Faith – Page 2 – Fresh Inspiration

Kayode Komolafe

“I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. …” (Ezekiel 37:26)

When we go through life’s trials and challenges, struggle with finances, debt, health, unemployment, bad relationships, issues with children behaviours, living in war torn region and faltering fellowship with God, our hearts get troubled, and we become anxious and fearful of what is and what could be. We say we are not at peace. This is man’s definition of peace; we define peace as absence of war or hostilities with ourselves or absence of disturbance within oneself. In contrast, God’s peace is not the absence of all the trials and tribulations in the world, because Jesus said they will happen as longs as we are on this earth, but we can take comfort in the fact that He has overcome the world, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Fola Komolafe

But against any of the Israelites shall not so much as a dog move his tongue against man or beast, that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between the Egyptians and Israel. Exodus 11:7 (AMPC)

God makes a distinction between His people and the world. There is so much mess going on in the world right now that it is possible for the children of God to think that the same things that happen to people in the world will happen to them. It is a lie of the devil so do not be afraid! For throughout the history of the Bible God Almighty has always looked after His own, protected His own and distinguished them from experiencing the same fate as the rest of the world. Satan is the god of this world and he is behind all the evil in the world. BUT we belong to God, in the world but not of the world and called citizens of heaven and members of the household of God (Philippians 3:20; Ephesians 3:19).

Fola Komolafe

14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. Mark 11:14 (KJV)

Have you noticed how often toddlers say, “No!” I mean at that stage of their life it is their favourite word sometimes to the frustration of their parents. I have often wondered why they learn to say No before they learn to say Yes. I am yet to see a toddler who just says Yes all the time. One parent I read about said her daughter would say, “No” 328 times a day and each time she would have to remind herself that her child is going to grow up to be a strong adult. A medical article said, ‘if your toddler’s favourite word is “No!” and his or her default position is defiance, Relax! New research suggests that this behaviour in very young children is both normal and a sign of a healthy parent-child relationship”

You have authority 2 : Victory in Battle.

Kayode Komolafe

And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way. Ephesians 1:22-23

When a nation sends an army to war and the soldiers in the battle front are being fired at by the enemy, the soldiers do not get on the radio or send message to the Prime Minister asking the Prime Minister, what shall we do? Should we use our weapons and fire back at the enemy? They have been trained and given all the necessary weapons to attack and subdue the enemy, so they have to use the weapons backed by the authority of the commander in chief.

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You have authority 1 : Your Position of Authority.

Kayode Komolafe

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus Ephesians 2:6

Our elevation is wholly of the wisdom and grace of God. We did not earn it, but it is by right as children of God elevated to the right hand of the Father, not by any act of devotion. We should recognise the fact of this position and take our place with humble acceptance. Despite being seated with Christ, there are born again Christians, spirit filled, full of hunger and longing to experience God’s power and they believe they should have it. The simple truth is that, as a believer, we have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.

Fola Komolafe

While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshipped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.” Matthew 9:18

I am always intrigued and forced to think for long moments when I read Matthew 9 because it is packed with miracles of healings one after the other done by Jesus as He was on His way. The two that really get me thinking is the ruler, Jairus, and the woman with the issue of blood. These two people had not met Jesus before this incident yet they were very confident that He would, not could or maybe, but would do for them what they believed based on what they had heard.

Fola Komolafe

What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need. Matthew 6:33

Some days you wake up just knowing you need to affirm who you are in Christ and your position in Him once again. It may be because you are believing God for something and you are actively standing in faith or you need to take control of the thoughts that are trying to capture your hearts. It is at moments like this that you know what is really on the inside of you. I had one of those moments earlier this week and I was so reassured to hear myself saying immediately, “my heart is steadfast trusting in the Lord and God keeps me in perfect peace because my mind is stayed on Him.”

Nesochi Awujo

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills [around Jerusalem, to sacred Mount Zion and Mount Moriah]—from whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”- Psalm 121:1-2 (AMP)

What is help?
According to the Oxford Dictionary, help means to: “Make it easier or possible for someone to do something by offering them one’s services or resources.” Some synonyms of help are: Assist, aid, do someone a favour, bail someone out, come to someone’s rescue, give someone a leg up, and cooperate with.

The Hills or The Lord?
The psalmist here talked about looking up to the hills and asked “is this where my help comes from?” In other words, is this where assistance, aid and favour come from, will they bail me out or rescue me?

Nesochi Awujo

When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is an isolated place and the hour is already late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!” – Matthew 14:15-17 (AMP)

People are hungry
Matthew 14 recounts how a large crowd of people followed Jesus into the desert to listen to him talk about God’s kingdom. At some point, the disciples began to worry; the people would be hungry and thirsty, and it was getting darker and darker… a bit like our 21^st century world today. Everyday we are bombarded with news of wars, terrorism, political turmoil, economic uncertainty, disease, abuse, poverty and violence on the streets, in schools and in homes. It’s getting darker and darker out there and people are hungry and thirsty for truth… for something meaningful to believe in. The challenge for us Christians is that we know the truth (Jesus) and we know that God has called us to shine a light in the darkness (Matthew 5:16), but, how could the little we bring possibly have an impact in this ‘multitude’ of issues?

Fola Komolafe

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. Romans 8:19 (NIV)

I know that we are in a time when the children of God need to really walk in the fullness of all that they have believed and do believe about God, His power and His love for us and for His creation. I don’t think there has ever been a time as we are now when we all need to stand up and be counted for our faith in God, to stop talking alone and to start demonstrating the power of God in us through the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 says, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Fola Komolafe

If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Deliver those who are drawn away to death, and those who totter to the slaughter, hold them back [from their doom]. If you [profess ignorance and] say, Behold, we did not know this, does not He Who weighs and ponders the heart perceive and consider it? And He Who guards your life, does not He know it? And shall not He render to [you and] every man according to his works? Proverbs 24:10-12 (AMP)

Our strength should not be small because He is the Lord our Strength! Psalm 18:1 says, ‘I will love you fervently and devotedly, O Lord my Strength.’ Jehovah Chezeq is the Lord Our Strength, so you and I have the strength to be victorious and to overcome in the day of adversity.

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The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22 King James Version (KJV)

You and I are rich because of the blessing of God on our lives. In the bible there is an account of how Jacob became blessed by his father Isaac instead of his brother Esau. Isaac placed his hands on Jacobs head and blessed him. The blessing was irreversible, it did not respect the traditions of men

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So that in the coming ages He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:7-8 Modern English Version (MEV)

There are a number of definitions for God’s grace that I agree with but the one that stuck with me and which I love the most is ‘God’s ability and willingness to do for us so much more than we deserve.’ As I read Ephesians 2: 4-9, all I see is how magnificently God shows us the richness of His mercy, the greatness of His love and the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus.

Fola Komolafe

The righteous keep moving forward and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger. Job 17:9(NLT)

As I considered this verse I thought about a man planning a journey to a very nice and exotic place but who for one reason or the other could not move out of his house or where he was. He would consider the traffic and the potential volume of cars on the road, he consistently monitored the traffic news and spent hours listening to the weather forecast and he was not certain that he had enough money

Denika Campbell-Lee

“Then David’s question was reported to King Saul, and the king sent for him.” 1 Samuel 17:3 (NLT)

In these verses David had been asking what the reward was for killing Goliath. It had been said that the king was offering his daughter as a reward and no taxes for the man’s family who kills Goliath.

Fola Komolafe

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Ephesians 1:3 (KJV)

Blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ! I remember the first time I read this verse and my first thought was oh no, I want all the blessings here on earth and I want them right now Lord. This was because I read the verse as saying these blessings were in the spiritual realm, in heavenly places waiting for me. I laughed at myself as I realised with the help of the Holy Spirit that the word, ‘spiritual’ and ‘heavenly’ in the original Greek translations are adjectives describing the source and origin of the blessing. For example, if I say to you that I bought a German car in the UK. I am describing the origin of the car as Germany and not my current location which is the UK. So in essence I have the German car with me now and I am fully enjoying the benefits of this car in the UK.

Fola Komolafe

Therefore, I say unto you, what things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark 11:24 (KJV)

I spent some time today looking at all the different ways Jesus tells us that we shall have them; them being the things we believe that we receive when we pray. Other translations say: they will be given to you, it will be yours, it will happen for you and God will give them to you. It should fill your heart with so much confidence that God wants to give you everything you ask for according to His will. His word is His will and faith can only begin when you know His will, so always find the promise for what you need or desire in His word. The Amplified version says, “For this reason I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer [in accordance with God’s will], believe [with confident trust] that you have received them, and they will be given to you.”

Kayode Komolafe

“We are pressured in every way [hedged in], but not crushed; perplexed [unsure of finding a way out], but not driven to despair; hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down, but never destroyed;” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (AMP)

Life is full of challenges and attacks of the enemy in ways that, at times, we cannot comprehend without the help of the Holy Spirit. We live in a world with many variables that make the future look so bleak and unpredictable; financial hardship, unemployment, sickness, broken relationships, children’s behaviour, world economies, trade wars, unstable government in various parts of the world, leaders of nations under pressure to make decisions that impact our lives, unpredictable government postures arising, we have USA-North Korea, UK- EU Brexit, USA-G7. All these situations make stable future look very distant, if you rely on the world order.

Fola Komolafe

That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? John 12:38 (KJV)

Our lives would be very different as Christians if we just made the decision to believe God and to believe everything He says in His word. It is so simple to say, ‘I believe God’ but we find it very difficult to do because of all the things happening around us, and we are drawn to believe them because they appear so real to us. However, God encourages us in His word that we should not look (focus on, pay all of our attention to and intently consider) the things that are seen all around us but that we should look at (focus on, pay all of our attention to and intently consider) the things that are not seen.

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And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. Exodus 33:18

Moses prayed and pleaded with God to show him His glory. At this time Moses had already seen the fulfilment of God’s promise to deliver Israel from the Egyptians. He had already seen the power of God demonstrated and He had experienced the presence of God so much so that He had received the assurance from God that His presence would go with him. However Moses wanted more, so much more that He pleaded with God to show him His glory.

Fola Komolafe

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Deuteronomy 31:6

Courage is defined as the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger and pain, without fear. It takes courage to live according to the word of God, to live everyday by faith refusing to compromise your beliefs for anything less. It is not unusual as a believer to be faced with situations where we constantly need to make choices on what to do – do we go God’s way and refuse to fear, or do we allow fear to rob us of the strength and courage God gives us to see His will accomplished in our lives.

Fola Komolafe

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1 Peter 1:23

The word of God is the incorruptible seed, the only seed that is so pure in nature it can never be destroyed or damaged by any external condition to stop it producing fruit. It is the incorruptible seed that is guaranteed to produce fruit after its kind and from within itself for this is the reason for which it has been given. It is the seed that was sown in your heart producing faith for your salvation and it is the same seed which today produces everything that you and I need for this life and for godliness.

Fola Komolafe

But you, dear friends, must build up your lives ever more strongly upon the foundation of our holy faith, learning to pray in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit. Jude 1:20

Have you been involved in a building project or made a decision to build some muscles! If you have, you will know that it involves some effort and personal application to achieve it. In the same way God wants us to build our lives ever more strongly on the foundation of our holy faith and he tells us how to do this – by learning to pray in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit.

Fola Komolafe

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:6 (KJV)

It is such a wise thing to acknowledge God in all of our ways – big or small, easy or difficult, simple or complex, familiar or unfamiliar. Have you ever started something you thought was going to be quick and simple…and then it suddenly becomes drawn out and more complicated than you bargained for? I have, and know that I should not be deceived by my perception or human understanding of things. I need God in everything because simple can become complex, easy can become difficult, and familiar can suddenly become unfamiliar.

Fola Komolafe

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. Proverbs 17:22

I was on a plane one day when this scripture came to my mind and I started meditating on it both as an encouragement knowing the value of good medicine, but also as a challenge thinking of how to maintain a merry heart when there are so many things trying to affect the condition of your heart. Proverbs 4: 23 says we should keep and guard our heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. So, as I thought about this some more, I realised that there are some things we can do to maintain a merry heart.

Kayode Komolafe

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” James 1:22

As a believer in Jesus Christ understanding the authority of His word, I have been challenged in many areas of my life by situations and circumstances that appeared to be either beyond my control or self-inflicted. However, I always recognise the grace of God that has sustained me through those situations and given me the victory. Faith in God’s word and promises has always given me hope and confidence that it will be alright, no matter what.

Fola Komolafe

God is faithful, by whom you were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9

I woke up one morning with a firm assurance in my heart that everything I have believed God for according to His word will surely come to pass. It will surely come to pass. Mark 11:24 says, “What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.” It says you shall have the things you desire if you can believe you receive them when you pray.

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Fola Komolafe

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” John 14:1

In the world today, there are lots of troubled hearts and a lot of uncertainty about the future. Many people don’t know what will happen and how things will work out for them resulting in fear, agitation and uncertainty. However, God wants us to believe and behave differently because He has already gone ahead and prepared a good future for us.

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Cast your burden on the Lord (release it) and He will sustain and uphold you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall or fail) Psalm 55:22

I remember going to many swimming lessons with my children, and there were usually a few children (including one of mine) who despite having their swimming costumes and every kind of protective floats on would not jump into the water. It did not make a difference that they could see so many other children happily swimming, they would not jump in or release themselves to the water because they did not trust the floats or the instructor that they would not drown.

Fola Komolafe

Not that I have attained this ideal or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of, grasp and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus, the Messiah, has laid hold of me and made me his own. Philippians 3:12

To press on is to make a determined decision to keep moving forward (because of the word of God in you) no matter what you think or feel. It is having a relentless and determined attitude that pursues and earnestly goes after the things that Christ Jesus has promised you, knowing that He is the one that brings it to pass in your life. For me, it resonates with the word to ‘hold fast’ to what I know is true and to not let it go, and the bible says in Revelation 2:25 that, “But that which you have already, hold fast till I come”

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The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.” Matthew 8:8

A spoken word from Jesus is all we need to turn any situation around. The centurion’s servant was at home paralysed and dreadfully tormented. His condition was very bad but this Roman centurion knew that even though He was not Jewish and in covenant with God, ‘a spoken word’ from Jesus was all he needed to turn everything around. He knew words carry authority and he tapped into the healing power of God because he understood that Jesus had authority.

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Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:37

A conqueror is someone who wins a surpassing or overwhelming victory over something, someone or some place. However, we are not conquerors, we are more than conquerors in all these things that come against us, because Jesus already won the battle for us and

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And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:13-14

Jesus gave us his name to use here on earth in all circumstances and situations. He said whatsoever you shall ask in my name, I will do it. Jesus does it when you ask in His name. You see, the name of Jesus carries tremendous weight and power every time you speak it and there is nothing, absolutely nothing that can resist

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My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing. James 1:2-4

Nobody likes trials or temptations but in this world they happen in different ways and at different points in our lives. These trials and temptations do not come from God for the bible says in James 1:14, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God” for God cannot be tempt-ed by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone”. Trials and temptations come from the devil who is the god of this world, and who has been defeated and destroyed for us by our Lord Jesus Christ.

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But because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, whom God made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30

This verse is an absolute expression of the love of God for those whom He has chosen. Because of God, you and I are in Christ Jesus, whom God has made unto us wisdom. God has made Christ wisdom for you and I, meaning we have access to the wisdom (the ways) of God for any situation of life we find ourselves in. Imagine that! God’s ways are infallible, and wisdom is knowing what to do practically to establish and experience God’s purpose manifested in our life.

Fola Komolafe

Romans 5:2
..through who we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and so we re-joice in hope of the glory of God.

Can you imagine waking up every morning rejoicing in the hope of God’s glory in your life here on earth because you know you are always standing in the grace of God? I read this verse on New Years Day and I have had my dancing shoes on rejoicing and praising God for His gift of grace that He has given in abundance to everyone who believes and receives it.

Fola Komolafe

God is not a human being, and he will not lie. He is not a human, and he does not change his mind. What he says he will do, he does. What he promises, he makes come true. Numbers 23:19 (NCV)

I want to encourage you to make a decision to trust God no matter what you may be going through. God is able and willing to work it out for you however He needs you to trust and believe Him. You see trusting God is believing that He is reliable, true and has the ability to make his word come to pass.

Denika Campbell-Lee

“…the Lord hath anointed me…to give unto them beauty for ashes…” Isaiah 61:1, 3 KJV

Isaiah 61 is described as ‘The year of the Lord’s favour’ passage (ESV) and that’s because throughout the entire chapter Isaiah is describing what the Lord is going to do through him for the people of Zion. Everything he mentions are acts that will bestow favour upon all those who are willing to accept it. These promises are still available for us now, if we believe and accept the favour of the Lord.

Fola Komolafe

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. John 20:17

Being able to call God Almighty my Father is one of the greatest privileges of being a christian. The God who created the entire universe and everything in it, who is called All powerful, All knowing and Everywhere present is my Father.

Fola Komolafe

For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart – Hebrews 4:12 Amp

I don’t know about you but as I read Hebrews 4:12, I couldn’t but wonder how powerful, alive and active the word of God is. I do not know of any other thing on earth that penetrates as far and as deep

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