1ST -2ND JAN 2010 HOW TO MAXIMISE YOUR NEW YEAR RESOLUTION
A lot of people make New Year resolutions perhaps because they are holding unto things that God has not put as part of their life. Sometimes we try so hard and become so desperate to change-manipulate our destiny, we try so hard to change the concept of how we live by serving eviction notice on every negative behaviour, thought and lifestyle that is holding us back. The battle to overcome is not ours to make-it is the Lords. He said “My strength is made perfect, fulfilled, completed and effective in your weakness…” Therefore, there is no mind that cannot be renewed or reprogrammed, no attitude that cannot be changed and no situation/circumstances that cannot be served eviction notice as long as you are empowered by faith constantly speaking the word of God. The following tips will help you maximise your new year resolutions and live victoriously. I pray you enjoy God’s peace in the year 2010. Happy New Year
PLS TO READ : 10 WAYS TO MAXIMISE YOUR NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS Click on the link below
http://christiandrive.wordpress.com/category/10-ways-to-maximise-your-new-year-resolutions/
3RD JAN 2010 I HAVE PRIVILEGES. HAVE YOU?
It is absolutely important we know our entitlement so we can claim them. Study the word to show yourself approved, advantaged for every situation, not giving out your rights to people who don’t deserve it. Don’t gamble away your rights, your entitlement to happiness and fulfillment, it is profitable, fruitful and advantageous for you to know even the very basic of all your claims and utilize them to your benefit.
4TH JAN 2010 BE THANKFUL FOR THE LAMP
The Psalmist David said “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105 NLT). There is a stark difference between the shinning lamp of God fed by the oil of the Holy Spirit which directs us in our work and way and the lamp in the world which cannot drive away the darkness that is in the world. His word is a door way that lets in light hence Psalm 119:130 says “The unfolding declaration (the entrance, the teaching) of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Opening God’s word let in light, so whenever we open God’s word our life is illuminated by the knowledge and wonders of His extravagant love.
The Psalmist David said “In the middle of the night I will get up to give you praise, because of all your right decisions.” Psalm 119:62 In the middle of the night His word will guide us when we begin to give praise so no care or grief should take away God’s word out of our minds, or hinder the comfort it bestows. There is no situation on earth in which a believer has not cause to be thankful.
5TH JAN 2010 DO IT ON YOUR KNEEL
Avoid making mentally fabricated plans why don’t you do it on your kneel? Work it out with prayer because prayer works. The Bible says “The earnest heartfelt, continued-nonstop prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available dynamic in its working. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.
6TH JAN 2010 UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN CHRIST (1)
2 Corinthians 5:17 (New International Version)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone (the present, visible and undeniable change are gone) the new has come! Excerpts from Wesley’s notes states He has new life, new senses, new faculties, new affections, new appetites, new ideas and conceptions. His whole tenor of action and conversation is new, and he lives, as it were, in a new world. God, men, the whole creation, heaven, earth, and all therein, appear in a new light, and stand related to him in a new manner, since he was created anew in Christ Jesus.
7TH JAN 2010 UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN CHRIST (2)
To be in Christ is to
- Be a true believer in Christ with a new moral, spiritual condition and conviction
- Be united to Christ by faith as a branch is in the vine
- Be in communion (common union) with Christ
- Be renewed with the Spirit of Christ
- Be newly created- born anew, a new person spiritually purged of carnal views acting upon new principles, new rules with a promised and expected end and in new company
- Be a new nature different from anything previously existing made new by God, who gives the spirit of regeneration
- Be a new workmanship of God with a heart not mere reprogrammed or set right but a new heart delivered and given him
- Be recreated in will to will well and empowered to do well
- Be crucified with Christ, buried into Christ death Christ and risen to walk in the newness of life
- Have a new character and conduct which reflects and desires everything Christ really is-that is the beauty in the Saviour
8TH JAN 2010 HE THAT DWELLS - NOTE THIS PRIVILEGE
Psalm 91:1 says “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
Notice this as you read, the term “He that dwells under……..” denotes an exclusive protection, an un-imaginable shadow of defence; an armament of protection, enjoying the sovereign immunity of one that exercise absolute and exclusive power over all creation(s). What else would you be doing under the shadow of someone? Can you figure out something you can do with someone’s shadow?
Is this not suppose to be one of your entitlements? When you live, notice the word live, to live is to be instruct able, to dare to follow, to obey and be obedient, to be teachable and answerable, to stay teachable and instruct able, to listen and to overthrow the flesh in you, to have an un-rebellious spirit, When you live or dwell under the shadow of His protection and His perfection your defence and protection schedule is God’s business. That is the unfading beauty of God’s protection.
9TH JAN 2010 HE THAT DWELLS - ENTITLEMENT (2)
What else would you be doing under the shadow of someone? Can you figure out something you can do with someone’s shadow?
A shadow screens, cloaks, shield and shelter me from the sun-the scorching troubles of life; it hides-conceals, masks and veils me from my adversaries, my sad and unrepentant enemies; my defeated and disappointed foes. How joyful? I live in an exquisitely friendly fortress, not some delusional worldly protection and false security guaranteed by men that trembles when cruel enemies sound their trumpets.
10TH JAN 2010 HE THAT DWELLS - ENTITLEMENT (3)
The overshadowing roof of your house is there to shelter you from the blustery, squally, turbulent and raging stormy weather out there. When you live, notice the word live, to live is to be instruct able, to dare to follow, to obey and be obedient, to be teachable and answerable, to stay teachable and instruct able, to listen and to overthrow the flesh in you, to have an un-rebellious spirit, When you live or dwell under the shadow of His protection and His perfection your defence and protection schedule is God’s business. That is the unfading beauty of God’s protection.
2 Corinthians 4:8 (NIV) “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
You may be hard pressed on every side by circumstances or situation; the scorching troubles of life-marital issues, financial burden and crisis, threatening business climate, family problems, friends and peer pressure; you will not be crushed because you live and abide under the shadow of the almighty; And because you are carrying about in your body the liability, exposure and the same putting to death that the Lord Jesus suffered, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus is shown forth in you.
11TH JAN 2010 HE IS A WAKEFUL AND WATCHFUL KEEPER (1)
When difficulties and dangers are greatest where do you go to for help? Who do you call on for help? Some may rely on great men of influence, princes and men of wealth David said “Some trust in and boast of chariots and some of horses, but we will trust in and boast of the name of the Lord our God.”
Your confidence should be in God only, Psalm 121:1 “I WILL lift up my eyes to the hills from whence shall my help come?” Stop polishing your chariots and stop grooming your horses-A faithful man shall abound with blessings packaged with faultless and flawless enduring protection- Read Proverbs 28:20 and Proverbs 30:5. We must see all our help in God and from God because trust in Him brings a sense of well-being; from him we must expect it, in his own way and time.
12TH JAN 2010 HE IS A WAKEFUL AND WATCHFUL KEEPER (2)
The safety of those that put their trust in God is paramount to him-He doesn’t go on holiday when you need him; His phone lines are not dead, disabled or unreachable when you need to access Him in emergency for super security; And He doesn’t go on business trips when great difficulties and dangers are threatening, pushing or knocking down your natural walls of protection. He is a wakeful, watchful Keeper! He is always near his people for their protection and refreshment. He is ever there to add His super to our natural to make it supernatural.
13TH JAN 2010 THE FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH (FAITH CONFESSION)
I refuse to be weakened in faith by what I see because what I see is provisional, I refuse to be intimidated or nudged by the facts; notwithstanding the facts may say one thing but the truth says, nourishes and conceive something else and one of the greatest truth for me is Isaiah 26:4 “Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength” and Isaiah 25:4 “God is a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat…” We are potentially on the verge of a major change what matters is pitching your faith right, surely there is an end; and you expectation shall not be cut off. Remember Abraham was fully persuaded that what God has promised He clearly was able to perform.
14TH JAN 2010 MY CONFESSION and YOUR CONFESSION
His favour is for a lifetime and in His favour is life. I know that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. I know the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD. He is my strength in the time of trouble because the LORD delights in me; my steps are ordered by the LORD. The LORD my God is a very present help in trouble. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. For thou has been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy, so I will sing praise unto thy name O LORD forever, that I may daily perform my vows.
15TH JAN 2010 WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CALLED OUT TO HIM?
The LORD hears our cry, because He is our God; we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Whether we are driven by adversity or sinking in a rising water of pain, anxiety, financial and marital depression, He is not handicap as some may think. You may have performed the best of your ability on that sinking ship, but like Peter when he momentarily walked on water. God has a fixed interest in us which qualifies us for His heritage, so cast your burden upon him, He will sustain you remember the Psalmist David said “As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord will save me.”
When you are embedded or located in the shadow of His wings, you have an exclusive heritage or birthright. When you follow in the footsteps of the likes of Peter, Daniel expect a remarkable turnaround which exudes the handiwork of God.
16TH JAN 2010 MY CONFESSION: (I WILL SING A NEW SONG AND I WILL NOT BE GREATLY MOVED)
Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. FOR GOD alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my Rock and my Salvation, my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be greatly moved.
19TH JAN 2010 HOW WELL DO WE UNDERSTAND OUR JUSTIFICATION?
What is justification? What does it mean to be justified? Who is justified? Are sinners justified?
Justification means reason, grounds, defence, excuse and vindication. To be justified means to declared ‘not guilty’ to be ‘vindicated’ acquitted or exonerated before God from condemnation or death sentence passed by the law as a result of sin.
Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!
But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him].
Why was our redemption and justification so important to God?
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
A key idea here was reconciliation; the whole of humanity sinned and as such were separated from God. The Bible says “ all have sinned and are falling short of the honour and glory which God bestows and receives.” Romans 3:23 (Amplified Bible)
However, God sent His only Son Jesus to die in place of the unrighteous, you and I not just under the bondage of sin but slave to sin in every capacity.
20 TH JAN 2010 HOW WELL DO WE UNDERSTAND OUR JUSTIFICATION? (4)
Again the central idea here was to save humanity from eternal destruction so we can have eternal life; John 3:16 says “For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.”
Another question of importance is why did God send his only Son Jesus? Someone unrighteous cannot die or save the unrighteousness, we owe a debt we could never pay even in a billion years time, and someone who is qualified had to pay our debt.
God wanted someone adequate and acceptable as substitute, someone without blemish to redeem those under the law so that the sinners might receive the full rights of sonship. The substitute was him who knew no sin. Jesus the righteous died for the unrighteous so that his holiness and righteousness can be credited to us. He paid a debt he didn’t owe with his blood, gave his life as a ransom for our redemption so that God no longer sees our unrighteousness when he looks at us. He sees the righteousness of Jesus, him who knew no sin. Amazing grace, God imputes the righteousness of Jesus to all believers.
21ST JAN 2010 HOW WELL DO WE UNDERSTAND OUR JUSTIFICATION? (3)
Before justification we were convicted unrighteous sinners on death roll, we were all under condemnation-under a sentence of death. However, by penal substitution; ‘sacrifice’ and ‘substitution’ came justification hence we are free, no longer under the law and condemnation but under grace.
The Bible says in 2 Corinthian 5:21 (Amplified Bible) “For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].