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THE ROCK THAT IS HIGHER THAN I

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The Rock that is higher than I

Psalm 61:1-8 1Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. 2From 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. 3For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. 4I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. 5For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. 6Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations. 7He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. 8So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

A huge rock could be compared in strength to a concrete bunker that people hide for protection in times of war. You are at a vantage point when you are protected by a rock or mountain, because a rock signifies something that is stable and unshakeable. When you are faced with the issues of life that overwhelm you, who do you look or run to for help? Go to Jesus because He is the sure foundation. He is the solid rock of ages on which you should build your hope and trust. When we build our lives on Christ, we become unshakeable and immovable. We would not be as the shifting sand without strength overwhelmed and swept away by flood waters [Matt. 7:24-27].

You may wish to compare your life to some bible characters and see how they overcame challenging issues of life. For example, sensing persistent danger, David hid himself in clefts of rocks and caves from king Saul, his avowed enemy, who planned to kill him. His life was spared. Sin and fear will expose a person so he cannot hide in the rock for protection. There is no account David was living in sin and staying within clefts of rocks kept him and his army protected from Saul.

When you trust in Christ He not only becomes your Rock, but you become a rock yourself, because you have your origin in Him.

Isaiah 51:1 reads, Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.

Further Scripture Reading
Psalm 31:1-4: 1In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. 2Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. 3For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me. 4Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. 5Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.

Song:
I gonna stay right under th blood
I gonna stay right under th blood
I gonna stay right under th blood
Where the devil can do me no harm
No harm, no harm, no harm
No harm, no harm, no harm
Where the devil can do me no harm

Prayers
1. Lord Jesus, hide me under your mighty protective arms.
2. Lord Jesus, unravel and destroy all the plans and activities of Satan against me by your mighty power.

The Presence Of God

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The Presence of God                Author: Esther Agbi

Psalm 122:1

I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.

In July 2011, Slave Lake in Alberta, Canada was almost razed down by a wild fire. Prince William and his wife Kate came to the city to show their solidarity and concern. This was a very noble and kind gesture. It appeared that all roads at that time led to Slave Lake. Everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the ‘would be King’ of England and his bride.

I have visited Slave Lake several times in the past and it has a very large sand beach which could be Canada’s largest sand beach. Aside from this beach, I personally do not see any other tourist attraction in this city. The coming of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge was filled with excitement and great anticipation.

Thousands of people lined the streets to welcome them.

This brings to mind the excitement king David must have had when he was asked to go into the presence of God. Coming to our present day, are we as excited to go into the presence of our heavenly king?

The city I live in is usually buzzing with activities from Mondays through Saturdays. Then on Sundays you begin to wonder where all the cars have disappeared to. The roads are virtually empty. You see people jogging along the roads and having different kinds of exercises, while some others are playing golf and Lawn Tennis. I understand that all these activities are genuine and relevant to our everyday living.  It could be that some have had their church service on Saturday or a quick one early on Sunday morning, this still gives room for the question, what are the majority of people doing on Sunday mornings or evenings as the case may be?

The presence of the Lord is sweet to be in. It is like spending time with your earthly father. You want to talk about everyday events, feel loved, comforted and cared for and also to seek for counsel. I know some people may not like to spend time with their earthly father, and there may be genuine reasons for that. it could be that such fathers may have abandoned their own children, being cruel, wicked or for some other reasons. My heart goes to people who are in that category.

What keeps you away from the presence of God? Could it be sin, guilt, fear, lack of confidence, lack of knowledge or understanding of who God is?

Whatever the case may be, the Bible admonishes us in Heb 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (NKJV) .

I pray that you and I would find mercy and grace and not judgment as we take steps in obedience to approach him in his presence.

Prayer

Father Lord, help me to draw closer to you so I may enjoy your presence.

Lord, help me to find the sweetness in your presence.

The Sin of Rebellion [Part II]

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The Sin of Rebellion [Part II]

Numbers 13:1-13

Take Your Present Assignment Seriously
In Num 13 and 14, there is a sad story stated of how some “great men” of God who should have been great by all accounts failed because of unbelief. They refused to fight their way to their breakthrough. They not only refused to fight for their inheritance but discouraged others from doing so. Their sin made God to set a bar on the age limit of those who were going to enter the Promised Land. They polluted the minds of everybody. They sent many people to their early grave. The Bible records their names because they were renowned. They were already rulers among the people (v2).

God may have given you an assignment which looks little but use it as a training ground to develop your faith. If there are no people to do the assignments ahead or God decides that you have been long on your present assignment enough He might chose you for a new task. Woe betides you if you are not ready. God will not put on big shoes on your feet when an assignment is too big for you. You limit yourself by your lack of preparedness on the great tasks God has ahead for you. God recognized them and chose them for a special assignment. Moses acted on the commandment of God and appointed them (Num 13:3). Moses made sure that these were the people God wanted on the trip. There was no bias in their selection. Moses took their names to God and God approved it. They were complete.

Twelve is a very important number in mission work. Jesus had twelve disciples which turned the world around to God. When you are given an assignment, seek to engage 3, seven or twelve people as the Spirit of God directs you. It depends on how “spiritually Herculean” the task is but you must never rely on your strength or power to do the work. You could fail miserably if you try to do it alone or at least suffer from burn out and maybe premature death. Of the twelve only two “survived” or passed the test of the spiritual assignment. Joshua was the leader of the pact. He was appointed and recognized specially by Moses [Num. 13:16].

Did God know they would fail and still sent them? He perhaps did because of His omnipotent power. But that was not His plan for them. God saw them as people who would succeed. The way God saw them is the way God sees us too. He sees that we will succeed. They were programmed to succeed. However, as we see later, the tight knot of faith of their hearts began to unwind gradually by fear and doubt. Moses gave them direction about the assignment; a modus operandi that made their work easy. He told them the way to follow to the land, see and assess who the people that dwelt in those lands were; how fortified their cities were and the fruitfulness of the land. Their assignment lasted for forty days. When you are on a spiritual journey you should be increasing in faith not decreasing. By forty days your heart can either be full of faith or be full of doubt. Jesus was in the wilderness for forty days after which the devil came and challenged Him.

1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. 3 And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel. 4 And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur. 5 Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori. 6 Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 7 Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph. 8 Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun. 9 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu. 10 Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi. 11 Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi. 12 Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli. 13 Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael. 14 Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi. 15 Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi. 16 These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.

The spies came after forty days and reported what they had seen. There were two reports; a majority report and a minority report. There is no record who gave the majority report. It was not important. They all agreed. Failed people, that is, those who decide to remain failures, refusing to cooperate with God or His word have no place in His kingdom. The ten banded together and chorused their response [Num. 13:26-29]. In such spiritual duties and in the world of Faith what you see and report is what you get. As you said it, so you will receive it. If you see and report a positive thing that is what you get. However, if you see and report negative thing, be ready for the consequence. Unfortunately it is usually the judgement of God or punishment for the result of our failures which we cannot redeem ourselves from. Hence if you are in such situation, cry out to God for mercy through the blood of Jesus.

26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. 28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.

Prayer Points
1. Oh Lord, fill my heart with faith. I will not doubt your word in the name of Jesus.
2. Oh Lord, strengthen me. Every giant and spiritual bully standing against me in God’s Promised Land in my life, be uprooted, fall down and die like Goliath in Jesus name.

CHRISTIAN PARENTING [PART III]

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Christian Parenting [Part III] by Pastor Godwin Okafor

I am bringing the third part of the excerpts from my soon to be published book dealing with the art of ministering prayers to babies and children, even while they are in the wombs of their mothers.
When children who have been initiated in their mothers’ wombs, because of lack of the type of prayers I suggest in this book grow up, they exhibit characteristics that would normally confuse their parents, who could ignorantly go to the same satanic agents for solution. Of course, the church, whose ministers are the agents of the Kingdom of Light, would just sit down and look in confusion at the fiasco that would normally unfold in such cases. The confusion emanates from our mistake to try to deal with the child according to its age and not according to the age of the spirit inhabiting that child, no matter what the physical age of the child could be.
That’s the reason a little child of less than two years could be so aggressive and rain blows on another timid child of over three years old, and that one could just cry to attract the attention of adults to rescue him or her.
I have been told of how a three year old little girl embarrassed her mother by waving at every pregnant woman they passed on their way to where her mum was going with her. The little girl could see the babies in those wombs and would greet them. She would say to her mother,
“Mummy, see baby…”,
and would wave at the protruding tummy of a woman just passing by. I was told how people who overheard that little girl gathered quickly, and this embarrassed mother had to run for her dear life with her three year old child before she and her little girl were lynched as witches.
I believe the church is yet to seriously consider the plight of our children who have peculiar spiritual challenges, and who present strange behaviours in our midst. In fact, I dare say that children are hardly considered in the Christian Ministry, except in few places where provisions are made for bible based activities aimed at diverting their attention and contain or re-channel their excessive energies, until their parents close from church services.
It is pitiful that children are often times hindered or totally forbidden from coming to the Master, through His ministers to minister to them according to their needs. I was reminded while writing this book that most Christian parents may actually deny that a child in their household who has a peculiar spiritual challenge need special attention by their pastor.
However, the foundation of Christian living ought to be laid at this stage of a child’s development so that he or she grows up never to depart from the ways of the LORD.
Children, including the unborn, usually want to express themselves. It was written of Jacob and Esau that they “struggled” in their mother’s womb before they were born.
Gen 25:21-23: “The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the LORD. The LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
Did you know what made John the Baptist leap for joy while in Elizabeth’s womb? He heard the sound of Mary’s voice as she greeted his mother!

Luke 1:40-41,44: “… where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit… As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.”
Mary’s voice carried an anointing that could make Elizabeth to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to begin to prophecy, because she was carrying in her womb the one who anointed and still anoints with Holy Ghost and Fire. Did you know that Mary could have spoken to John in the womb to do something she desired? Agents of Satan who carry evil anointing know how to speak to unborn babies in their mothers’ wombs to do their sinister biddings, and they would obey.
Moses’ mother must have started interacting with him while he was in her womb. Therefore, it was easy for her to just look at him after he was born to conclude that Moses was not an ordinary child, and did not fear if Pharaoh found out that she was hiding him from being destroyed and killed her. I believe she had started ministering to him so early (even in the womb), and easily concluded his spiritual training (when Pharaoh’s princess hired her to look after Moses), before surrendering him to Pharaoh’s palace for his princely training.

The LORD, God, will help us in Jesus’ precious name.

Warfare Weapons

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Warfare Weapons
When soldiers go to warfare, they go prepared. They load their armoury with different weapons. Similarly, when wrestlers are fighting, they strategize and change tactics to overcome their opponent. In both cases, quick and decisive victory is always preferred. The case of the believer is no different.

Ephesians 6:10-18 lists the spiritual exterior armour you and I must put on to wrestle down the enemy and his forces. With the Word of God you overcome the enemy. The armour of the blood of Jesus is another weapon you must use always. I recommend you use both combined. With the Word and the blood you have double advantage over Satan because you can knock him out with either weapon or both weapons combined. The word in the mouth of the saints and the blood of the Lamb are the ultimate overcoming weapons against the enemy for his final defeat [Rev. 12:11].

Jesus used the Word against Satan in Matt. 4:1-11 from which we see that you overcome the evil one when you stand your ground with the Word of God in your mouth. You literally become a witness for the efficacy of the Word.

Eph. 6:10-18 does not list the blood as a weapon because that chapter describes the exterior armour of the believer. As you use those exterior weapons to battle him to submission, he eventually becomes completely paralyzed unable to help himself. At this point you must ask him to surrender. In most cases, he will obey and flee as he did when Christ overcame him in the temptation in the wilderness. Remember the blood of Christ had not been spilled at that time when Satan tempted Christ in the wilderness.

If Satan refuses to obey, know that he is questioning your authority. Examine yourself whether unconfessed sin is the issue. Satan will readily disobey you when you are living in sin because he sees you as living a double life or a life of hypocrisy, knowing you will not be acceptable to God in that condition. If this is the case, ask for forgiveness and begin to plead the blood of Jesus, which is also a very powerful weapon for your total deliverance. The blood of the Lamb is like an explosive over Satan. Take it as your secret weapon which you bring out from your inside. “Pepper spray” the eyes of the enemy from time to time with the blood of the lamb in your prayers. Satan will be blinded, and so flee from you. When a soldier captures an enemy, the enemy becomes completely submissive to the orders of the soldier. Similarly, Satan comes under your complete control when you plead the blood of Jesus.

When you speak the Word of God, you are testifying of its truth, its creative power of the obedient (which you are by your position in Christ and your determination to abide by the Word), and destructive power to the disobedient. Since Satan is already wired to disobey, he does not agree with the Word and must submit to the Word since the Word is truth. That is how you overcome him by your testimony.

Note, when all else seem to fail or you are using the Word and Satan is not responding, he must respond to the blood of Jesus since that was the final knock out punch at Calvary. Living in sin will not allow the blood of Jesus to work for you. So you must repent and have nothing to do with sin, whether besetting or not. The blood of Jesus is the strongest antidote to the power of sin because it was spilled on your behalf on the cross which knocked out the devil for all eternity. Because Jesus conquered Satan and the power of sin through His death and resurrection, you can too if you use the weapons Christ has given to you. The devil’s muscles are seriously weakened. He cannot stand before you. Remind him of the defeat he suffered at Calvary and he will flee from you.

Bible Reading: Matt. 4:1-11; Eph. 6:10-18; Rev. 12:11

Prayer Point
Oh Lord, anoint me with the Holy Ghost and Power in the name of Jesus.

CHRISTIAN PARENTING [PART II]

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CHRISTIAN PARENTING [PART II] Author: Pastor Godwin Okafor

Today, I continue my write up on Christian Parenting. I am not just writing about child upbringing in the world, which is mainly based on the psychology of children, but on Christian upbringing of their children in godly manners. Why has it been difficult for godly parents to “produce” godly children? This had bothered me for many years, especially after noticing that the “bad kids” come from the homes of ministers of God. I will be bringing excepts from my forthcoming major book, which centres on ministering prayers to children and babies, right from the womb. Prayer is spiritual forth-telling of what would become of something, situation, including a child being prayed for. Enjoy your reading of these pieces.

Matt 19:14: “… Let the little children come to me,
and do not hinder them,… “ said Jesus.

Ministering to children, especially babies, (including those in the womb), is a very challenging matter. It has become too complex, and is almost non-existent in many Christian circles, as the enemy of mankind becomes more subtle in his sinister dealings with earth men, as the last days approach. This is more so, because of the erroneous assumption that the child is innocent till he or she attains the so called “Age of Accountability”. Yet many things, too difficult to explain, happen to children before this age arrives, even while they are still in the wombs of their mothers. The bible affirms that even the unborn child is already tainted by sin, and that God requires that the unborn child should be taught wisdom, even from its mother’s womb.

Ps 51:5-6: “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.”

Yes, God is concerned about the unborn child, and had to send an angel to Samson’s mother before he was conceived, to watch what she ate and drank, because of Samson’s special mission to His people. The doctors still tell expectant mothers today to watch what they eat and drink in order to ensure they had a healthy baby.

Judges 13:3-5: “The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, ‘You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son. Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean, because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines.’”

David, the psalmist, said that wickedness could start right from the womb when a child “does not know anything”, according to our estimation.

Psalm 58:3: “Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak lies.”

David seemed to have very deep insights beyond the ordinary person. I believe that was why he was said to be a man after God’s own heart, as the Almighty found him. David seemed to see what only God saw. Should it be a wonder then, if the spirit of an unborn child is initiated into witchcraft or any other evil cult before it is born? We need the Holy Spirit to help us, lest we perish in gross ignorance, wondering and bemused. God desires that unborn children be spoken to, or taught the truth while still in the womb. God is spirit, just as His word is spirit. While a child is unborn, it is more spirit than body; that spirit could learn spiritual truths or wisdom that no flesh could hardly comprehend or interpret. However, the wisdom taught or learned by the unborn child could be demonic and can easily be used against mankind in future. To counter this situation, Christian parents or ministers should learn and practice speaking positive spiritual truths to their unborn children.

Psalm 51:6: “Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.”

It is regrettable to note that the agents of the dark kingdom seem to know this more than the agents of the kingdom of light, and exploit it to contaminate the unborn children, whom they initiate into the dark kingdom while still in the womb, awaiting their birth into the earth’s atmosphere. The spirit of the unborn is older than its physical age, because God’s Spirit, which He breathed into man when he was created, and which gave man life (and which brought man’s spirit into being), is ageless.