Tuesday, November 25, 2008

The Power in the simplicity of the Gospel

The term ‘preaching’ has two biblical definitions. One means the establishment of Christian doctrine. This type of preaching does not require experiential knowledge. All that is required here is proof that you are scripturally correct. This does not mean that you possess any experience of the things that you are professing. You do not need to have tested those beliefs in real life situations.

There is, however, another form of preaching which denotes witnessing. This has to do with the declaration of the truth that you have known, embraced and tested. It pertains to truth that has produced tangible results in your life. The type of results referred to here was mentioned in 1 John 1:1-3, ‘That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

The proof – producing testimony of the gospel always has an evident simplicity attached to it. This is because everything that consists of the experiential knowledge of Christ is simple and practical. In actual fact, the catch lies in its simplicity. As a result of this, several people miss the gravity attached to these simple principles. The bible supported this fact when it advised in 2Co 11:3, ‘But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ’. Therefore, it must be noted that great truths are usually simple in their application. However, there must be a willingness to learn on our part. There must also be some measure of integrity in your heart if you are going to appreciate the great power to be found in those principles. In addition you must also be willing to set aside the existing reserve of worldly wisdom in order to clearly enter into these spiritual truths.

Jesus prescribed the pattern for the prayer of faith in Matt 7:7, ‘Ask, and it shall be given you seek, and ye shall find knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh, receiveth and he that seeketh, findeth and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?’. He also stated the conditions that must be fulfilled for such proofs to be seen in our lives (Matt 7:1-6). Disregard for these conditions is the fundamental reason why many Christians fail to see a manifestation of their prayers.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Do not cast your pearls

There is no neutral ground in your walk with God. If you are not actively involved in intercession, you will definitely be involved in accusation. Once accusations start building up in your spirit towards other members of the Body of Christ, it will totally destroy your spiritual life. It will snuff out every chance of survival in the spirit realm. According to The Scriptures, ‘We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death….. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.’ (1Jn 3:14 16). The phrase ‘laying down your life’ in this verse means that we have chosen to make intercession for the sins of our brethren. The love of God in our hearts covers up a multitude of our brethren’s sins.

This does not mean that you cannot discern. It simply means that you have chosen to respond in a spiritual way to the sins that you have discerned. However, while you are careful not to criticise or condemn your brethren, you must also take care to… ‘Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you’ (Matt 7:6). This verse of Scripture refers to your relationship with men. In essence, it says if you have a critical and judgmental person in your environment, you ought to take yourself away from such an influence.

The term ‘influence’ was used in the latter statement because critics seek to control the subconscious decision-making process of their victims. Unfortunately, when conflicts arise, many of these victims keep on attending reconciliation meetings where they continue to cast their precious pearls before these critical people this is usually done in a bid to win approval. The reason why people esteem such approval ratings is because they have not made God their absolute source. For example, if a lady (who has a critical boyfriend) sees God as her Source of total supply, she will find it easier to take herself out from under such an influence.

Medically, there are two things that have been discovered which cause ailments in the human body, namely, wrong diet and stress. It has been discovered that stress is mostly caused by people who extract life out of you through the channel of the relationships you have with them. You have to cut yourself off from such relationships. When faced with a similar situation, Jesus was quick to strongly reprimand those who were trying to exert such an influence on Him (i.e. the Pharisees). He did not lose sight of the fact that all He needed was to receive ministration from heaven, and not from His environment. While on earth, He kept focusing on His heavenly Father as His Source. Consequently, He was able to fulfil His purpose on earth. Likewise, if you will not compromise your reliance on and obedience to God for the approval of men, you will fulfil your destiny.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Pre-requisites to Answered Prayers

The pre-requisites to getting your prayers answered can be found in Matt 7:1-6. It says, ‘Judge not that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brothers eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brothers eye. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

A prerequisite is defined as, ‘something that is necessary for another thing to be done or cause to happen’. What this means is that if you are not seeing the manifestation of your requests to God, you should check to see if you have fulfilled the conditions for it. You should go back to the checklist and make sure you’ve fulfilled these pre-requisites.


Several believers use discernment as a guise for their critical and judgmental attitude. However, there is a difference between discernment and criticism. It is true that we all have the latent gift of discernment.

This means that all believers potentially have the ability to recognise the misdeeds of those around them. The Bible supports this in 1 Jn 5:16 ‘If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death.’ This verse of Scripture verifies the fact that believers have the ability to recognise their neighbour’s misdeeds.

This gift of discernment helps keep us on the right track because it helps us distinguish between good and evil. However, when we discern other people’s mistakes, we are not to judge or criticise them. Rather, we are to intercede on their behalf. We are to ask that life be imparted unto them in that area of their lives (1 Jn 5:16). We should take up the responsibility of intercession, rather than criticism. The reason for this is because there are two major forces involved in the battle for the soul.

The first is the force of love (through intercession) and the other is the force of accusation (through judgment and criticism). If you permit the accuser of the brethren (Satan) to gain a foothold in your life, it will play out in the spiritual realm. You will partake of its fruits when you offer your prayers to God.

However, if you allow intercession to go up from your heart (i.e. if you pray for people and release them), you open up your life to the flow of God’s blessings. You will cause God to open the floodgates of mercy and favour to you.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

A Supply of the Spirit

When we offer prayers to God, what He does in answer to them is to grant us a supply of His Spirit. Then, as we participate and co-operate with His Spirit, we will have a manifestation of the things He has granted us. As we work hand in hand with His Spirit, room is created for the manifestation of our requests.

Matt 7:7 says, ‘Ask, and it shall be given you seek, and ye shall find knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh, receiveth and he that seeketh, findeth and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?’ Also Luke 11:11- 13 says, ‘If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?’

The principle of the release of a measure of God’s Spirit (as His direct answer our prayers) is an underlying principle described in several passages of Scripture. In some passages, it is described as the Law of liberty.

In others, it has been described as the Law of the Spirit of Life and the Law of Faith. When you understand this principle, you gain access for the manifestation of things, as described in the Bible. This basic fundamental principle needs to be imbibed if you desire to see manifestations. This principle is exact, it must be put into operation. It is not enough for the principle to be heard. It needs to be practiced.

When you consider Luke’s account in Luke 11:11 - 13 ‘If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?’ It says that the Father gives the gift of the Holy Spirit in response to our requests. This means that when you offer up prayers to God, He imparts a measure of His Spirit in answer to those prayers.

If you do not understand this, you will keep on looking for those answers to spring up immediately in your environment. Consequently, you will be left wondering why God has not yet answered your prayers. This is because the answers have been despatched in ways that you were not looking out for. There is a spiritual law that tells us that when we offer up prayers to God about any matter, He responds by sending a supply of His Spirit.

This is in order to accomplish His will which is geared towards leading you to an expectant good end… For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (Jer 29:11).