Posts

Posted on

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree;they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon- Psalm 92:12

Believers grow upright and strong like cedars in Lebanon. As cedars grow upward, so do believers as they keep their gaze on the Lord.The perfect illustration of cedar-like growth is our Lord Jesus Christ.For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground..(Isa 53:2). He grew in wisdom, stature,and in favor with God and man(Luke 2:52). It proceeded to Him displaying maturity that we are to emulate in our walk. His growth was progressive and ours will likewise resemble that. He displayed formidable determination whenever he was faced with opposition or resistance. As we grow like the cedar,we are able to withstand pressure with the help of the Holy Spirit. Where our strength reaches an impasse, we find new strength from the Lord. As the scriptures say, my heart and my flesh may fail but the Lord is the strength of my life(Psa 73:26). When the Lord’s sweat became like great drops of blood in the garden, his strength was subsequently renewed to empower him. He was able to proceed with the will of the Father.


What are the signs that we are growing like cedars?


We are enabled by the Holy Ghost to live in the spirit more than the flesh. We find ourselves more saturated with the Lord and the things of God than being tethered to this earth realm
We are able to think and live according to the word of God and not conform to the ways of this world
We are able to walk in the fruit of the Spirit. When tempted to complain we praise the Lord. When tempted to retaliate we choose love. When tempted to be proud we choose humility. When tempted to harbor resentments we choose forgiveness and mercy. We see ourselves increasingly displaying the nature of Christ and not our human nature.

We become unshakeable and immovable when trials come. This is not to say we don’t feel any pain, no. We are still human after all. But our humanity does not control us. The grace of the Lord is sufficient to sustain us


We have to be planted to grow like cedars. We ensure that we are planted when we hold fast to his Word. Then when growth comes, we have to ensure that we remain in him. We cannot be tossed to and fro or be inconsistent in our relationship with the Lord because we will have shallow roots. Growth is uncomfortable and painful at times. This is where many fall away. We have to know that the Lord will many times prioritize our growth over immediate reward or relief. Our faith which is much more precious than silver and gold has to be tested. With that comes the endurance we need to proceed with the Lord. Many of us lack endurance because when the test comes, we turn away from the Lord. We stunt our growth and wonder why we are not maturing in Christ. Instead of trials causing us to turn to Him, we turn to other things(idols). We then come back when the storm has ceased. The Bible says Father sowed a son to reap many sons, not babes.

Some facts on the Cedar of Lebanon


-The Cedar of Lebanon is a tough tree. It can withstand both extremes of the weather scale as well as resist many pests and diseases.
-It’s shape adapts to it’s environment. In a forest setting, the Cedar of Lebanon typically grows pointy and straight branches.On the other hand, in more open and free environments, its majestic foliage covers much more horizontal space.
-It doesn’t flower before the age of 30;
-The sawdust of the Cedar of Lebanon contains substances that naturally repel snakes, making the area around its trunk a relatively safe napping haven.
-Ancient civilizations, especially Phoenicia, used cedar timber to construct various buildings.
-Many old temples and palaces, in addition to boats, furniture, and other objects were cedar-wood constructions. 1


How these facts compare to our spiritual walk


The Adam Clarke Commentary quotes a scholar who visited the trees in 1697 as saying: “These noble trees grow among the snow, near the highest part of Lebanon”


Fortification and endurance are developed, not given. They are developed in the arena of discomfort, on the treacherous terrain the Lord leads us into.
Just as the cedar’s shape adapts to it’s environment and grows, so too are we expected to grow no matter the circumstances we are in. There are no excuses. Jesus says “You have not chosen Me but I have chosen you and I have appointed you so that you also will go bring forth fruit and your fruit will remain.. (John 15:16)


It doesn’t flower until it is 30. Growth takes time and we cannot rush the process. Some believers grow faster than others, but it generally takes time to grow in the Lord. We must not equate growth with how the Lord uses us. We can move in the gifts of the Spirit but still be immature, as evidenced by the church in Corinthian. They were babes in Christ, yet they were moving chaotically in the gifts until Paul came and established order on how to flow in them.
It’s sawdust repels serpents and that is likened to how we are to be the light of the world and salt of the earth, moving in our authority to repel darkness in our world.


Many ancient civilizations used the cedar to construct their buildings. This is likened to how the Lord uses us to establish His kingdom in the earth through us. We are His “building blocks”.

The Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary states about the phrase “roots as Lebanon” in this verse: “that is, as the trees of Lebanon (especially the cedars), which cast down their roots as deeply as is their height upwards ….”


It is written that our roots are to grow deep in him (Col 2:7)Our growth will be directly proportional to the depth of our roots in Him.Cedar wood is not consumed by worms or time; nor the Church by antiquity nor persecution. The gates of hell shall not prevail against it, nor any true member of it. Of which the reason is, because these … cedars—these righteous men—are planted, set by faith, watered by the word … rooted by charity in the Church, which is the house of the Lord; and therefore they shall flourish—be green and vigorous in the courts of our God” (Adam Clarke)

  1. https://the961.com./facts-about-cedar-of-lebanon// ↩︎

Posted on

The will of God

Misconceptions about the will of God

The will of God is not defined by the absence of tribulation, but rather by the assurance of His presence within it. It is erroneous to think that to be in the will of God is perfect peace without struggle. Joy without any temptation to be sorrowful. Obedience without a desire to disobey. Abundance without scarcity. Immediate reward for obedience. Immediate breakthrough without waiting.  The will of God is not a perfect state. It is not a place where the adversary cannot reach you. Many wonder why they are still not experiencing abundance though they give and faithfully tithe. They wonder why they are in debt though they obeyed the Lord and moved to another state or started the business He instructed them to. Many wonder why they are still unmarried though they have been celibate or in abstinence,continuing to seek the Lord faithfully. They wonder why the Lord would “overlook” them and bless the sister who is clearly in fornication with marriage.

A closer look into the will of God

To understand the nature of God’s will, one must examine the lives of those who walked closely with Him. Despite their faithfulness, their paths were often marked by significant tribulation. Joseph honored the Lord and resisted temptation yet he was thrown in prison. I am certain that was not the outcome he was hoping for but his actions led him into the heart of the will of God. He was in Gods will because the Lord used that prison to prepare him for his destiny. Secondly, Paul was in the perfect will of God and yet he found himself imprisoned more times than any of the apostles. He was stoned one time, shipwrecked and flogged. That’s the will of God. Our Lord Jesus was in the will of God yet he was hated, rejected, scourged and faced the agony of the crucifixion. He was in the perfect will of God yet He asked Father if it’s possible to have the cup pass from him(Matt 26:39). It was the will of God for the Israelites to be liberated from slavery and yet they were pursued by Pharaoh. They felt helpless and fearful when they stood infront of the Red sea(Exo 14: 10-11). That is the will of God. It is not likened to us joyfully hopping down the street with the sun hitting at the right angle. It is not without tears for tears still shed from the eyes of those who are in the will of God. Paul cried when he shared with Agabus the prophet that Holy Spirit showed him tears and imprisonment awaited him in every city he would visit. This is the will of God. In the will of God, there is crushing. Even when a person is firmly within the will of God, He does not anesthetize them to the difficulty. You still feel the crushing; you still feel the weight of the trial. We are not to feel that we missed the Lord’s leading because of the incessant tribulation His will might bring.

The will of God is a sobering departure from human expectation

It is not a place of absolute comfort, on the contrary, it pushes you out of it. It’s a place where the Lord challenges your limiting beliefs and even propels you forward. Feeling stagnant or purposeless is often a symptom of being out of alignment with His leading. In contrast, being within His will,even amidst tears,challenges limiting beliefs and propels the believer toward their ultimate calling. This is not to say when you are in the will of God you wont long to be elsewhere, but there will be grace for you to remain in His hand and endure the process.Even in the waiting, the believer who is in the will of God is not on vacation. The Lord is healing them, giving them strength to confront their carnal mindset and revealing His will to the believer. The will of God requires engagement and endurance rather than avoidance. It is a call to remain present and active even when the circumstances are taxing.It is not a stationary place. Even if the days are monotonous because we are in a “desert” season or spiritual winter, if you are in the will of God you will still not be sitting idly and complacent. The will of God is not conducive for laziness nor does it promote it. It is a place of redirection, healing, renewal, revival, purpose.It fosters intimacy with the Lord and strengthens the authority of the Lord in our lives. It places us in the position of submission unto the Lord and makes way for deepened trust in Him. In the will of God, the Lord restores our authenticity and places us on the path He had for us all along. There is provision in His will, tangible and or intangible. This gives languaging to the gnawing feeling of directionlessness, emptiness and purposelessness experienced out of His will.

How to enter His will

So how do we get into His will? Seek his face consistently. Minimize distractions and get still before him. The Bible says be still and know that I am God( Psa 46:10). Listen more than you speak for when we do most of the speaking in prayer, it is a sign of pride. When you receive instruction from the Lord, compare it with scripture. Is that something the Lord would ask you to do? Sometimes you wont find your answer in the Word. What do you do? Fast and pray. Continue to live in the presence of God. Get godly counsil from those mature than you in the faith if possible. Worship, praise Him and practice gratitude. Position yourself to hear Him in this way. Dont give in to worry and confusion. Trust that the Lord will unveil truth to you. Continue to petition the Lord to make His instruction clear to you. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart (Ps 37:4). This actually means that as you delight yourself in Him, He will in turn give you His desires and they will subsequently become your own. The will of God may feel uncertain but He is not heavy handed. He leads in peace. Again, peace does not mean you have all the answers nor does it mean you wont have the option to give into worry and stress. It is having peace in the face of the stress and worry. You will find that peace rises and towers over the stress and worry that stems either from your flesh or the enemy. Overtime you realize that the stress and worry is gone. That is a sign you are in the will of God; when the peace is more vocal and the fear scurries off.

Posted on

A dual reality

We are simultaneously seated with him in heavenly places and walking this earth. We live in a dual reality.We are seated with him in victory far above pricipalities, powers, rule and dominion, halleluya. By him we rule and reign in life(Rom 5:17). We overcome whatever that we face through Him. We must live life from this vantage point, looking down into the earth. We must keep our eyes fixed on things above and not things on this earth(Col 3:2). This helps us to have heaven’s perspective on any matter we encounter. This world is limited and when we only focus on this reality, though another realm is open to us, with the position in heavenly places next to our Beloved, Jesus, we will be limited.

The Contrast of Perspectives: Earthly vs. Heavenly

Approaching life from a higher perspective ensures our eyes and mind stay on Him. When the Lord fed the the large crowd he asked Philip where they could get food to feed them all.Philip whose mind was trapped in this earthly realm gave an earthly perspective and
answered, “For everyone to have even a little, it would take more than two hundred silver coins to buy enough bread.”(John 6:6-7) The Lord, whose perspective was heavenly looked up. Though we walk on this earth, we must not be confined to this earth’s limitation,potential,resources and supply.

The Call to Single-Minded Devotion

No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him(2 Tim 2:4). Believers are encouraged to adopt a soldier’s focus, prioritizing their commitment to Christ above all else. By minimizing secular distractions and trivial pursuits, they preserve the clarity and energy required to execute their divine mission with excellence . We need to audit ourselves to see if we are planted in this earth realm and governed by it or if we are still living by faith. As the scriptures say, the just shall live by faith(Hab 2:4). When we face an obstruction in the road be it in the form of physical pain, do we quickly reach for the analgesic or do we use our authority? Do we call so and so and after all else fails do we only think to pray? Even the Lord Jesus said when He comes will he still find faith on this earth?

The Subtle Influence of Worldly Programming

The dangers of being immersed in this earthly life is that it dulls us of our spiritual reality. We get accustomed to its ways. We approach life from its vantage point. We adopt its ways. Television channels are called TV programs for a reason and that is to program us into thinking in a way that is against biblical morality. It is to desensitize us so that what was unambiguously morally wrong is accepted or atleast accepted by the majority, in order to normalize wickedness. Many of us learned about using foul language, infidelity, sexual immorality, lying, magic etc from television and movies. Am I saying television should be thrown away? Am I saying all our focus should be heavenward? We are required to exercise caution and moderation when we watch it( though throwing it away isn’t absurd either) and we are to be heavenly minded and earthly relevant.

Claiming our Spiritual Inheritance

Furthermore, when we are entirely submerged in this realm we forfiet our inheritance. We experience things that aren’t even our portion. The Bible says we are strengthened with all might according to his glorious power to endure all long suffering and patientlce with joy!(Col 1:11). But how many of us believers go through hardship and we are just as depressed as the unsaved around us. Melancholy grips us but our portion is joy in tribulation! Even Paul maintained a calm disposition when the ship was falling apart but the others who were on the same ship were distressed(Acts 27: 33-37) This is available to us when we live from our heavenly occupation with the Lord.

The danger of losing our fervor for the Lord

Lastly when we live a distracted life, spending a bulk of our time in earthly pursuits without restraint, we place ourselves in danger of nullifying and numbing our fervor for the Lord and spiritual matters. When secular entertainment becomes more compelling than the Word of God, it indicates a heart that has become distracted. We may find that the Bible starts to get boring but a series on Netflix is far more interesting. Logging onto Instagram or whatever choice of distraction we prefer, is far more appealing. To maintain our spiritual vitality, we must intentionally prioritize our relationship with the Lord over the fleeting allure of digital distractions and worldly series .

Posted on

The fruit of intimacy

The Lord has called us to be with Him. He says I have called you to be with me and I will send you out(Mark 3:14). He reveals His love,goodness,grace, tenderness, mercy, forgiveness and overall attributes. Consequently we are healed. Our walls of defence rooted in pain come down. The soul parts that had to play the role of God to us, shielding us from past hurts are relieved of their duty. Bitter and filthy speech rooted in brokenness is sweetened by the Holy Spirit. Now the Lord can ascend to His rightful throne in our hearts and we operate from a place of wholeness. This is done over time.

He rewards those who earnestly seek him.” — Hebrews 11:6
​Is it not breathtaking that God compensates us for the “work” of seeking Him? Our reward is the revelation of His true nature—a goodness so profound it defies human imagination. He reveals Himself and we are priviledged to see Him as He is.That heals us. We are then enabled to show others this goodness. Since God forgave us and continues to do so, we can do it for others. We can overlook their mistakes, love them even when they are hard to love, be at peace with everyone(Rom 12:18).

He gives seed to the sower.” — 2 Corinthians 9:10
​God is not a demanding taskmaster; He is a generous Provider. He never commands us to love from an empty heart or forgive from a bankrupt soul or solely from a place of strict obedience. Instead, He pours His love into us so that we have a surplus to share. Whether it is time, a listening ear, or a spirit of forgiveness, we give because we have first received. We do not manufacture grace; we merely distribute the abundance He has given us. When a believer speaks in malice, the world asks: “Does God hate me?” But how can we represent the One we do not truly know? . The issue is that we never spent enough trysting time with the Lord to see Him so that we could receive from Him and represent Him well. Our mission is simple: to be tenderized by His love so that our lives reflect His true heart

In Matt 18: 21-35 we read about the parable of the unmerciful servant who was pardoned for his enormous debt but failed to do the same for one who owed him. He was punished by the King as a lesson to us.

When I had a distant relationship with the Lord, I truly questioned 1 John 5:3 which states; In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome. This was not my reality. I was failing at every attempt to keep His Word. When we are distant, His commands often feel like an impossible weight—a standard we fail to reach despite our most earnest efforts. We strive for perfection, yet find ourselves faltering, leading to a cycle of frustration rather than the liberty promised in the Word. Not that I am claiming perfection in obedience but I see grace to obey. I cry out to be able to obey. I give Him room to work in me to make me willing to obey and I plant myself in His presence because that’s where change will occur. Let us seek the Lord and allow Him to do what only He can so that we dont give the world a caricature of our Lord-a distorted, stiff, or harsh image that is deficient of His true warmth.

Posted on

In His light, we see light – Psalm 36:9

The Necessity of Proximity
​Seeking the Lord is never a fruitless endeavor. We are not pouring water in a bucket full of holes nor are we sowing into hard ground. God is the ultimate source of light, possessing a profound desire to unveil truth to us; however, such revelation warrants proximity to Him. Spiritual intimacy is the catalyst for divine insight.He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him( Dan 2:22). He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep shadows into light( Job 12:22). Even the darkness is not dark to You… for darkness is as light to You (Psa 139:12)

As we persist in our pursuit of God, His light penetrates the most elusive and craftily concealed areas of our existence. Elements that once masqueraded as mere shadows and integrated seamlessly into our lives are finally brought into the light. They are made to protuberate and we finally distinguish their movement to ours. What we initially claimed as part and parcel of who we are turns out to have been a familiar spirit. What we had accepted as the way we thought turns out to be a stronghold. What we had accepted and even mistitled as overwhelm is revealed as a spirit of anxiety( this is what actually transpired to me and the Lord delivered me, halleluya). Endless revelations await us as we consistently commune with the Lover of our soul.

There exist influences and entities that shadow our movements, operating beyond our natural awareness. These forces facilitate cycles of stagnation and destructive patterns, strategically agitating our vulnerabilities to obstruct the blessings and purposes God intends to fulfill through us.
​The Call to Consistency
​A distant walk with the Lord, characterized by only occasional engagement with His Word, limits our capacity to perceive these hidden obstructions.It truncates the light of the Lord in our lives and darkness continues to cloak our lives though we are saved. To experience a true unveiling of what hinders us, we must move beyond a peripheral connection and dwell in His constant light

Human perception is often confined to the surface; we may garner the applause of our peers and maintain an outward appearance of success while remaining spiritually impoverished.

​To the church in Smyrna, the Lord offered a divine paradox: though they were characterized by earthly tribulation and material poverty, He declared them rich (Rev 2:9) May we always be anchored in the truth that true prosperity is measured by spiritual endurance and heavenly standing rather than worldly accumulation.
​The Illusion of Sardis
​Conversely, the church in Sardis serves as a grave warning against the “illusion of vitality.” While they possessed a prestigious reputation for being spiritually alive,the Lord’s diagnostic was absolute: they were, in reality, dead(Rev 3:1). Public acclaim is no substitute for private devotion.
​
​The Lord does not view us through the lens of human optics.To walk in truth, we must seek His assessment over the validation of men, ensuring that we are in keeping with Heavenly standards, fit for the Masters approval and commendation.

Posted on

The danger of unsubdued desires


But people are tempted when they are drawn away and trapped by their own evil desires. Then their evil desires conceive and give birth to sin; and sin when it is full grown gives birth to death- (James 1:14-15)


Our own desires, called evil by the word of God, draw us away, making us candidates for temptation.Human vulnerability begins when internal desires align with unholy, external suggestions. The word of God identifies these misaligned desires as the entry point for spiritual decay. If a “hook” does not already exist within us, the adversary uses deception, finesse to plant a new, foreign desire.
​
​Taking the bait is an act of self-sabotage. Like Eve, we may start in a state of obedience, but without a fortified and vigilant mind, we are susceptible to “beguilement.” The serpent did not force Eve; he simply changed her perception until her curiosity outweighed her commitment (Gen 3:1-7)
Desires that are not submitted to the Lord are lethal because they erode our filter of morality, causing us to do the unthinkable. What you may have thought of as abborrent may become something one embraces because of the need that the desire gives birth to. See, desires never want to remain as simply desires. They seek to undergo metamorphosis and be expressed. Even the Lord says we should delight ourselves in Him and He will give us the desires of our hearts ( Psa 37:4). The Lord gives us His desires so that they become our own, and He then fulfils them.

​The Strategy of Divine Alignment
The antidote is found in the principle of sacred delight. When we delight in the Lord, a spiritual exchange occurs: He replaces our volatile impulses by implanting His own desires within us. We do not merely follow rules; we undergo a complete heart change where His will and desires become our very own.


This alignment ensures that what we pursue is inherently life-giving. By adopting God’s desires as our own, we are no longer susceptible to the enemy’s “bait.” Instead, we operate within a closed loop of grace where God initiates the holy desire and subsequently provides the providential fulfilment of it.


With all the temptations that the Lord faced none of them succeeded because His heart was submitted to the will of the Father. This protected Him. Having a heart posture that is submitted to God enfeebles the potency of our desires or any wicked or foreign desire planted by the enemy, even when what he promises is the very thing we need. This ensures that we always obey the Lords word, His instructions and warnings.Though Christ was subjected to the full spectrum of human temptation, He remained impenetrable. His immunity was not a lack of exposure, but the result of a permanent heart posture of total submission. By anchoring His identity in the Father’s will, He rendered the enemy’s psychological “finesse” powerless.


​Neutralizing the Enemy’s Leverage
A heart submitted to God acts as a spiritual buffer, weakening the potency of external and wicked suggestions. Even when the adversary offers a legitimate “need”—such as bread in a time of hunger—a submitted heart recognizes the deception. There is a well-known proverb that goes, ” not all that glitters is gold”. When a heart is submitted to the Lord, even when the enemy brings real gold that glitters, it is seen as pyrite or even tin. Submission ensures that our desires never override the Lord’s requirements for holiness. We may be ill prepared for what the enemy has prepared for us. We may face temptations that we never even imagined existed. We could be promised heaven and earth but our submission to the Lord won’t allow us to partake of that banquet. True submission to the Lord is a shield and likened to writing a surprise test with the answer sheet infront of you. You find yourself passing tests you did not prepare for. With true submission and the fear of the Lord in your heart, you never need to always know what the enemy will throw your way for you to experience victory.


​The Internal Vetting System
True submission functions as an advanced filtering system for the soul. It sharpens discernment that is needed to distinguish between a providential gift and a bait from the enemy. When the heart is already occupied by the Father’s will, wicked or foreign desires find no soil in which to take root, ensuring we remain responsive to divine warnings, instructions and His word.


This posture of surrender transforms obedience from a struggle of willpower into a natural byproduct of alignment. Even in the face of struggle, one with this heart posture will cry out in desperation to the Holy Spirit seeking divine aid to obey truth. By prioritizing the Lord’s instructions over our immediate impulses, we move from a state of vulnerability to a position of spiritual authority, where the Word of God remains our final authority. It elevates us from the postion of powerless prey to spiritual giants.


When we drift from Him, our desires usurp us of our power and authority. The Lord wants us to have these desires in subjection to us and not the other way round. When they take the position of master and lord, enslaving us, the Lord’s instructions lose authority and become mere suggestions and we fall for temptation.


It is a painful experience when our desires have gained this position of lord in our lives, enslaving us and the Lord has to reroute and put us on the right path. To break the grip of a hijacked will, God often utilizes the “sting” of disappointment, shame,isolation and rejection just to mention a few. These are not acts of cruelty, but surgical interventions intended to sever our attachment to a path that leads to destruction. Sadly, the Lord is not able to retrieve everyone from this experience. The Lord told Jonah to go to Ninevah but he chose to go to Tarshish instead. The Lord permitted him to be swallowed by a whale and remain in it’s stinky, dark belly ( Jonah 1:1-17). Interestingly, it was only when the Lord ordered this unpleasant intervention that Jonah cried out to the Lord and was saved and rerouted to the original plan of God. Saul never repented of his wicked ways and he consequently fell to his ruin.


The difference between a “painful reroute” and a “tragic end” lies in the heart’s response to the sting. While the Lord is longsuffering, the soul must eventually decide to abandon its Tarshish. The Lord’s intervention provides the opportunity for a U-turn, but the choice to bow the knee remains the deciding factor in whether our story ends in redemption or in ruins.

Posted on

We live for the praise of His glory

If churches of the modern era had existed during the days of Job, would his divine commendation have spared him from his tribulations? Furthermore, why did the Lord not shield Peter with a total prohibition against Satan’s interference, rather than permitting the sifting? We see this pattern elsewhere: the man born blind (John 9:1-3) and the intentional delay in reaching Lazarus. Even the onlookers questioned why the One who granted sight to the blind permitted His friend to perish(John 11:37). But healing Lazarus was not the plan of God. In fact, many Jews would come to know the Lord and the chain of events would unravel and quicken, leading to the main goal: His crucifixion and sacrifice for mankind(John 12:9-12).

Additionally, In Jewish tradition at the time, many believed that the soul hovered over the body for three days, hoping to re-enter it. By the fourth day, it was believed that the soul had finally departed because the body began to show visible signs of decay (decomposition). By waiting until the fourth day, Jesus ensured that no one could claim Lazarus had simply “fainted” or was in a deep sleep. It was an undeniable, absolute death. -Bethany bible church

Furthermore, He stated it was for the glory of God in (John 11:4) We should always be cognizant that the Bible says we exist for the praise of His glory( Eph 1:12). This is part and parcel of what we signed up for when we accepted Jesus as Lord; to be participants and conduits for His glory( Isa 43:21).​In (John 11:15), Jesus told His disciples, “I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Lastly, He demonstrated His ultimate power over death, unequivocally proving that He is the resurrection and the life. At times, it feels as though we are going through a profound dilemma, a problem that feels impregnable, stuck in a labyrinth that mocks our every attempt. In desperation we lean on those mature than us in the faith to petition the heavens on our behalf hoping that their fervent prayers coupled with our desperation will yield favorable results but the mountain remains defiantly in our path.

The Lord does not shield us from every trial and discomfort that comes our way. He even told us to brace ourselves for it (John 16:33) .

The bible is replete with the faithful who endured deep affliction despite their devotion: Daniel was cast into the den of lions inspite of his daily prayers; Paul’s earnest petitions were met with a persistent thorn; Elizabeth and Zachariah faithfully served the Lord yet she, though blameless before God, bore the heavy stigma of barrenness until her child aligned with the Lord’s divine calender. Only then was her womb opened. Even the innocent Joseph was left in a prison, and Stephen, a man filled with the Holy Spirit, met his end in a hail of stones.
​Therefore, it is a grievous and egregious error to equate ongoing hardship with a deficiency of faith. To cast blame upon the suffering is not only a distortion of the Gospel but a betrayal and misrepresentation of the heart of the Savior. As the Prophet Isaiah declared, ‘A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out'(Isa 42:3). Our Lord does not trample the broken; He sustains them.

Let us all be encouraged and remember that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Posted on

Jesus Christ is free, living free isn’t


We are living in perilous times. We thank the Lord that His gifts have not ceased. We are privileged to witness the Lord move and touch us in ways unimaginable. It is glorious to experience His presence and have His Spirit indwell us. Nevertheless,sometimes we take things too far. People want to utilize the cross to relinquish the responsibility that rests on their shoulders.

As believers we get bound because the enemy sometimes utilizes underhanded tactics however, sometimes it is our fault. And when bound we want to be prayed for. We forgot to keep watch against sin that easily ensnares us. We forgot to pray and keep watch for the devil roams about like a lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet 1:8).Once that transpires we want deliverance prayer. We fail to listen to the Lord and we get ensnared and the first thing we seek after is a prayer line. Freedom is not free. It is expensive to live free in Christ. What do I mean by that? I mean we have to take responsibility over ourselves and it is unceasing . We can’t meditate on everything that lands in our minds. We do not possess the freedom as believers to utter everything we would like to. We have to learn to bridle our tongues. We can’t speak whichever way we would like to.We are not permitted to watch everything we desire to. Boundaries exist that determine what we listen to . We can’t maintain relations with certain individuals. We are prohibited to date or marry outside our faith. We can’t keep retain certain souvenirs or items in our home. Not everyone can minister, pray with us or over us. We can’t retain gifts from former lovers. When these issues are raised, people say we are taking the fun out of Christianity, that it all sounds too legalistic. That’s coming out of the mouth of someone who has a predilection for bondage. There are certain things that only thrive in our lives because we have made room for them. We have come into agreement with them. And as the bible says, can two walk together lest they be agreed ( Amos 3:3). Inquire of anyone who is experiencing freedom in Christ and they will tell you how they live. Some would be shocked at the boundaries that govern their lives.

We are called to live according to a higher standard:


Upon hearing something scandalous we do not pass it on for that would be committing the sin of gossip. When we witness something that can sow discord, we find a way of approach that will not give the enemy a foothold. We apply wisdom in our relationships. Someone says something spiteful and instead of retaliating in anger we are slow to anger. The word says be slow to anger( James 1:19) Be angry and sin not the Bible says. A friend shares about an injustice that transpired to them and due to not wanting to open the door to the spirit of offense we commiserate with them instead of spewing offended and angry statements to show that we care. We forgive when our flesh feels validated in remaining angry. See the pricetag?

To elaborate further:


1. Failing to listen to the Lord. Isa 42: 18-25) speaks about the Lord exalting His laws and teachings so that they could be obeyed but because the Israelites did not, they were locked in dungeons and hidden away in prisons, robbed and plundered (verse 22).


2. Failing to guard against sin and walk in integrity. Guard against sin that so easily ensnares or entangles us (hebrews 12:1) The sin which so easily ensnares us: The words easily ensnares translate a difficult ancient Greek word (euperistaton), which can be translated four ways: “easily avoided,” “admired,” “ensnaring,” or “dangerous.”

i. Let us lay them all aside:

· Some sins can be easily avoided, but are not.

· Some sins are admired, yet must be laid aside.

· Some sins are ensnaring and thus especially harmful.

· Some sins are more dangerous than others are.

ii. If such ensnaring sins were really the work of demonic possession or demonic influence in the Christian, this would be an ideal place for the Holy Spirit to address this. Yet we are never given reason to blame our sin on demons; the appeal is simply for us to, in the power of the Holy Spirit, lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us. – Enduring word commentary


3. We are not permitted to meditate upon everything that lands in our minds when it is against the word of God. We have to take it captive ( 2 Cor 10:5)


4. A believer’s words are not their own to scatter carelessly — they are subject to the divine ordinances of Scripture, which carefully govern every syllable we utter(1 Pet 3:10) says we must keep our tongues from evil. The heart of the righteous weighs its answers! ( Prov 15:28) The psalmist prays; set a watch over my mouth, a sentry at the door of my lips( Ps 141:3)


5. As believers, we are called to measure everything we watch and listen to against the standard of God’s approval, paving way for His Word to be the ultimate filter for what we permit into our hearts and mind ( Ps 101:3). Our senses are gates. Therefore we have to be heedful as to what we allow into them. Some Christians see no harm in listening to worldly music, watching worldy entertainment yet God is holy and He lives in you, remember that. We can grieve Him with the things we give our attention to.

6.Certain careers that threaten our witness should be evaded. This is a sensitive one yet it is valid. They profess that they know God, but in their works they deny Him, being abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate( Titus 1:16). I once heard a Christian actress share how the Lord permitted her to do a sex scene. That can’t be accurate as it promotes sin.Following the Lord will narrow our career options or atleast limit the scope of duties we may perform within them. The Lord said if we want to follow Him we must count the cost ( Luke 14 :28)


7. We can’t have relations with certain individuals in our lives. The bible says evil companion ruins good habits( 1 Cor 15:33 yet Christians will argue otherwise.

8.We cant marry outside the faith, that’s being unequally yoked (2 Cor 6:14-15).


9.Some items give the enemy a legal right to enter our homes.

Jewelry and art. Buddhas, Ankhs, Hindu deities, idols, yoga art, gargoyles, good luck charms, evil markings, mythology, and astrology items should all be destroyed. Dream catchers and specific evil Indigenous art must be destroyed as well. We can agree that there are wonderful native art pieces that have a cultural basis and history; however, some cultural items are things that invite demons into the home and were part of the culture before the gospel was brought to them. For instance, dream catchers invite demons to bring evil dreams and actual demons to you and your family. Idols, obelisks, Kachina dolls, totem poles and other items like this represent demons (sometimes even principalities) and call in demons to your dwelling place.

Witchcraft items. Ouija boards, fantasy crystals, demonic games, fortune telling items like tarot cards and tea leaf reading, Pokémon, astrology, Sanrio, Kurumi and Harry Potter. Items used in casting spells, water witching, creating watcher spirits, or doing any type of sorcery, divination, magic, or witchcraft.

Certain books, music, and videos. These can include books or videos of astrology, witchcraft, horror, vampires, divination, fortune telling, voodoo, any mythology, false religions, Kabbalah, New Age, homosexuality, pornography, freemasonry, and may include some children’s books. Worldly music, especially rock secular music should never be listened to as it can entice a person to do things that God does not want them to do and invites demons in as well and should be destroyed. The words of a song are key.

Idols. This can include posters, pictures, statues, masks, or other art that is idol related. It might be worship of celebrities or objects of Hinduism, Buddhism or New Age. If the love of money is worshipped, it is an idol. Ancestral worship is common in many cultures and many of those items should be destroyed, especially an altar to a dead loved one.

Certain oils and medicinals. Some oils used in massage or treatments, and incense need to be destroyed. These can be from certain countries or religions that bring sickness and curses. Have discernment and destroy as God leads.

Certain games and toys. Destroy all types of games of intense bloodshed and destruction, witchcraft, disrespect and killing of police, stealing, drug use and sales, voodoo. This might include card games, certain dolls, video games, card collections and evil dolls, Pokemon and Halloween items.1

With all of this said, utilize discernment. The Lord will unveil what you may need to discard and it may not be on this list. Last year I had to throw away a vase that had been in the house for many years. Outwardly, there was nothing demonic on it. It was ostensibly innocuous however, the Lord told me to discard it and I did.

10.We forgive when the flesh feels validated in being angry since we know that if we harbor unforgiveness we can’t even pray or bring offerings to Him. The word says if you bring an offering to the Lord but you remember that your brother has an offense against you, leave it at the altar and make right with them first. However, today Christians harbor unforgiveness and still pray or give to the Lord. This is deception. The Lord is rejecting our gifts. He will also give us over to tormentors(demons)( Matt 18:23-35). Unforgiveness opens the door to the enemy. It can bring sickness and even be a barrier to receiving healing. Forgiveness applies not only to others but to ourselves. It is imperative that we forgive ourselves for our past and current oversights.

  1. strategicprayercommandmin.com ↩︎