Choose Your Friends!

“I choose as my friends everyone who worships you and follows your teachings.” [Psalm 119:63 CEV]

 Who are your friends? Did you take time out to select them, or did you just take those who circumstances brought your way? Man is a spirit, not the outward body that we see. The body we see is only a housing for the real you. God has a destiny for that spirit-man; therefore, it is important to God who your friends, confidants, and trusted ones are. I have come to find that the nature of friendship is that of influence with parties changing, molding, and re-molding one another. As someone said, it is not possible to have a relationship where the parties are not effecting a change in one another at all; whether or not you believe it, if you do not noticeably see your friends becoming more like you, then you are certainly becoming more like them. The problem is not in you becoming like another person – that part is inevitable; the real concern is with the kind of character or mindset you are gradually, subtly, and progressively being influenced by.

Paul gives us a New Testament picture of the same thing in 2 Corinthians 6:14 & 16 where he says “be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness...what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God.” In the early days of mechanized farming, two animals were attached together using an implement that forced them in the same direction. Those animals were ‘yoked’ together for such purposes as plowing and generally increasing productivity on the farm. In those days, only animals of the same kind were yoked together - for example a bull and another bull; to yoke a bull with a dog would be referred to as unequal yoking, and as you may imagine, it would not work so well. As Christians, we are of a different breed [James 1:18] – a new type of beings – different from the ordinary human person, because the life of God has been put in us through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus [1 John 5:11-12].

Therefore, God is concerned about who you call your best friends. Learn to define your relationships. The fact that you go to class together with someone else does not make you their friend or companion; you are simply classmates. You may do school work together, but that is as far as it goes. An unbeliever could not possibly be your best friend by God’s standards. Don’t get me wrong! You may be found in the company of sinners like Jesus was, but don’t be found in their companionship. Let your purpose in their midst be clear; you are there to be a witness of Christ to them. As such, you cannot be found with them all or most of the time. Otherwise, before long, you’ll find yourself thinking, talking, and acting like them. It is just one of the laws of life.

There are characteristics of a godly friendship that you must cultivate with your Christian friends or seek when choosing your friends. Some of them are:

Prayer: God wants you to hang around those who love to pray and know how to pray, such that if you are ever faced with a challenge, you would have friends who know how to take care of it according to the Word. Also, when you pray with your friends, you strengthen your friendship and purify it of all forms of hate, envy, and bitterness that eat into people’s hearts. Agree with your friends in prayer often [Matthew 18:19-20]!

Love for the Word: The Word of God is God [John 1:1]. You and your friends have to be people who desire to have more of God in you. The Bible says “be ye therefore followers of God as dear children” [Ephesians 5:1]. How do you follow God? It is only through His Word. Understanding that your friends will be of influence in your life consciously or unconsciously, it is best that they are themselves people who are being influenced by God’s Word continually.

Regardless of how you have been so far in life or how you started out, you can determine today how you want to end up. If you are one who wants to fulfill his or her destiny in God and be a success in life, you must begin NOW to make changes regarding your companionships. Pray to God to synchronize you with his plans and purposes for you especially with respect to those you hang around with. When you pray like that [like I did years ago], you’d find that the right people come your way and the wrong people just naturally drop out of your life. Your relationship with those wrong friends should not end in a fight; when you commit your destiny to God, they’ll leave peacefully, if they have to.  Otherwise, the Spirit of God will help you to win them to Christ quickly! But, whichever the case, until they confess Christ, limit your time spent with them.

David said in Psalm 1:1 & 3, “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…whatsoever he doeth shall prosper”. If you want to be a successful man or woman, you have to discontinue relationships with those who hate the Lord. Never find yourself laughing together with people who mock the move of the Spirit or speak against men of God or the body of Christ. Begin programming yourself for success by surrounding yourself with God’s children today.

The Foolish Things

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty” [1 Corinthians 1:27]

Is God’s Word too simple? Are His methods unbelievably straightforward, so much that they become increasingly difficult to yield to? I heard a story once of a Christian who had been through severe hardship in his life. After enduring for a rather long period of time, he decided to confront his Pastor for a solution after a church meeting. The Pastor, full of wisdom and the HolyGhost, listened attentively to the young man. Upon the troubled Christian finishing the story of his ordeals, the Pastor recommended that he purchased, listened to, and meditated on certain Christian materials [books, tapes, CDs, etc]. To the Pastor’s amazement, the young man, looking rather disappointed said to him, “you don’t understand”. With those words, the young Christian Brother was attempting to convey to his Pastor that it could not be that simple; the young man must have been thinking “this man [referring to the Pastor] must not know how serious my case is for him to be asking me to go and listen to some sermons; didn’t I just listen to a sermon?”

Many of us Christians are like that today. God’s Words and instructions seem too simple to hold any weight. Moses made the same mistake and it cost him dearly. God had instructed him to “take the rod…and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water” [Numbers 20:8], but Moses in his anger looked lightly upon the Lord’s instruction and struck the rock instead of talking to it. Maybe if he had known that the rock represented Christ which was only to be struck once [representing his death] after which words [confessions of faith] would produce results in His name, he may have not disobeyed the Lord. As simple as the instruction was, it was very important to God that it was carried out precisely.

We, as believers, need to be more conscious of the fact that God, in His infinite wisdom, has chosen to confound [stun, amaze, and leave speechless] those that are wise in this world by making the “foolish” things contain the most power. Consider the foolishness of meditating on the Word of God in order to see tremendous progress and prosperity in your life [Joshua 1:8, 1 Timothy 4:15]. You may also examine the foolishness of prayer. God does not require you to pray a powerful prayer; you do not have to shout down the heavens. He needs you to simply “ask, and…receive” [John 16:24]. Finally, consider the foolishness of giving or sowing seeds of faith into the lives of men of God, brethren, and the poor; as foolish as the giving of your money is [to the wise people of this world], it is the key to true unending prosperity [2 Kings 4:1-7, Luke 6:38].

The man I referred to earlier may have found it easier to believe if his Pastor had instructed him to fast for 21 days and eat only veggies for another 21 days after that, while praying for two hours at noon and at midnight all of those days. Funny, isn’t it? Yet, that is the way many believers are. We find it easier to believe more in a complicated process, when God said it has been made simple. Whatever deliverance you need is in the Word of God; the knowledge of it will literally cause your eyes to be open to see that you were never bound [Proverbs 11:9].

Salvation came as simply as saying that you believe Jesus was raised from the dead and confessing His Lordship; if the most important thing in your walk with God came that easy, why should anything else be harder [Romans 10:9-10, Romans 8:32]? Focus on the Word of God, enjoy fellowship with God in prayer, and give with a heart of love. 

While you post your comment, here's a beautiful song [originally written, composed, and sung by Frank Edwards of LoveWorld Records] covered by a dear friend and sister of mine - Chidimma. The chorus is in the Igbo language from Nigeria. Enjoy!

Not Mine

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” [1 Corinthians 6:20]

There was a certain man [a Christian] whose story became popular amongst believers several years ago. It was said that he, while on a train, was asked by a group of men to play a game with them aboard the train. Apparently, the other men required one more person to complete the team that was needed to play this game. To the men’s surprise, the Christian Brother on the train replied their request with the words “sorry, I did not come with my hands.” The other guys, looking at him in utter shock and disbelief, considering that he looked in perfect condition to them, asked him [pointing toward his hands] “what about these?” Without hesitation, this believer on the train said “oh no, these are not mine!” At this point, the men on the train thought that there must be something wrong with the man to whom they had made a request; who knows, they may have thought to themselves “why, out of everyone on this part of the train, did we choose to ask this crazy man?”

However, the Christian Brother began at those words - “not mine” - to preach to them the life in Christ. He went on to explain that Jesus had paid with His own life for him, so the life that he lived, he lived as unto the man [Jesus] that purchased him with His own blood. Paul knew this same thing and so he could say boldly “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” [Galatians 2:20]. It is high time we believers began to recognize that we were bought by Jesus and for a very high price at that. There is a popular picture that many Christians have of a sinking man who Jesus came and rescued. But, no brothers and sisters; He did not rescue us like that from the water by throwing us a rope or sending in divers. The right picture is that we were legally condemned to be drowned for our wrongs, but He came and surrendered Himself in our place. He did not just rescue you and me like that; He was drowned in sin, condemnation, and judgment in our place.

Paul in Acts 20:28 referred to “the church of God, which He [Jesus] purchased with his own blood”. For that high price, there is a kind of life we ought to live. Since we owe Him our lives, we ought to now live as unto Him, fulfilling every desire of His. Let us stand up and begin to submit our goals, ambitions, aspirations, relationships, and decisions to Him. Let us be truly lost in Him. Understand that He is the Only Wise God, and He did not bring you to the world to run men’s programs [men’s programs = birth, elementary school, middle/high school, college, work, marriage, bear kids, more money, and death]. Life can be more fulfilling than what you are currently experiencing or what those before you have experienced. There is something special and unique about YOU and ME. We need to yield ourselves to the HolyGhost in prayer and study of the Word till He makes His vision as clear to us as it was made to Paul in Acts 9. First, however, we need to stir up a desire. Let us begin NOW to develop a strong desire to be who God planned for us to be – that man that God so badly wanted us to be that He didn’t mind giving up His only Son for a chance that we would become that man.

Please, kindly share with us your comments and thoughts, but most importantly, testimonies of things, habits, persons, relationships, goals, and dreams that you had to give up in order to permit God’s will in your life. Someone somewhere in the world just may be encouraged by the strength of God that you demonstrated.

My Walk With God: A Motive Assessment

“Notwithstanding, in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” [Luke 10:20]

In walking with God and growing in the things of God, many times it is easy to forget what exactly everything is about and start focusing on the wrong things [actually, the right things but in the wrong manner]. Many believers are acquainted with the verse before the opening scripture where Jesus said to His disciples, “I give unto you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” [Luke 10:19]. As important as Jesus’ words in this verse are, the knowledge of the words after “notwithstanding” in the next verse is equally important. He told us where our joy should be; He was giving us words to direct our motives. Praise God!

As we grow in God, we need to remind ourselves of the initial source of our joy in the early stages of our Christian walk, because it is possible for other motives to creep in unnoticed. Some people find that they only study the Word of God more because they want to manifest more of God’s power. There are also some who are leaders in church who have found that their study of the Word is for the members of their church group; the Word of God has ceased to be personal to them. Now, it’s about what they [the group members] need to hear – mostly about their sins and wrongs. When such people hear a message about punctuality, they immediately think about another brother or sister who is always late that needs to hear the message. They find it hard to take it for their own selves.

This reminds me of something interesting Jesus said right after praising the church of Ephesus in Revelations 2:1-7: “I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love” [verse 4]. Think to yourself, “have I forgotten my first love?” This is very important, because in verse 5, Jesus told them that the consequence of them not repenting and turning to their first works was that He would “remove thy candlestick out of its place”. Now, that’s big! After praising their patience and their laboring for the gospel, the church of Ephesus could have lost it all for forgetting their first love.

When you do what you do, do it out of a love for Jesus. If you forgive someone who did you wrong, let it not just be because you want to be known as a good Christian. If you accept “tough” correction from your leaders [especially in church], don’t think “I’ll accept it, but I know God will punish him/her for speaking to me like that!” Does God have to punish everyone that does you wrong? Must they receive a negative payment or suffering because you chose to do what was right? Can’t you think that they may have spoken that way for your own good and accept it? When Sarah, Abraham’s wife, began unjustly maltreating their servant Hagar and she ran away, the Angel of the Lord appeared to her on the way and told her to return to her mistress and be obedient to her. God told Hagar that, if she did that, she [Hagar] would be blessed. But, interestingly, God did not go after Sarah to punish her as some people may have thought He would since He acknowledged that Sarah was doing something wrong [see Genesis 16]. Understand that God loves those who may seem to be your enemies. Think like God; they [those seeming enemies] don’t have to receive a payment for their wrongs. Didn’t Jesus already receive that payment in death? Let your love for the Master motivate your actions.

Finally, here is one that really got me today. When you choose to love the Lord and serve Him with all of you, never think of it in terms of reward first. Of course, there is reward involved, but is that all there is? I thought to myself today; what if after I have finished living my life on earth for the Lord and in His purpose, I don’t seem [in men’s eyes] to be as successful as my contemporaries, should that mean anything to me? And, then, another thought came, “well, you’ll receive your reward in heaven and who knows, maybe those other guys will not receive as much of a reward”. And, I thought again to myself, “there is no sorrow in heaven and regrets will be wiped away”, so it is not as though anybody will wish in heaven that they had made the choices I made on earth. Yes, for a moment they may feel that way, but it’ll be replaced with the joy of heaven for all eternity. So, if you have lived your life making God’s choices for the sake of that one moment of regret for others, it’ll have all not been worth it and the Master may not even accept your works.

Your walk with God is your walk with God. Nobody else needs to regret anything, because they did not do what you did, just as you never have to regret anything because you did not do what another person did. Your love for Jesus is your choice; let it be founded on the realization of the Truth that He paid a heavy ransom for your life. He paid with His own life for you. Learn to love Him for Him. Thank Him for the opportunity to know and love Him the way you do, because it is a grace that not too many can boast of. That is why I have decided that my walk with God is my walk with God and no one else’s! 


Enjoy glorious worship moments with the following video even as you share your thoughts on the subject. God bless you!

What Is Good for the Giver and the Soulwinner

“Blessed are the poor in spirit…blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake…theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” [Matthew 5:3 & 10]

Discovering that the only two actions that result in the same blessings in Matthew 5 are “giving” and “soulwinning” was like finding a treasure. And, it is indeed a treasure to those who would take the time to observe and soak themselves in this truth that many have so comfortably done away with. Few years ago, I remember my Pastor saying to me that “there are two people God cannot do without – a giver and a soulwinner”, and I also remember making up my mind that day to always be both.

To step back a little, many have wondered what it means to be “poor in spirit”, so I think it’ll be a good question to answer first. Poor in spirit does not mean living an impoverished life or being “poor in one’s spirit” as many have erroneously believed. 2 Corinthians 8:9 states with no ambiguity that “though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich”. Here, Paul was not referring to spiritual riches since Jesus was never spiritually poor, being heir of all things; rather, the Apostle was speaking of material abundance. Also, we see in 2 Peter 1:3 that God has given us “all things that pertain to life and godliness”, so there is no way we could be termed as “poor in our spirits”. What, then, does it mean to be poor in spirit?

To be poor in spirit is to have all and yet have nothing. It is to possess all things but be willing at any point to lay them aside for Jesus or for someone else. To be poor in spirit is to hold on to nothing and live without holding back in giving. In order to be that man, there should be nothing [absolutely nothing] that is too big for the Christian to give. Every monetary figure that is too big to give to God or to someone else is not worthy to be in a Christian’s possession; in fact, it is dangerous as it is inevitably Lord over such a one. Can God tell you to give that expensive possession [pen, watch, car, or house] you just purchased, after much saving, and you will do it without batting an eyelid?

The true foundation of being poor in spirit is trust in the Lord and His Word; if you believe [truly believe] in His Majesty and eternal provision for you, giving will never be a hassle. You may be a student, but have you ever imagined giving a thousand dollars [or whatever amount some may consider ‘outrageous’]; if it has never crossed your mind, then maybe you are not trusting of God enough or you are not bringing forth enough from within to be called that man in Matthew 5:3. You should, at the very least, have a desire to give that much and even greater.

There’s not much to be said about the soulwinner, since many are already acquainted with him, but it is important to know him a little more. We refer to the one that is persecuted for righteousness sake as the soulwinner, because you cannot be persecuted unless you are standing up for Christ and proclaiming Him without reserve. And, if you are doing that, then you are already a soulwinner. Soulwinning is a consistent heart’s cry. It is a lifestyle of prayer with tears, love, and the consequent joy. The true soulwinner does not just talk. He mourns in intercession for lost souls, and when he is comforted through the salvation of that soul, it is with joy beyond human comprehension.

In Proverbs 11:30, we see that “he that winneth souls is wise”, but God gives us more light into the reward for the soulwinner when He moves a little further to say “they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmaments and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever”, associating the soulwinner with wisdom. What a blessing! To shine as the firmaments means that such people will glow with special studs on their crowns in heaven. They’ll be the ‘superstars’ in God’s eyes.

It may also be great to know that the soulwinner is a giver and the giver is a soulwinner. Giving, first and foremost, should be primarily towards the things of the kingdom and one’s local church assembly before any other charitable organization or individual. This is because giving in church supports soulwinning through sponsorship of media evangelism, church missions, and other means of reaching the lost. As such, the giver indirectly wins souls that are credited to his account by God. The soulwinner, on the other hand, gives his time, effort, and prayers into the life of the soul he wants to lead to Christ. Do you see now why both have the same reward?

When Matthew 5 says “theirs is the kingdom of heaven”, it is saying something important. The kingdom of heaven is God’s government in the earth established through the church and headed by Jesus. Therefore, it should never be a surprise that those who are selected by the HolyGhost to lead in His house are the soulwinners and givers, because “theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. Never think it is a result of favoritism from the Pastor; no, it is a spiritual principle that begets its own results automatically.

If you have not started winning souls unto God through evangelism, now is the time to start. You may think “but how”? The only answer is “just start”. Never consider what you’ll tell people. Open your mouth and just trust the HolySpirit to fill it with words. And, please, don’t be afraid to make mistakes; they are a part of the process of mastering the lifestyle of a soulwinner. If you haven’t started giving big also, now is the time to start. Give out of love and trust; have no attachment to any material thing, and you’ll truly be ready to be master over all things.

Please share your testimonies and comments on the subject of giving and soulwinning with the rest of us. We’re always so glad to hear from you; God bless you!

Holy Flows: "You Are the Answer"

It’s great to come your way again this week. I’m really excited about this blog, and it’s all because of your faithful readership. Burnivine’s Blogoscope… is currently being read in over 23 countries and 67 cities in all the continents of the world. In honor of you, the reader, I have decided to publish something from a reader for this week. The following is a very inspiring piece by a truly gifted friend, Ms. Evanna Fabulosity Ebose [reppin’ Dublin, Ireland]; please, enjoy and meditate on it:

NOW LISTEN JC IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE.
I AINT GONNA LIE BUT IF YOU AINT GOT HIM, YOU GOT NO LIFE!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOW THIS IS THE CASE OF MANY
THEY LIVE TO DIE IN PENURY
THEY LIVE A LESSER LIFE COS THEY AINT GOT THE GREATER LIGHT
BUT ONE THING FOR SURE IS YOU'VE BEEN SENT TO GIVE THEM MORE

A WISE ONE WINNETH SOULS
A WISE ONE HEALETH BONES
YOU'RE FROM ABOVE, YOU HAVE THE POWER
THE DEVIL'S DOWN BELOW, THERE'S NO NEED TO COWER.

IF U ARE WISE, YOU'D WIN SOULS
IF YOU ARE WISE, YOU'D HEAL BONES
DON'T LET PEOPLE SUFFER IN PAIN
GIVE THEM HOPE TO RISE AND LIVE AGAIN!

MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE
LEAD THE WORLD AND SET THE PACE
NEVER NEGLECT ANY RACE
BUT SHOW THEM THERE IS A GREATER GRACE!

THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE GREATER LIGHT, 
HAVE YOU WON A SOUL? HAVE YOU SOLVED THEIR PLIGHT?
THE WORLD DEPENDS ON YOU, 
JUST SHOW THEM WAT TO DO!

REMEMBER UR FROM ZION!
LIVE EVERYDAY LIKE JESUS IS COMIN TOMORROW
PUSH ON LIKE A LION!:
WIPE AWAY THEIR PAINS AND SORROWS!

YOU ARE THE ANSWER!
STAY BLESSED...............MISS FABULOSITY 2010!

P.S: If you have something you would like me to consider for publishing, I’ll definitely be inclined to take a look and get back to you. Just send an e-mail to burnivine@gmail.com and notify me when you do. God bless you as you place your comments below!

Forgetting the Past

First, I’d like to appreciate everyone that reads this blog, puts up comments, and sends in ‘thank you’ messages. Your response to what I share reminds me every day that this blog is a ‘God idea’. Most importantly, I am appreciative of the person of the HolyGhost that is with me every day; He blessed me through men of God like Rev. Chris Oyakhilome with the information that I now share with you heartily.

“but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” [Philippians 3:13-14]

I think it is good to mention the importance of who we are receiving most of the information on this topic from – the man, Paul. If there’s anyone that ought to know a lot about forgetting the past, it should be Paul. This man, prior to his conversion, not only resisted the gospel vehemently, but he also went forward to arrest many Christians. He was, in a sense, an “enemy of the Christ”. After receiving the gospel, he said in 1 Corinthians 15:8-10, “am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But…his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain.”

Paul had to become confident in the grace of God; in fact, so confident that he is currently regarded as one of the greatest Apostles in the Bible, though he never dined with Jesus. From the opening scripture, we see how he achieved his success – by forgetting the past. Testifying of himself, he said in 2 Corinthians 12:11 “for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing”; he had learned to look beyond his past and embrace God’s grace. That grace is God’s word to you telling you that your past does not count anymore. All these I mentioned so you know that Paul is a worthy instructor in the subject of forgetting the past. With that, here are three points to consider on the matter: 

Old things are passed away. Have you ever been tempted to think that your past is greater than the cross? Do the mistakes of yesterday have you reconsidering the feasibility of success? In 2 Corinthians 5:17, God speaks through the same Apostle Paul saying “therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”. Being born again is a big deal! It means that God has forgotten the man you were before you accepted Him. Why? Because that man died together with Christ; that very man was judged on the cross, so you will never have to be judged for those wrongs again. Many of us find it hard to accept this truth, because we live in a world where we pay for everything. “Nothing is ever truly free”, we are encouraged to think. But, remember that God called Abraham righteous because Abraham believed Him. Abraham believed in one of the most physically impossible feats – that God would cause Him to have a child at over hundred years of age with a wife well over menopause. If God was thrilled by Abraham’s response in faith, He will surely be thrilled by yours. Believe God that the past is not an issue, and move on! Until you do this, you will go around in circles, calling God a liar by not accepting His truth. 

God is greater than your conscience. Have you ever found yourself constantly remembering a wrong, even after you have asked God for forgiveness? Religion and the world have taught us that the discomfort we feel after sinning (even after asking for forgiveness for the offence) is the HolyGhost convicting us. But, I have evidence to the contrary. I was elated on the day I found the scripture that I now share with you, taken from 1 John 3:20: “if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart.” Let the word of God that says that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us” be greater than those nagging thoughts of condemnation. Except you want to be God to yourself, you’ve got to accept that it’s okay when He says it’s okay. In Luke 9:62, Jesus made His position on the importance of forgetting the past clear when he said “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” You should never worry about things you did before you became a Christian. In fact, you need not ask for forgiveness for them; accepting Jesus and becoming born again took care of those actions. But, for the wrongs we may now do, it will behoove us to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy.” [Hebrews 4:16] 

The path of the righteous is as a shining light. Solomon highlighted something that ought to get every Christian excited every day in Proverbs 4:18: “but the path of just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day”. We have been made righteous by God through the sacrifice of Jesus. As such, this scripture is describing the mentality that we ought to have. The issue with many of us is that we think our minds and our bodies are us. No! No! A thousand times no! The real you is your spirit – that’s the one that got born again. Your body is your house and your mind is your library of information that you have gathered through mass media over the years. Though God has changed your human spirit, your house and library may remain the same. It is up to you to “be…transformed by the renewing of your mind” [Romans 12:2]. Part of that transformation is expecting that every new day will be better than the last. Endorse that truth in your heart so that no matter what happened yesterday or some minutes ago, you say “my path is as a shining light; I’m getting better.”

Remember that God lives in the NOW! He is I AM, not ‘I was’ or ‘I will be’, but I AM. Though He lives in eternity, God actually dwells in your present – the NOW of your life. He is not ever so concerned about what you did last week or the week before. Paul gives us strong words in Hebrews 12:2 Amplified Version “Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith.” Your past is a distraction that may not want to let you go. Like Paul said in the opening scripture, forget the things that are behind and press on toward the mark. Even your past successes could be a distraction if not approached with the mentality of outdoing them. It is no other person’s responsibility but yours to forget the past.

I am always so blessed by your comments, and I do appreciate them. Please, listen to one of my favorite songs of all time as you bless others [including me] with your comment on the subject. God bless you!

Hearing God

Quite recently, I saw a question on this blog from a dear brother asking about hearing from God. I initially wanted to write a reply immediately, but I thank God for an opportunity to share my mindset with everyone. First, I’d like to appreciate Rev. Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy for teaching me the word of God. Many of the things he has taught me, I sometimes wish I had known earlier, because they are capable of setting a man up for unending success. Well, here are five important things that every Christian who desires to hear God consistently needs to know [of course, assuming this Christian has already received the HolyGhost]:


God wants to talk to you. This is so important, because we are tempted to believe that God is some extremely strict personality that reveals Himself to a select few without any reasons. No! He is a rational being, and He created us to be in fellowship with Him. In fact, I believe the first and most important thing to know is that God is more interested in talking with you than you could ever be. In Genesis 3:8, we see Him “walking in the garden in the cool of the day”; He was out to have fellowship as usual with Adam. Notice that He was the one that went looking for the man. If God wanted that kind of relationship with Adam [who was not born again and could not be], then how much more you who contains His very life and nature? So, get the monologue idea out of your mind; quit thinking you are so desirous, yet God is so resistant.


Get to the Word. This is critical because it is a part that many of us miss. To hear from God consistently, you need to be able to recognize His voice; however, how do you know His voice except you train yourself to do so by studying His only literary work? When you read an author’s writing, you learn a lot about His personality. Jesus said unequivocally “search the scriptures…they are they which testify of me.” You need to search. I believe this is a good place to let you know that there’s no formula for hearing God – no 2 plus 2 equals 4. Absolutely not! You’ve got to train yourself to hear Him. John 1:1 says “and the Word was God”; when you read the bible under the HolySpirit’s tutelage, God is unveiled to you. You learn His communication skills and preferences. It’s a lifelong experience that only gets better, so don’t seek to learn it all in one day.


Have expectations. I think this is a pivotal opportunity for Christians to be different. People of different religions around the world pray all the time, yet do they get a response – or, better still, do they expect a response? You may have been so used to praying without answers that you cannot imagine even hearing from God. Well, that mindset has to change. Proverbs 24:14 says “so shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul; when thou hast found it…thy expectation shall not be cut off.” Here, Solomon speaks of the knowledge of wisdom. Wisdom is the word of God. As I share these thoughts with you, you’re receiving the knowledge of wisdom. The next thing Solomon says for you to do is to have an expectation. Then, he promises without an iota of doubt that your expectation will be realized. So, expect God to talk to you! And, don’t hear Him once and think “oh, glory…that’s okay for me.” Expect to hear God every time you talk with Him.


Don’t seek the spectacular; focus on the supernatural. Romans 9:8 lets us know that “they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” The senses in this verse refers to your five senses (of touch, sight, hearing, taste, and smell), while the promise refers to the Word of God. To be a child of the flesh is to rely completely on how you feel. It is to live based on your physical senses – to be instructed, guided, and controlled by them. However, the children of the Word, as we know, do not live by their senses “for to be carnally (sensuously, fleshly) minded is death” [Romans 8:6]; rather, we live by the Word. As such, you do not have to feel a certain way when God is talking to you or hear a roaring sound, thundering, and such things. If you thought you never heard God before, who do you think reminded you recently that you had not yet studied the Bible? No, it was not your mind! You thought it was your mind, because you have trained yourself to look out for the spectacular. God is not always in the spectacular; but, He is surely in the supernatural. If God says something as simple as “go and read your Bible” to you, it’s supernatural, because natural men do not experience such reminders. I am sure you were not reminded to pray when you were an unbeliever. So, though that experience may not be spectacular, it is very well supernatural. You ought to cherish it and obey the voice; in that instruction, God is training you for greater future conversations.


He is Lord! In one of my favorite scriptures of all time, Revelations 1:17, Jesus said to St. John the Divine “Fear not; I am the first and the last.” My question to you is “is Jesus the Lord of your life?” If He is, why then are you worried about failure? Why do you think it may be getting too late for Him to speak to you about your future? Why do you feel constrained by time? Be patient; He is Lord! If He is Lord of your life, you can be rest assured that He wouldn’t mess your life up. He never destroyed anyone’s life, and yours will not be the first. So, don’t feel like He’s taking too long to answer; while you wait for instruction about your career, listen to instructions about being courteous, studying the Word, and praying. Let those “simple” instructions prepare you for the big ones. The Lordship of Jesus is more than a casual declaration; it means that your life is His responsibility. He said He is “the first and the last”; that means He lives in eternity. So, do not be concerned about time. It is the exact reason He said “fear not”. Trust in His Lordship.


Remember, God wants to talk to you. Just study His Word, expect His voice in your spirit, and look at the right thing – not the spectacular but the supernatural.


I am eager to read your comment and suggestions about the blog; so, make sure to bless me and someone else out there with your thoughts. While you comment, enjoy the following worship song; you'll be blessed by it. God bless you!

True Worship

“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the father seeketh such to worship him.” [John 4:23]

Worship is more than an experience; it’s a lifestyle. Jesus expressly showed us where our worship ought to come from – not from our minds (the seat of emotions, thoughts, and decisions) or from our bodies (though we offer our bodies as well according to Romans 12:1), but from our spirits – the real US. As interesting as the topic of a lifestyle of worship is, it is my desire to focus (for the purpose of this blog post) on the art and experience of worship.

When we consider worship as an art, it speaks of something we make for God – something from the depth of our hearts uniquely given to Him by us. Paul said “by him let us therefore offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” [Hebrews 13:15] in attempt to explain the New Testament approach to worship whereby we offer sacrifices of a different kind. Instead of looking for a lamb that is spotless of the best of our cattle, we are made to understand that we can offer the calves of our lips unto God [Hosea 14:2] or the fruits like Paul said. WOW! Isn’t that exciting? He refers to our praises as the calves (or bulls, goats, lambs, etc) that we offer in the New Testament. But, that’s not just it. King David, the man after God’s heart, spoke the heart of God also when he said “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock” [Psalms 69:30-31]. Though David lived in times when animal sacrifice was instructed by God, he had a deeper revelation of the actual desire of God. Little wonder then that God called him the man after His heart.

On a certain day, I thought to myself “if God’s desire was not bulls and goats, why then did He ask for it?” And the Spirit of God shared a thought with me. He let me know as softly as He mostly speaks, that the idea was not in the animals. Rather, the worship was in their obedience to His word. It was the actual obedience (which should have been carried out in love) that was supposed to bring the Father joy. The few people that knew what God wanted and celebrated the law as life (like Moses and David) are the only ones who enjoyed a better relationship with God in the old covenant. So, your understanding is very vital to God in worship.

In considering worship as an art, we look at our action viewpoint of this all-important spiritual activity. However, another more beautiful aspect that in turn makes the art of worship easier and more exciting is God’s response to us as we worship – worship as an experience. As we worship God, He does something to our spirits. Have you ever noticed that when you sincerely worship the Father, there is no doubt in your heart about the existence and reality of God and the spiritual realm? At that point, your faith is refined by the Master to an optimal level. A dear sister shared a secret with me a couple of weeks ago; she said that every time you say “I love you Jesus; I appreciate you Jesus”, He responds by increasing your faith in Him. If you did not believe as you ought to initially, He would supply your spirit with more ability to believe. Ever since, I have not stopped practicing uttering those words. In the place of worship, you are filled with joy indescribable and bliss immeasurable. Frankly, there are no words in any living language good enough to express how you feel. It’s a spiritual high of some sense that only edifies you every time.

The experience of worship changes throughout our lifetime – it gets richer and more beautiful every day, because the Bible speaks of the manifold (many-sided) wisdom of God that is unveiled to us from glory to glory. In the experience aspect of worship, we see Jesus as He is and we are transformed into the same image. Someone rightly said that those who look at the Sun do not see the shadows. As we worship, we see God and everything else immediately becomes small – the challenges, worries, sorrows, and impossibilities are transformed into laughter. Oh GLORY!!! The Amplified Version of Hebrews 12:2 reads “looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith”. For God to break all the walls in your life and remove all impossibilities, He seriously needs you to turn away from those obstacles and focus entirely on Him.

With all that has been mentioned, it is my desire that we will all make our worship a place of art and experience. The Spirit of God said something to me today that will be beneficial to you. He said “give me your own worship; know that your worship experience is different from anyone else’s. So, enjoy and cherish it.” Don’t try to worship like anybody else in using their words or songs. You can learn from their attitude towards worship, but be inspired by God to give your own worship. God wants to hear what you have to say about Him. And, He wants to speak back to you as well. So, always worship with an expectant ear, ready to hear from God. You’ll notice your words and God’s responses improve over time; that’s why it’s an art and an experience!

Kindly let us know what you feel about the subject through your comment. You may not know who you’re blessing through the thought that you share.

A Series of Fortunate Events…Part 2

Just before we continue on the episodes that bolstered my spiritual growth, I have a testimony to share, one that pertains to event 4. Last night in the absence of anyone else in sight I was approached by three men, one of which conveyed the impression that he possessed a weapon. One of the young men demanded that I surrendered my valuables. I looked into his eyes, somewhat irritated, and said “I have nothing for you”. He persisted with the other two guys lurking around.

That very second, I was prompted by the HolyGhost to speak in other tongues; as I began to do so, more boldness surged through me and I ceased to care about the potential danger. I spoke louder, and as I did, something fascinating happened. In a couple of seconds, the young man requesting my belongings began to back away in fear, while I continued to my destination. By the time I looked back, they were all gone. Praise God!

I shared this testimony to remind you that the word of God is practicable, and it works! You don’t have to prepare for such situations; just stay filled with HolySpirit, and He will make you as bold as a lion. Now, back to the last two events that solidified my faith, the final episodes in a series of fortunate events orchestrated by the HolySpirit:

Event 3 – “You’re Welcome”: On the Sunday after I was invited to Christ Embassy, for reasons unknown to me, my family showed no interest in going to church. And, immediately, the thought came: “how about that church you were invited to?” Upon arrival at Christ Embassy Satellite Church Ajah, I was welcomed by one of the ladies I met while trying to purchase a message the day before. With those words “you’re welcome”, I immediately felt at home. That day, I listened to my first female Pastor, and I was blown away. She talked just like Rev. Chris Oyakhilome in boldness and audacity. And, then, we listened to a message [titled The Book of Philippians] by Rev. Chris that answered all my questions about the ministry. It was as though God planned the service for me. What if we had gone to my old church?

Event 4 – “Go on and speak in other tongues”: If you recall, I mentioned in the post titled “He’s Never Too Far Away” that I received the HolyGhost on the night I read “Good Morning, HolySpirit” by Benny Hinn. I also pointed out the fact that I did not know that I had received the HolyGhost till weeks after that experience. Teaching after teaching and meeting after meeting, I realized what happened to me that night. In Christ Embassy, I had learned the importance of speaking in tongues and even spoken in tongues in dreams, but I didn’t know how to get it into physical manifestation. On a particular Sunday, I remember my Pastor leading some people into Christ and laying hands on them to receive the HolySpirit. She asked them to begin to speak in tongues and I thought, “begin?” It was at that point that I realized I needed to take a step of faith; the experience was not going to come with a mighty rushing wind like I thought. As she said, “go on and speak in other tongues”, the HolySpirit stirred up faith in me and I opened my mouth. That ability to speak in tongues has since saved my life and that of family members like in the testimony I previously highlighted; the same ability has promoted me and strengthened my faith. But, what if I did not speak like she said?

After reading this article and the “what ifs” at the end of each event, you may be tempted to think that it was a matter of luck and chance. And, you may think to yourself, “I’ll wait till my time comes”. I’ve got news for you. God has predestined us for his glory, but NOW is the time of that glory. Always, God requires you to take a step of faith on His word. 2 Corinthians 6:2 says “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Reading this article could be your event 1. It is all up to you!

Have you had any fortunate events? Care to share?

A Series of Fortunate Events…Part 1

“For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].” – Ephesians 2:10 Amplified Version

After I reported my experience with the HolySpirit to my friend [and others], spiritual growth was not automated. Certain occurrences made God more real to me everyday, and only the opening scripture can best describe the divine orchestration that manifested itself as what we now refer to as a series of fortunate events. I now ecstatically present to you four of the incidents that laid a strong foundation for me in the precious third person of the Godhead we fondly refer to as the HolySpirit. I also endeavor to share the specific impact of each episode.

Event 1 – Pastor Chris’ Teaching: In a little over a month before my much anticipated graduation, I had become addicted to a show that completely eclipsed any other interests. With every opportunity, 8PM was my time. As I sat there every weekday listening to the man of God Rev. Chris Oyakhilome on television, my eyes were opened to the reality of the word of God. No longer did I view the bible as an ordinary chronicle or a constitution of laws that had become my war. Rather, its contents had become life to me. With every word from the mouth of the man of God, I fell in love more and more with God. With over a 120 purchased messages and several hours of online/TV broadcasts, that “more” factor still remains. What if I had not gotten interested in that show?

Event 2 – The Stop: Ordinarily as it began, the sunny July day I now describe soon turned out to be one of my most defining days. Being the timid fellow I was, I had always found it hard to stop public buses before a declared stop especially considering the harshness of their drivers. But, on this day, something beyond me prompted me to request an emergency stop right outside Christ Embassy Ajah – Lagos, Nigeria. The initial intention was to purchase my first Pastor Chris’ message; however, within a couple of minutes in the church office, I had experienced much more love and attention than I ever thought possible. The ladies in the church office spoke excitedly about each message they encouraged me to purchase. I knew it was more than marketing – it was for real. That lovely Saturday, I was invited to what would be my first Christ Embassy Sunday service, and I remember replying with a laugh “no…I have a church”. What if I had not stopped the bus?

To be continued…

Feel free to submit your comments and personal stories. God bless you!