News – Fresh Inspiration

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He said, “Neither. I’m commander of GOD’s army. I’ve just arrived.” Joshua fell, face to the ground, and worshiped. He asked, “What orders does my Master have for his servant?” Joshua 5:14 MSG

God knows ahead of time how he is going to deliver you, and so all He asks of us is to believe. God told the Israelites He would give them the land of Canaan, some believed Him, but most did not. Those who did not believe couldn’t because all they saw were the obstacles, the hindrances, the things that looked insurmountable in the eyes of men and in their eyes. They could not see God bigger, mightier, and stronger, and as a result they all died in the wilderness.

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“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach” Romans 10:8 KJV

I have a beautiful dog, his name is Tyson, and he likes food so much. In his younger days he would sometimes go around sniffing especially on his walks picking up all kinds of things. So, I have to ask from time to time, ‘what is in your mouth?’

God wants His word to be in our mouth, everything else is unhelpful, unfruitful, and unproductive. In Romans 10:8, talking about being right with God by faith, Paul says, the word should always be near you, in your mouth and in your heart. I like the message translation which says, ‘the word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest. It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us.’

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“For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are [all answered] “Yes.” So through Him we say our “Amen” to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 1:20 AMP

As you look through the Bible you will discover that each period of time had a promise. A promise given to them by God and in which they lived, God fully expecting them to enjoy His promise to the fullest. However, there was also a looking forward to a better one, a better promise from God which did not diminish the goodness of the existing one but created hope and excitement for something even better to come.

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“Toward night-time many people who were possessed by demons were brought to Jesus, and He said one word of command and drove the demons out, healing everyone who was sick.” Matthew 8:16

Sometimes you feel like something is going to happen, a sense of dread that something may go wrong, from missing a deadline to not having enough money for later or just a sense that you will not achieve your dreams and end up living a life without purpose. None of these things have happened yet but there is this dread, this apprehension in your heart about something that could happen, and it feels so real.

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GOD spoke to Moses: “Speak to the People of Israel. Tell them that from now on they are to make tassels on the corners of their garments and to mark each corner tassel with a blue thread. When you look at these tassels you’ll remember and keep all the commandments of GOD, and not get distracted by everything you feel or see that seduces you into infidelities. The tassels will signal remembrance and observance of all my commandments, to live a holy life to GOD. I am your GOD who rescued you from the land of Egypt to be your personal God. Yes, I am GOD, your God.” Numbers 15:37-41 MSG

In life there are so many things we do and as a result we forget to do some other things. I can sometimes be so busy that I forget to have lunch until it is too late. People forget birthdays, anniversaries and phone numbers. However, God wants us to remember all things, things He has said to us, things He has done for us and things He is asking us to do.

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“ ²⁰teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 NKJV

All believers should get so much comfort from knowing God is with them!

Those five words, I am with you always, which Jesus spoke to his followers when He was leaving the earth and instructing them on what to do, changed them and all they later came to do in His name. I am with you always is a promise that can only be made by someone who loves you dearly, someone who sees you as an important part of Himself, someone committed to your good and your victory in all situations, someone putting themselves on the line and willing to sacrifice everything to be at your side – only someone like this could make the promise, I am with you always through thick and thin.

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”…I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will favor you with blessings and multiply your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham.” Genesis 26:24 NIV

In Genesis 26 AMPC, the Lord spoke to Isaac two times (Genesis 26:3, 24) saying to him, ‘I will favour you with blessings” and in verse 12 we see one of the ways in which he was favoured, “Isaac sowed seed in that land and received in the same year a hundred times as much as he had planted, and the Lord favoured him with blessings. And the man became great and gained more and more until he became very wealthy and distinguished. He owned flocks, herds, and a great supply of servants, and the Philistines envied him.”

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“Who so offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.” Psalm 50:23 KJVS

I was speaking to my mum this morning. As usual she had woken me up early on Saturday morning to tell me about the joy of her experience with God in the night and very early hours of the morning. She shared her testimony with me, how over the last two months she had been struggling to remember the word of God she had stored in her heart, the scriptures she had memorised, and which rolls off her lips effortlessly in all conversations. She was missing it so much in her conversations and kept praying asking God for His help. As she prayed last night, she felt a release inside of her and all the scriptures (chapter and verse) all came rolling out of her mouth. Her joy was palpable as she talked effortlessly for over one hour with me, scripture after scripture, revelation after revelation, exalting her God! Pure joy!

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“….as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” 2 Peter 1:3 NKJV

I have a Bible version I am reading this year which has been an absolute blessing, and it is the Richard Francis Weymouth translation of the New Testament in modern speech. In it verse 3 of 2nd Peter 1 says, “seeing that His divine power has given us all things that are needful for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and perfection.” As I read it, I remember thanking God that I do not depend on the world for my needs but as I increase in my knowledge of God, I realise all the wonderful things He has given me that are needful for this life and godliness.

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But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; 1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)

I have never liked dark tunnels and caves! I remember when I was working in London, and I had to drive to work through a dark, narrow, single lane and dripping wet tunnel. I did not like it at all and as I approached the tunnel every day, I would sense myself getting more nervous and not looking forward to the experience. Once in the tunnel, I could not wait to see the light ahead indicating to me freedom, life and out of darkness. I can resonate with Isaiah when he says, “the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined (Is.9:2).”

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He rescued us from so great a threat of death, and will continue to rescue us. On Him we have set our hope. And He will again rescue us [from danger and draw us near]. 2 Corinthians 1:10 (AMP)

On May 25, 2006, climber Lincoln Hall was left for dead by his guides on the side of Mount Everest. The next day, his crew released a statement announcing his death. Little did they know that Hall was very much alive, but in dire circumstances. He was suffering from altitude sickness, which had caused him to become disoriented. He was left alone on the mountain with no hat, gloves or oxygen bottles. A day later, Daniel Mazur and his climbing group came across Hall. Mazur, who was just two hours away from the peak, abandoned his Everest quest and left his party to carry Hall down to the camp at the base of the mountain, which was a 4-hour trek. Just days before, another climber, David Sharp, died 1,000 feet (304 meters) from the summit when dozens of people passed him by because they didn’t want to risk their own Everest glory.

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For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3 (KJVS)

Self-doubt is something many Christians experience where they know what God says, maybe even believe what God says but doubt in themselves that it is happening for them. Some people doubt everything they do – they prayed, they asked and still doubt if they got it right – are they where God wants them to be or are they are doing what God wants them to do. As a result, they don’t experience the peace or joy God gives as they constantly pray the same anxious prayers repeatedly. They want to see a sign, an experience or something tangible they can hold on to in order to believe and be at peace, that place of total trust and confidence knowing God is doing in them His good will.

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Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Romans 8:34 (NKJV)

It is overwhelming to think of all that Jesus has done for us – his death, his defeat of hell, his victory and his resurrection. It is even more overwhelming when you consider that Jesus was already in heaven, equal with God before leaving it to go through life on earth and death, a painful sacrifice for us, and then to return to His place of authority at the right hand of God the Father. He gave it all up because of love, his love for you and for the world. Our faith should not stop at his death, but it should be exercised farther on his resurrection, his kingdom and his second coming.

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The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly. Proverbs 20:27 KJVS

I remember growing up in Nigeria and in my boarding school we would occasionally experience a power cut, and with some frustration we would all exclaim, ‘NEPA has taken the light again (lol).’ NEPA being the Nigerian Electric Power Authority. It was not too bad if the light went out during the day but at night it was much more challenging. So we would use candles to get around and even sometimes to read. It was the only way we could bring some light to guide and direct us in the darkness.

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I also pray that you will understand the incredible (exceeding) greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honour at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 1:19-20 (NLT)

In this life we have so many situations where we want to experience the incredible, immeasurable, incomparable and boundless power of God – especially as you look at the world around us today, the pains, the challenges and the oppression people are going through. Human knowledge and wisdom have failed many times because it can only carry us so far but as believers, people of faith have a power in us and for us that is surpassing. You see the word exceeding means to throw beyond the usual mark, it surpasses or goes passes anything you and I have known. It is like throwing the shot put in athletics 1000 metres and more when the current world record is 23.37 metres. In Ephesians 3:19, Paul prays that we may know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge – passeth here is the same word exceeding or surpassing. Our daily experience of Christ love should surpass any knowledge or intelligence you have many times over meaning His love does not work as you think it will because whatever you think is too small. In the same way God’s surpassing, incredible and exceedingly great power towards you will work in greater ways than you could ever think if you believe because it is unimaginable, boundless, far reaching and immeasurable.

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And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?'” And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. Mark 5:30-32 (NKJV)

I was at a meeting recently where we were having a general discussion about supporting different groups of people. It was an enlightening discussion and as it went on, I could not help thinking about how we could potentially lose the individual person in a crowd and easily stop seeing their unique needs and the yearnings of their heart. Other people feel more comfortable in the crowd where they blend in and are not noticed. However, I believe Jesus would challenge us not to be in the crowd and also to see each another in the crowd. Using words like everyone and every person, whilst understandable in some situations, could stop us really seeing each other, reaching out to one another and trying to understand one another.

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Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. Hebrews 5:8 (NLT)

I was at a conference in 2017 and I heard a minister of God say, ‘if you feel like you are not hearing from God, go back and check the last thing He asked you to do and see if you have done it.’ It struck a chord with me as I thought about how we sometimes live out our Christlike walk – we want a word from God, we want God to speak to us, to lead us and to direct us. However, when He does, we do not always obey Him. It is like stacking up a pile of cards (things to do told us by God) and adding to the pile each time, then at will or our convenience we choose which card to obey. You need to know that God values and highly prizes our daily and wholehearted obedience.

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And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (KJVS)

Some things about God we know and other things we believe. I believe in the things I know God can do, things God has done according to His word and I am walking in faith for the physical manifestation. However the things we know are absolute facts seen, heard and known. I know my name, I know my children, I know where I live and I know these things because they are real, they are facts and they exist. Paul wrote a letter to the church in Phillipi from a prison cell in Rome saying his primary pursuit in life was to know Christ (Phil 3:10, ‘that I may know Him). My bible commentary said, “Paul’s desire to know Christ sprang from no other motive but to enjoy Him. He wanted Christ for Christ’s sake, not his own. He was a lover of God, not a user of God. And whether he moved in Christ’s resurrection power or was stretched to his last ounce of endurance, it mattered little. For Paul, it was all a part of the most fulfilling journey of all: truly knowing God.’

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Let everything you do be done in love (true love to God and man as inspired by God’s love for us). 1 Corinthians 16:14 (AMPC)

In the world today as we look around and especially as we see the war unfolding in Eastern Europe for selfish and self centred reasons, we see the failings of natural human love. No matter how sincere natural human love looks like, it has the potential to turn to hatred overnight because it can be selfish and self centred putting itself first.

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God’s whole nature is living in Christ in human form. Colossians 2:9 (NIRV)

People are known by their name and their nature. Sometimes I go out and someone will ask me if I know a certain person. I don’t always recognise their name and then they start describing their nature – the kind of person they are and the kind of things they do. As they describe their nature, I suddenly start to recognise who they are talking about even though I may not have known their name. God’s whole nature is everything that God is, the sum total of His attributes or qualities, His character, His person and His very essence. Can you now imagine the whole nature of God, not a part of God but everything, living in Christ in human form? Christ was the complete human expression of God. His nature was Gods nature and as a result everything He did was what God would do. Hebrews 1:3 says, “Christ is the dazzling radiance of God’s glory and splendor, the exact expression of God’s true nature-his mirror image!”

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But the firm foundation of (laid by) God stands, sure and unshaken, bearing this seal (inscription): The Lord knows those who are His, and, Let everyone who names [himself by] the name of the Lord give up all iniquity and stand aloof from it. 2 Timothy 2:19 (AMPC)

Before each of our children were born, my husband and I spent so much time praying and considering what name they should be named, even though we had not seen them physically we knew their name would matter, it would shape their identity and people would know them by their name. God helped us to choose their names and as they have grown we are so incredibly amazed as we see their character, their behaviours and their identity in their names.

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It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63 (NKJV)

In business we look for ways to make profit. Profit is good and sustainable so we choose to engage in activities that bring profit and not loss. In Gods kingdom business there are things clearly laid out for us that bring profit. For example, Jesus says, “It is the Spirit Who gives life, He is the Life-giver; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever [there is no profit in it]. The words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit (spirit birthed) and life (life giving) (John 6:63 AMPC).” He says clearly that the flesh or the way of the flesh does not profit, it conveys no benefit and leads to death which is the opposite of life. Profit is gained when you follow the Spirit and when you follow His words because in them you find the abundant expression of the quality of life that God is.

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Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Revelation 2:4 (NKJV)

You may be old enough to remember the song, Endless Love by Diana Ross. One of the lines in the song says. “My first love, You’re every breath that I take, You’re every step I make.” I am sure she was not thinking about God when she sang the song, however, whilst secular rather than spiritual it describes an all encompassing first love that dominates everything that is thought and done. Consider also two people who first realise they are in love – oh the excitement, the joy, the deep desire to spend every second of the day together, the constant conversation, laughter and wanting to tell everybody about the love they have found. No matter how strong, human love sometimes will fail but Gods love never fails, never changes and never grows cold with time. God should be your first love every single day and you should be so excited, so desirous of Him, so passionate and so conscious of Him in everything you think, everything you say and yes, every step you take.

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O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Isaiah 40:9 (NKJV)

I was praying this week and I found myself repeating the words ‘ I Behold my God.’ ‘I behold my God in my life, my children, my husband, my ministry, my partners, my church, my finances and all that concerns me.’ The Holy Spirit filled my heart and all I could see was God’s glory, God’s beauty, God’s magnificence, God’s power and God’s grace. I remembered Isaiah saying, “I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and the skirts of His train filled the temple (Isaiah 6:1)”To behold means to observe, to perceive, to gaze upon and to take note of. It is more than a casual look but something or someone you hold your gaze upon for long enough that it starts to change you.

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Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. Luke 24:49 (NKJV)

In the Bible we see two distinct experiences of the Holy Spirit. The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit when we get born again (John 3:5-8) and the infilling presence of the Holy Spirit when we receive the baptism of the Spirit mentioned by Jesus with the evidence of speaking in tongues (Acts 1,2). However people sometimes sit on extremes on the baptism of the Holy Spirit and both are not helpful. As believers we should always find the balance, driving down the middle of the road and not in the ditches on either side.

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But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 12:31 (NKJV)

Believers are encouraged to earnestly or seriously desire the best gifts, referring to the spiritual gifts given to the church which is the body of Christ. All the gifts are equally important and the best gifts are the one most suited to the given situation. So for example if someone is sick the best gifts in that situation could be the gifts of healings and of faith.

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God also testifying with them [confirming the message of salvation], both by signs and wonders and by various miracles [carried out by Jesus and the apostles] and by [granting to believers the] gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. Hebrews 2:4 (AMP)

I ask myself as I read this scripture, how does God confirm His word today?

He confirmed the message He gave to Moses in the Old Testament when He delivered the Israelites from Egypt through many signs and wonders. In Exodus 3:20 he said to Moses, “So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he (Pharoah) will let you go.” He did so many wonders and at the end of it all when Pharoah had let them go, Moses and the people of Israel sang “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? (Exodus 15:11)

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The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step]. Psalm 37:23 AMPC

I ask myself as we read this verse of scripture, why is it so important that our steps are ordered, directed, prepared and established by God? I particularly like the use of the word established, because something that is established endures forever as it has been set up on a firm and permanent basis. Jeremiah said, “He (God) made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.” (Jeremiah 51:15). When God establishes something or someone, it has a sense of firm footing, being unshakeable, secure and permanency around it. For example God said to David when He established him as king over Israel that his house, his kingdom and his throne shall be established for ever (2 Samuel 7:16).

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God is glorified when we are healed! He is magnified, exalted and praised. I love the definition of glorified which says, “to cause the dignity and worth of some person to become manifest and acknowledged.” It is exactly what happens when we are healed, God’s dignity and worth or value is seen, acknowledged and praised. It happened as people got healed throughout the ministry of Jesus.

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“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” John 14:1 KJVS

It is usually easy to say I believe in Jesus, and we do. However as you read this verse of scripture you cannot help but be drawn by the depth of emotions in the words of Jesus to His disciples. He had told them to love one another and explained why He had to go and He wanted them to believe His promise to them when He said in John 13:36 that ‘you are not able to follow Me now where I am going, but you shall follow Me afterwards.’

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“No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends.” John 15:13

On this Easter weekend we remember with the deepest of appreciation and thanks the love of our Lord and Saviour Jesus. He died for us, He was led like a lamb to the slaughter for us and it was the greatest exchange in history. Jesus loves you so much, today and forever, that He took upon Himself all the penalty and punishment you deserved and gave you freedom, abundant life, righteousness, peace, joy and all of Him. It was God’s excellent plan to save you.

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“Then Jesus answered and said to her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” Matthew 15:28 NKJV

Healing belongs to me! I want you to say that over and over again to yourself until your whole system starts to believe it because Jesus said so. In Matthew 15:21-28 Jesus was speaking to a woman who was not Jewish which meant she was not covered by the covenant God had made with the descendants of Abraham in the Old Testament. It was such an important covenant that at one point in Jesus’ ministry He comes across a woman who had been bent over for eighteen years and who could not straighten up at all. In healing her in Luke 13:16 he said, “And this woman, a daughter (descendant) of Abraham whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?”

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“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 KJVS

God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm in Christ Jesus! In recent times during the pandemic, the song ‘The Blessing’ was released, sang in so many languages, and it was a great source of strength and encouragement for so many. In our house it has become our declaration after each home fellowship prayerfully reminding us of the blessing of God in our lives. Numbers 6:24-26 says, ‘The LORD bless you, and keep you [protect you, sustain you, and guard you]; The LORD make His face shine upon you [with favor], And be gracious to you [surrounding you with lovingkindness]; The LORD lift up His countenance (face) upon you [with divine approval], And give you peace [a tranquil heart and life].’ Amen.

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“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 KJVS

It is said that when lions hunt, they look for weak, young, isolated, unguarded animals. They are the ones marked out for attack. Believers have an enemy, an adversary called the devil and his ultimate agenda is to destroy us, not merely to hurt, maim, or discourage, but to devour and destroy us. He goes around like a roaring lion making a lot of noise, threatening to bring upon believers things that God has delivered us from. One translation says he goes around like a fiercely hungry lion seeking someone to devour. He does that when he gets us to bow to circumstances, pressures, or forces of his evil design, hoping to make us yield to him.

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“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” Deuteronomy 30:19 KJVS

I was pondering on the power of the choices we make intentionally and those we make unintentionally by not making a choice. I will give you an example to illustrate. In thinking about a healthy lifestyle, a person who chooses to have a healthy lifestyle will most likely be intentional about regular exercise, their diet, medical check-ups and maybe daily vitamins. They do this not necessarily because they are unwell but because they know these activities promote daily healthy living and long life. On the other hand, another person may not do anything. Now this person who does nothing may not have intentionally chosen an unhealthy lifestyle (I don’t think most people will, given the choice) however their inactivity in some ways is pointing in that direction.

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“But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all” Matthew 12:15 KJVS

I like the word ‘all’ – a simple three letter word using only two letters of the alphabet. A simple small word that means so much. I am thinking of the game charades which we play and when trying to guess the movie, book or song there is a sign you make for a small tiny word with your two fingers. All is a small tiny word used over 4500 times in the bible and 994 times in the New Testament, and every time it is used it means the same thing. All means every, everything and everyone in that group. According to the Oxford dictionary ‘all’ is used to refer to the whole quantity or extent of a particular group or thing, for example all the people.

Join us live on Sunday 28th February at 4pm UK Time!
Register quickly to save your seat at www.folakomolafe.com/onthecouch

If you have been following the news recently, you will have seen the daily report on covid vaccinations. However we have not always had enough opportunity to have meaningful conversations, ask questions and increase our knowledge of how we protect ourselves, our children, our loved ones and our community now and in the future. The World Health Organisation recently listed vaccine hesitancy, where people with access to vaccines delay or refuse vaccination, as one of the top 10 biggest threats to global health.

On the Couch with Fols is a space for us to have open, honest and non judgemental conversations with a team of experts who will be answering your deep questions whether you have had the vaccination or not, or are planning to or not. Some areas we will touch on include behaviour/side effects after vaccination, different types of vaccines, residual impacts of covid symptoms, children & vaccines and the next generation of covid vaccines. I want all your questions so please send them in when you register!

I would also love for you to think of other people around you that would benefit from this conversation and invite them to come along. Maybe a family member, a friend, a colleague or associate.

“Knowledge is power. It helps us survive far longer than we should, and prevents us from making the same mistakes we made in the past.”

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The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear? Proverbs 18:14 AMPC YES

“A strong spirit as one that is confident, established, unmovable and ready for anything. It is steady under pressure, full of joy and peace and it never quits. It went on to say a strong spirit will get you through anything – physical attacks, financial problems, relational difficulties, career setbacks and whatever else the devil throws at you.”

I believe that this is good news for the Christian to know that it is the strength of their spirit that determines the outcomes they have in life. It is not the external circumstances, it is not the devil, it is not other people’s expectations, but the strength of your spirit, and guess what, you have control and can do something to strengthen your spirit.

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Your healing today is secured by Gods covenant with you! In the bible, especially in the old testament (or covenant), we read about a number of covenants that were cut between two people, two nations and between God and man. However, the most significant old testament covenant, also referred to in the new covenant, is the one God made with Abraham promising him that he would have a child of his own, as many descendants as the stars in the sky and also inherit the land. Abraham asked God, “how shall I know that I will inherit it?” and in response God cut covenant with him.

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My son, pay attention to my words and be willing to learn; Open your ears to my sayings. Do not let them escape from your sight; Keep them in the centre of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, And healing and health to all their flesh. Proverbs 4:20-22 AMP

In a time when many are looking for cures to different medical situations including the current pandemic, it is good for us as believers to always remember that God’s word is healing and health to all our flesh. One version of the bible actually says, “For they are life unto those that find them and medicine to all their flesh.”

Fola Komolafe

No soldier in active service gets entangled in the [ordinary business] affairs of civilian life; [he avoids them] so that he may please the one who enlisted him to serve. 2 Timothy 2:4 AMP

Have you been in a position where you want to send an especially important message to someone, and you want the message delivered precisely and exactly as you sent it? So you look around for someone you can trust, someone you know will not get distracted along the way, someone you know will complete the assignment in the way you want it done.

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By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:8 (NKJV)

I honestly believe that a farmer’s greatest joy is when harvest time comes, and he sees that his trees or seeds have produced much fruit or crop in that year. So much so that farmers will define a year better than the last based on more fruit produced. I can only imagine the joy, delight and gladness our Heavenly Father gets when he looks upon His children and see them producing much fruit every year and year after year.

Fola Komolafe

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

Our love story with Jesus is forever and as we discover Him, we love Him more. But He has loved us with an everlasting love from before we were born and His love never wavers, never falters and never ends. It is the greatest and most incredible of all love stories and it continues for eternity. In Jeremiah 31:3, God says, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love!”

Fola Komolafe

For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name]. Ephesians 3:14-15 AMPC

In the old testament your family determined who you were, how people saw you, how you saw yourself and what you were entitled to. Gideon whom God called a mighty man of fearless courage, to save Israel from the Midianites who had impoverished them said, “Oh Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.’’ Saul when called by the prophet to be king said, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And is not my family the least of all the families of the clans of Benjamin? Why then do you speak this way to me?” David when chosen to marry the king’s daughter said, “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?” Unlike God, one of the first thing they considered in responding to a call, duty or a better place in life was their perceived self worth or entitlement based on their family.

Fola Komolafe

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)

Be kind and tenderhearted!

In the new covenant God has given us only one new commandment and that is to love one another as He has loved us. To be tenderhearted one must have a soft, sensitive and compassionate heart towards God and people. Our hearts are sensitive and easily hurt. If we don’t deal with hurts, offences and disappointments every time they happen, our hearts can get hardened. Therefore, continued forgiveness is important.

Uzo Nwuga

In the day when I cried out, You answered me. And made me bold with strength in my soul. Psalms 138:3 (NKJV)

Dwight L Moody said “When we find a man meditating on the words of God my friends, that man is full of boldness and successful”

I have been studying the Book of Acts and found Paul a very fascinating character. This was a guy that was bold and zealous. I never appreciated how bold he was until I read Acts chapters 20 -22 and there I camped for a few days. This was about Paul wanting to go to Jerusalem where he would be bound, beaten and put in prison. In Acts 20:22, he said “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there”. The first time I read this scripture and then read Acts 21 where he was warned again by some disciples, I wondered why Paul didn’t heed the warnings of the disciples and everyone. As I studied Acts 20:23-24, I realised that Paul understood very well what the Holy Spirit was saying and what was required of him by the same Holy Spirit working in tune with his spirit. ²³“except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.” ²⁴But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Where others might have had an excuse or even say that the Holy Spirit warned them not go, rather than the truth which was the Holy Spirit advising what would happen, Paul saw it as an opportunity for the gospel because of what he felt compelled to do.

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Fola Komolafe

Against all hope, he believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” Romans 4:18 (MEV)

Hope is a favourable confident expectation of good because of the word of God! Our expectation is based on what we hear and what we believe – we can expect good or bad depending on what we choose to hear continually and believe. Godly hope chooses to believe God at all costs because of who He is and the knowledge that He is a dependable and reliable God who has promised that His word will not return to Him unfulfilled.

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And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Colossians 1:17 (KJVS)

In a world where there is sometimes pressure to always want more, more and more of everything it is important for you to know that God is enough. If you have God you have everything you need and there is nothing else, nothing more beyond God. God is enough, He is actually more than enough!

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Fola Komolafe

For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 3-4 (NKJV)

Knowing the truth can be like turning on the light in a dark room, suddenly you can see and understand. I don’t know if you have ever experienced the frustration of trying to explain something you know is true to someone and somehow you can’t seem to get through. Or when something is missing and you know it was there and everybody goes, ‘not me.’ And you feel like screaming in frustration because you just want the truth. I believe God created us for truth and there is a yearning in us all to know the truth or to get to the bottom of the matter (maybe some more than others, lol).

Fola Komolafe

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4 (NKJV)

When you rejoice in someone or over something, for example the birth of a baby, you are so exited, full of joy, gladness, delight and happiness. In the same way and with all the same expressions, the bible is encouraging us to always rejoice in the Lord unconditionally. You are rejoicing in the person, that is, all that the Lord represents now and forevermore, all that He has done, all that He is doing and all that He will do for you and in you. I read an article recently which made me chuckle. It said, ‘In the New Testament, Lord is the most frequently used title for Jesus Christ. Although we rarely use this term in our daily lives, we are all quite familiar with another word: boss. That is basically what Lord means—one possessing authority, power, and control.’ So let us together Rejoice in The Boss!