THE SAINTS OF GOD

Now therefore ye are more strangers and foreigners, but fellow –citizen with the saints, and of the household of God. (Ephesians 2:19).


Some people erroneously think you can only be a saint after death and only if you’re promoted then to sainthood. In Psalm 16:3 the Bible talks about saints who are the in earth: “but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.’’ The Apostle Paul in this epistles to the Church addressed the believers as saints, that’s because every born again child of God is a saint of God. You might want to ask. “Am I truly a saint, in spite of all the wrong things I do sometimes?” Emphatically yes!

A saint doesn’t mean someone who hasn’t done anything wrong, or someone who’s perfect. The Bible talks about the perfecting of the saints; And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and, some, evangelist; and some pastors and some, teachers; for the perfecting of the saints…” (Ephesians4;11-12). Now, if the saints were already perfect, they wouldn’t need perfecting. The reason God gave ministry gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to the church is for the perfecting of the saints. Thus saints are not those who are already perfect.

Scripturally speaking, ‘saints’ means holy or consecrated ones. Therefore, as a saint of God, you’re holy and consecrated unto the lord; you’re set apart for God’s glory and His divine purpose. You’re set apart for success, victory, prosperity, peace, progress and divine health, Take some time to meditate on this truth today, that you’re a saint in God’s kingdom of light; not when you get to heaven, but here in the earth. Therefore live as one by living in the Word.

Further Study: Romans 1:7; Corinthians 1:2

THE GARDEN OF EDEN

And the lord God planted a garden in Eden; and there he put man whom he had formed.
[Genesis 2: 8}


When God created the earth, He got everything ready. He planted a nice garden with a lot of juicy fruits, it was only after everything has been set that He created Adam and brought him into the garden. He brought him into nice and pre-planned world where he didn’t lack anything. He only gave Adam the responsibility to tend and keep. (Genesis 2:15), not so Adam would have a job but as a means of livelihood, but to make him responsible. This is the reason your job is not your source, but an avenue for learning, responsibility, discipline and contribution.

God’s got a better plan for you than having you hustle and live on your salary. According to God’s word, we’ve been born to do “…those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us {taking paths which He prepared ahead of time}, that we should walk in them {living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live}”(Ephesians 2:10 AMP). There’s a prearranged, good life which God has ready for you to live in Christ. He planned for you!

Some folks act though God was taken by surprise by their birth. They believe as though, God’s got the entire angel running helter-skelter trying to sort things out for this ‘surprise package’ that suddenly emerged on the scene. They obviously haven’t read Ephesians 2:10. God is not scratching His head wondering what to do about you. He planned for your coming before the foundation of the world and provided you with everything you needed for life and for godliness (2 Peter 1:3) What the Lord expects of you is to trust Him and cast yourself on His word, for His Word is your sustenance. Your salary was never intended to sustain you, rather, it’s to provide you with seed for sowing. Remember that the one who brought you to this world surely have a good plan to take care of you, so trust Him with your life. That you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work (2Corinthians 9:8)

Scriptural reading:(Ephesians 2:10; Jeremiah 1:4-5)

THE TRUE CONFESSION

...If thou shalt confession with thy mouth the lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation
[Romans 10:9-10}


The word ''confess'' in the scripture above means ''to speak the same things in consent with God.''It derives from the Greek word ''Homologia'' which means speaking the same things in consent. That means you're saying the same in agreement with God; you're saying what God has said. That's true confession. It has nothing to do with confessing all your sins to God as some people think.

The Bible says, ''...if thou shall confess with thy mouth the lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.''That's the principle for salvaltion. This is not just talking about being saved from sins or the devil. It includes being saved from all the negative influences and circumstances of life.

So when you say Jesus is lord over your life!'' you're also saying'' He's Lord over your money, therefore, you can not be broke in your life!'' You're saying'' He's Lord over your body, therefore, you will never be sick or diseased!'' You're also declaring'' He is your Shepherd, therefore, you will not lack!'' Youspeakingthe same thing with God. You're saying what God has said! That's true confession.

Learn to declare with your mouth the same things God has said concerning you in His Word. No wonder the Bible says, ''...He hath said...so that we might boldly say...'' }{Hebrew 13:5-6}. Create the habit of studying and laerning God's Word, for that's how you will know what God has said about you,and then speak accordingly. Remember, what you say is what you get; therefore, speak the Word only, say what God has said concerning you in His Word! That's faith principle that guarantees a day-to-day life of sucess,victory and progress.

This is the true confession that can change a man's life for good.

SCRIPTURAL VERSE: 2CONRINTIANS 4:13 1TIMOTHY 6: 12

UNWRAP THE PACKAGE!

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as on my presence only, but now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling'' { Philippians 2:12}

When you read from the first verse of the first chapter of the book of Philippians you will observe that the apostle Paul was addressing the saints in Philippi: ''Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.'' And he charged them to work out their salvation with {godly reverence, awe} and trembling.

Salvation is a complete package and it's yours in Christ Jesus. The word ''salvation'' is an all-inclusive word, and it encompasses all the things God did for the human person in making him the best that he can be, having been the worst that he can be. But you have to discover the other beautiful things that come with the package. Paul didn't say, ''Pray that you will work it out,’’ Work out your own salvation.''

When someone gives you a gift packaged with beautiful wrapping paper, you wouldn't just settle for the packaging or the wrapping paper however beautiful it may be. You're more concerned with the gift inside the package. The person that gave you the gift doesn't have to unwrap the gift for you, you'll have to 'work out your salvation' by tearing the packaging open, because whatever is inside is far better that the wrapping sheets. Interestingly, many have gotten the gift of salvation alright, but they've settled for the packaging and the wrapping sheets alone!

Salvation is wonderful and it's worth rejoicing about but you must realize that salvation is just the packaging; there's so much more in the Word that we haven't yet touched. Make your study time a priority because that's the only way to unwrap this 'salvation package;' that's the way to work out your own salvation with godly reverence.


Scripture to read: Acts 20:32; 2Timothy2:15

YOU ARE IN FOR A MIRACLE

Jesus Christ the same yesterday ,to day and forever" [Hebrew 13:8}

The Lord is experienced in making something out of nothing; that's His specialty. He can make a success out of a failure and turn a pauper into a prince. This is the reason why i can trust Him to make something beautiful out of my life. Even if everyone thinks you're messed up, you can still trust Him to make your count. It doesn't matter where you are or where you met Him, just know that you're in for a miracle whenever He shows up.
Mary and Martha were faced with a situation that seemed so hopeless; their brother Lazarus had died. But when Jesus showed up four days after Lazarus was buried, a miracle took place,
He raised a four-days old corpse!

Once, a ruler of the synague named Jairus disrupted Jesus' message urging Him to come and pray for his daughter, and He hurriedly followed the man. On their way, they experienced a little delay but before they could continue on their journey one of the servants met Jairus on the way and said to him, ''...Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the master'' {Luke 8:49}.Then Jesus said to Jairus, ''...Fear not: believe only; and she shall be make whole'' {Luke 8:50}.

Jesus didn't say, ''I'm so sorry. If only you had come to Me earlier. Take heart'' No! He doesn't sympathize, He changes things, Hallelujah! Today, Jesus is saying to you the same things He said to Jairus, ''Fear not, only believe! Nothing is too difficult for Jesus. The question is: How willing are you to let Him change your situation? He says, ''I f you will only let me help you, if you will only obey, then i will make you...''{Isaiah 1:19 TLB} He can make you become anything you desire, only if you are willing. That's all He asking of you. Let me announce to you today that the master is here, and if you're willing, then you're in for a miracle.

Scripture to read: John 11:40

THE PASSION FOR SOULS

For if I [merely] preach the Gospel, that gives me no reason to boast, for I feel compelled of necessity to do it. Woe is me if I do not preach the glad tidings {the Gospel]! {1 Corinthians 9:16 AMP}


The things that matter to you are revealed in your passion. When you study the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus, you'll discover that helping people and teaching people about God's Kingdom {that is, soul winning} were His passions. Therefore, it's no wonder He was willing to lay down His life for the same purpose.

When you come to the Lord Jesus. the first things He does is to ignite this same passion in you. Everyone who associated with the Lord Jesus became a passionate soul winner. Your love for Him is expressed in your passion to see souls come into God's Kingdom. The Apostle Paul's undying passion for the Lord translated into his passion for the gospel and for the souls of men.

Such was Paul's burning desire to see men come to know the Lord Jesus the same way he knew Him, that he stopped at nothing to spread the gospel, in spite of the great persecution. He declared " I am debtor both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians; both to the wise , and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel..."{Romans 1: 14-15}. You must recognize that you also area debtor to your world. You owe the people in your sphere of contact this message of God's great love for mankind. For all you know, you may be the only person with the opportunity to touch their lives with the gospel. If Jesus means a lot to you as you say He does, you will tell someone else about Him. Whatever you do and whatever you are, preach the Word. Tell them God loves them so much that He sent Jesus to die for them { John3:16} Be involved in God's work; contribute your time, effort, money and resources to soul winning. Be remembered as someone with a passion for God, for the Gospel and for the souls of men.

Scripture to read: {Act 1:8; jude1:23}

THE TREASURE BOX

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water;but a man of understanding will draw it out"(Proverb20:5)
So many people spend years trying to find so-called treasure to better their lot. And it seems to always elude them every time, just about the time they thought they were about to get it.

I would to God that every Christian would realize that they aren't going to get something from anywhere, because God has already given them everything they'll ever need. That thing you've always wanted is in you. So you see,you don't have to look around you. rather look inwards. You're a treasure and your heart is the treasure box. If someone gave you a box of treasure and riches, You wouldn't just keep the box somewhere polishing it everyday. Rather, you'll immediately open it to dig out the treasures in there. But many Christians cry everyday for the treasures that God has kept in the treasure box He gave them. How sad! All you need to do is to know how to dig inside your treasure box and pull out whatever yu need. "How do i do that?" you ask.

Well. it's by discorvering who you are in Christ! so many Christians are sick, financially crippled and have unstable relationships with their spouses because they don't understand what i'm sharing with you today. I love to teach the Word of God because I know that if I can get people to see what I see, their lives will be transformed in a moment.

All the money you'll ever need, the cars you'll own, the houses you'll live in, the person you'll marry - everythnig, is all inside of you. God has done everything He needed to do, the rest is up to you.there's only one way to find out what God has kept in the treasure box of your heart and that's thruogh His word. Look into the mirror of God,which is His word and simply agree with what He says you are, and believe that you have what He says you have, then you will be functioning in the realm of God and watch how you life will be transform...the word of God work!

Scriptural reading: 2peter 1:3;

THE DIMENSIONS OF GOD'S LOVE

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;that ye,being rooted and grounded in love, May be able able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and the depth, and height;And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be full with the fullness of God (Ephensians 3:17-19)

To be filled with the fullness of God is dependent upon our comprehension of the "dimensions' of God's love: the breadth, lenght, depth,and height of the Father's love.

The 'breath" of God's love refers to the width or the coverage of the Father love. How wide is it? Who does is include? John 3;16 gives us the answer: "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" God loves everyone in the world, even the worst sinner. Thus if you comprehend thye magnitude and infinitude of that love, then you too can love everybody you meet genuinely.

The "length" of God's love refers to the extent or limit of the father's love-how far can it go? Can it pursue the worst failures? Can it be stretched limitlessly in the face of provocation? The answer to all this is an emphatic YES!

God's love is limitless and doesn't give up. No womder Jesus said you must forgive if a brother offends you seventy times seven times (Matthew 18:21-22). Your love must know no limits.

The "depth" of God's love refers to the intensity of His love: "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the intense love which He bestwed on us,caused us, dead though we were thruogh our offences, to live with Christ..." (Ephensians 2:4-5). His love is so intense that, even when we didn't want Him, He accepted us and eventully won us over! This should be your love- attitude; this should be the character of your love; you must love others passionately and intensely as God does.
The "height of God's love refers to the loftiness of the charater of your love, beyond human weakness. It means walking in love at God's high levels os excellence. It means letting your love rise above the criticisms of others! It means walking in high level of God's love that the bitterness of others can't drown it.Your love ought to be so lofty that nothing of this world could make you condescend to the low levels of hate, back bitting and malice. Do you want to be with the fullness of God's love?Then, you must function by the dimensions of God's love. Stay at the high level of love that thinks and talks differently; you'll be amazed at the workings of God in your life.
1 Corithians 13:4-7

LEARN TO MINISTER TO THE LORD

Theme Scripture:(Act 13:2)

Asthey minister to the lord,ann fasted, the Holy Ghost said, sepearate me
Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto i have called them.(Act 13:2)

It's easy to understand what is means for the Holy Spirit to minister to people
but not too many understand what it means to minister to the lord. to minister
to the is to worship Him an offering; and make confession of His word to His
name. Certain prophets and teachers ministered back to them and it resulted in the
first missionary journey or Paul and Barnasbas. They were able to hear and
had and receive directions from the Spirit of God because they had first
ministered to the Lord and fasted. How important it is to minister to the Lord!

In ministering to the Lord, the first thing you must do is give Him all your
attension,(proverb 4:20). You have to set out time to minister to Him. Next,
you speak words that extol His majesty. One of the synonyms of the word
minister is worship. You should begin praising Him, not just generally, but with
content. Priase Him for specific things. Don't just say "I praise you Lord."
Rather say things like,"I praise you for making your word real to me." Praise
Him with understanding.

When you constantly fellowship with the Lord this way, the Holy Spirit will
direct you in the affairs of your life, and you'll always know what to do in
every situation. You won't be in the dark about anything in life for the Lord
Jesus has said, " I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not
wolk in darkness, but shall have the light of life"(John 8:12)
Read 1 samuel 3:1-4