Testimony Time
Just checking into His Presence...
Tuesday, 23 February 2016
February 23
Testimony Time:-Oftentimes, genuine Christians can be plagued with some sort of hindrances which can limit, kill and or obstruct their growth to stardom and or any position of influence. Those hindrances can be linked to hereditary, unfriendly friends and foes which can also be found in the House of God; they can be men and women of God seated on plum seats in every Church arenas. Many impediments also occur due to ugly perceptions, unhealthy rivalry, anger, impatience, hatred and some other vices which we may have grown accustomed to and are not mentioned here.
Let us also remember that some of these hindrances can come purposely to text our faith through trials and temptation. James 1:2-3 states "consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. In looking at Job's story however, it was reported that God allowed Satan to text his faith-"The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
Although Job's destiny may have been impeded by Satan, his love affair with God was very consistent and God ensured he was adequately rewarded for all his misfortune-his latter wealth became greater than the former one. "The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys" (Job 42:12).
From the above, we can infer that we cannot get to where we want to be without first of all going through a refinery process. The story of Prophet Isaiah also offers a compelling evidence. Before he can can get to the position of prominence King Uzziah had to die so that he can see the glory of God. The Book of Isaiah 6:1 confirms this assertion. "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple".
As in the case of Joseph, he was marked out from the beginning as a very special child with a garment of many colours. His success story did not end there because for him to be linked with his great destiny the first thing that went was this garment of many colours (Genesis 37). David too had to run away from Saul, that means his apprenticeship was completed in the wilderness as a fugitive before he can rise to stardom
(1 Samuel 21-23).
Apostle John in the Book of James 1 teaches us that tests have a purpose so also are trials and tribulations. They were described as the process by which the genuineness of our faith are determined and that through these processes the quality of our steadfast character may also be developed!
As a child of God, are you developing according to the taste of the Holy One? What have you done with those messages of hope, advice, instructions, prophesies and counselling? Are you repulsive and unwilling to let the past go? Many hindrances Satan have successfully planted into the path of genuine Christians, the ironies are that they may not know unless they are equally endowed with the Spirit of God.
May every hindrance, impedance and impediment on our ways be taken away by the IRRESISTIBLE HAND OF GOD in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen
Just Checking into His Presence...
February 22
Testimony Time:-In Mark 16:16 Jesus surrendered Himself to John the Apostles to be baptized so that He can fulfill all righteousness. This act which was performed on Christ can only be completed by immersion in water. When Christians also go through such act, the impression is they have come through water baptism. Presumably, they can be adjudged to have fulfilled all righteousness in accordance to the teachings of Jesus Christ in Mark 16:16. This states "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."
It is the intention of most Christians nowadays to pay premium on the act of water baptism itself. However, the overwhelming nature in the manner of worship nowadays cannot fulfill the purpose the act of baptism performs which is by bringing all participants into union with Christ. Roman 6:3 also opines on the theory that if indeed we "know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Such failure in identifying the true essence of baptism will always rebuke any communion/relationship we may likely have with Christ.
It should not be strange if we continue to have issues relating to the level of our relationship with Christ. Such acts are dependent on what interpretation the actual water baptism connotes in the life of every Christian. "For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his"
Is your worship linked to the holiness in baptism? Without you first being dead to sins; the essence of every water baptism purportedly claimed with pride will always remain bare, weak, lame and can be detrimental to the growth of any Christians. That could only mean there is no Christ in such person.
We invite you to our hearts, revive and transform us so that we shall always be baptized with Your Spirit. Amen
Just Checking into His Presence...
Monday, 22 February 2016
February 21
Testimony Time:-I got the inspiration to write and declare the Greatness of the Lord which relates to my personal encounter with God’s favour. Unless you read to the end, you will not be able to learn from the story which can rebuild your relationship with God if indeed it had been faltering. You must also note that the whole experience stems from a very queer fire incident that engulfed the Church earlier on in March 2015 when Satan thought it was all over for us. An experience I do not wish for any of my adversaries, if any! And so earlier on (17/08/15) at 12:24pm I received an anonymous text which reads-"Good morning my Father in the Lord. I recently heard about the fire incident in your church and saw some of the photos from your harvest programme. I was greatly moved and the Holy Spirit lay it in my heart that I and my family should contribute to the re-building of the church and musical instruments. Can you send me account details that I and my family can contribute to. God bless and uphold you and His Church. Yours Sincerely-A Fellow Brethren in Christ."
Shocked about the anonymity but very sure of what the Lord has done since the fire incident. Raising unsolicited support where I could never have imagined, thereby rebuilding His Temple by turning all ashes to beauty-without any levy on the parishioners, albeit with little or no fuss at all. My response one hour later when I came across the message was-"Waoh! I can only shout Halleluyah because this is another Testimony unto the Lord. I pray for the mercies of the Lord upon you and yours. For this text alone, you have received your breakthrough and even your greatness shall be multiplied beyond limitations for every seed sown in Jesus name. Amen (details of the account removed lest the Testimony be misconstrued)
And at 14:18, this followed- Amen in Christ's name. Our covenant has now been paid into the account. God bless. Amen. Stunned and very grateful to God for this uncommon favour, I wrote- "Waoh! To God be the glory and I rejoice with the name of the Lord uppermost in my heart for the gifts of His blessings through you with the level of affection, considerations and love you showed to us. As a Parish, you have displayed and taught us what the Lord is capable of doing in our midst, and that is if we faint not. Today's gesture has also become part of our testimonies. We therefore give glory to God for the privileges He extended to you by putting you in a position to help us where help is greatly needed. I pray through the power of His Grace that you will be progressive and shall continue to multiply. You will live long to reap the fruits of your labour. Amen
On behalf of Christ Royal Parish, I say a very big thank you to you and your family for your help at this time. It means a lot to us. May the Lord bless you all. Amen The mystery for the time being was concluded with this short reply from the donor- "Amen and Thank you for your prayers.
As a matter of choice, I have no access to the account and so I had to wait for the Secretary to furnish me the details of the account. That did not occur until 23:21 after the youth meeting and the figures beggars’ belief. A deposit of £1000:00 was credited to the church account and the donor wanted it so much to be anonymous. It sets my mind ablaze and that is to remind me about how great God can choose to be to those who are prepared to walk Him, work with Him and also diligently serve Him.
For this reasons I cannot sleep and so I implore all those who come into contact with this message to pray for this family who the Lord have used anonymously to support us at this austere times. Please include all Church members and those who have rendered their unsolicited support in order for us to be able to rebuild The Church of God in no time. I can categorically say the support had been immense, unprecedented and by our standard, unrivalled!
I conclude by saying the Lord at work in the life of the Parish will transform your lives, rebuild your hope in Him where you may be nursing doubts and engrave Himself in your ways so that the fire of the evil one will not burn you in Jesus name. Amen
Just checking in into His Presence...
February 20
Testimony Time:-It is another time to reconsider the motives behind our regular visits to every Christian assembly. Are those visits necessitated by some adverse conditions we are going through? Can those visits be likened to the desires that are awakened by our consciousness to always act upon every instructions based on the word of God? We must note that these are two parallel lines that can never merge. Mere presence in any Christian assembly dissipates the conscious choice in relation to faith which allows every believer to act on God's Word.
Basically, there is no other choice by which every Christian can grow in faith except by hearing the Word of God and then choose to willfully act upon it. Also, there is no how the faith of a child of God will not come through intense scrutiny due to fear factor. Proverbs 29:25 declares "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
It then follows that if any child of God allows any adverse conditions to be their main reason of coming in contact with any christian assembly; such believer have simply negated the essence of faith in him or her right from the onset. Therefore, every visit to any Christian assembly is not about our problems per se but about God who is bigger than all problems. Psalm 8:3-4 aptly describes the awesomeness of the Almighty God "When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him" You are invited to make up your mind today and choose between surrendering to the fear factors encompassed by the initial adverse conditions or take a plunge of faith; after all you don't have anything to loose.
We praise you oh Lord and we want you to empower us so that our faith can be based on Your unchanging Word which we know comes from Your unchanging nature. Amen
Just Checking into His Presence...
February 19
Testimony Time:-In considering what you have, can they always make up for how feel? How about what you don't have? Are they enough to exercise the power of faith in you?
In the light of these assessment, would it not be easier to humble yourself before the Lord in a defiant act of faith so that you don't have a share in the world filled with deceit?
Please read Psalm 56: 8-13 and discover the extent humility can go when we allow God to take center stage in our lives; God says He is ready to -"number my wanderings;
Put my tears into Your bottle;
Are they not in Your book? When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me. In God (I will praise His word),
In the Lord (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Vows made to You are binding upon me,
O God; I will render praises to You, For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, That I may walk before God In the light of the living. Amen
Just Checking into His Presence...
Thursday, 18 February 2016
February 18
Testimony Time:-I am a child of God and I love Him too, yes!, but I also worship Him the way I like. Do you respect and honour God according to His riches and glory? You only need to consider His Statement in Proverbs 8: 17-19 which states "I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me. "Riches and honor are with me, Enduring wealth and righteousness."My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, And my yield better than choicest silver".
Your duties to God is not complete unless you are also able to respect and honour man in return. This is because "the prudent sees the evil and hides himself, But the naive go on, and are punished for it. The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life. Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards himself will be far from them" (Proverbs 22:3-5)
Has anger taken over your heart? Are you very quick to flip, judge, denounce and feels God can answer your prayers without the handiwork of man? Do you really think you are better off than every creature on earth? What makes you feel your claims are the only ones paramount to God and not others? As well, are you really in a relationship with Christ and do you also use other people's life style to measure your own achievements.
In addition, do you respect, honour and submit to Civil Authorities according to the proclaimed riches of God? 1 Peter 2:13-17 emphatically declares "Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. [Act] as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but [use it] as bondslaves of God. Honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king."
Don't be deceived, to honour, respect and submit to all the above bears testament to His honour. The three goes hand in hand and none can supersede each other. For if we claim to serve God and cannot use our claims to silence the ignorance of the foolishness in men we cannot say we are doing the will of God. Very clearly, that also shows we cannot be doing what is right in His presence. Prayer is the key yes!, but prayer does not cover stupidity and the foolishness of this world. Don't get confused!!!
We have come to your presence again today as always, Lord let our presence before you be acceptable and not considered as part of the foolishness of this world in Jesus name. Amen
Http://testimony-times.blogspot.co.uk
Just Checking into His Presence...
February 17
Testimony Time:-You can bleach as rigorously as you want it to be; lo and behold; can that make your heart so pure? You can wear as many designer labels as possible, does that mean you are wearing the emblem of Christ? You can be astound in preaching as well as in writing about the word of God; can we boldly assume you have a place in the kingdom of heaven? What of every religious visit to different churches? Does that mean you no longer belong to the camp of undecided Christians?
I have come to understand that it is not what you profess, not where you sleep, what you wear, eat, drive and which church you attend that connects you to the kingdom of God. You are however measured by the amount of practice you attach to the precepts of God. Remember, Joel 2:13 states "Don't tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead." Return to the LORD your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish".
Tear your hearts and not your clothes! Let people be attracted to you through the attributes of God in you; not by looks, power, influence or affluence, wears, work of any kind or by any measure of our attendance in different churches. Surely, these issues remain poignant in the way we access ourselves in the Christendom today.
There is no doubt you can be seen as a child of God; you may be seen to be offering prayers, thanksgiving, giving prophecies, fasting and also known by the level of your attendance in various church programs. All these simply have no bearing in the truthfullness of your worship. Quite honestly, your faith and conduct relating to the ways of God determines what answer God dishes out unto you in terms of your supplications to Him. Therefore, all services to God which are not linked to your hearts but found to be susceptible to the words of mouth, appearance and wisdom of this world will always be be foreign to the Spirit of God.
Therefore, take our eyes Father, let them be; take our hearts; make them Yours and let the gift of each day links us to Your precepts in Jesus name. Amen
Http://testimony-times.blogspot.co.uk
Just Checking into His Presence...
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