Tuesday, July 21, 2009

The Essence in Exchange for Results

To be able to get tangible results in life you must start the process by stirring up your spirit. (2 timothy 1:6-7) Once the spirit is stirred up you then continue by meditation. You read the Word, confess it and think upon what you have read. This is the process of meditation and you are effectively giving the right substance in exchange for the result you desire.

During this period God begins to unveil what has been deposited through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Through confession of the Word access is granted to these mysteries. Thus, meditation and confession of the Word causes a revelation for the situation (i.e. Rhema) and the necessary steps to take unfold.

It is not about begging God, but rather about appropriating what has been done in Christ. The bible says in 2Corinthians 5:18 …and all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation. You must remember that it is your confession that determines your personal experience with God. So when a situation emerges in your life it is the words that have been spoken (consistently) prior to the time of prayer that determines the outcome.

When you personalise the gospel, you become an example to others and the covenant is made flesh in your life. If you do not try to bypass this process you will always produce lasting results that will stand the test of time... Pastor Poju Oyemade

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

The Power of Choice

When the Israelites had to go to war with Amalek, Moses demonstrated the importance that making the right choice(s) had to play in the scheme of things and Moses said unto Joshua, choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand (Exodus 17:9). If the right warriors had not been chosen for the battle, it would have been lost. Declaring the Word then would have been a lost cause since the conditions for victory had not been fully satisfied. Like the saying, a bad workman blames his tools if the wrong workmen (i.e. soldiers) had been chosen to go into battle, there would have been no victory.

You must understand that the power to choose is yours and you have to use it in your life. You must exercise this power not only through decisions (but also through the various choices you make), because there’s a difference between deciding to do something and choosing to do that same thing. People make decisions based on influence (i.e. environment, people, feelings etc whilst choices are made from the gut or instinct). So Moses instructed Joshua to choose men that he was comfortable with rather than those he ‘thought’ fit or was pressurised to pick.

For instance, there may be certain people you should not be closely associated with but as a result of various things this is not the case. In spiritual matters if you relate closely with the wrong people, the right things will not happen to you (e.g. people that are quick to praise you but whose hearts are not with you). When you are involved with these types of associations you will discover that the Word will not work the way it ought to in your life. God’s promise in the book of Isaiah is, ‘thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee,’ (Isaiah 49:17) This becomes the reality when you choose (from instinct) rather than make decisions (based on people and circumstances)... Pastor Poju Oyemade

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

The Faith of Abraham.

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: and the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. (Romans 4:11-12)

We will look deeper into two phrases from the foregoing scripture. The first is, ‘he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of faith.’ This means that there is a particular type of faith. The second phrase is, ‘the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised.’ This second phrase speaks about the steps of this faith this means there are definite steps to be taken where this faith is concerned.

This scripture speaks about the type of faith that Abraham expressed before God. Therefore, we refer to the steps of the faith that Abraham took whilst he was still uncircumcised. Furthermore, circumcision is referred to as the seal of the righteousness of Abraham’s faith. We can see that God is being specific where the faith of Abraham is concerned, in terms of the faith that Abraham had and the steps that this faith requires.

It is thus inferred, with reference to this type of faith that there can be other types of faith apart from the faith of Abraham. People can walk in steps that are not the steps of the faith of our father Abraham.

It is important at this point in time as things unfold on the earth for people to be sure about their roots and to understand the faith of Abraham. The essence of our faith and the root of that faith is our covenant with God. It is essential to emphasise this because there are a lot of ideologies developing on the earth. We need to understand the root of our covenant with God and also understand the faith of our father Abraham because our faith is built upon the promises of God.

For instance when you say you believe God for something or you believe someone for something, it means the person must have told you something that made you believe. What this means is that you cannot say you believe anything, unless you have been told about it.

The Bible says, ‘Abraham was persuaded that God was able to perform that which He had promised. (Romans 4:21) For Abraham to believe God means God told him something that became the basis of his (Abraham) faith. As a result Abraham was fully persuaded that God was able to perform what He had promised. This was about the promise that God had given to him in particular and for him to understand that God had the ability to fulfil His promise.

We need to understand that there was a foundation for Abraham’s interaction with God and also recognise what God was communicating when He established this covenant with Abraham. It was this covenant that the scripture says was ratified, sealed or signed in Christ.

This covenant was four hundred and thirty years, before the law (Galatians 3:17). This means that the law cannot annul the content of that particular covenant. Concerning this covenant the scriptures says: now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, and to seeds, as of many but as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ (Galatians 3:16).

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises (Hebrews 8:6). The seed of that particular covenant with Abraham is Christ as a result Jesus is now the mediator of the covenant between God and Abraham along with its promises.
The Bible says if we are Christ’s then are we Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

Thus, in order to function in this covenant you must identify totally with the body of Christ as one and keep the unity of the Spirit... Pastor Poju Oyemade

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Seek God first

Abraham’s break through started from his point of need (i.e. he had no child) and so he went to God about that particular issue. In our walk with God, circumstances around us will create pocket of needs within our lives and God wants to use those things as a starting point.

The bible says blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). Meek people are people that depend on God for instructions on any given thing. Moses got to the point where he was the meekest man on the surface of the earth. This is to show that he was not someone that behaved like he knew it all. These are people that said to God I do not know how to go in or out like Solomon said in 1kings 3:7. These people had to get instructions from God for them to go ahead and do what they had to. Thus, the starting point for them was that they went to God in prayer concerning the issues they were facing.

Therefore, wherever you are, whatever the issue you are facing the starting point is that you go up to God and tell Him the matter you are facing. You have started the process of walking in Abraham’s faith by going to God first in prayer. When you do not talk to God about issues it means you have rejected his lordship. You say there is a crisis, but instead of talking to God you talk to the government or people. That is the mistake people make whenever they are confronted with a particular issue. Abraham went to God first, thereby showing us that it all starts out by you seeking God first. The Bible says that whoever cometh without faith has probably come not to please God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Heb 11:6). Therefore when you have a situation on hand you have to understand that you must tell God about it first before letting anyone know about it.

For example if you have a church with a small congregation. Do not go out to talk to people about it, instead talk to God to give you instructions on what to do to have a larger congregation. If you are having issues with your spouse, do not talk to him/her instead talk to God for proper direction on what to do and from the Abrahamic covenant He tells you what to do.

Do not rush in making your decisions, always go to God first. People pray without them getting any promise from God, then they wait to see what God will do on the outside. They are getting it all wrong because that is not the faith or step of the Abrahamic faith. Abraham didn’t pray and check the environment or Sarah’s womb, this because that is not how it works... Pastor Poju Oyemade