BEING A POSITIVE INFLUENCE

Influence is defined as “the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behaviour, opinions, etc., of others.” As children of God, we are cities set upon hills that cannot be hidden. In other words, we are capable of influencing people who look up to us in one way or another. We must choose to be positive influences. King Ahasuerus, being in a very happy mood, asked that his very beautiful queen, Vashti, be brought before him so he could display to his people and princes. But she refused. She disgraced her husband publicly. Of course, the king got angry and consulted with the wise men on what to do. It was decided, that because she was in a position where she could influence other women and girls in the kingdom, a royal commandment be issued that she never appear before the king again, and that her place was to be given to another (Esther 1). Consciously or unconsciously, you are helping people become better or worse by your actions. Parents, how well have you influenced your children? Teachers, how well have you influenced your students? Bosses, how well have you influenced your subordinates? Leaders, how well have you influenced your followers? Celebrities, how well have you influenced your fans? Listen to me, whatever you do, if you are not influencing people for God you are not doing well. Today, I ask you in God’s name to be a positive influence in your sphere of contact. Being a living epistle known and read by all men is an opportunity we have to lead men in the right way. We must not disgrace God at all. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven. Follow @PastorChinae

STANDING IN THE EVIL DAY

I was a little boy when a very vibrant brother in fellowship abandoned the faith because armed robbers visited his house and took away some of his property. He was angry with God. We all pray for good days and happy times, we confess positively and do not wish for evil days; but we have adversaries! And we must be prepared for his onslaught. If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is little (Proverbs 24:10). Apostle Paul wrote, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13. Nothing surprises a well prepared man. A well prepared man leaves nothing to chance; long before anything happens, he prepares himself for victory. People rarely succeed accidentally. Every day, you must engage yourself in activities that will enhance success. Put on the whole armour of God: tie the belt of truth around your waist, put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, shod your feet with the gospel in preparation to face the enemy with firm-footed stability. Lift up over all the shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked one, and take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. Praying at all times in the Spirit. Even if all men fall in times of trouble, the one who does the above will say like David, “It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places. He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.” Psalm 18:32-34, 46. Hallelujah! Follow @PastorChinae

THE LORD WILL RECIPROCATE

There’s nothing that leaves you that will not return to you. Not only that, what leaves you usually returns to you many times more than it left you. It’s only a matter of time; it will definitely come back to you. So, if you give kindness, expect to receive kindness in future; if you give love, expect to be loved in return; sometimes, it happens almost immediately, but at other times, it comes later. Ephesians 6:8 says, “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.” In other words, the Lord will reciprocate every action you do. Meaning that, life is like a continually swinging pendulum with our actions going back and forth. We are taught that the time for one complete cycle of a pendulum, a left swing and a right swing, is called a period. The period it takes for the Lord to reciprocate your good deeds may vary, but one thing is certain, it will come back to you. The more reason why we should be careful of the things we do to others! And it doesn’t matter whether someone else notices or not. 1 Timothy 5:24-25 says, “The sin of some are conspicuous (openly evident to all eyes), going before them to the judgment [seat] and proclaiming their judgment in advance; but the sin of others appear later [following the offender to the bar of judgment and coming into view there]. So also, good deeds are evident and conspicuous, and even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden [indefinitely].” Amp. If you’ve been doing well, continue doing well. And if you’ve been doing bad, cheating people, lying to people, using people, abusing people, etc, I think it’s time to give it up. Consider repenting: if you do, the Lord will forgive you. Good morning. Follow @PastorChinae

THE MISSION OF CHRIST

I listen to a lot of preachers (not all), and like many of you, I have my favourites. I have both been blessed and terrified by the so many words I’ve heard over time. About six years ago, I heard a preacher say that his job is not to take men to heaven but to make men prosper. After six years, nothing has terrified me more. If you’ve listened to me for long, you’ll know I believe in prosperity. But prosperity is a by-product of salvation! As a matter of fact, men do not need to be born again to prosper; the world is full of ultra rich unbelievers. Therefore, it cannot be my most important message. I’d rather spend my time and utilize God’s gift to bringing men to Christ, keeping them in faith, making sure that they grow up to be like Christ, and ensuring that they are always ready for His return. Apostle Paul wrote, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27. The first reason why Jesus came was to reconcile man to God. That He did by purchasing us with His blood. Therefore we are His. Being His, He empowered us so that we might have dominion over Satan, sin and sickness, as well as over any other thing we were subject to in the past. Also, He also purified us, so that we could have a perfect and blissful relationship with God the Father, with Himself and with His Holy Spirit. He justified us, so that we could stand before God without fear, and so that Satan the accuser of the brethren would no longer make us feel guilty. And He beautified us with His divine nature that is holy and righteous, so that God can always be delighted in us. Hallelujah! That’s why He came, and that’s exactly what He did! There are two men who will go back to the world: ungrateful men and men without understanding. When I think of the goodness of Jesus and all He has done, and is doing, and will do for me, my soul shouts hallelujah! And I say, “Thank You Jesus for saving me.” Good morning. Follow @PastorChinae

BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

Being filled with the Spirit is an experience every believer should have often, but it’s not so; unfortunately. To be filled with the Spirit is different from receiving the Holy Spirit. We receive the Holy Spirit once, but we can be filled with the Spirit again and again (Acts 2:4, 4:31). You can be filled with the Spirit when you receive the Holy Spirit, but it’s got to be continuous. It’s an experience that must be relived. I’ll try to explain what it means to be filled with the Spirit in the best possible way I can. Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14. According to John chapter 7 verses 38&39, the water Jesus spoke about is the Holy Spirit. Now, receiving the Holy Spirit is drinking the water, but being filled with the Spirit is having that water springing up within you. Hallelujah! Do you understand? God’s will is for us to be filled with the Spirit all the time. The words of Jesus according to the Amplified Bible is that the water He gives us will become a spring of water welling up (flowing, bubbling) continually in us. Amazing things happen when we are filled with the Spirit: we are filled with boldness (Acts 4:31), we speak with other tongues (Acts 2:4), we do great wonders and miracles (Acts 6:8), we speak amazing words of wisdom (Acts 6:10), our spiritual eyes are opened and we see the glory of God (Acts 7:55), we can issue decrees and say words that come to pass (Acts 13:9-11). As we pray, remain in touch with the Lord and fellowship with the brethren we are constantly filled with the Spirit and we are renewed. You see, a Christian who doesn’t pray will continue to be hungry and thirsty because there will be no flow, no bubbling, no welling up and no springing up. Hmm. No wonder Paul wrote, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18 (AMP). Glory to God! Follow @PastorChinae

WALKING IN WISDOM

When we discussed the topic, You Need Knowledge, I defined wisdom as the ability to discern and judge what is right and true. What could be righter or truer than the will of God? That being said, I wish to further state that wisdom is first, understanding the will of God, and then acting or speaking in accordance with it. Ephesians 5:17 says, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Every day, we meet with entirely new people, we are required to make decisions faster, deal with challenges, solve problems, offer advice, and take actions, and we don’t always have all the time to think things through or pray thoroughly as we ought. What will guide us and enable us make the best decisions and take the right steps is the amount of wisdom available to us. When you know the perfect will of God concerning an issue, it becomes easier to walk in wisdom in that area. There are two ways to know and understand God’s will: through studying the Word of God, and by being taught by the Spirit. The Scriptures contain God’s will; the more we know and understand it, the wiser we become. Colossians 3:16a says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” John 16:13, reveals that the Holy Spirit’s job is to guide us into all truth. The Holy Spirit will tell us what is not clearly stated in the Scriptures. As we do the Word and follow the instructions of the Spirit, we will be walking in wisdom. There’s a will of God concerning everything you do: raising children, getting married, working, relating and interacting with people, eating, drinking, giving, speaking, and living, and so on. In other words, the Word of God contains dos and don’ts. The world may consider you to be foolish for doing what God says to do and vice versa, but you will never regret it. Doing God’s will, will prove you to be wiser, and will assure you of peace, promotion, prosperity and protection. Have a fantastic week. Follow @PastorChinae

NO MORE SACRIFICE

I beg you to read this one, even if it will be the last of my writings that you read. We’ve been wrongly taught about righteousness and grace, and many Christians have been endangered as a result of it. We are being told that what we do won’t affect our righteousness before God, or how God perceives us, that God will overlook our sins because Jesus became sin for us and imputed righteousness to us. We are being taught that our past, present and future sins have already been taken care of. But is that what the Bible really teaches? While it is important that we are not held captive by the consciousness of sin, we must understand that wrong teachings won’t set us free. What did Jesus really do? I read a verse some years ago that literally shook me. That verse is Romans 3:25. I encourage you to read the entire chapter, but let’s read from verse 24. “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of SINS THAT ARE PAST, through the forbearance of God.” Notice that it talks about the remission of past sins. The Amplified Bible says God ignored our former sins without punishment. So how about our present and future sins? Romans 6:1-2 says, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Does it mean we will never sin? No. 1 John 2:1 says, “Sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” If you sin, immediately receive forgiveness. But do not sin wilfully hoping that God will overlook it because of grace or righteousness! Hebrews 10:26-27 says, “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” Let’s conclude with Ephesians 5:3-6. “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” Today, I hope that we can genuinely repent and decide to live for Jesus as we ought to, in true appreciation of what God and Christ did for us. Good morning. Follow @PastorChinae

HELPING THE NEEDY

Helping the needy is one of my passions and lifetime goals. I don’t believe in “Live and let live,” instead I believe in “Live and help live.” If Jesus tarries, I intend establishing an orphanage and a foundation through which I can reach out to the needy and less privileged. I really wish I could help everyone who meets me for help, but so far I’ve been unable to. The purpose of work is not just to provide for your daily bread, to be able to live in a nice house, go for holidays, and acquire property, and so on. One major reason for work is that we might have the means to support the needy. Ephesians 4:28 says, “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” As we grow in Christ, our “receiving-consciousness” is replaced with a “giving-consciousness.” We begin to understand that “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35. The truth is, the more you give, the more you will receive. God loves givers, and He will ensure that they are always delivered from trouble. I can personally give many testimonies to prove it. Psalm 41:1-3 NLT says, “Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor. The LORD rescues them in time of trouble. The LORD protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity and rescues them from their enemies. The LORD nurses them when they are sick and eases their pain and discomfort.” Never be scared of giving, and never regret doing an act of kindness; sooner or later, you will get so much more than what you gave. Follow @PastorChinae

MAKING SPIRITUAL ADVANCEMENT

Childhood is inevitable, but remaining children is a choice. Stagnation is very unpleasant and also dangerous, because children are easily deceived, tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, according to the Scriptures (Ephesians 4:14). We will not grow and advance spiritually as a result of how long we’ve been in the faith, neither will it happen by chance, it requires deliberate effort. Hebrews 6:1 NASB says, “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity.” Your willingness, passion and ability to receive spiritual things determines your growth rate. Jesus put it this way, “Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6. And Apostle Peter said, “Desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” 1 Peter 2:2. Dr. Mike Murdock said pursuit is the proof of desire. Making spiritual advancement demands sufficient investment of your time and resources. How much of your time you spend studying the Scriptures, attending church, listening to messages, watching and reading edifying programmes and materials, and communing with the Holy Spirit determines how much spiritual advancement you’ll make. We were given apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for our perfection (Ephesians 4:11-12). Thank God for Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Amazon, Blogs, Television, Books, etcetera. Via these media we can have constant access to people and resources capable of aiding our growth, development and advancement. They are not just “social media,” they are also “spiritual media!” Cheers. Follow @PastorChinae

OMNIPOTENT PROVIDER

Omnipotent means “having unlimited power.” It also means “able to do anything.” Only God is Omnipotent, and the good news is that He is your provider. What it means is that providing for you is no big deal for Him! He can reach the deepest depths, the highest heights, and the widest widths just to get anything for you. In fact, the truth is that He doesn’t need to move an inch in order to meet your needs, just a word from Him is sufficient to get anything done. What are your greatest needs right now – a healing, a job, a car, a husband or wife, children, starting a business or project, money, the salvation of loved ones, a deliverance, an idea, protection? I’ve got news for you today: God is able to do exceeding abudantly above all that you can ever ask or think! Listen to me child of God, your greatest need is the least of what He can do. I need you to believe God, because unbelief is capable of limiting His ability on your behalf. God will not do what you don’t believe He can do for you. Your faith is what determines how much He can help you. You must believe that with Him, nothing is impossible. Remember this: we receive from God by grace (that is, His kindness and love) through faith. Faith is the key that unlocks the doors of grace. There’s someone asking God for a hundred thousand Naira; I want you to know that God will give you millions instead! Don’t ask how? That’s His business! Yours is to believe. Believe and you will see the glory of God. God is a God of abundance. 2 Corinthians 9:8 says that God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. Dismiss your fears, little flock; for it gives your Father great happiness to give you the kingdom. Cheers. Follow @PastorChinae

THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF GOD’S GRACE

What is grace? As I studied this subject this morning, it dawned on me that grace is the manifestation or revelation of God’s kindness and love toward us. In other words, grace is the effect of God’s kindness and His love for us. So, kindness and love are “the cause,” grace is “the effect.” Hallelujah. Titus 2:11 says the grace of God appeared, and in chapter 3:4, it says it is His kindness and love that appeared. With the coming of Christ to the world came the grace of God. John 1:17 says, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” I love Jesus! Have you seen someone liked or loved by the boss? He enjoys privileges that others don’t enjoy, and he is sometimes exempted from certain tasks. When he errs, it’s easier for him to be pardoned. That’s grace! And here’s what John 1:16 says, “And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.” Wow! No boss can like you more than God! God’s grace makes us His favourites and it entitles us to enjoy His very best. His grace towards us also emboldens us to rule among His creation. Romans 5:17 says, “For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” Glory to God. And here’s the most beautiful part, and it’s what makes me excited about going to Heaven! Boy, I’ve got to go to Heaven! I can’t even attempt to imagine a life in Hell and in the Lake of Fire. Here’s the most exciting part: Ephesians 2:7 says, “That in ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus.” Meaning that whatever we seem to be enjoying now is nothing compared to what awaits us! This is definitely something to shout about! Give God praise!!! How I wish I could share these truths with the whole world! I’m so desperate to do that! This is two years since I’ve been sharing in this Facebook group (since October 19, 2010) and I’m pleased to announce to you all that SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN!

CONTROLLED BEINGS

Have you ever wondered why a person did what he did? You know, there are things people do that make us wonder and ponder. I want you to know that every man is under some influence, good or bad. Men are either controlled by the Spirit of God or by the spirit of the world, that is, devils. It’s a fact. Apostle Paul wrote, “You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the heart of those who refuse to obey God.” Ephesians 2:2 NLT. When we gave our lives to God, He gave us His Spirit to lead and control us. 1 Corinthians 2:12 says, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God.” Now you see why we are different from others, and why we must be careful about the people and things that we allow to influence us. The Spirit of God in us differentiates us from the world. That’s why David wrote, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” Psalm 1:1. What God expects from us is that we yield to His Spirit all the time. When I was younger, I used to call myself Jesus’ Robot. Well, God didn’t make us robots, He gave us the ability to choose and to be influenced, but as His children, purchased by the blood of His Son Jesus Christ, we should willingly yield ourselves to Him. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the true sons of God. Follow @PastorChinae

FAR ABOVE ALL

There is no single justifiable reason why a Christian should live in fear. But what do we see, Christians, who are afraid of everything – animals, people, places, devils, things, et cetera. I am aware of the fact that some people do not visit their villages because of fear of being killed by so called “Evil men” or witches and wizards. Terrible, it should not be the case. The Bible says that Jesus is “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.” Ephesians 1:21. Now, that’s not the end of the story. The Bible also says that God raised us up, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). In other words, we are far above everything imaginable! Why then do we fear? Ignorance! They that know who they are in Christ shall be strong and do exploits. We are not ordinary people. We’ve got power! I mean real power and authority. I mean, we should be casting out devils instead of running away from them! Jesus gave us power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and He said that nothing shall by any means hurt us (Luke 10:19). If only you knew and truly believed what you knew, you will never live in fear anymore. Here’s what you should do now, look at fear in the face, and tell it to get out! Dare to believe and you will do exploits. Cheers. Follow @PastorChinae

NOT BY CHANCE

God does not do things by chance or accidentally. He knows the end from the beginning, and as a matter of fact, the Scriptures tell us that all His works were finished before the foundations of the world were laid. God said to Jeremiah, “Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5. Same with us, Ephesians 1:4-6 says, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” We are the ones who are surprised by events and concerned about the future, God is not. If only we can fully trust in Him, we would be at rest all the days of our lives. There are jobs He has predestined us to do, there are people He has predestined us to meet, and there are experiences that He predestined us to have! As long as we co-operate with Him, we can always relax even in the midst of trying times and situations, knowing that all things work together for our good. If parents can plan for their babies to attend certain schools in future, and also prepare in advance for that future, how much more God, our Heavenly Father. He cares so much about us! Follow @PastorChinae

SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS

What I’m about to share with you is revolutionary and capable of transforming your life! If you are able to receive it, you will never remain the same again! It’s a guarantee. Ephesians 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” God’s Word Translation says, “Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Through Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing that heaven has to offer.” O my God! He has blessed us with all that heaven has to offer? Did He really say that He has already blessed us with all that heaven has to offer? Yes, He did! When did that happen? The moment you believed! So why have we been going around seeking blessings? Because we did not know! Receive this if you will: you are loaded with blessings! Stop asking for what is already yours! His divine power has given to us all that pertains to life and godliness! (2 Peter 1:3). Think of any blessing whatsoever; it’s yours already! Hallelujah! Someone is asking, “If God has actually blessed me, why am I still suffering, sick and broke?” The answer is simple: because you’re yet to have a revelation of it. And you cannot truly believe and receive what you don’t know. Now that you know, live a life of thanksgiving and always insist on enjoying what has been made available to you in Christ. This is the day that the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it. Cheers. Follow @PastorChinae

FAITHFUL TO THE END

Faithful is defined in the dictionary as, strict or thorough in the performance of duty; true to one’s word, promises, vows, etc; steady in allegiance or affection, loyal, constant; reliable, trusted or believed; adhering or true to a fact, a standard, or an original. The good news is that many people attend church and claim to be Christians, but the bad news is that not many are faithful. Listen to me, dear children of God, faithfulness to the end is what will get us to heaven; and it is what will get us rewarded. Jesus said to the church in Smyrna, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelations 2:10. Have you been following the Master faithfully? Have you been working faithfully in His Vineyard? Have you been faithful in walking in the ways He prescribed for living and ministry? Are you still deeply in love with Him as you used to? Jesus said, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:12-13. Hebrews 3:13-14 NLT says, “You must warn each other every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.” The song says, “Keep me true Lord Jesus, keep me true, keep me true Lord Jesus, keep me true, there’s a race I must run, there are victories to be won, give me power, every hour, to be true.” Make it your prayer today, and His grace will be sufficient for you. Cheers. Follow @PastorChinae

SHARETORI

Hey, Sharetori went live yesterday you should sign up via www.sharetori.com and earn while you share stuff with friends and family! Don't forget to claim a N100 airtime bonus...simply quote SHARETORI as you sign up via Facebook Follow @PastorChinae

Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim: YOU NEED KNOWLEDGE

Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim: YOU NEED KNOWLEDGE: King Solomon told a story: “This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: There was a little city, and a few men ...

YOU NEED KNOWLEDGE

King Solomon told a story: “This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: There was a little city, and a few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered the same poor man. Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.” Ecclesiastes 9:13-16. I was troubled by the above. Why was the wise man ignored despite what he did for the city? The answer is because he was poor. Why was he poor despite being wise? This is the one that got me concerned. Think about it for a moment. There are many wise men and women in our world today, many great preachers and teachers, many brilliant guys full of ideas that can change our world, but who have no voice and are unknown today. Why? Because there are poor. But why are they poor? Why can’t their wisdom be converted to riches? You won’t know the answer until you discover the difference between wisdom and knowledge. Let me help a little. Wisdom is simply the ability to discern and judge what is right and true. And knowledge is simply information obtained through observation, experience and learning. Let me explain further with examples. There are people who can analyse football matches; they can tell you what to do to win, but can’t play football. Here’s another example: a wise man can tell that moving with a car will get you to your destination faster than walking with your legs, but a man of knowledge can drive the car and achieve the desired results. Do you understand? Now, Proverbs 24:3-5 says, “Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: and by knowledge shall it be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.” So, the poor wise man in Solomon’s story was poor because he lacked knowledge. You need knowledge. Follow @PastorChinae

JOY IN THE HOME

When couples get married we wish them a happy married life and pray that their marriages last till death separates them; but how many marriages and homes are truly happy today? Only a few. I have seen and heard of failed marriages: it ought not to be. The Scripture says, “Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labor which thou takest under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 9:9. Proverbs 5:18-19 says, “Let thy fountain be blessed and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.” Love is the secret of every happy, joyful and successful relationship. Without it, a marriage will crumble like a pack of cards. Love must permeate every part of your home and must be the sole reason for every action. Husbands, love your wives and always be ravished, enthralled, enamored and captivated by her love. In Song Of Solomon 2:4, the Shulamite woman wrote that Solomon’s love was a banner over her. In other words, it was her shield, her defense. In like manner, every one – husband, wife and children – should feel secure in a home and be confident as a result of each other’s love. I pray for you in the name of Jesus, that your marriage will endure till death, that your love for one another will never end but be multiplied continually. I pray for you, that the peace of God will reign in your home, that the joy of the Lord will prevail in your home, and that sorrow will cease forthwith! May God keep you from strange women and men, and from every thing that causes division. You are blessed. Amen. Follow @PastorChinae

THERE IS HOPE

Jesus healed a man who was blind for forty years, since birth; He restored strength to a man who was crippled for thirty eight years, and the woman with the issue of blood was made whole after twelve years! What am I trying to say to you? That as long as there is life, there is hope! Ecclesiastes 9:4 says, “For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.” Hey! What you’re going through is not sufficient to make you give up! What you’re going through now is not enough reason for you to quit and throw in the towel! I came with a good word for you; there is hope! Romans 5:5 says, “Hope maketh not ashamed.” In other words, if you can maintain your hope in God, you will not be disappointed! Hallelujah! I speak as a prophet, in a very short while from now, you will have a new story! I can hear the cry of a baby! Rain is coming! I speak life to your dry bones, in the name of Jesus, live! Be made whole by the power of the Holy Ghost! This is more than a devotion, it is God’s now word for you! It is a ministration of life to your body, soul and spirit! Rejoice! Follow @PastorChinae

IN OCTOBER, IT SHALL BE WELL WITH YOU!

Ecclesiastes 8:12 says, “Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him.” To be well means to be prosperous, to be in a satisfactory and pleasing state, it means for something to be desirable, to be healthy and to be fortunate. God says to tell you, that this month, it shall be well with you! Isaiah 3:10 says, “Say to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.” You’re about to have the best life you’ve ever had! This month, God will wipe all your tears away! This month, there will be a turnaround for your good! Get ready, a wind of change is coming your way! This is your month of healing, your month of joy, your month of fulfilment, your month of peace, your month of prosperity and your month of progress! No more oppression, no more depression, no more worries, and no more weeping! Your joy has come! “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.” Psalm 128:1-2. This is your portion, now and forever, in Jesus’ name. Amen! Happy New Month. Follow @PastorChinae