Training For Mastery

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).

To be a good leader, a successful leader, you have to be well trained. And training isn’t just a onetime thing; it’s a continuous exercise, and the aim of every training is to attain mastery or perfection. Some people believe that as long as they’re in the earth, they’ll just keep learning, without attaining mastery. That’s not what the Word teaches.

The Bible talks about people who are ever learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:7). That’s not a recommendation. There’s a place of mastery that every Christian should desire to attain. There’re certain things you must perfect before God can permit you to move to higher things in the spirit-realm. And that’s why you have to be trained in the Word.

In Ephesians 4:11-12, the Apostle Paul lists for us the purpose of the fivefold ministry gifts, which the Lord Jesus gave to the Church; it’s for the training or “perfecting” of the saints. It’s so we can attain mastery: “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints….”

Don’t live a life that’s always on “a journey,” in pursuit of the same things, on the same level for years. There’re certain things that you should perfect, and when you do, move to the next level; move to something higher. Success is measured at different levels. As you’re being trained, you can tell whether or not you’re successful by the results you produce on the basis of your current level of training.

The more yielded you are to the Holy Spirit and the Training For Mastery Word of God, the faster the process of your training, and the sooner you attain mastery at that level and area of training.

PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the ministry gifts to the body of Christ, that the Church may be
taught, trained, perfected and energized for the work of the ministry. I take advantage of the
Word and the blessings of the Spirit, through which I’m trained for a continuous life of victory, success, promotion and greatness, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

MAINTAIN A DISCIPLINED PRAYER LIFE

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4 KVJ)

It’s such a wonderful privilege to know that we can commune and fellowship with our heavenly Father through prayer, and that we have His full attention when we speak to Him (1 Peter 3:12). As emphasized, prayer isn’t just a way to get God to do something for you; it’s also a time to hear from the Lord and receive instructions on everything that concerns you.  

Christians must strive at having effective prayer lives. Prayer is not only a fellowship, it’s also a labour. That’s why I think it’s ridiculous to think we should pray only when we feel like. Then again, because prayer doesn’t appeal to our minds and senses, our bodies and minds may not enjoy praying and can even rebel against it. Many times we put off praying till the end of the day but by the time we’re through with the activities of the day, we’re tired and drowsy and our thoughts start wondering while we’re praying. This is where the labour comes into prayer, this is where the fight is, but it’s not a fight with devils or men, neither is it a fight with God. It’s a fight to keep yourself on track against the dictates of the flesh. Romans 8:26-27 says “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what the mind of the Spirit is because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God”

This takes training and so you must be resolved to stick with your personal prayer schedule. Some Christians find it almost impossible to do this simple because they’ve not been able to discipline their flesh. They go to work everyday of the week without ever considering getting to work late, much less not going at all. If you can train your mind and body to do this then you can train yourself to pray regularly and on time too. The problem is that too many aren’t willing to make such a sacrifice for their prayer lives, and that’s because they don’t know the important of prayer. But when trouble comes, they’re the first to cry, “Please, pray for me!” Don’t depend on ‘emergency prayers,’ consistency is the key. Make a fresh commitment to your personal prayer life today. There are so many things that will compete with your prayer time, but there’s so much you can achieve on your knees. So, stays connected to God, and maintain a disciplined prayer life. 

Success Without Struggle

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest , he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his (Hebrews 4:9-10).

    Notice the underlined phrase above: “For he that is entered into his rest….” That rest, is the rest in Christ; it’s much more than the rest for the physical body. It’s rest for your soul, where you don’t struggle or toil for anything whatsoever. As a new creation, everything required for your success, prosperity, victory, health and greatness has been made available in Christ. So, you don’t have to struggle in life anymore, for you’ve entered God’s rest.

    There’re many who haven’t realized this truth, and therefore, can’t walk in the vantage position of rest. In their jobs, businesses, projects, or even their evangelical responsibilities, they labour, toil, and struggle. But Christ is our rest. Our struggling doesn’t please God. That’s why the Holy Spirit was sent to help us. John 14:16 (AMP) says, “And
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever.” He’s here today, and now;
He’s your Helper.

    We’re living in the day of rest, ruling, and reigning with the King, seated together with Him in heavenly places: “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). Notice that scripture doesn’t say “We’ve been made to stand together in heavenly places,” no! We’re seated with Him; and that’s not the position of hardship, struggle, or labour; it’s a position of Success Without Struggle rest. The work has been done in Christ Jesus; now He says,“Enjoy all things. Live in my rest, for all things are yours.”

    Even your evangelical work shouldn’t be a struggle. Recognize this truth, and with that consciousness, preach and teach the Word; the power of the Spirit will be in it and convict or stir your hearers. It’s part of your blessing as the seed of Abraham, to excel and make progress in life, from glory to glory, without struggling.

CONFESSION
I’m a new creation in Christ, the seed of Abraham, and an heir according to the promise. I live
perpetually in the rest of God, for Christ is my Sabbath. Now and always, I walk in His glory, for I’ve been ordained to excel, win, and make progress from glory to glory, without struggles or anxieties. Blessed be God!

He'll Make Up For Lost Time

I’ll make up for the years of the locust, the great locust devastation—Locusts savage, locusts deadly, fierce locusts, locusts of doom…. (Joel 2:25 MSG).

If you ever find yourself in a quagmire, or in some unpleasant situation, don’t fret or think that you’re helpless. Don’t say, “This is my worst time in life!” Christ lives in you, and that’s what matters. He’s the restorer of wasted years, time, resources, money, energy, etc. He’ll make up for lost time. No human being or government may ever be able to give back to you what you’ve lost, but God can! He’s the God that “quickens the dead,” that is, gives life to the dead. He can bring back everything, and more! He can restore peace and order back to your life; you need not fret or be dismayed. Mark 4:37-41 tells a story of how the disciples set their sail, and the winds became boisterous and waves billowed into the boat to sink it. They were really in a fix. But Jesus was at the back of the boat, sleeping. Startled at the ravaging storms and the billowing waves, the disciples woke Him up and said, “Master, don’t you care that we perish?”

Jesus woke up and gave the word, “Peace, be still,” and there was a great calm. It made no difference how strong the tempest was; what mattered was that the Master was in their boat. Same way, Christ is in you today, and by His Spirit, He’ll cause you to be triumphant and laugh your way through life.

Stick to the Word; even when you think time isn’t in your favour to accomplish certain things, don’t push the panic button! Keep your composure; the God who lives in you is the owner of time. He can restore wasted years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, seconds, and even wasted moments. He can move you a hundred paces forward, far ahead of your competitors, detractors and adversaries. Halleluiah!

Bearers Of His Divine Message

 

For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts (Malachi 2:7).

In Christ, we’ve been made kings and priests unto God (Revelation 1:6). Thus, we have a ministry in Christ as king-priests of God. The priest’s tongue should keep knowledge. That means your lips should flow with the knowledge of God, to teach others the ways and life of Christ.The Living Bible Translation renders the latter part of our opening verse thus: “The priests are the messengers of the Lord Almighty, and men should come to them for guidance.”

1 Peter 4:11 says, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” If anyone wants to know something about God, they should come to you. They should find the Word of God and the knowledge of the Lord in your mouth. You should be a custodian of divine knowledge and of kingdom information.

The Bible says God spreads the beautiful and pleasant fragrance of His knowledge through us, in every place: “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14). It’s our ministry, calling, and responsibility to make the Word known to the world. So, keep teaching the Word.Jesus sent us to the whole world, to make pupils of the nations, to teach them everything about the God-life (Matthew 28:18-20). Go into the malls, the shops, the
marketplaces, your neighbourhood, estate, place of work; everywhere, and teach the people how to live for God.


PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for making me the bearer of your divine message; a minister of
reconciliation. I take the message of Christ’s salvation to my world, making known the mysteries of your glorious kingdom, touching lives, and bringing the oppressed out of bondage and darkness into the glorious liberty of the sons of God, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Celebrate Your Uniqueness!

God has a unique plan for your life, different from that of any other living person. His plans and purposes for your life are distinct, because He doesn’t have, has never had, and will never have a replica of you! You’re the only “you” that God has and will ever have. So, take pride in who you are and in what God is doing in your life; celebrate your uniqueness.
Sometimes, there’s the temptation to feel discouraged when others around you seem to be making more progress than you. However, such a feeling is absolutely unnecessary, because you don’t measure your success with the success of someone else. Rather, you measure your success with how much you’re walking in the will of God for your life. That someone else is succeeding doesn’t mean you’re failing, for God has called us to fulfill different areas of His vision.
The Bible says ‘…Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…’ (Hebrews 12:1-2). John the Baptist, for example, was filled with the Holy Spirit while he was in his mother’s womb and was described by Jesus as the greatest of all men born by women (Matthew 11:11). Yet, his ministry as the forerunner to the Messiah lasted only six months. This was God’s purpose for his life, and he fulfilled it. Learn to celebrate your uniqueness!
Refuse to compete or compare yourself with someone else. Focus on your calling; work on outdoing your past and not somebody else. This consciousness will make your life full of rest, as you learn to look at yourself and measure your success through God’s Word.

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30-year-old Rosemary Rance noticed that her legs were swelling, and she had difficulty walking. A visit to the doctor revealed that she was suffering from deep vein thrombosis. Forced to depend on others for her various needs, she was sad and depressed. Seeking a permanent solution, Rosemary undertook a journey of faith to the Healing School. Our video of the week is a report of her thrilling experience. Watch and be blessed.

Thursday Rhapsody of Realities

#Thursday #Rhapsody of #Realities

Value Spiritual Things

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? (Genesis 25:32).
Obadiah 1:21 tells us something striking; it says,
“And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau….” Esau represents the godless, the profane or body-ruled; those who don’t have value for spiritual things. Such people, the Bible says, are in the flesh and therefore can’t please God (Romans 8:8).

Esau was the older brother of Jacob, and because of his profanity, he sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of food. The spiritual implication of his action didn’t quite dawn on him at the time. It wasn’t about the food he ate; it was about his disdain for spiritual things. The birthright was spiritual. It had a special blessing, yet Esau forfeited it to his younger brother, because of food. What he wanted was for physical gratification: what he could touch, taste, or feel at that moment. And he got it. He made a carnal choice over that which was spiritual.

Jacob, on the other hand, was smart. He wanted the blessing, and he got it. The blessing is an unseen elixir. The senses can’t perceive the blessing. What you can see about the blessing are the results of the blessing. It’s like the anointing of God’s Spirit; you can’t see or touch the anointing, but it’s real, and it’s supernatural.

There’re some today who have no value for spiritual things; they’re like Esau. They’ll rather sit at home to watch a sports event at the time they ought to be in church. They’d rather accommodate social engagements when they ought to be praying. These are carnal Christians. What life are you living? What are the things that are important to you? What do you set your affections on? Does the blood of Jesus that was shed for you on the cross mean something to you? Do you meditate often on His vicarious sacrifice on your behalf? Have you sat down to contemplate and comprehend the love of God demonstrated towards you? Does He have the rulership in your life every day?
Let Christ, and the reign of His glorious Kingdom be all that truly matters to you. Let your passion for spiritual things, and love for the Master, be evident in all you do.

PRAYER
Gracious and loving Father, thank you for your love for me, and your glory that’s evident in my life. Thank you for your Lordship and leadership over my life, and for your wisdom that guides me always in your perfect will.My life is for your glory, now and always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

1 YEAR BIBLE
READING PLAN:
John 12:20-50
2 Kings 18-19

2 YEAR BIBLE
READING PLAN:
1 Corinthians
12:22-31
Proverbs 22

FURTHER STUDY:
Hebrews 12:15-17
Matthew 6:33
Colossians 3:2
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Tuesday Confessions

#Tuesday #Confession
“Holding forth the #word of #life; that I may rejoice in the day of #Christ, that I have not run in #vain, neither laboured in vain” (Phillippians 2:16). Read  more>>  http://goo.gl/Wkd2V1

MONDAY RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES:

MONDAY: You Must Keep Bearing Fruits

He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down (Luke 13:6-9).

The scripture above is a parable told by the Lord Jesus Christ with which He emphasized the importance of fruitfulness in God’s Kingdom. The owner of the vineyard had come seeking fruit from a particular fig tree, but there was none. Then he said to the vinedresser, “Cut it down.” The vinedresser, however, pleaded for more time to cultivate the tree some more, perhaps eventually it’d produce fruits. Otherwise, it could be cut down. The tree was of no value in the vineyard if it wouldn’t produce any fruits. In the same way, the Christian is a tree of righteousness in the Lord’s vineyard and is expected to be productive (Isaiah 61:3). A Christian that’s not producing fruits of righteousness is like the fig tree which the owner of the vineyard said should be cut down, and to which he said, “…why cumbereth it the ground?” (Luke 13:7). In other words, why waste good ground for an unproductive tree?

Some Christians have been born again for a very long time, yet they’ve never led a soul to Christ; they’ve never brought someone else to church. That’s like the unproductive fig tree. If perhaps, you’ve been that way, you must make a change today! First, ask the Lord to forgive you. Then, ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you to witness to someone today about Jesus Christ. Start from today to tell others about

Jesus, who He is to you, and His saving grace. Paul said, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead” (2 Corinthians 5:14). Be passionate about bearing fruits for the Lord, because He desires that of you.

PRAYER

Dear Father, I thank you for the opportunity to be inspired and instructed by your Word. I’m like a well-watered garden, fruitful at all times. I’m the fruit-bearing part of God’s vine and I’m producing durable fruits; fruits of righteousness, because I’m a tree of righteousness, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

1 YEAR BIBLE

READING PLAN:

John 11:1-16

2 Kings 10-12

2 YEAR BIBLE

READING PLAN:

1 Corinthians

11:30-34

Proverbs 19

FURTHER STUDY:

John 15:1-2

John 15:16

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

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Completely Eliminate the Fear of Death!

Completely Eliminate the Fear of Death!
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