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Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0313

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Adorned with Majesty Light

Bible Nugget 0313 [Psalm 93 v 1-2 NKJV]
1 The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
         The LORD is clothed,
         He has girded Himself with strength.
         Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.
 2 Your throne is established from of old;
         You are from everlasting.

The beauty and splendour of God is majestic. Two characteristics of his majesty which God wants to pass to every person is his light and holiness. God is light and in him is not a shade of darkness (1 John 1:5). His light is both a purifier and destroyer. His light no man can break through.  However as we gaze at him in prayer, his light rubs on us and our inner man begin to radiate his glory and beauty, which invariably translates to holiness. This inner spiritual beauty should be the desire of everyone,  men and women  alike [ See  1 Timothy 2:8-9, 1 Peter 3:3-4.]

1 Tim 2: 8-9

 8I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

 9In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

1 Peter 3:3-4

3Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

 4But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Imagine staying under the sun for a long time. You become thoroughly tanned and that is the good effect the sun leaves on you, and you carry that skin all around. So is the glory of God. Moses stayed long enough under the direct light of God, such that he himself began to reflect in minuscule lumens the glory of God (2 Corinthians 3:13), and had to veil his face to prevent people gazing at him and falling down dead.  If this was the case with Moses, that people approached him with great caution, the radiance of God’s light can only be imagined.

1 Timothy 6:16

16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Another lesson to learn from the above is that God is absolutely holy and nothing unholy can approach him except in repentance. Isaiah saw God in an open vision and was absolutely awed by the glory, power and majesty. The light of God exposed Isaiah’s unholy state and he had to be cleansed by an angel to continue to remain in God’s presence. 

Isaiah 6: 1, 5-7

1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

 5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

 6Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:

 7And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

My desire is to be filled with his majestic presence on the inside and outside, so my walk with God will be in total holiness. What about you?

 

Prayer Nugget 0313

  1. Worship prayer: Lord I worship you in the beauty of your holiness. You are full of light and in you there is no darkness at all. Blessed be your holy name. Your throne is established forever. I bow down my knees in reverence of your holy name in Jesus name.
  2. Oh Lord, let your glorious light shine into my heart and overshadow every trace of darkness in Jesus Name.
  3. I envelope my self under your majestic light. Fill my heart with your spirit of holiness in Jesus name.
  4. Lord, adorn my heart with the spirit of meekness, quietness and holiness in Jesus name. Amen.

Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0311

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First and fourth Beatitudes of Godly Character

 

Bible Nugget  0311 [Matthew 5 v 3 & 6 KJV]

 

3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. …

6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled..

 

Or as narrated in New Living Translation Bible version

 

3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
      for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

 

6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
      for they will be satisfied.

 

A. Poor in Spirit

 

I like to share these two verses amongst the series of verses on blessedness in the sermon by Jesus in Matthew 5. The bible makes us understand that the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost [Rom 14:17]. God blesses or is ready to bless those who realize they are truly spiritually wrenched, naked and blind. These are the poor in spirit. For these people, they want to please God and are heaven’s candidates because they realize their utter dependence on God. They reverence God and take his word to heart, have a broken spirit, and a contrite heart and will not hide in their sins but rather humble themselves in repentance Isaiah 66:2 b.

 ………, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

An example of someone poor in the spirit was King David, who said  in his prayer of repentance in Psalm 51:16-17:

16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

 

The poor in spirit will receive the things of God like a little child and will totally empty themselves of pride, arrogance and have no affinity for worldliness. They are ready for personal discipleship with Jesus. Matthew 11:28-30

28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

They are not lukewarm and want to make heaven no matter what they have to forsake to achieve this. Jesus in his wakeup call to the Laodecian church in Rev 3:15-21 said:

15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

 17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

  21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

 

B. Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

Another group God wants to bless are those who hunger and thirst for his righteousness or justice. These are people who want and keep their garments as white as snow until the second coming of Jesus or rapture. They are filled with the spirit of holiness.  They are unsatisfied with their present state and want more of the character of God in their lives. They pant after God. Psalm 42:1-2

 

1As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

 2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

 

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will not compromise their salvation for a morsel of meat or the pleasure of sin; they will not see evil and call it good. They are not self-righteous. Jesus gave an example of two men who prayed to God and God’s assessment of each person. Luke 18:9-14

9And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

 10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

 13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

 

They love personal fellowship with God and other believers: Psalm 84:1-2

 

 1How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!

 2My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

 

Finally, they will not seek for revenge but rather wait for God to promote and honour them. Even before Pontius Pilate Jesus, Jesus showed great piety and restraint. He could have called for a multitude of angels (his servants) to deliver him from death which would be disobedience to the absolute will of God to save mankind by his death and resurrection. His character before Pilate is worth emulating.

 

Let’s read the account in John 18:36-37

 36Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

 

 

 

 37Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

 

 No wonder King David in worship prophesied  of Jesus in Psalm 45:6-7:

 6Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

 7Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

 

Do you want to see these two godly characters in your life.  Hunger and thirst more for the character of Jesus.  The Holy Spirit will help you as you seek these godly virtues and he will fill you with his power. John 7: 37-39

37In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

 39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

 

Prayer Nugget 0311

 

Holy Spirit infilling Prayer:

  1. Oh Lord fill me with your Holy Spirit. Soak me, drench me, and saturate me with your presence and power in Jesus Name.
  2. Oh LORD give me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Let my soul pant for your righteousness like the deer pants for streams of water in Jesus Name.
  3. Purge my heart with your precious blood Lord Jesus. I empty myself of every form of pride. I embrace you with my whole heart. I cast all my burdens on you in Jesus name.
  4. Lord, make your righteousness to run deep in my heart. Holiness and godliness will be my desire all the days of my life in Jesus Name.
  5. Lord, let your kingdom reign in every area of my life. Make me a model Christian and form the character of Jesus in my life in  Jesus Name. Amen.

Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0309

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Divine Authority to carry out the Great Commission

 

Bible Nuggets 0309 [Luke 10 v 17-20 KJV]

17And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

 18And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

 19Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

 20Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Every product is tested by the manufacturer before sale with a small sample. For example, vehicles are test-run to ensure they withstand the ruggedness of roads and mountains, very cold winter months or heat as required. 

Similarly, the products of Jesus are believers and Jesus has delegated to all believers his authority, against all challenges they would face as individuals or as a group aexternal forces, that is, the manifestations of the powers of darkness. Whether in your life or the lives of your loved ones and those whom you come in contact with, you have the authority of Jesus to send the enemy packing.  In his earthly ministry, Jesus test-run this assignment with his 12 disciples (core group, whom today could be compared to pastors and preachers) and also with a group of 70 other persons whom we can compare to today’s every other believer. Luke 10:1

1After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

Their mission was simple, preach the word; heal the sick and do not be distracted. Having received the mantle of authority form Jesus, these 70 believers obeyed and wrought wonders in the name of Jesus. It was no surprise to Jesus that their mission would work because Jesus, I believe was praying of them and held satan bound so the devil could not disturb their mission.

Before final departure back to heaven, that is, before Jesus’ ascension, he proclaimed the great commission in which he told every believer to preach the  word of God  to every creature ( Mark 16:15-18).

15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

 17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

 18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

 

Today, Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, praying for every believer. Every believer has the authority to preach the gospel with signs and wonders in his name. Sickness and disease cannot dominate or control you because the Holy Ghost lives on the inside of you. No matter how powerful Satan’s forces are, at the name of Jesus they must bow. You have the authority of Jesus. Go forth and use it in Jesus Name. Amen.

  Prayer Nugget 0309

Pray the following prayer’s fervently.

  1. Oh Lord, thank you because I am a product of Jesus. I pray I become like Jesus in words and deeds in Jesus Name.
  2. Thank you Lord for the divine authority granted to me as a believers over the powers of darkness. I exercise rule over them with your rod of iron according to your word in Jesus Name.
  3. Let your power be evident in destroying the yoke of bondages that have held me bound in the past. I release myself from every grip and oppression of the enemy in Jesus name.
  4. Oh Lord thank you for writing my name in the lamb’s book of Life in Jesus Name.Amen.

 

 

Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0307

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The Borrowed Life

Bible Nugget 0307 [Galatians 2 v 20-21 (KJV)]

20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

The crucified Christian lives a borrowed life. A life totally submissive to the will of God. Jesus, in the garden of Gethsemane before going to the cross said, not my will but God The Father’s will be done. Although he had set his face steadfastly to die for mankind, he had to conquer the fear of death by submitting to the absolute will of God.

Matthew 26:39

39And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

 

John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ in John 3:30, said of Jesus, “he must increase and I must decrease”. And Jesus said in John 12:24

 24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

A disciple of Christ must be willing to give up everything to win Christ. As you journey in your Christian race, remove every weight that slows you down in your service to the Lord. Focus on Jesus. Let it weigh on your mind constantly, the great sacrifice Jesus had to pay to redeem you. He left all the glories of heaven. As you allow the character of Christ to grow in your life, you become deadened to sin and its affection, the love of God will replace the love of the world and you set your affections on things above, not earthly things.

On the contrary, to live an uncrucified life is frustrating the grace of God. It means, allowing other things to increase at the expense of Christ.  It means allowing the spirit of pride to dominate you and it means resisting the will of God. That is not my portion and that will not be your portion in Jesus Name. Amen.

 Prayer Nugget 0307

1.      First, thank God for your salvation. “Lord thank you for my salvation and your measureless love towards me. Thank you for the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary. I am set free from the law of sin and death and now I have a new identity in Christ. I am crucified with Christ. Thank you for my new life. I will live for Jesus day by day. My life has purpose and meaning in Jesus name.”

2.      I put on the righteousness of Christ and cast away every shadow of darkness in my life. I release myself from every form of bondage to Satan. I entrust my life to Christ and devotedly serve him in Jesus Name. Amen.

3.      The death of Christ will not be in vain in my life. I will not frustrate the grace of God in my life in Jesus name.

4.        Oh Lord, I overcome every temptation trying to rob me of my salvation. I refuse to submit to the works of the flesh. Nothing will separate me from the love of God in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

 

 

Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0305

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BRANDED BY CHRIST

Bible Nugget 0305 [GAL 6: 17, KJV]

 17From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

Being an ardent believer in Christ is not showmanship. It is a separation from darkness to light, from weak to strong, from defeat to victory, from mourning to dancing, from sadness to joy and from disgrace to favour.  The gifts and calling of God is without repentance, that is, God will not abandon someone who is walking in the light, doing the will of God and working in His vineyard. The person serving the Lord fervently is not perturbed by the persecution he receives because he has more important things on his mind: to know what the Lord wants to do next.

The mark of Christ is a mark of ownership by Christ. We all know slave trade was evil (except those still living in the dark ages), but lets compare it to what happens in a typical slave market. It means the person is sold out. He is already branded by his master, so anyone trying to offer a higher price is wasting his or her time. Paul is telling us in the above verse that he is branded for Christ. I am branded for Christ. What about you? The amplified version describes the verse vividly as follows:

Gal:617 (Amplified)

17From now on let no person trouble me [by [l]making it necessary for me to vindicate my apostolic authority and the divine truth of my Gospel], for I bear on my body the [brand] marks of the Lord Jesus [the wounds, scars, and other outward evidence of persecutions–these testify to His ownership of me]!

Spiritually, one can only have one master at a time. God can be your Father of the devil can be your master.

 

Eph 2: 1-2 reads:

1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

 

So the question at this time is who do you want to be your master? Make Jesus the Lord and Master of your life and you become branded for Christ.

Prayer Nugget 0305

Decree the following prayers upon your self:

  1. I am branded for Christ I have been delivered from darkness to light. Let the glorious light of the gospel shine perpetually upon me in Jesus Name.
  2. Oh Lord, preserve my soul and my life from every spiritual and physical danger as I proclaim your word in Jesus Name.
  3. Oh Lord I release myself unto you. You are the potter and I am the clay. Meld me, make me and use me to do your will in Jesus Name.
  4. Every troubler’s of my Israel (or my peace) receive the stones of Fire in Jesus Name.
 

 

      5.   Oh Lord, let your seal of ownership by the blood of Jesus become more and more vivid in my life in Jesus Name.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0304

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Aglow for Christ: Keep the inner Fire Burning

Bible Nugget 0304 [2 Timothy 1:6-7, KJV]

 6Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

 7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

[2 Timothy 1 v 6-7 (Amplified)], translates it as follows:

6That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].

    7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

This scripture reminds us of  the enormous potential on the inside of the man or woman whom God has called on a mission. Timothy accompanied Paul in many missionary journeys and witnessed the mighty things accomplished in the ministry of Paul to the gentiles.  Being a Greek (Timothy’s father was Greek, and his mother Jew), Timothy was circumcised by Paul for the sake of peace to please the Jews who knew that Timothy’s father was Greek, despite the young Timothy’s exemplary character. The story is told in  Acts 16:1-3.

1Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

 2Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

 3Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

 For his mixed parentage, Timothy was taunted in childhood, an experience which could alter a person’s personality adversely.  Paul no doubt remembered the timidity of Timothy in their missionary journeys and was now reminding Timothy through this epistle that, having become a Christian, Timothy had a greater power on the inside of him. The power that resided in the inside of Timothy was the power of the Holy Ghost, and Timothy had a double portion of that Power as a Minister of God.

Today, that same power, resides in every believer who is baptized or filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Ghost is the most powerful being because the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of God and when the Spirit resides in a man, what other power can challenge the Spirit of God? Remember, it is that same power that raised Jesus from the death and the Holy Ghost also came mightily in bodily presence on the Apostles on the day of Pentecost [Acts 2]. That power will quicken your mortal body as you yield to him. The Holy Ghost changed the fearful Peter to a fiery Peter who on the day of Pentecost preached the gospel of Christ and 3000 men where added to the church in one day. That same power raised Lazarus from the dead and the same powerchanged Paul from the vilest of sinners to a Saint. You have some portion of that power in your life if you have given your life to Christ because the Spirit of God convicted you of your sins. Desire more of him and he will energize your life just as he did that of Timothy.  

 

 

Prayer Nugget 0304

Pray the following prayers with all seriousness. If you have not received the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, as you pray, earnestly desire Him and you will be imparted with the power in Jesus name.

1.        Lord, let every latent gift spring forth and let every natural and spiritual gift you have given to me start to flourish by the power of the Holy Ghost in Jesus Name.

2.        I shall not joke with your anointing.  Cause me to take your high and holy calling upon my life seriously in Jesus name.

3.        Thank you for filling me with the spirit of boldness. I reject every spirit of timidity in whatever form in Jesus Name.

4.        Lord, saturate my heart with love and fill me with absolute calm even in the midst of provocation in Jesus Name.

       5.     Lord I receive the grace to live a well balanced life, disciplined and self controlled as I enjoy everything you have given to me freely in Jesus name. Amen.