The Vessels for Signs and Wonders

Why are there no consistent and continuous flow of signs and wonders, miracles like the days of the apostles? God is still the God of signs and wonders today but He is limited by the vessels that carry the anointing. Most of the vessels want to be used, but they are too busy to be used by God. This post aims at redirecting God’s vessels to the most important thing to do to be used of God.

Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work – 2 Timothy 2:21 (NKJV).

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us – 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NKJV).

The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord – Proverbs 16:1 (NKJV).

God uses human beings most of the time to do signs and wonders, but when the vessels are not adequately prepared to be used, nothing happens. There are so much physical preparations but little spiritual preparations with church of Christ now. God is the worker of signs and wonders and miracles, but until He does His work, nothing happens in spite of all the physical preparations.

God’s vessels plan, organize, strategize, prepare, spend money, do everything for an event or service to be successful and end it there, leaving out the main worker (the Holy Spirit). They spend a lot of time preparing physically for an event but spend little or no time engaging the worker of miracles. Who will take the glory at the end? God will not share His glory with any other god or man (Isaiah 42:8). Read more...

Are You a Good Shepherd?

Are you a hireling or a good shepherd? It is a great privilege and honour to have people entrusted to one’s care as a father, mother, teacher, pastor, or unit head, etc. However, God expects anyone with such privilege to be a good shepherd. This post is aimed at helping the reader to evaluate his or her leadership position, no matter how small the person considers it to be.

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own – John 10:11-14 (NKJV).

There is excitement for many people when they are made leaders, but many forget that leadership position comes with great responsibility. You may have been made a leader of some person(s) by a man but you were ultimately elected by God (Romans 13:1), and you are accountable to Him. There were other people who desired to be in that position but you were chosen; some may have been more equipped than you were, but you were chosen. Even as a father or a mother, some people long to be one and are still waiting, but you are one already. Therefore, you are not to take your position lightly.

Jesus said in John 20:21 that He sends you even as the Father sent Him. Christ was a good shepherd and He has sent you to be one too. A shepherd has an important role to play in the life of a sheep. This is shown by the fact that once the shepherd is struck the sheep will scatter (Zechariah 13:7). Sheep need the leader to fulfil destiny and God has placed you as one to help the sheep to fulfil destiny. Are you fulfilling this role in the lives of the sheep under you? Read more...

Forgive Them For They Don’t Know What They Do

Are you finding it difficult to forgive? Or what can’t you forgive? Everyone has a seed of forgiveness in him or her, put in there by God. We are meant to allow it to grow and bear fruit. This post uses Jesus as our example to show the root of forgiveness.

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God – Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots – Luke 23:34 (NKJV).

You have a right to be angry, but do you have a right not to forgive? Jesus, God Himself (John 1:1-14), was crucified by the people He made. They didn’t just crucify Him, they mocked Him in public; put a crown of thorns on Him, whipped Him and forced Him to carry His own cross through the streets; multitudes were watching and making jeers of Him. They stripped Him of His clothes, nailed Him on a wood He made, between criminals (Him being innocent). People watched, mocked and laughed at Him, people He made! Upon all that, His Father forsook Him (Matthew 27:46) because of this same people! Yet, He prayed to His father saying, “Forgive them, for they do not know what they do”. Do you have a right not to forgive?

 If Jesus could forgive all that, including your sins and mine, what can’t you forgive? Jesus’ action on the cross was a pure demonstration of the love of God in action, the love that is shed abroad in your heart (Romans 5:5). For the joy of seeing the world reconciled back to God (Romans 5:10), Jesus endured the cross; I encourage you to look unto Him. Read more...

Torment Me Not!

Have you ever wondered why Jesus granted the demons their request in Luke 8:26-39? Do you wish that wicked people will just disappear or be destroyed? As much as one would like that, it happens not to be God’s best for them. This article reveals Christ’s best for them.

When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me! Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them – Luke 8:28, 32 (NKJV).

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust – Matthew 5:44-45 (NKJV).

Why would Jesus permit the demon’s request? Jesus granted the demons their request because He is love, He is not them or like them. It is God’s nature to be good. Surely, their time for punishment and torment is certain and will surely come, and anyone who chooses to remain with them will suffer with them then.  However, here Jesus showed us an example to follow. If Christ didn’t torment them, why should we His children ask that other human beings be tormented? This example of Jesus helped me to understand how Matthew 5: 44-45 can be applied to a witch, wizard, or oppressors, etc.

God expects you to be like Jesus: to love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. In essence, not obeying this instruction makes your sonship questionable.

You are above those in darkness; you have no need to fear them. They can’t do anything to you. Only those who fear are tormented, for fear has torments and those who fear have not been made perfect in love (1 John 4:18). You are to know the word of God and be prayerful. Be convinced of your position in Christ, knowing that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4); again, if God is for you who can be against you (Romans 8:31). You are to walk in the knowledge of the truth. Read more...

Love God and Hear God

Are you hearing from God? Do you desire to hear from the Lord? This is a good desire but are you qualified to hear from Him? Many people desire to hear from Christ but are not close enough to hear Him even when He is speaking. This post emphasizes the need to love God if you are to hear from God.

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” – John 14:21 (NKJV).

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God – 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NKJV).

If you really want to hear from God you have to love Him, that is, obeying his commandments; otherwise, you will hear strange voices. And you will not know His commandments if you don’t know His words. Our Father can never speak anything contrary to His words. If it is not in line with God’s words, it’s not Him.

Many people claim they want to hear from God, but they are not ready to obey Him. The Lord won’t reveal things to you if you don’t love Him – 1 Corinthians 2:9-10. He has so many things to say to His people, unfortunately, very few are ready to hear.

 When your heart is for God, you will naturally desire to please Him, and as you do so He will keep telling you other things He would want you to do for Him. He will speak to you through His words and as you get to know His written word, you will be able to recognize His spoken word when He speaks. Read more...

Miracle Working God-The Alpha and the Omega

Do you know the reasons why God is a miracle working God? One important reason is that He is the Alpha and the Omega! An understanding of this truth will increase your faith in God and you will see more miracles in your life. This post explains more of God’s position as the Alpha and the Omega.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” – Revelations 22:13 (NKJV)

But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid: only believe, and she will be made well.” – Luke 8:50 (NKJV).

God does great signs, wonders and miracles. He did so many miracles in the bible and He is still doing great miracles today; things that can’t be explained by any human reasoning. And one attribute of God that makes this possible is the fact that He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. All starts and ends with God, He has the final say!

What does this mean? It means that even if that case looks as a closed case, it is not actually closed since it has not reached the end of your life or tenure, or of the world. If your faith is intact, it is not over until God says it is over. One thing is sure; the end will be in your favour.

Let’s consider a few examples: Sarah had long passed the age of giving birth, but she gave birth at the word of God. Her case seemed closed but not with God (Genesis 21:1-7); same with Hannah, Elizabeth and many other women and men that have similar testimonies. Also, Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den that should have been death for him but God didn’t say so, and he came out alive. But immediately his enemies were thrown in, their case was closed by God (Daniel 6). The three Hebrew boys had similar testimony too; they were delivered from a fiery burning furnace. They came out alive, with no smell of smoke on them (Daniel 3). Also, Joseph went from pit to prison, but he still got to the palace (Genesis 50:15-21).

What of Peter and Paul? Peter was put in jail to be brought before the people after the Passover, the faith of the disciples was up and God sent an angel to deliver him (Acts 12:1-12). Paul was stoned and dragged out of the city, his enemies thinking he was dead; but he got up and walked away (Acts 14:19-20).  Read more...

What Is Your Worth As A Christian?

Are you a believing Christian? Do you feel cheated because you are saved? Some Christians sometimes feel they are missing out something because they are saved. This I attribute to lack of knowledge, because if you know who you are in Christ, you will be on top all the time. This post aims at painting a picture of your worth as a Christian.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; - 1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)

For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother - Matthew 12:50 (NKJV)

How will you feel if you are the child of your boss, or the president's child, or the King's child? Touch not? Take some time and consider the privileges you would be enjoying and then imagine you as a child of the Almighty God (the overall Boss).

However, many Christians have not realized this truth, that you are the overall Boss' son or daughter! You are a royal priesthood, His own special person and the apple of His eyes, (Deuteronomy 32:10, Zechariah 2:8). God's people are truly destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). When you understand who you are in Christ, your response to things and circumstances will be different.

Jesus said that once you are doing the will of God, you are His brother or sister or mother, which means the privileges He has you also have. IT IS THE TRUTH. The challenge some Christians have is that they don't believe it and they can't imagine it. Note that God says what He means and means what He says.

Elijah walked in this truth. In 1 Kings 18:20-40, when there was a contest between Elijah and servants of Baal, Elijah told God to send fire down that the people would know that He is God and him the servant of God and God answered. Another time in 2 Kings 1:1-15, King Ahaziah sent soldiers to go and bring Elijah to him. Read more...