All Posts in "Month: August 2019"

We often quote Revelations 12:11 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

What is the “word of your testimony”?

Is it those two minutes that you stand before a congregation and tell them how God healed you?

Or that discussion you had with your house fellowship members or a group of friends telling them of how God delivered you from a fatal auto crash?

I dare say NO!

A light bulb went off in my head as I studied 1st John 5:9-13 (Please take a few minutes and read the entire chapter).

1 John 5:9-13 New International Version (NIV)

9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

1 John 5:9-13 New King James Version (NKJV)

9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

From the foregoing, we see that God have given us a testimony and that is the testimony we must reiterate.

This therefore means that the word of my testimony is this” 11 that God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life”.

So anything that shows up in my life that does not look like the eternal life that God has given me, I overcome it by the blood of the lamb and by the word of my testimony.

Sickness comes against me; I overcome it by the blood of the lamb and by the word of my testimony. “By his stripes I am healed”

Death comes knocking at the door; I overcome it by the blood of the lamb and by the word of my testimony “I shall live and not die to declare the works of the lord in the land of the living.

Poverty, lack, disaster, troubles, temptations… whatever! You name it. I locate the word of my testimony and overcome it!

Even when it looks like the situation or circumstance would kill me; I do not love my life above the testimony that God has given.  I do not fear the scorn and mockery of men. I do not fear being politically incorrect. I do not fear missing some popularity contest or even losing privileges.

I stand by the testimony that God has given; “God has given us eternal life and that life is in his son; I have the son therefore I have eternal life”.

Today I overcome by the blood of the lamb and by the word of my testimony.  Hallelujah!

Chisom by — August 23, 2019 in Word for the day 2
Live In The Present- One Day At A Time

Live in the present! Every day you wake up to is a gift from God and has to be treated as such. It has to be received with joy and thanksgiving.

Psalm 118:24 King James Version (KJV)- This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

What did you expect God to do for you yesterday that you felt he didn’t do?

What are you looking forward for God to do tomorrow?

Have any of these expectations robbed you of living in the present?

 I once saw a movie title “Waiting To Exhale” Although it didn’t appear deep or highly spiritual, it was an insightful movie.

Many of us are waiting for an event to occur in our lives before we “start living” or get excited about life.

Check out these scenarios:-

“I would be happy when I graduate from college and get a good job” Then it happened and you’re still not happy or “living yet”. Or you were happy for the first year, and then you got frustrated with/on the job and began to look forward to another event.

“I would be happy when I get married”; you got married and discovered it wasn’t all that you expected. Then you shifted gear and began to expect kids; “I would be happy when I have my 2.5 kids” 

Now the kids are here and they are not all social media cracked them up to be.  You expected your “mini me” to be a cute little boy or girl that would always make daddy or mummy go “aaaawww”. But no! Junior gets cranky and wants to have his way; cute bambina throws tantrums and wouldn’t eat or sleep without fussing.

And once again the happiness goal post shifts; “I would be happy when these kids grow up and go off to college”. They grow up, go off to college and graduate.

Then comes ” I would be happy when these children get married and give me grand kids”

These scenarios are just one aspect of our live expectations; what about the financial aspects? Or the career goals? Or even the ministry goals?

Wake Up And Smell The Coffee!

When would we learn that the rainbow has no end and neither is there any pot of gold at the non-existent end? How long would you keep reaching for the future or living in the past?

Some of us are living either in past glories or in past failures. “I remember when I was a size 6 with flat stomach and firm skin” or “I used to have 6-packs and toned muscles”. That’s mundane right? But many of us are still dreaming of our teenage or twenties bodies and hating the bodies we live in presently.

Well, if you hate those flabby muscles or sagging belly; then get to the gym! Have a lifestyle change; do something about it! But enjoy life daily while you are at it.

What about body changes that come with age that no amount of exercise or lifestyle change can alter? Be glad that you’ve lived long enough to encounter them, embrace the aging process and age gracefully.

You know in what areas you are still living in the past. It may be that prestigious job that came with so much perks and honor that you lost some years back or that business that was second to none in the 90’s. The list of past glories is endless but you have to let it go!

You may have encountered failures either through your carelessness, naivety of stupidity. Every one of us has.  Pick up the lessons learnt, grow/improve and move on!

Learn From the Nature Of God  

When God appeared to Moses, he told him that his name is “I AM”.  God is not the future; he is not the past, He IS!

The Holy Spirit explained it to me this way; that God is a constant; he is present continuous. Before I was born, he IS, presently, he IS and in my future he IS. There is no “was” or “would be” with God.

Let’s examine some scriptures to buttress this fact

Exodus 3:14

King James Version

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

New International Version

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.

Psalm 46: 1

King James Version

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

New International Version

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Hebrews 1:12

New International Version

You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”

King James Version

And as vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

Amplified Bible (AMP)

And like a robe You will roll them up;Like a garment they will be changed. But [a]You are the same [forever],And Your years will never end.”

Hebrews 11:6

King James Version

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he IS, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

I could go on and on but I challenge you to go and do a study of the unchanging nature of God and his present continuous status.

Live In The Present

The fact that the God who made you “IS” gives you carte blanche to enjoy life every day. This is because he’s got you covered. He daily loads us with benefits (Psalms 68:19), so don’t let any day go by without availing yourself of the benefit of that day.  

Does this now mean that you shouldn’t plan or have goals? Absolutely not! Have your plans and your goals. Learn from the mistakes of the past, look forward to the promise of better days ahead but enjoy this day in which you find yourself.

Let me end on this note. Do not borrow tomorrow’s troubles and forfeit today’s benefits.

Matthew 6:34

New International Version

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

New Living Translation

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

American King James Version

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof.

Chisom by — August 7, 2019 in Articles 6