Psalm 91:1–2
1He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.”
Every day, we are bombarded with news of conflicts, natural disasters, diseases and new strains of drug-resistant viruses. We also hear of people losing their loved ones in freak accidents. And we ask ourselves, “Is there a place where I can take refuge from a world gone mad?”
Yes, there is! God foresaw all these things and He has promised in His Word protection from every evil known to man. There is no trap set by the devil that our Father cannot deliver us from, if we trust in Him and take Him as our refuge. That is His promise in Psalm 91.
Whether it is an earthquake at midnight, a crazy sniper, an unknown virus or a terrorist attack at noonday, God says, “You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.” (Psalm 91:5–6)
Because you have made Him your dwelling place, angels are watching over you right now. (Psalm 91:9–11) They give heed to the voice of God’s Word, so you should give voice to God’s Word. This means that you should agree with and speak what God’s Word says about His preserving and protecting you. Then, angels are sent to minister to you. (Hebrews 1:14)
My friend, don’t say, “If it can happen to them, it can also happen to me!” Say, “A thousand may fall at my side and 10,000 at my right hand, but it will not come near me!” (Psalm 91:7) The world says that there is danger everywhere. God says, “You are in this world but not of this world. You have My protection because you are of Me and in Me.” (John 17:14–23)
You have access by faith into the secret place of the Most High where no evil can touch you. There is no need to fear living in the end times because the Lord is your refuge and your fortress. His Word says so. And those who trust His Word completely, find His Word completely true!
Feed your FAITH and your doubts will STARVE.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
How You Know You Will Inherit It
Psalm 89:34
34My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.
When God promises you something, do you take Him at His Word? Or do you, like Abraham, ask, “Lord God, how shall I know that I will inherit it?” (Genesis 15:8)
God did not reprimand Abraham for failing to take Him at His Word. That is how gracious God is to His people. He even came down to Abraham’s level of faith and did something to assure Abraham that He would always keep His promises — He made a covenant with Abraham. (Genesis 15:9–17)
God did not do it for His own benefit. God is a God of His Word. He does not break His Word. But He bound Himself to a covenant because He knew that Abraham needed to know in his heart that He would do whatever He had promised him.
Man finds it hard to just believe words. For example, when you buy a house, a contract is drawn up and signed by both parties, and lawyers are involved. You need a contract because you cannot trust the other person’s words and he cannot trust yours either.
Likewise, we find it hard to take God at His Word. So God makes a covenant with us, not because He cannot be trusted, but because He knows that we find it hard to just believe what He says. God knows that man will wonder, “What if God wakes up on the wrong side of His bed tomorrow and decides to fry me instead of bless me?”
But because God has made a new covenant with us, which is established by the blood of His Son, we can, like Abraham, not waver through unbelief regarding the promises of God, but be strengthened in our faith, being fully persuaded that God will do as He has promised. (Romans 4:20–21) We have the assurance that God will not wake up one day and say, “Forget the new covenant. I want to remember your sins now and curse you instead of bless you!”
My friend, the new covenant blessings for you are guaranteed because God has bound Himself to the covenant. And He is a covenant-keeping God who is willing and more than able to do everything He has promised you!
34My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.
When God promises you something, do you take Him at His Word? Or do you, like Abraham, ask, “Lord God, how shall I know that I will inherit it?” (Genesis 15:8)
God did not reprimand Abraham for failing to take Him at His Word. That is how gracious God is to His people. He even came down to Abraham’s level of faith and did something to assure Abraham that He would always keep His promises — He made a covenant with Abraham. (Genesis 15:9–17)
God did not do it for His own benefit. God is a God of His Word. He does not break His Word. But He bound Himself to a covenant because He knew that Abraham needed to know in his heart that He would do whatever He had promised him.
Man finds it hard to just believe words. For example, when you buy a house, a contract is drawn up and signed by both parties, and lawyers are involved. You need a contract because you cannot trust the other person’s words and he cannot trust yours either.
Likewise, we find it hard to take God at His Word. So God makes a covenant with us, not because He cannot be trusted, but because He knows that we find it hard to just believe what He says. God knows that man will wonder, “What if God wakes up on the wrong side of His bed tomorrow and decides to fry me instead of bless me?”
But because God has made a new covenant with us, which is established by the blood of His Son, we can, like Abraham, not waver through unbelief regarding the promises of God, but be strengthened in our faith, being fully persuaded that God will do as He has promised. (Romans 4:20–21) We have the assurance that God will not wake up one day and say, “Forget the new covenant. I want to remember your sins now and curse you instead of bless you!”
My friend, the new covenant blessings for you are guaranteed because God has bound Himself to the covenant. And He is a covenant-keeping God who is willing and more than able to do everything He has promised you!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Be Christ-Conscious
Ephesians 1:7
7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
Have you ever woken up in the morning and said, “Today, I will not sin.” And as you leave your house, you say, “I must be careful not to fall into sin today. I don’t want to sin. I will not sin!”
My friend, when you do this, you are no longer Christ-conscious but sin-conscious, even though you have not sinned yet.
Men, have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I don’t want to look at any woman in case I lust”? You are being sin-conscious when you think like that. And sooner or later, you will lust in your heart. You may not sin outwardly, but you will sin inwardly.
Have you also tried confessing every sin? I have! As a teenager, when a bad thought came, I would quickly say, “Sorry Lord, forgive me for this thought in Jesus’ name.” Then, another thought would come and I would quickly say, “Forgive me Lord, for that thought in Jesus’ name.” Then, if I happened to doubt His forgiveness, I would confess my unbelief and ask for forgiveness: “Forgive me Lord, for doubting You.” Before I knew it, I was oppressed in my mind and so sin-conscious instead of Christ-conscious!
My friend, when you fall into sin, God wants you to be Christ-conscious. That means that when you have missed it or blown it, God wants you to be conscious that in Christ, you have forgiveness of sins through His blood. God wants you to be conscious that Christ was wounded and bruised for your sins, and that the chastisement for your peace was upon Him. (Isaiah 53:5)
When you are Christ-conscious, you will have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1) You will know that you are the righteousness of God in Christ because He who knew no sin was made sin for you. (2 Corinthians 5:21) He took your sin and now you have His righteousness.
So when you fall, don’t be conscious of your failure and feel bad or condemned. Instead, be conscious of who you are in Christ, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and continue your walk with God
7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
Have you ever woken up in the morning and said, “Today, I will not sin.” And as you leave your house, you say, “I must be careful not to fall into sin today. I don’t want to sin. I will not sin!”
My friend, when you do this, you are no longer Christ-conscious but sin-conscious, even though you have not sinned yet.
Men, have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I don’t want to look at any woman in case I lust”? You are being sin-conscious when you think like that. And sooner or later, you will lust in your heart. You may not sin outwardly, but you will sin inwardly.
Have you also tried confessing every sin? I have! As a teenager, when a bad thought came, I would quickly say, “Sorry Lord, forgive me for this thought in Jesus’ name.” Then, another thought would come and I would quickly say, “Forgive me Lord, for that thought in Jesus’ name.” Then, if I happened to doubt His forgiveness, I would confess my unbelief and ask for forgiveness: “Forgive me Lord, for doubting You.” Before I knew it, I was oppressed in my mind and so sin-conscious instead of Christ-conscious!
My friend, when you fall into sin, God wants you to be Christ-conscious. That means that when you have missed it or blown it, God wants you to be conscious that in Christ, you have forgiveness of sins through His blood. God wants you to be conscious that Christ was wounded and bruised for your sins, and that the chastisement for your peace was upon Him. (Isaiah 53:5)
When you are Christ-conscious, you will have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1) You will know that you are the righteousness of God in Christ because He who knew no sin was made sin for you. (2 Corinthians 5:21) He took your sin and now you have His righteousness.
So when you fall, don’t be conscious of your failure and feel bad or condemned. Instead, be conscious of who you are in Christ, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and continue your walk with God
Feelin better...
It's a good day today!
Feel so much better now..We have talked it out and hopefully
things will be great!
We have to move on...
I was able to hold down my pride and for once, settled everything
all for JESUS' sake..not mine.
I have put aside my pains and hurt.
Surprisingly, it ended well:)
Cannot say a word.
Yeah! When you trust in Jesus...you can't help but be dumbstrucked! lolx!
Everything happens too fast ...
Some changes may be painful, hurtful and devastating but it's all for good
and brand new things to come!
I feel a thorn has been pulled out of me-- setting me victoriously FREE!!!
Halleluyah!
Feel so much better now..We have talked it out and hopefully
things will be great!
We have to move on...
I was able to hold down my pride and for once, settled everything
all for JESUS' sake..not mine.
I have put aside my pains and hurt.
Surprisingly, it ended well:)
Cannot say a word.
Yeah! When you trust in Jesus...you can't help but be dumbstrucked! lolx!
Everything happens too fast ...
Some changes may be painful, hurtful and devastating but it's all for good
and brand new things to come!
I feel a thorn has been pulled out of me-- setting me victoriously FREE!!!
Halleluyah!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Rejoice, O Barren!
Isaiah 54:1
1“Sing, O barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not laboured with child!
Barrenness. What a frustrating and painful condition. Yet, God’s Word in Isaiah 54 to those who are experiencing barrenness is “Rejoice!”
Why? Because in the previous chapter, it tells us that the chastisement for our peace fell upon Jesus. (Isaiah 53:5) The word “peace” here in Hebrew means completeness, soundness, health and prosperity. In other words, all these benefits are yours today because Jesus has already been punished at the cross for your peace. That is why you can start rejoicing.
So God wants you right now, in whatever area you are barren in, to start rejoicing as if the fruit or yield you want to see has already come. He wants you to start thinking, speaking and acting as if the barrenness is no more.
If you are financially barren, start planning for what you would do when your finances increase. I am not saying that you go out and spend recklessly, but start making plans for wealth and increase. The time to do this is when you are still in what your natural eyes see as a barren stage.
You may say, “But Pastor Prince, you don’t understand, the banks are chasing me!”
God says, “Rejoice because you are the prosperous one in Christ.” In Christ, you are already blessed with every spiritual blessing, including prosperity. (Ephesians 1:3) “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)
If you are sick, start planning to do what you have not been able to do. Don’t rejoice only when the healing manifests and the pain is no more. Rejoice now in your healing because Jesus has already borne your diseases and carried your pains, and by His stripes you have already been healed. (Isaiah 53:4–5)
Whatever barren situation you are in, rejoice and tell God, “Father, because of the sacrifice of Your Son, I am blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. You have already given me everything. So I am going to act like it is so and rejoice!”
1“Sing, O barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not laboured with child!
Barrenness. What a frustrating and painful condition. Yet, God’s Word in Isaiah 54 to those who are experiencing barrenness is “Rejoice!”
Why? Because in the previous chapter, it tells us that the chastisement for our peace fell upon Jesus. (Isaiah 53:5) The word “peace” here in Hebrew means completeness, soundness, health and prosperity. In other words, all these benefits are yours today because Jesus has already been punished at the cross for your peace. That is why you can start rejoicing.
So God wants you right now, in whatever area you are barren in, to start rejoicing as if the fruit or yield you want to see has already come. He wants you to start thinking, speaking and acting as if the barrenness is no more.
If you are financially barren, start planning for what you would do when your finances increase. I am not saying that you go out and spend recklessly, but start making plans for wealth and increase. The time to do this is when you are still in what your natural eyes see as a barren stage.
You may say, “But Pastor Prince, you don’t understand, the banks are chasing me!”
God says, “Rejoice because you are the prosperous one in Christ.” In Christ, you are already blessed with every spiritual blessing, including prosperity. (Ephesians 1:3) “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)
If you are sick, start planning to do what you have not been able to do. Don’t rejoice only when the healing manifests and the pain is no more. Rejoice now in your healing because Jesus has already borne your diseases and carried your pains, and by His stripes you have already been healed. (Isaiah 53:4–5)
Whatever barren situation you are in, rejoice and tell God, “Father, because of the sacrifice of Your Son, I am blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. You have already given me everything. So I am going to act like it is so and rejoice!”
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Facts Change But God’s Word Remains
Facts Change But God’s Word Remains
John 8:32
32And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Consider the cold, hard facts that these three people faced: The aunt of a lady in our church saw her X-ray which showed that one of her kidneys was cancerous. A couple in our church read their medical reports which said that they would never be able to produce a child. A lady in our church who acted as a guarantor ended up being asked by the finance company to pay it $34 million.
When such situations hit us and we allow the facts to settle in our hearts, we will end up feeling greatly troubled. But when we let the truth of God’s Word settle it all, we will sense the Holy Spirit bearing witness to the truth that we are believing. He is the Spirit of Truth. (John 16:13) He is not the Spirit of facts and does not bear witness to facts.
It may be a fact that you are sick. The medical experts say that you are sick. The X-ray report shows that you are sick. But God’s Word says that by His stripes you are healed! (Isaiah 53:5) That is the truth about your situation. What is the difference between facts and truth? Facts change, but God’s Word remains!
When God’s people choose to defy the facts and walk instead in His truths regarding their situations, the Holy Spirit in them will bear witness to the truths that they are believing.
The lady with the cancerous kidney underwent an operation to remove the organ. But she received supernatural restoration as later X-rays showed two kidneys instead of one!
The childless couple received their miracle bundle of joy after seven years. Today, they are proud parents of not one, but four children!
The church member with the $34 million debt told the finance company that it was not being fair to her and that God would protect her. The management miraculously decided to cancel her debt!
The next time you are hit by some disturbing facts, let God’s Word settle the truth about your situation. And as the Holy Spirit bears witness to the truths that you are believing, the facts will change and you will receive your miracle!
John 8:32
32And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Consider the cold, hard facts that these three people faced: The aunt of a lady in our church saw her X-ray which showed that one of her kidneys was cancerous. A couple in our church read their medical reports which said that they would never be able to produce a child. A lady in our church who acted as a guarantor ended up being asked by the finance company to pay it $34 million.
When such situations hit us and we allow the facts to settle in our hearts, we will end up feeling greatly troubled. But when we let the truth of God’s Word settle it all, we will sense the Holy Spirit bearing witness to the truth that we are believing. He is the Spirit of Truth. (John 16:13) He is not the Spirit of facts and does not bear witness to facts.
It may be a fact that you are sick. The medical experts say that you are sick. The X-ray report shows that you are sick. But God’s Word says that by His stripes you are healed! (Isaiah 53:5) That is the truth about your situation. What is the difference between facts and truth? Facts change, but God’s Word remains!
When God’s people choose to defy the facts and walk instead in His truths regarding their situations, the Holy Spirit in them will bear witness to the truths that they are believing.
The lady with the cancerous kidney underwent an operation to remove the organ. But she received supernatural restoration as later X-rays showed two kidneys instead of one!
The childless couple received their miracle bundle of joy after seven years. Today, they are proud parents of not one, but four children!
The church member with the $34 million debt told the finance company that it was not being fair to her and that God would protect her. The management miraculously decided to cancel her debt!
The next time you are hit by some disturbing facts, let God’s Word settle the truth about your situation. And as the Holy Spirit bears witness to the truths that you are believing, the facts will change and you will receive your miracle!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Lord, I Cannot, But You Can!'
Philippians 2:13
13For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Have you ever tried to break a bad habit on your own? You probably found that when you tried to stop it by sheer will power, you saw improvements for a while, and then bounced back to square one. Worse, you found yourself binging on the very thing that you were trying not to do. And your condition is worse than before you started your “I’m going to quit” programme!
The changes were temporary because it was you doing it.
A church member who had been a chain-smoker used to believe that with will power, he could quit smoking. He would tell himself, “If there is a will, there is a way!” But he discovered that with will power, he could stop smoking for a week or two, and then he would succumb to the pull of nicotine again.
When he turned his life over to God and learnt about God’s grace, he told God, “I realise that I cannot stop smoking. I cannot, but You can, Lord.” And every time he lit up, he would say, “Lord, I am trying to stop smoking, but I cannot. I am trusting You.” He would even say, “I am still righteous because of Jesus’ blood.”
Well, in the same year, all his cravings to smoke vanished! When asked how he succeeded, he would say, “It is entirely God, none of me! It is all by His grace.” This man completely lost all desire to smoke. That is true transformation.
When you receive the grace of God to do for you what you cannot do, you will experience effortless and permanent change on the inside, which in turn changes your actions on the outside. The Bible tells us that God works in us to give us both the will and ability to perform what He desires. God removes the old want to’s and gives us new ones. And He even gives us the power to carry them out!
So look to His grace to do what you cannot do. Say, “Lord, I cannot, but You can!” Then, what you experience will not just merely be behaviour modification, but true and lasting inward transformation!
13For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Have you ever tried to break a bad habit on your own? You probably found that when you tried to stop it by sheer will power, you saw improvements for a while, and then bounced back to square one. Worse, you found yourself binging on the very thing that you were trying not to do. And your condition is worse than before you started your “I’m going to quit” programme!
The changes were temporary because it was you doing it.
A church member who had been a chain-smoker used to believe that with will power, he could quit smoking. He would tell himself, “If there is a will, there is a way!” But he discovered that with will power, he could stop smoking for a week or two, and then he would succumb to the pull of nicotine again.
When he turned his life over to God and learnt about God’s grace, he told God, “I realise that I cannot stop smoking. I cannot, but You can, Lord.” And every time he lit up, he would say, “Lord, I am trying to stop smoking, but I cannot. I am trusting You.” He would even say, “I am still righteous because of Jesus’ blood.”
Well, in the same year, all his cravings to smoke vanished! When asked how he succeeded, he would say, “It is entirely God, none of me! It is all by His grace.” This man completely lost all desire to smoke. That is true transformation.
When you receive the grace of God to do for you what you cannot do, you will experience effortless and permanent change on the inside, which in turn changes your actions on the outside. The Bible tells us that God works in us to give us both the will and ability to perform what He desires. God removes the old want to’s and gives us new ones. And He even gives us the power to carry them out!
So look to His grace to do what you cannot do. Say, “Lord, I cannot, but You can!” Then, what you experience will not just merely be behaviour modification, but true and lasting inward transformation!
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