Why should I ask daily?

‘I think my Dad is behaving weirdly' Kathy moaned. Ever since i got into Uni, he just kind of changed towards me. 

Really? How do you mean? Said Lily-Anne.

Both girls were walking back to their house; they both share a two bedroom cottage not too far from their University College. They had met during the freshers induction week the previous year and had found out they were studying the same course. Both girls come from very wealthy families.

Kathy reached the front door and opened it; they both entered and collapsed on the large sofa. 

'I could do with a cold drink'. Kathy said and went into the kitchen. She came back with two bottles of coke and handed one to Lily-Anne.

'When I was much younger, I didn't need to ask him or my Mum for anything, she continued. Everything was simply provided. 

Do you mean your Dad has now stopped giving you everything you need? Lily-Anne asked.

'Oh no, not at all'. She quipped. He puts money in my bank account monthly which is sufficient for me, don't get me wrong and he says if I need more, I only need to ask but I just wonder why I now have to ask. I have never had to ask before as a younger girl, there was always more than enough for me but now that I am at University, he says to ask! 

I don't get it. I either call him to ask him or wait till month end when we have lunch together then I can ask. It's all so puzzling.

So why are you worried then? He says to ask and he will give to you. 

Just maybe he likes to hear from you constantly now that you are all grown up and not at home with them everyday, we both know he has the money to give you. Can't you see?, he even drives all the way down every month just to have lunch with you and talk! I wish my Dad would do that. Lily-Anne said very quietly.

I would give anything to see him more often or hear from him. He is ever so busy. Like you, money is not the problem, in fact I have more than enough in my bank account but I sometimes think he puts all that money in my account so I wouldn't need to ring him, that's even if I can reach him. I miss him terribly and would love to have him more around, even if it means only getting money from him daily. I think I would love to swap places with you Kathy, I don’t even need all that money he pays into my account, it's him I want not just the money. The money is a part of what he has, if I can have him always, then I have everything.

‘Don’t be silly Lily-Anne, that’s a ridiculous thing to say’ she rolled her eyes at her best friend. You sound like a needy 2 year old. 

Think about it Kathy, your Dad is extremely wealthy, yet he gives you only what you need at any particular time, why do you think he does that?

I don’t know Lily-Anne and I certainly do not like the idea. She crossed her hands across her chest.

Let’s go have lunch and stop talking about our Fathers.

That night, she turned and tossed on her bed and was unable to sleep. She thought about what Lily-Anne said but it just didn’t make any sense to her. Just then an idea occurred to her. Tomorrow was the last day of the month; she will be meeting her father for lunch as usual at Saturn Cafe. 

‘Hi Dad, have you been waiting for long? She asked.

'Not too long'  he said and smiled at her. I have used the opportunity to review some office reports I brought with me. How are you?

‘Fine’ she replied.

'Dad, you know you don’t really need to travel down every month just to have lunch with me. You could have stayed back at work and review your reports. She ran her hands through her hair nervously.

He smiled and looked at her, It’s fine Kathy, it’s no bother at all. I enjoy listening to you talk, that's why I come. I know you have grown into a fine young woman and I appreciate you might not want me around….

'Oh no Dad,  I actually love meeting you for lunch, i just wonder why you do it knowing you are extremely a busy man and it's not very convenient for you coming down here. 

'Dad, can I ask you a question? 

'What is that, dear? Her father said

Why do you put just the exact money I need in my account every month. I know you can certainly afford more than that and you can put more. 

'Yes I can, honey' He smiled and cupped her face in his large hands and lovingly looked at her and said ‘My child, I love you so very much and you are everything to me. Remember you are the only child your Mum and I have. Everything we have belongs to you and while I can afford to put more money in your account than you need at any point in time, wisdom and love says to release it to you as you need it.

I do it because I love you.

With a puzzled look on her face, she looked at him and said ‘I don’t understand Dad’.

The only reason I give to you as you need it is for communication, for fellowship. I want you to talk to me, ask me for whatever you need anytime, that way I am very much involved in your life.  If I give to you all you need in one go, then will have no need of me and before long we will become strangers.

All I have is yours, my wealth is tremendous and my investments are many but I will give anything to commune with you daily, not even my tight work schedules will stop that and this is why I look forward to our monthly lunch together.

Lily-Anne was right, she thought to herself. She got up and hugged her father tightly. I love you Dad, you're the best. Now I understand. 

God owns the heaven and the earth, everything belongs to him yet he taught his disciples to ask for daily bread, is He stingy? Is he withholding back from us? No! He loves us and all he desires is daily fellowship with us. When you go to him daily to ask for your daily bread then he knows you are in touch with me.

Luke 11:1, and one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray......

Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

Matthew 6:8, for your father knoweth what you have need of before you ask him.

The silver is mine and the gold is mine, saith the Lord. Haggai 2:8

And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me and all that I have is thine. Luke 15:31

Resist the enemy

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Each time you hear or study the word of God, the flesh will want to raise a resistance to what the word of God says because the word of God is spirit and life ( John 6:63). The flesh is always against the spirit (Galatians 5:17) and will not want you to do what the spirit says. The flesh and those living in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:8), the flesh cannot submit to the things of God

When Jesus told the parable of the sower in Matthew 13, he said there are those who hear the word but because they do not understand the enemy comes to steal away the word. The enemy comes to steal the word because he knows it is the word that makes a difference in the life of the believer, it is the word that makes free (John 8:32), it is the word that situations and circumstances bow to so he will try and steal it away. Hence a believer need to put up resistance against the enemy. This is the resistance James 4:7 is talking about. When you stand against the enemy and stand your ground on the word, he will flee from you and leave you alone.

The battle to steal the word you have heard takes place in your mind, it is not a physical battle that you fight with physical weapons. Rather it is a battle of thought. He comes to tell you the word doesn't work, he comes to remind you how long you have waited if you are waiting, he comes to tell you miracles are gone with the Apostles or that your case is so peculiar the word of God cannot tackle it. He reminds you of your failures and ask you to accept your present status but you can put up a resistance and say to the enemy 'I know who I am and I know who I have believed'

When you resist him like Jesus did when he was tempted in the wilderness you will prevail like Jesus prevailed. How did Jesus resist? He spoke the word to counter the enemy. Jesus knew who he was and who sent him, so he was able to say 'It is written'

Resist the enemy with the word of God and he will flee from you and when he is fleeing he will go with all his baggages of doubt, fear, anxiety and sorrow.

What is in it for me?

Then Peter said to him 'We've given up everything to follow you, what will we get? Matthew 19:27 (NLT)

In the verse above, a young rich man came to Jesus asking what he needed to do to have eternal life, he told Jesus he had kept all the commandments from when he was a youth, Jesus asked him to go sell all he had and follow him but the young man became sad because according to the bible, he had many possessions. 

Peter was there with the other disciples, they heard what Jesus said and of course to them, that was a hard saying. Why? To  keep all Moses commandments was no mean feat! That young man should be given a pat on the back, but Jesus didn't seem impressed rather he said, it will be harder for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. 

Out of fear and uncertainty, Peter asked the question in our verse quoted above. Obviously he was an ordinary fisherman with no great possessions like the young rich man and so if the rich young man found it hard to give up his earthly possessions to follow Jesus, what about him, who had given up all to follow Jesus? He needed to know so he asked.

What about you? have you ever looked at your unbelieving neighbour or colleague who seem to have it all and you wonder 'I am a believer, why are things like this for me? I have given up a lot to follow Jesus, what will I get?There is nothing wrong with this question, Peter asked the same thing 

Hence I want to talk about the relationship between you and Jesus and put things in the right perspective.

When a man and woman decide to come together and start a relationship and marry, they are committing to a lifetime of trust, respect, provision, care and loyalty.
When they exchange vows, this is what they are both doing,  either they fully understand it or not. Each of them is expected to honour and keep their vows as it is binding and recognised by heaven.

The relationship between Jesus and the church (you and I are the church) is one Jesus is committed to, he can't pull out of it because he already gave his life for it. Read Ephesians 5:25. You are very dear to Jesus. 

In a marriage, the groom pays dowry to get the bride, Jesus is the bridegroom and you are the bride, hence he paid with his blood to get you and after he left the earth, to ensure you are not alone, he gave you his Holy Spirit to be with you while he went to prepare a mansion for you (John 14:2) and he then said he will come back and take you home to that mansion by himself (John 14:3)

Jesus has your today and tomorrow planned already, you are in an important relationship. 

He couldn't have died and paid with his blood to draw you into a loveless, uncaring and austerity relationship where you bow your head barely surviving, beaten up, ? Why would he say 'every one that is thirsty, come to the waters and drink and he that has no money come buy and eat (Isaiah 55:1) if he didn't have his storehouse full of provisions?

He said it because he has everything you will ever need.

He answered Peter and said 'for following me, in heaven you will sit with me on the throne and right here on earth, you will be blessed and receive an hundred folds of whatever you think you lost for following me, then he added 'persecutions' as part of the package ( Read Mark 10:30)

Because things are tough now(Hardness not hardship is part of a believers life 2 Timothy 2:3 ) is not an indication that he is no longer with you or that he won't make a way for you or that in all cases you have done something wrong, your present situation is not the determinant of your tomorrow and it definitely will not last forever if you really know who your groom is.

Tomorrow will not be bleak for you as he has tomorrow in his hands. Jesus will take care of you, he is committed to you. He is the husband of the church and it is a marriage for life and in this marriage, there is joy, peace, fruifulness, prosperity, greatness and whatever it is you need for he will abundantly supply. 

Give thanks?

She wiped away her tears and waved at her mother as the train pulled away from the station. She suddenly felt very lonely and wished she had accepted her mother’s offer to stay till the following week but she couldn’t. She needed to be alone to think and plan her next move. She hadn’t stopped crying since the divorce became final, all along she had hoped he would change his mind. To be rejected by someone you loved deeply was heartbreaking.

She looked out of the window and realised she was almost home, she got up slowly from her seat and walked towards the door, there was a young couple standing there, holding hands and smiling at one another, they were obviously in love. She looked away and tried to stop the tears flowing but she couldn’t. 

Life had been cruel to her, why can't she be this young woman holding hands with her husband and smiling with no care in the world, why does it have to be her going through this emotional torture?  Why won't life smile on her, after all she is only asking for happiness in life, is that too much to ask? 

She alighted from the train and walked home. She was very tired and so decided to lie down and rest for a little while,  she fell asleep and was woken up by the cry of a child. She got up,  pulled her window’s curtain and saw her neighbour’s daughter sitting right in front of their porch with her little arms round her legs crying; quickly she ran outside to the child, carried her and knocked on their door, there was no answer so she opened the door and went in. 

Lying face down on the sofa was the little girl’s mother, she walked up to her and tapped her gently expecting a response but there was none, she checked her pulse and listened for her breathing, thankfully she was alive. She dialled 999.

‘Are you a relative as we need you to sign some forms?’ The doctor asked her. She shook her head and replied she was her neighbour and doesn't know any of her relatives either. She had recently moved into the neighbourhood with her daughter and no one knew anything about her.

Please come into my office, the doctor said. They both went in and the doctor explained her neighbour had been diagnosed with cancer few months back. She had started her chemotherapy treatment and her radiation treatment was soon to start. The doctor had warned her she needed someone close by to look after her at this time as the treatments will make her feel very weak and she will require assistance, she had collapsed when she was found. From the look of things she will be in the hospital for a little while.

She left the doctor's office with a child in tow, suddenly she has a child to look after while the hospital rings social services. She went back home with the little girl, made dinner for her and tucked her in to her own bed. She sat down, tired and hungry and as she was about to go into the kitchen, she realised in the past few hours, she had forgotten about herself and her ‘many’ problems. She hadn’t even for once thought about it! This is contrary to what she does everyday, think about her problems which depresses her even more.

She had saved a life by ringing emergency services, she had become a temporary carer for a child and she hadn't shed any tears also. 

Ever since the divorce, she hadn't stopped crying. It then dawned on her that when you think life is hardest for you, wait till you are thrown into what others are passing through.

She looked at the little child fast asleep on her bed, what if her mother never made it through the cancer treatments, what would happen to her? She sighed deeply and remembered her mother’s parting words to her at the train station ‘Thankfulness is a virtue, to be thankful does not mean you are devoid of problems, it means despite it all, you believe you still have something to be thankful for. Thankfulness is a rare virtue, not everyone is thankful’

She knelt by her bedside, casting her mind back to all the good things that had happened to her and she began to give thanks. She reckoned if she could stay her mind on the good things that had happened to her, she will always have a reason to be thankful. 

Yes she has been jilted by her husband and it still hurts but it was definitely not the end of life.

1Thessalonian 5:18, in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Give thanks!, you definitely have a reason if only you can think deep enough.

He's talking about you!

'Ye are the salt of the earth'. Matthew 5:13a

The ministry of Jesus attracted multitudes of people because He always had compassion on them. He healed the sick among them, raised their dead and never turned away the hungry. 

He met the needs of the people always and so everywhere he went, they followed him. Jesus also taught them the word of God, however whenever Jesus wanted to reveal deep mysteries about the kingdom of God, he would take his disciples aside and reveal it to them. 

One of such deep mysteries is the scripture quoted above ‘Ye are the salt of the earth’. 

Jesus told his disciples they were the ‘salt of the EARTH’ not ‘salt among a few people known to them and loved by them like their family and friends which would have been a bit easier to swallow, but ‘salt of the earth’. 

Now that is huge and I’ll explain.

Until a man surrenders his life to Christ and becomes born again, he operates in the flesh, Jesus said in John 3:6 ‘That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

Human being ordinarily dances to the tune of the flesh, the flesh dictates its wants and it has to be met. The natural man has no control over the deeds of the flesh and it is impossible to prevail by your own strength which is why 'New year resolutions' are very hard to keep whatever it is you are trying to do or not do. You struggle for a few months and you are back to square one.

Apostle Paul says in Galatians 5:16 says 'This I say then 'Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.

Even after a man becomes born again, if he does not renew his mind constantly with the word of God ( Romans 12:2), he will also give in to the dictates of the flesh and that is why we often hear the remark 'But he is a christian, why did he do that? Why is her attitude so bad?

By not renewing the mind always with the word of God, a believer doesn't know of the power residing on the inside of him or her, he or she is not aware of who he/she is in Christ, he/she does not know that 'sin shall not have dominion over him and so when the dictates of the flesh kicks in, he doesn't know how to stand firmly against it with the word of God because there is insufficient word in him!

For example, what your flesh wants is to do good only to those who have been good to you, that makes sense to the flesh. When people give to you, you give back to them or you see it as an obligation even when your flesh does not feel like giving back to them so you grudgingly give. When someone has been nice to you, you want to be nice to them too.

Now when someone has been nasty to you, what the flesh wants to do is pay them back in their own coin, your flesh will never desire to be nice to those who has been nasty to you. Your flesh automatically screams for revenge when you have been wronged and except you are daily feeding your spirit and renewing your mind with the word of God, you are susceptible to the dictates of the flesh.

Now as a disciple of the Lord, The Lord is saying to you ‘ye are the salt of the earth’. Whenever salt is added to food, it is to make that food tasty, it is to turn an otherwise bland food into something edible and enjoyable. Also salt is used by everyone, both believers and non believers, salt does not discriminate, Salt does not choose who can or cannot use it, everyone have access to salt, everyone uses salt, either in very little quantity or much or for those who don’t at all due to health reasons, they find an alternative to salt that will still make their food tasty enough for them to eat.

So when Jesus said 'ye are the salt of the EARTH, he didn't exclude anyone you can be good to, he didn't ring fence who you can forgive,  'the earth' includes everyone and everything, you can't be selective who you share the gospel with, you don't do good to only those who do good to you (maybe your friends and family). Jesus didn't say 'salt of your home/family' he said 'salt of the earth'

This is why I refer to it as 'hard to swallow truth'. 

Think of when you have been stepped on either knowingly or unknowingly or when you have been misunderstood and treated unfairly and yet Jesus says 'you are the salt'. Does this scripture apply in all cases even when I haven't been treated well? Are you saying I cannot retaliate? Why should I still exhibit godly virtues towards those who have treated me badly? Because Jesus said 'You, yes you, are the salt of the earth. Jesus is talking about you!

Today He is not here physically and you are the one standing for him, when the world looks at you, they see Jesus, you are his ambassador. As his ambassador, you represent who Jesus is and what he stands for.

Finally in the later part of Matthew 5:13 (NLT) Jesus said 'but what good is salt if it has lost its flavour?  A salt that has lost its flavour can no longer be referred to as salt because it can no longer perform its duty of making food  tasty hence it will be thrown away.

 I pray we will not lose our flavour in Jesus name. 

Overcoming Doubt

John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. John 1:15

John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not: He it is who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. John 1:26-27

And I saw and bare record that this is the son of God. John 1:34

The Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask John the Baptist who he was when they saw him baptising the  people. They wanted to know if he was Elias, the Christ or one of the prophets. He clearly answered and told them he was not the Christ and then proceeded to tell them a little about the Christ and so when Jesus came to him the following day to be baptised, he publicly announced Jesus.

John the Baptist was anointed right from his mother's womb, he knew who he was and what he was born to do, to be a forerunner to Christ. He knew about the Christ and he boldly declared in verse 29 'Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. He also mentioned about Jesus being the one to baptise with the Holy Ghost, that is baptising with Power.

However when Herod put him in prison for reproving him for taking his brother's wife (Luke 3:19-20), doubt began to set in about who Christ was. The same man who publicly declared Christ in Luke 7:20  now asked his disciples to go ask Jesus if he was the Christ or they should look for another?

Anyone can be tempted with doubt no matter how anointed!

A song writer says when the storms of life hit, will your anchor hold?
You can never reach a point in your life where the temptation of doubt can not set in. So how do we deal with doubt when it comes knocking? Let's go back to the scriptures.
In Luke 7:20, bible says 'When the men were come unto him, they said 'John the Baptist has sent us unto thee saying 'Art thou he that should come or look we for another?
Go to verse 21-23 to see Jesus's response. In verse 21, he didn't utter a word rather bible says in that same hour, he cured many of the infirmities of the people and plagues, and of evil spirits and unto many that were blind, he gave sight. It was in verse 22 he spoke and told the messengers to go tell John what they saw, how the lame walk, the deaf hear, the blind see etc.
Finally in verse 23 he said 'Blessed is he who shall not be offended in him.
Why did Jesus first perform miracles before replying the messengers? In the scriptures we quoted earlier, John the Baptist knew who Christ was, he knew what he came to do and he was so confident about who Christ was that he bare witness to it and so Jesus knew that John the Baptist knows who he was and so asking his disciples to come ask him if he was the Christ could only be as a result of persecution/trials/storms of life, remember John was locked up in prison.  Hence Jesus had to recreate a scene that explains what the scriptures says about him in Isaiah 61:1 so that when the messengers go back to John, they could tell him what they saw and John will get the message.

Jesus referred John back to the scriptures for the scriptures cannot be broken. Jesus was trying to say this is what the word of God which you know says about me. I came to save, to heal and to deliver. In other words, yes I am the Christ.
When our faith is deeply tested and it looks like the storms of life will sink us and doubts about the word of God begin to rise within us, let us run back to the Word.
Proverbs 4:20-22 says  'my son give attention to my word, incline thine ears to my saying, do not let them depart from your EYES, keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh.

Whilst it is humanly hard not to dwell on the storms threatening us especially as it is staring at you right in the face, the way to overcome doubt is to think on the word of God always. Think (meditate) about what the word says about that issue instead of the issue. This is because the more we think about something the more we give in to that thing. If you keep thinking about the issue, it keeps looking bigger than it really is, if you keep thinking about the word, suddenly you notice the problem is nothing compared to your big God.
It is easier to dwell and think about problems than dwell/think about the word of God because it takes discipline and commitment to read and think about the word of God everyday whilst you can still see your problems. Not everyone can do that, as we starve our doubts by looking into the word of God and meditating on it, our faith begin to rise to the surface and victory is certain.

Place your demand

I have often heard people say 'there is so much hurt and pain in the world today'. Why can't God do something about it? Why can't He take the pain away, Why can't he take me from extreme poverty to prosperity? After all He is the Almighty God and nothing is impossible for him to do. Why won't he help me? Why do I have to go through life sick, unhappy and depressed?

Whilst I will not answer directly, I want us to study the scriptures together and look at 3 different people and we can then conclude individually on the answer to these questions.

Mark 5:24-34, in verse 24, the bible says 'And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him,and thronged him. 

Jesus was on his way to Jairus's house to heal his daughter who was at the point of death, much people were following him and even thronged him meaning there were multitudes of people all around Jesus probably squashing him. Now read verse 25-28, we then hear of one woman who had suffered for 12 years with the issue of blood, she also was among the crowd! 

The Bible says she heard about Jesus in verse 28 and then she decided to do something about what she had heard! verse 28 says' For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 

This woman was sick in her body, she had spent so much and doctors had not been able to help her, rather than get depressed and angry with God or even live with the problem (if you can live with your problem then it will live with you), she decided to do something about her case.The first thing she did was to hear about Jesus which is the beginning of miracles. Jesus was right there available to all the people for whatever it was they needed but only one woman placed a demand.

The word of God is available today in various format, it has never been easier to hear about the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in the world we live in today, it is available free on your mobile tablet, phone, TV, radio etc. Almost everyone now have access to the word of God, we hear of how missionaries are getting the bible across to people living even in remote villages, the problem today is not access to the word of God, rather it is the refusal to listen/hear or for those who hear, refusal to do something about what they have heard.

This woman not only heard about Jesus, she took a step further and touched his garment, she said to herself  'If I can touch his clothes, I shall be whole. I say to people always that every thing mentioned in the bible is important, why did the bible tell us this woman said to herself 'If I can TOUCH his clothes, remember we read there were multitudes thronging Jesus, so they also must have been touching him surely, this tells us touch is different from touch. 

I bet there were other sick people among the crowd thronging Jesus but only one sick woman got her miracle. The Healer was right there among them, but only one woman drew power from the fountain of life so much so Jesus had to stop and talk about it. He felt her impact and said somebody touched me!

The woman had the same opportunity every other person in that crowd had, in fact bible tells us she came from behind to touch the Healer, only this woman converted her opportunity to a miracle. 

John 4:7-29, This was the story of the woman at the well who had a one to one encounter with the Lord. In verse 7, Jesus asked her for a drink of water. If you read down, you will see that Jesus didn't really need her drink of water, he was rather creating an atmosphere for miracle for her as she had marital problems! Jesus knew that the beginning of any miracle is to hear about him and so he started the conversation and used the opportunity to tell her about himself. In verse 10, he told this woman, if you know who it is that is asking you for a drink, you would ask him to give you the 'LIVING WATER'. Can you now clearly see Jesus didn't need her drink of water. Jesus is the one that gives the living water to every thirsty soul so that you drink and never thirst again.

This woman met Jesus, heard the word directly from him, there were no crowds or limitations stopping her from turning this opportunity into a miracle, even after the Lord revealed her problem, she could have asked him to help her(remember I said if you can live with your problem, then it will live with you) but she never asked for help, either to her it wasn't a problem or she wanted to go think about it. Bible only tells us she went telling people she met a man who knew her life history, that's all. 

Mark 10:46-52, Here again we see Jesus with his disciples and a great number of people going out of Jericho, blind Bartimaeus who was a beggar HEARD that it was Jesus passing by and Bible says he did something about what he heard, he began to cry out to Jesus for help and sure he got his miracle.

In all the three scenarios above, only the woman at the well had Jesus all to herself, it was only in her case that Jesus started a discussion on purpose with her though she never converted the opportunity to get what she needed, in the other two cases, Jesus was passing by and going somewhere else but these two people stopped the Master of the Universe to get what they needed before he could continue with his journey and in both cases their needs were met. 

Jesus is the Healer and healing of your sick body is your right as a child of God, to every child of God who will place a demand on Jesus, he will gloriously heal their bodies. Jesus is the great Provider and will release the provision you need if you touch him with faith otherwise you could live in hunger in the midst of plenty. 

That prodigal son's older brother in Luke 15 was angry with his father for taking back the prodigal son who had asked for his inheritance while his father was still alive and squandered it, listen to what his father said to him in verse 31, 'And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 

All his father posessed belonged to him but he never asked, he never placed a demand on his father rather he moaned that his father never gave him a kid to make merry with his friends, a kid is a young goat! he didn't even have the confidence to say a goat but a kid, even the kid, he didn't ask from his father! A great example of living in hunger in the midst of plenty!

There is healing, abundance, joy and whatever it is you need if you place a demand on God by touching him with your faith, if you don't ask in faith, you don't receive, asking in faith is different from wishing, anyone can wish, it takes determination and belief to place a demand on God and receive from him.

What has he said to you?

And he saith unto them 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19
Jesus said this to Simon Peter and Andrew his brother. These brothers were fishermen and at the time Jesus spoke this word to them, they were casting their net into the water and catching fishes, their normal daily secular job.
Now read that verse again and you will notice the first thing Jesus said was 'Follow me'.
The Master had great plans for their future and this plan was known only to him as at the time he called them, he didn't reveal the blueprint of their future to them as trust is required when following the Master, he only said to them 'Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. He only spoke his word.
They could have questioned this word and say ' follow you and be fishers of men?, why do we need to fish for men? who goes about trying to fish for men anyway? In their time, only the religious leaders or the prophets carry out the things of God and so they could have debated it in their mind and refuse as it doesn't make human sense, but verse 20 tells us 'and they STRAIGHTAWAY left their nets and followed him.
The key to a prosperous future is in the hands of the one called 'The first and the last (Revelations 22:13). Well he knows about your tomorrow,  he knows how to break through, he knows about great opportunities and how you can obtain them but you see Proverbs 3:5 says 'Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and LEAN NOT unto thine own understanding.
This is where a lot of believers struggle, in the area of leaning on their own understanding and analysing things with their brain rather than trusting the word of God.
They know they are children of God and that the works of their hand should prosper and they should be above only and not beneath but they look around them and is the exact opposite so they conclude and think maybe the word of God is not completely true.
Friends, God can do nothing outside his word, Hebrews 11:3 tells us the world was framed by the word of God and Hebrews 1:3 tells us he upholds all things by the word of his power, how then do believers think their miracle will happen outside the word?
When you decide to lean on your own understanding and do things the way everyone is doing it even if it contradicts the word of God or you know what God has said to you and though it might not make 'sense' but you are sure you heard correctly from God, how can you then decide to implement what he told you in your own way?
Peter and Andrew had never fished for men before but because that word 'Follow me and I will make you fishers of men came from the Lord, they obeyed and followed.
Today we see believers running from one seminar to the other looking for secrets to success, secrets to breakthroughs etc but what every believer needs is the Word. That word he spoke to you, that instruction he gave you, that impression the Holy Spirit laid on your heart but you have been debating on it maybe because you are scared what people/friends/families will say or ashamed you will be called a fanatic or it's just not in vogue or maybe it's the fear of the unknown that is stopping you from obeying the Lord. As long as you are weighing your options and leaning on your understanding,  you can't reach the stars, you can't be the best and definitely you won't make any impact in this life.
Of course fear will gnaw at the back of your mind especially if it's outside your comfort zone and most likely it will be outside your comfort zone as God leads us into something beyond our human ability so we can rely on him completely and always come to him for guidance. This is where greatness lies friends, doing what God asked you to do!
I bet Peter would never have thought that simple word from the Lord 'follow me' is the key that will catapult him into becoming the one upon whom the Lord built his church, just because he obeyed.
As long as you obey and do what he asked you to do, there won't be any need to pray to him to bless what you are doing because it will be blessed already.
I am not saying you don't offer prayers to God over the works of your hand or over whatever it is you are doing, even Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 16:9, there are many adversaries because a great door has been opened unto him so you need to pray against opposition that will rear their heads once doors of greatness begin to open to you but what I am saying is if what you are doing is what God asked you to do, then automatically it will be blessed by God.

Comforter or Condemner?

And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another comforter that he may abide with you for ever. John 14:16
Jesus was speaking here to his disciples, he was telling them about the Holy Spirit.  
The only person that every believer here on earth needs the most is the Holy Spirit.
In this verse of the scripture, Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as 'another comforter.' He himself is a comforter so in other words he was telling the disciples that even though he was leaving and he will no longer be here physically with them, another person just like him would come.
The Holy Spirit?, they would have wondered as until Jesus began telling them about him, their knowledge about the Holy Spirit was limited. Most of what  they knew was what they had heard read out to them in the synagogue. This is because before Jesus came, all the Jews had were the prophets, it wasn't the dispensation of the Holy Spirit yet and so if they had been confused about the person of the Holy Spirit, as soon as Jesus said 'another comforter' then they would have found it easier to relate with that.
Why, because Jesus had been a comforter to them, guiding them, teaching them the mysteries of the Kingdom,  empowering them to go perform miracles, feeding them, bringing their dead back to life, telling them about Heaven and the provisions he was going there to make for them.
Now the next thing he said in that verse  which is very profound to me is that 'the Holy Spirit will be with them FOREVER. Forever means exactly that, the Holy Spirit never leaves a believer! Jesus prayed the Father to give his Holy Spirit to you and so at salvation when you accept Jesus, he comes to makes his residence in you and he stays with you forever. Yes! forever.
Let's read verse 17 to confirm this point ' Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him, but you know him, for he dwelleth with you and shall be IN you. Alleluia!
You are the Holy Spirit's house. He lives in you and he is with you.
A general belief among believers is that when they err, the Holy Spirit condemns them. The Holy Spirit is a comforter, that's what Jesus said and I believe Jesus, it is your heart that condemns you when you err.
1John 3:20, says 'For if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things.
Our consciences knows good and bad things and deeds, it knows when we disobey and sin and so will 'prick' you and you will hear people say 'my conscience pricked me' remember even as an unbeliever, we knew what was wrong from what was right, this is because everyone has a conscience either they are born again or not.
Of course when we sin, what we are doing is simply opening up a way for the enemy to afflict us and so we should not live a lifestyle of sin but my emphasis here is that the Holy Spirit is your friend, your comforter, your guide, your companion, if you allow him, he has things to tell you, things he heard from the Father which is meant for you. Jesus said in John 16:13 that the Holy Spirit will speak what he hears and show you things to come. This is comforting in this world of chaos.
How we all long for the ability to know things in advance which can avert many dangers for us and this is one of the things the Holy Spirit is here to do, however due to erroneous belief about the Holy Spirit, most believers are not cooperating with him and he won't force his way into your decisions. As you tune in to him and trust him, he reveals things to you one step at a time.
Every believer has the Holy Spirit, the question is 'Is he active in your life or has he been relegated into the background? Is he perceived as a judge of all your mistakes and shortcomings? Who is the Holy Spirit to you?
As for me, He is my friend, my comforter and guide. He teaches me the scriptures as I sit to study and reveals mysteries to me. I love the Holy Spirit, He is my friend and I can not do without him.

A solemn promise

Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don't believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.
Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance.
For example, there was God's promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took AN OATH in his own name saying:
"I will certainly bless you and I will multiply your descendants beyond number."
Then Abraham WAITED patiently and he received what God had promised. Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it and without any question that oath is binding.
God also BOUND HIMSELF with an oath so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.
So God has given BOTH his promise and his oath. THESE TWO THINGS ARE UNCHANGEABLE BECAUSE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE. Hebrews 6:9-18 (NLT)
Whatever God has said to you either through personal study of his word or through a genuine prophecy, it will come to pass. God is too big to lie, besides bible says he has bound himself with an oath, an oath is a solemn promise, whoever makes an oath is bound by it.
Each time you are tempted to look at your prevailing circumstances which you are not happy about, remind yourself and say 'God has given me his oath and promise and I receive what he promised me by faith and through endurance.
I will not lose my confidence in God. He has promised and he will never fail.
Finally remember when someone is under an oath, he is saying I agree to carry out the terms of this agreement and I am under obligation to fulfil it. God gave an oath which is his word, whatever he says on there, he is committed to doing it.

Why am I here?

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. But Jesus said "No, go home to your family and tell them
everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been". Mark 5:18-19(NLT)
This is a popular story in the scriptures of the demon possessed man that lived in the tomb and after Jesus had cast out the demons and he was well, the first thing he desired was to go with Jesus.
He had known life under the devil and how terrible that was and so when he met the Prince of Peace, all he wanted to do was go with him but listen to what Jesus said to him 'Go home to your family and TELL them everything the Lord had done for you.
There was nothing wrong in him following Jesus and of course Jesus wasn't against it but you see the purpose why Jesus came was to save souls and whilst he lived here on earth as a man, he was limited in how many people he could reach at any point in time and so after he had healed this man, he told him, you go and pass on the message. Go tell your family what I did for you, tell them about the miracle you received,  your story will impact their individual lives and will show to them that even in this wicked and dark world, there is light and a solution to their problems.
Every born again child of God was at one time under the government of the devil before we surrendered our lives to Jesus and he washed us in his blood and saved our soul. Like we were told in Colossians 1:13 ' Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of his dear son, you are now under the government of our Lord Jesus Christ and he wants to guide you if you allow him through his Holy Spirit.
But now that you are saved, what is next? Is it to just pass through this life with no impact made or is there more to life?
Are you dissatisfied with what you are doing now and feel there should be more to your life, do you somehow know you were cut out for more but you are struggling to find out what it is? Have you  asked the question 'Why am I here? What is my purpose here on earth? if this is you then please read on.
You were carefully created for a purpose. Read Psalm 139:13-14, 16-17 to see the effort God put into making you and that's why no one can do what you were created to do. You are unique, special and your task here on earth can only be done perfectly by you. If you understand this revelation, never again will you envy another person or want another person's talent. Remember the parable of the talent in Matt 25:14-30, he gave 3 people different talents to show to you and I we are peculiar and different. Bible says he gave according to each man's ability.
The person who sings beautifully is not better than the person who can organise events perfectly, the person who can stand before millions and preach is not better than the quiet, shy lady who cleaned the hall where people sat to listen to the preacher. If she hadn't cleaned and tidied up, the eloquent preacher won't be able to preach in a smelly, dirty hall!
Every talent is unique and blessed and one might be obvious for all to see than others but it's not superior to others and you should start using yours to bless people starting from your family (home).
Not everyone will minister to millions or a crowd,  your purpose might be to raise godly children by telling them about Jesus and when they grow up they won't depart from it and they will then go further and impact their generations like Apostle Paul referred to the unfeigned faith in Timothy's grandmother and mother in 2Tim1:5.
Yours might be to encourage that colleague at work who is going through a divorce and is finding it hard to continue living, give them a hug, listen to them, tell them how Jesus has brought so much joy to your life, just maybe you were put here on earth to win that single soul for Jesus and present them to Jesus on judgement day.
Look around, there are so many lonely people, many are sick in their bodies and they have lost all hope, just maybe the only way they will hear about Jesus the Healer is if you tell them how he healed you or healed someone you know. Even Jesus had to rely on that demon possessed man to tell his family about the Lord as he couldn't possibly reach everyone.
What about that young person you know in your family, your neighbour's teenager who is very unruly or that teenager you know whose parents have given up hope on and you have the gift of patience and the Lord has presented so many opportunities to you to counsel him or her, these days many young people are confused, they think they don't fit in hence the devil is winning them over through drugs and alcohol, a temporary fix to take them into a fantasy world that doesn't exist. You know deep down within you through the help of the Holy Spirit you can follow up a youth, tell them about Jesus with wisdom,  not forcing anything on them and not giving up either till that youth comes to love the Lord and when you achieve this, oh what joy you would have brought to the Lord.
The fulfilment you crave is in doing what you were created to do. Have you not heard of people who tried to copy and be like other people? they become frustrated, they then try something else and they keep going round in circles not achieving anything. They can never be fulfilled until they do what God created them to do.
Find your purpose and fulfil it.
I will give you a clue, it will be something that gives you joy, blesses people and impact lives and bring God praise!
If lives are not impacted positively by what you are doing then it's time to ask the Lord out of a sincere heart 'Why am I here and he through his Holy Spirit will reveal to you.

Let not your heart be troubled

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. John 14:1
Jesus spoke these words to his disciples, he was about to be betrayed and crucified which meant the disciples would soon be on their own, he had been speaking so many words to reassure them knowing fully well he would soon be taken away from them and so yet again in this chapter, we see Jesus strengthening them with his words. Why?
One of the things almost everyone dreads in this life is to be alone or with no one to call to for help or no one to share your joy or concerns with. No matter how wealthy, influential or popular you are, you do not want to be at a point where you need someone to pour your heart to and there is no one.
Jesus had been with his disciples physically, they had eaten together, he had separated them from the multitudes and revealed the mystery in God's word to them, they had enjoyed communion with him, seen divers miracles and had seen how Jesus had confronted the hypocritical religious leaders, something no one dared do and knowing they belonged to someone who was fearless must have been comforting.
Above all, they had enjoyed protection but now that master was about to go, to where? they had no clue as Thomas clearly said to Jesus in verse 5 they didn't know where he was going. Now that is enough to make your heart troubled, your security is about to be taken away from you and they knew what that meant, they will be left among wolves! Ravening wolves!!
Jesus is a good shepherd, John 10:11. A good shepherd can see far ahead of the sheep. Whilst the sheep are feeding on the pastures, he is at alert looking for any stray wolf that wants to prey on the vulnerable sheep.
Jesus knows about it all, He knows about that condition you are in, He knows what you desire most, he knows about the threats in your life, he knows about those waiting for your downfall, waiting to mock you, he hears your heart cry, he knows your fears, remember he once lived with 12 vulnerable fishermen who always had to run to him despite the many reassurances he gives to them always and the many miracles they see him perform which was enough to make them trust him. Jesus isn't judging you, He isn't condemning you neither is he fed up with you. He loves you with all his heart and He is saying to you right now 'Let not your heart be troubled'.
You shall not lose that battle,  you are more than a winner, you are not alone,  remember a good shepherd gives his life for the sheep, that's what Jesus said in John 10:11. He already gave his life for you, will he not destroy all the ravening wolves of this life threatening to sink you?
Yes he will, let not your heart be troubled.