Rhythm of Faith

Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James1.4 When you and I say to God, "Change me," we better know what we're saying because we are not just going to wake up different the next morning. Instead, what God is going to do is give us an opportunity, through opposition, to grow as we change. James 1 tells us how important it is to have patience when we're changing and facing opposition. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit that only develops and grows under trial, and it's something we need. Scripture tells us that when we have it, we're perfect and entire, lacking nothing. However, there's just no way to get it without going through something to receive it. If we really want to be victorious Christians who serve God and make a difference in the world, then we are going to have to go through some challenging things. The devil will try to scare you off, but God ca...

BASIC SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 3:1-24 Indeed Aristotle said: “I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is the victory over self” Most people cannot control their weight, appetite, temper, emotions sleep, etc, and they blame the devil for that. You do not always blame the devil as a solution to problems. For example, concerning, food you make up your mind and say things like, “ I will begin a diet plan”, Concerning your Spouse, believe and say things like : “ I will NEVER beat or disgrace my wife” or “ I will NEVER be disrespectful to my husband again.”  These are acts from your God- given powerful human will. You must believe that by the Grace of God, you can do all things. You can stop adultery and fornication! Flee! You can become slim again, if you so desire! As the demand for ANOINTING SERVICES grew worldwide, I deliberately began to shed my weight by regular swimming exercises because, I know that the best...

Isaiah 54:14 14: In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. Have you ever asked yourself why some Christians are constantly beset with overwhelming challenges, sicknesses and defeat if God’s promise, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17), is true? Well, this promise comes with a condition — “In righteousness you shall be established”. When you are established in righteousness, you will be far from oppression and terror, and not a single weapon formed against you will prosper! This condition is not hard to meet. For a start, you already have righteousness! When you received Jesus as your Savior, you received the gift of righteousness that enables you to reign in life. (Romans 5:17) This righteousness does not come from you but the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17) And when you are established in His righteousness, no weapon formed against you will prosper. But wh...

Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you. Col3.13. In Biblical fellowship, people will experience mercy. Fellowship is a place of grace, where mistakes aren't rubbed in but rubbed out. Fellowship happens when mercy wins over justice. We all need mercy, because we all stumble and fall and require help getting back on track. We need to offer mercy to each other and be willing to receive it from each other. It's impossible to have biblical fellowship without forgiveness because bitterness and resentment always destroy fellowship. Sometimes we hurt each other intentionally and sometimes unintentionally, but either way, it takes massive amounts of mercy and grace to create and maintain fellowship. The Bible says, "You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, ...

Luke 7:9 9: When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” The way you see Jesus, the revelation that you have of Him, will not affect God’s acceptance of you. But it will affect your acceptance of what God has for you. It will affect how you receive from Him. Consider the Roman centurion who told Jesus, “You don’t have to come to my house. Just speak the word and my servant at home will be healed.” (Luke 7:6–7) Compare him with Jairus, the ruler of a synagogue, who told Jesus, “My daughter is dying. Please come to my house and lay Your hands on her, and she shall live.” (Mark 5:22–23) Do you know that Jesus does not have to go to your house to heal you? So why did Jesus follow Jairus to his house? Jesus had to come down to Jairus’ level of faith. Jairus believed that his daughter could be healed, but only if Jesus came and laid His hands on her....

BASIC SCRIPTURE: EXODUS 14:1-14 There are seasons when God’s promises seem like vanities and His faithfulness seem like His faultiness! When God works a great miracle in your life it’s very easy to forget quickly and slip back into fear. That is what happened to the children of Israel. They had just been brought out of Egypt by God’s mighty hand but when they faced difficluties, they began to murmur: THEY HAD FORGOTTEN THEIR PAST DELIVERANCE STORY! The Red Sea was before them, they couldn’t move forward, the Egyptian army was marching towards them and drawing closer and they couldn’t go backwards. They were paralysed! Then they started to lift up their tongues and cry out to Moses  in Despair: “ Why  didn’t you leave us in Egypt; it would be better for us to die there , at least we would be given a proper burial… “What was the guarantee that they would have had a befitting burial in Egypt under Pharaoh! Listen: Looking at the might of your obstacle create...

Romans 8:37 37: Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. If God’s Word says that we are more than conquerors through Christ, then we are. We are not going to become, we already are. We may be experiencing some failures or setbacks in life right now, but only good will come out of our situations because God says that “in all these things we are more than conquerors”. We have the victory! You see, God has placed us in Christ, whom He has exalted to the highest place in the universe. We are not trying to get to victory ground. We are already on victory ground. We don’t confess God’s Word to get victory. We confess His Word because we already have the victory. We don’t fight for victory. We fight from victory. The devil will try to steal our victory. He will come against us with lies and fears, and cause us to be conscious of our failures, weaknesses and symptoms in areas such as our health. But we are not trying to be healed. We are already hea...

“Mommy, what’s the matter?” My son can sense it. The tension and worry that saturates my heart oozes from my presence. “I just have so much on my mind. I forgot to do something, that’s all,” I replied. But that’s not all. I say it like it’s not a big deal. But from the mouth of a child, his question reminds me that I shouldn’t feel this way. This burden I’m carrying on my shoulders seems to get heavier with each new day. Lately, my to-do lists have to-do lists. With a hectic, busy life, full of responsibilities, I’m afraid I’ll forget something crucial and important. I worry that if I don’t do it (and there’s always an it), then no one else will. So I try to keep everything under my control. I’m constantly reminding myself of what I have to do. “I can’t forget this... ” “I better do that first thing tomorrow.” “It would be bad if I didn’t do this...” I focus on all the “what if’s,” and the worry consumes me. My child can see it because it’s etched across my face. Yet I am fooli...

Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy. 1 Pet1.15. I think we need to be a little more careful than we are with how we live. Not that we have to be so careful that we live in fear, but careful in a godly way, not a legalistic way. Because if we're not careful about who our friends are, what television programs and movies we watch, what kind of books we read, what kind of music we listen to, how we spend our money, and what we do with our time, we could end up living wasted lives. As Christians, we must pursue holiness and realize that we are sanctified, which means we are set apart for God's use. In fact, the minute we accept Christ as our Savior, we are sanctified by the Holy Spirit and set apart for a God-given purpose. And if we're not fulfilling our purpose or if we're not pursuing our purpose, we're going to feel empty and frustrated. I urge you today to pursue your purpose of holiness. When faced with tricky decisions,...

Be generous, and you will be prosperous. Help others, and you will be helped Prov11.25. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25 NLT) There is a story I heard years ago about the difference between heaven and hell. It isn’t a biblically accurate story, but that’s not the point. It is accurate related to human behavior and how our attitudes affect our happiness in life and in marriage. Here it is: In heaven and in hell, people are seated around a banquet table and before them is a great feast. There is a strange dilemma, however, about the way they must eat. Every person has eating utensils strapped to their hands that they cannot take off. Also, the utensils are too long for them to feed themselves. There is no way they could scoop food and return it to their own mouths. In heaven, the people easily find the solution. With joy, they simply feed each other and have a great time of fellowship as they serve one another and...

Romans 8:33 33: Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Some people see God as a judge who has exacting demands on man. When they fall short or when things go wrong in their lives, they think that God is judging them. My friend, the truth is that if you are a believer, God does not bring any charge against you. Instead, He justifies you because of the blood of His Son. In fact, God’s Word goes on to say that the One who has the right to condemn you, chose instead to die for you and is risen at the Father’s right hand to be your righteousness! (Romans 8:34) But what the devil tries to do is to get you to believe that God watches you with a critical eye and punishes you when you do wrong. He has deceived many sincere Christians into believing that if they have done something wrong, sickness or some other evil thing has a right to come upon them and their families. And when these things happen, he convinces them that they are suffering God’s judgment...

BASIC SCRIPTURE:  MATTHEW 5:17-26 Many in North America (USA) worry that they are in a losing battle to preserve civility(politeness, courtesy or respect). The use of profane words –words which are full of abuses and curses is so much on the increase that many young people do not think it is wrong and most adults do not seem to notice it or even care. Professor Timothy Jay of John Hopkins University Civility Project, reports that children begin using abusive words they hear from their parents and on television. Worldwide , it has been noticed that the use of profane and indecent language/words increased more than 50% from 1989-1999. I do hope this bug-cursing and use of abusive words especially when provoked, has not bitten you! Always remember  that you’re in the world but you are not of this world. Sharp words can dull respect! Stop abusing your children, staff clients or even your spouse. Profanity includes speaking evil of people in their absence. This is gossip...

Return, you exiles who now have hope; return to your place of safety. Now I tell you that I will repay you twice over with blessing for all you have suffered. Zech9.12. I have a question for you: What are you hoping for? What are you expecting in life? Are you looking for something good to happen or are you expecting to be disappointed? So many people are feeling hopeless these days. However, Jesus did not die for us to be hopeless. He died so that we could be full of hope. The devil wants to steal your hope and he will lie to you. He'll tell you that nothing good can happen in your life or that the things you care about won't last. If you're struggling with a difficult situation, he'll tell you it will never end. But you have to stay full of hope and remember that the devil is a liar. God can change everything! Our Father is good, and He has good plans for your life. If you will maintain your hope, especially in the midst of troubled and uncertain times,...

BASIC SCRIPTURES: REVELATION 21: 1-8; MATTHEW 5:29-30 Years ago two corpses suspected to be those of men who hid in the inner compartment , were found in the under carriage of a Ghana Airways plane that landed at London Heathrow Airport, a human arm dropped on the tarmac when the plane touched down at Heathrow. Aircraft engineers later found the bodies inside the under carriage where the tyres normally fold into, during flight. The flight engineers said the tyres probably crushed them. The big issue is, if people can be so desperate to go to London and don’t mind risking their lives, then as believers, are we not supposed to give the New Jerusalem (Heaven) a greater thought? The  New Jerusalem (heaven), is the capital of the celestial empire of Jehovah and it is a place of no tears and no night! It’s a place of no death, no pain and no sorrow, It’s a place where the light of the city is not generated via an energy/electrical company, but from THE LIGHT, -Jehovah G...

BASIC SCRIPTURES: ROMANS 12:3-21;1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-7 Once upon a time, the scorpion wanted to cross the river. It noticed a turtle on the rock and begged the turtle to ferry it across the river where it could find some succulent green vegetation. The turtle asked, “ How can I be sure you will not sting my neck?” “Don’t be silly” the scorpion shouted back, “if I did that, we would both drown.” The turtle was persuaded and so they both swam (with the scorpion strapped to the turtle’s back) towards the green vegetation. When they were almost at the end of the river, contrary to its promise, the scorpion stung the turtle on the neck. Struggling to make it to the riverbank and gasping, the turtle with a look of betrayal asked the scorpion, “Why did you do this to me?” Jumping from the turtle’s back to safety on the land, he replied, “I thought you might dive under the water and drown me.” The scorpion could not trust the turtle and that’s what happens to us all sometimes. Truly, th...

BASIC SCRIPTURES: MATTHEW 8:5-17; HEBREWS 13:8 Share this testimony also with me: “ My name is Mrs Edemenaha and I am 33 years old. Pastor, I worked as an usher in the Our Daily Manner ANOINTING SERVICE which took place at the ASABA STADIUM.I said to myself that on the day the pastor is going to meet with us- the workers- I’ll receive my healing.Before now, the doctors said I had gestational diabetes of which I cannot eat what others eat it has been a pain in my mind and to my husband; because of that, my  feet hurt me real bad but after your prayers at the meeting with the ushers up till today, I have been eating those foods the doctors said I should not eat. Before now, I dare not try it. I want to say Glory be to God. ”The devil LIMITED HER TO CERTAIN FOODS but you must know that A LIMITED LIFE UNDER BONDAGE AND SATANIC YOKE! The devil labeled her “LIMITED” but God changed her label to, “ UNLIMITED”.Thank God that she can now eat WHATEVER she desires! Wh...

Ephesians 4:32 Do you remember your parents telling you to “play fair”? That’s certainly a good moral to live by in sports or board games. But playing fair is also one of the quickest ways to ruin a marriage. Good for good; bad for bad. That’s the driving force behind playing fair. It’s a philosophy that says, “If you treat me right, I’ll treat you right. But if you cross me, I’ll hurt you right back.” In a conflict, it means a couple gives each other what they deserve, and that’s exactly the problem. Playing fair works as long as we give good things to our spouse in return for their positive behavior. But what happens when respect breaks down and one spouse snaps in anger at the other? Often times, the spouse who gets yelled at responds by screaming right back. And just like that, the relationship takes a hit because one spouse has given the other what they deserved. Unfortunately, many marriages operate on this premise, and it’s a significant reason why they fail. Relationshi...

Matthew 6:33 33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. You are probably a responsible person who is concerned about providing well for your family — making sure that there is food on the table, money for the children’s needs, comfort and education, and so on. What does God have to say to us about these legitimate concerns? According to Matthew 6:31, He tells us, “Do not worry.” Now, He is not saying that we don’t need all these things because in the same portion of scripture He says, “For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Matthew 6:32) So God cares about us having these things. He wants us to have all these things. In fact, He wants all these things added to us. And He tells us that the way these things are added to us is by us seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Therefore, our number one priority every day is to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. It is not ...

Ephesians 5:27 27:that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. Have you been to a worship service where you stood with your hands raised, ready to worship God, only to hear the worship leader say, “Before we worship God, let’s all search our hearts”? Then, as you search your heart, before long, you dig up something that you don’t like. The next thing you know, your hands are no longer raised and soon, you find yourself sitting down — you don’t feel good worshiping God any more. My friend, I have good news for you. Come and worship Him as you are. Come into God’s presence Jesus-conscious, forgiveness-conscious and grace-conscious! Come into God’s presence bringing only Jesus the spotless Lamb of God as your offering. Your worshiping God is like the times God’s people in the Old Testament brought their offerings to the priest. The priest examined the animal sacrifice t...

Romans 14:19 Here’s a riddle: Everybody wants it. But if you use it in your marriage, you could lose everything. What is it? The answer is control. Whether it’s the right sweetener for our coffee or keeping our home at a certain temperature, we all want our life to function in a way that suits us. And what do we do when something doesn’t work the way we like? We try to control it, of course. Unfortunately, many people employ a similar strategy in their marriage. Controlling behavior can often occur because one spouse doesn’t feel loved and validated by the other. So they try to control their spouse’s actions to insure they get the relationship they want. But taking charge over a spouse doesn’t foster connection and love. Instead, it destroys it because control erodes partnership and oneness, the very foundation God designed into the marital relationship. Here is the hard truth: If you control your spouse, you’re in danger of losing your marriage. In many cases, a spouse who fe...

Romans 5:8 But God has shown us how much he loves us—it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us! Imagine this scenario: Your car tire blows and you are late for work. At the office, you find out that someone else got the promotion you had been hoping for. Then, you receive a call from home informing you that your kitchen pipes are leaking again. Before long, you hear a voice telling you, “If God loves you so much, how come all these things are happening to you?” Perhaps you are asking the same question today and wondering if God really loves you. Well, I want you to know that you must never judge God’s love for you based on your circumstances. No, look at the cross instead! The cross is the sure symbol of God’s love for you. It is at the cross that “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. A teenager learnt that the cross indeed spoke of how much God loves her. At one point in her life, she was conte...