimes we as Christians downplay the extent of the inherent immeasurable power of God in us. Once we develop our identity in Christ then the realization that what we have (the power of God) is sufficient to bring us out of certain strongholds will become readily evident.

Thirdly they were now in the land God promised would flow with milk and honey. Their inability to take possession of Gods promise was a sign of unbelief. Translated to life application it would equate to Christians who are already in the kingdom but fail to apply faith to circumstances and chose instead to walk by sight.

It is high time that we as sons and daughters of the King become less reliant on reaffirmations and come to the place of full understanding that we are inherently equipped with greatness to overcome the work of the enemy.

God intricately wove us for greatness and success and certainly did not create us for failure. Remember we were created in his image. To function at optimal efficiency in Gods plan and purpose, we need to come to realization that we are destined for greatness and that we have the inherent attributes and characteristics of greatness thrust upon us by God.
We are powerful people!!

Brother Malcolm Mahabeer
Hope Christian Fellowship
Durban

ARE YOU COMMITTED?

A chicken and a pig were walking down the road together, engaged in serious conversation. They passed a flashing sign advertising special breakfast at the local Inn. “Ham and Eggs – $2.95!”

What! Exclaimed the chicken, this is nonsense, after all I go through, my contribution to the society is breakfast “for a stupid two #@%##*)# dollars?

The pig just kept quite, disturbed by the loud silence, the chicken asked, is something wrong? To which the pig replied, “For you, it may be a contribution. For me it’s a total commitment.” Tomorrow I give Ham.

There is a great danger in our time of succumbing to mediocrity not through incompetence or a lack of integrity but simply from a lack of genuine commitment. Quality relationships are founded on the rock of commitment, not the shifting sand of feelings or emotions.

Many of those who followed Jesus were merely curious. Others were convinced of the truth of what he was teaching, but only a few were fully and personally committed.

How on earth do leaders establish and retain committed followers?
How, in some cases, do we get ourselves committed enough to pay the high price of success?

God knows how, and the prophet Habakkuk models an essential truth about God-focused commitment:

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. Habakkuk 3:17-18

What a refreshing statement! Many leaders would love to have followers who are this committed to the cause.

The key ingredient to Habakkuk’s statement is that it is unidirectional; [Operating or moving or allowing movement in one direction only]

This verse translated to our age will mean...

• Even if I do not have a bank balance.
• Even if I do not have a house of my own.
• Even if my business is ruined.
• Even if I am unsuccessful.
• Even if I am alone (no one wants to live with such a failure).

YET WILL I REJOICE IN THE LORD. He promises to maintain his attitude regardless of the payback.

That’s really what “commitment” is. The statement, “I will be committed if” Isn’t commitment-making; It’s deal-making. It’s not committing; it’s bargaining.

What could have happened to draw such a unidirectional response from Habakkuk?

God REVEALED some deep things about his style of justice and his majesty to the prophet that humbled Habakkuk’s heart.

Leaders must identify what it is within their organization that is genuinely worthy of commitment.

In the absence of a life-consuming ideal, asking for the level of commitment Habakkuk expressed is absurd.

Until leaders complete this definition, they sound rather shallow even talking about it. No sane person will commit to things that don’t really matter.

But when an organization’s goals and outcomes are properly related to the living God and its activities honor him, then commitment makes sense.

Instead of asking, “How do we get commitment?” effective leaders will begin by asking, “To what (or whom) are we committed?”

May you commit to a worthy goal.

Pastor George.

STOP LIMITING GOD

Psalm 78, is a masterpiece! It highlights Gods consistency and faithfulness through a microscope, specifically Gods mercy on the Jews who came out of Egypt during the forty years in the wilderness.
Verse 41 says they limited the Holy One; they limited God. . That's an amazing statement!

The dictionary defines the verb "limit," as "to confine or restrict within boundaries."
We can confine, restrict, or limit God. God wanted to do so much more for Israel than they allowed Him. God is all powerful. There is nothing too difficult for God.

God wants to help you in every way. There is only one reason why God will not help you, and that is if you limit Him.

God is not limited to our shortsightedness: I’m black. I’m poor. I was born on the wrong side of the track. God has put us where He wants us to be. We were born to the parents we were supposed to be born to.

He knew exactly what He was doing and still is doing. Jesus says, "All things are possible to him who believes." Your faith releases God to work on your behalf. The opposite is also true; your doubt can limit God.

Matthew 13: 58, it says, "And Jesus did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." Jesus wanted to do miracles, but the people limited Him. The same can happen today!

If God has a goal for your life, If God wants something done, can it be done? Let’s put it this way, Can it be blocked, or its fulfillment proves uncertain or impossible?

Don’t we learn in secular leadership training that when you give a command that cannot be obeyed the result is undermined authority?

God doesn't assign to you goals you can't achieve. His goals for you are possible and certain. He wants us to remove the limits that hinder us from being all that He has called us to be.

If the sky is your limit then your thinking is small INDEED..

Pastor George.

IS YOU LIFE STUCK? HERE IS YOUR ANSWER.

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:

Can the word of God be saying that you are a walking “thought”? Our thoughts make us… Isn’t that creepy?

Can you see the implications? Any wise person can know your thoughts just by looking at your lifestyle. If you don’t like your life change your thoughts. If you conceive of the idea that you would never rise up above your circumstances your lifestyle will manifest it.

Every day Life will give you different “looks”. If you lack an entrenched philosophy, a consistent strategy and trusted program you will always fail.

I am careful when I write that God will never be able to do above what you think. Am I contradicting 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,

No! What am saying and what scripture is saying supports the idea that thoughts can be limiting.

Scripture advises you to subscribe to the notion that GOD IS ABLE TO DO… above set limits.

If you fail to recognize that God ability transcends your thinking then what HE does is limited to your thinking. He works in you. Before He does great things in you, He gives you great ideas.

There are a lot of good ideas floating around. But there is none as best as what the Lord Almighty can give you.

And God can never do beyond what your mind can conceive. Only when your mind conceives of the possibility can you begin to rise above the situation.

If you study scripture well, and carefully observe the people God used through history, you will notice that HE always asked a PERSON to do that which was impossible to that person.

• God told Noah to build a boat.
• God told Abraham to come out of his land and he will give him a better place.
• God spoke to David to conquer his enemies.
• When Jesus Christ walked on earth He never knew impossibilities.

Many of these things had never been done before. But these people had removed the word IMPOSSIBLE FROM THEIR THINKING. From this day forward will you remove the word impossible from your thinking, nothing is impossible to the one who believes.

I long refused to allow the natural circumstances to put a limit to my mind. You will notice that all the time it is the natural that limits man.

When the natural limits a spiritual child of God it’s called MENTAL BLOCK. May you never permit your thoughts to work against the great plan of GOD IN YOUR LIFE.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Phi 4:8

Pastor George.

IN ALL YOUR GETTING CONSIDER WISDOM.

Wise people have consistency in their life because they live and move to the rhythm of God. They continually remind themselves of God’s thoughts and ways.

Solomon graciously demonstrates that failure to pursue wisdom results in a foolish life of profitless, meaningless work which lacks reward and purpose.

He likens this foolish living to a logger trying to chop down trees with a dull axe, the results, body aches, longer hours, fatigue, frustrations and dampen spirits (10:10).

Many of us live our lives like the lumberjack. Our axe is dull and instead of sharpening it, we just keep exerting more energy and time.

Summarized wisdom is skilful living in the light of the reality of God’s revelation. You are one huge creative machine waiting to explode upon an unsuspecting world. That's really the truth.

Let's go to 1 Kings 10:4-5: And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her.
I
t is just amazing to me that this extremely wealthy queen traveled to the other side of the known world to sit at Solomon's feet and ask him questions. She was stunned beyond consciousness by the wisdom, answers, his insight to nature, how things live, and how they function.

This is your inheritance as a believer, to have all Solomon had and more, because you're not a disciple of Solomon, you're a disciple of Jesus, who is wiser than Solomon.

Have a wise day!

Pastor George.

THE POWER OF CHOICE.

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.

DEFINING MOMENTS- KEY TO YOUR DESTINY.

DEFINING MOMENTS- KEY TO YOUR DESTINY.

Acts 7:22-25 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. 23 and when he was full forty years old, it came to his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. 24 and seeing one suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian 25 FOR HE SUPPOSED HIS BRETHREN WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD HOW THAT GOD BY HIS HAND WOULD ELIVER THEM; BUT UNDERSTOOD NOT.

How you interpret your daily encounters in life might very well define your entire future and destiny. Life will present you with intervals of what I call defining moments. These moments reveal our true inner self. Whenever you come face to face with defining moments your response will result in rewards or consequences.

The passage of scripture at the beginning describes a defining moment in the life of Moses. Notice that it is ascribed to him accolades of honour.

• He was learned in wisdom of the Egyptians- this speaks of his intellectual capability
• He was mighty in words- this speaks of his knowledge understanding eloquence and judgement
• He was mighty in deeds - this speaks of his leadership credentials and respected military man mighty in battle

This mighty man, this brilliant mind, this great wise leader called Moses fails to interpret a defining moment in his life. In an EMOTIONAL OUTBURST albeit good intentions he fails in judgement and throws critical thinking out of the window. Faced with a trying moment, Moses commits murder.

You could be in a situation similar to that of Moses, if not now one day you will... You will have before you situations that need critical thinking and judgement, failure to which you stand to lose the very drive of your goals and passion in life. As you advance in life new challenges will arise.

Whatever challenges you might be facing avoid doing what Moses did. He looked left and right hit the Egyptian and killed him, then hid his body.

A defining moment will set the pace of your life. One defining moment could very well be the reason you are what you are today. A defining moment happens when you come face to face with a truth about life that invites you to change the way you live. It will demand a decision on your part and your life will never be the same as a result.

Moses forgot who he was in the eyes of the public. H e forgot his role in society as a responsible person. He did not observe carefully the situation which he was getting involved in. What he thought in his heart was totally different from the way things turned out to be. The people he was trying to save did not invite him and were suspicious of his intentions. 25 FOR HE SUPPOSED HIS BRETHREN WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD HOW THAT GOD BY HIS HAND WOULD deliver THEM; BUT UNDERSTOOD NOT.

If there be a spiritual gift that you desperately need in defining moments it has to be the gift of discernment.
May the Lord grant you this gift as to go over your defining moments.

Pastor George.

YOUR LIFE CAN BE A GREAT STORY

Your life can be a great story too.

Rocky in my opinion has to be considered one of the greatest guy movies of all time, a movie about dedication/passion/sacrifice. All of those things are what it took for Rocky Balboa to achieve the "dream" of becoming the world champion.

I remember playing one of the theme songs to Rocky in our High School locker room getting ready for basketball games - "Eye of the Tiger".

Why was it such a popular movie? Couldn't have been the acting. Actor Sylvester Stallone had problems with diction. His articulation of speech, the manner with which he expressed things in words was not very clear to his audience.

If not the acting, then what was it that made the movie such an attraction? The directors had a great story. It was the story, Rags to riches. The story of human dedication, passion and sacrifice! Wow, that kind of story will always attract applause.

NOW, GOD LIKE THE DIRECTOR OF ROCKY HAS A STORY FOR YOUR LIFE, ACTUALLY A BETTER STORY.

He is looking for an “actor” to fit in the roles of what is already a great story of life. It’s not an accident that you are alive. You don’t have to audition. You qualify. Find your great story.

Listen to what HE said to Jeremiah

Jeremiah 1: 5-8

5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”6 “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Jeremiah said to the Lord “I am not a good actor! Then God said to him “it’s not your acting”…. it’s the story. In other words. It’s not about your ability. This tells you that when you discover the path that God has laid down for your life invincible forces align to applaud your efforts.

Rocky wanted to be more than just a boxer. When you watch the movie you want him to succeed, you want him to achieve his dreams. When he goes through disappointments you feel for him.

Rocky’s story can easily be your story… Turn to the Lord and be a winner in life… God has a great story for your life.

Pastor George.

DO YOU BELIEVE?

Acts 14:8-10"Now at Lystra there was a man sitting, who could not use his feet; he was a cripple from birth, who had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking; and Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, said in a loud voice, 'Stand upright on your feet.' And he sprang up and walked.

Life's dark moments can change whenever we tap into opportunities that come our way. Darkness can depart when light knocks. The man was sitting not because he wanted to, he was at the mercy of his condition. You could be at the mercy of a situation, well thats understandable...but it doesnt have to be so.

Do you want something changed in your life today? It does not make any difference whether the problem is physical, emotional, or spiritual; you are going to be held in its bondage until you recognize the opportunities that present themselves to you daily, begging to help you!

STAND UPRIGHT ON YOUR FEET! When you make the effort to obey, God will set you free. But he will never move until you obey. That is the way faith works.

Most people are kept from seeing God at work in their lives because they keep waiting for God to do something, in order for them to believe. No, he has already done all that he is going to do in advance. When you believe what he says, then he will give you the power to be free.