Month: December 2020

ACTS 8:34-39

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way _rejoicing. ( Acts 8:34-39)

It is often said that, “whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well.” Hear me! Baptism is worth doing and it must be done well. Anyway, I cannot actually say about how the mercy of God would handle the issue of water baptism that is not done well or done ignorantly. The question is, how should a minister of God conduct water baptism and what should be the doctrine of his recitation? You see, right inside the Christ Apostolic Church order of service, under the order of service for water baptism, you’ll find what a minister of God ought to recite. There it reads thus…. “The Pastor shall ask the person to be baptised the following questions….. (Q) Your name……(A) My name is…….(Q) Do you believe in Jesus Christ?……(A) _I believe in Jesus Christ whole heartedly that He is the Son of God and He is my Saviour. And on this answers by the fellow who is to be baptised, the Pastor shall say ” …..On this declaration of your faith, I baptise you in the name of the Father, and the Son; and of the Holy Ghost.” Now, I have come to realise that this doctrine of water baptism is from the Holy Scripture and that makes it more valid in my sight. See how the Scripture gave us its own example of the doctrine of water baptism according to Acts 8:36-37 “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD.” You see, out of all the identities of Jesus Christ, His identity as the Son of God is so preeminent to the extent that it must be the core of the belief of whoever is willing to be baptised. The revelation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God should precede the baptism of anyone. Hear me beloved! It is expedient for a minister of God or a leader of a folk to always check out the belief of the people he is leading whether they have obtained the correct revelation of who Jesus Christ is or not. You see, as for Jesus, He didn’t assume that His followers would have known who He is, He still went ahead to confirm the core of their belief in Matthew 16:13-17 “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” Thank God that Jesus didn’t call Himself the Son of God when He was asking them the question, we would have thought that He manipulated their answer. See how He referred to Himself in Matthew 16:13 when He says, “Whom do men say that I the SON OF MAN am?” You see, one of the ways to know that God has brought anyone to the true knowledge of Jesus Christ is when the fellow has wholeheartedly believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God. You see, Jesus is always excited whenever anyone is fully persuaded of this wonder of His identity. At this stage of belief Jesus excitedly said to Peter, “…..Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” You see, the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God is one major sign that God has fully persuaded someone to come into the faith of Jesus Christ. You see, as a preacher also, you must constantly preach Jesus as the ‘Son of God,’ so that God can assists the hearer to catch up with the revelation. Hear me! It takes a divine revelation for anyone to accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God and this is the major belief that the devil does not want anyone to conceive. He prefers you to see Jesus as any other thing than seeing Him as the Son of God. Devil also has been fully persuaded that the whole portion of the benefits for every believer in Christ can only be released to them when they have been assisted by God to whole heartedly believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Now, let me ask you, what was your declaration when you were baptised into Christ? You see, it is not the dipping of your body into water that really matters; what really matters is what you wholeheartedly believe in before you are baptised and that should be Jesus Christ is the Son of God. This is what we derived from the acts of one of the outstanding evangelists in Acts 8:36-37 “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” This also implies that baptism is forbidden for anyone who has not been fully persuaded of this divine revelation that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Hear me! This is where those who are doing infant baptism are missing it. There must be a declaration of belief before anyone is baptised. May God assists those who are yet to know the importance of seeing Jesus as the Son of God in Jesus’ name.

Prayer: I receive the grace and enlightenment of God to see Jesus Christ as the Son of God, in Jesus’ name.

When people have no love in their lives, there is automatic separation between them and God.

SCRIPTURE: Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:1-2.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: When people have no love in their lives, there is automatic separation between them and God.

Sometime ago, I heard a story of a young man whose father divorced his mother when he was a little boy. He became a man of almost forty years of age but had never seen his mother because he was bitter with her. According to him, he had never felt or encountered God’s presence in church all his life, obviously because there was a fence of separation around his life.  

But one day, he came to church, and heard a message on bitterness. This message filled his heart with remorse, and he began to look for his mother’s phone number. He connected with his mother, forgave her and they reconciled.  He said after he did that, he began to feel the presence of God that he had never felt before. He felt the Presence of God that bitterness and unforgiveness separated him from. 

Think about this: is it possible for someone to be separated from God on earth because of bitterness and get to heaven by chance? If God couldn’t cope with you on earth because of bitterness, can He cope with your bitterness in heaven? The same nature inside you – the nature of bitterness, hatred or unforgiveness, that makes God not to come near you on earth, will make Him not to grant you entry into heaven. 

Beloved, this will not be your portion in Jesus’ Name. Indeed, when people have no love in their lives, there is automatic separation between them and God.

Remember this: When people have no love in their lives, there is automatic separation between them and God.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Make up your mind not to be separated from God.
2. Deal with the spirit of bitterness at the place of prayer.
3. Promptly forgive everyone you need to forgive.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for Your Word to me today. I ask that You help me not to be separated from You. Rid from my life every lifestyle that will jeopardise my relationship with You, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

QUOTE: In response to God’s kindness therefore, you must determine to come out of bitterness and begin to live a life of praise and celebration to God and make a determination never to walk yourself back into the realm of bitterness again.

Culled from “AM I BITTER?” by Dr Becky Enenche.

DAILY READING: Revelation 11-13

AMAZING FACT: Your right lung can take in more air than your left.

PROPHETIC DECLARATION/WORD: Every spell/yoke of bitterness on your life is broken now in Jesus’ Name

Bible Text: Matthew 3:13-17

Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then John consented. Matthew 3:15, NIV

A denominational leader was asked, “Why do you like visiting local assemblies unannounced, and when directed forward you declined and stayed under the ministration of the assembly pastor?” “God uses anybody to pass a message at particular time and for a particular purpose,” he responded.
When Jesus was at River Jordan to be baptized by John (v 13), He remained resolute. despite all efforts by John the Baptist to stop Him, Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper to do this to fulfill all righteousness” (v 15). John though not in the same category with Jesus, was assigned to carry out the divine assignment. God designed every situation to pass a message and also prepared a suitable channel by which the message will be well communicated to the particular audience. And a voice from heaven said, this is my son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased (v 17).
Likewise, believers should stand firm in the course of which they are assigned, and work without fear, favour, or jittery, even when superiors, or colleagues are present. It is then we can be counted worthy and pleasing unto Christ.

Insight: Let us do the work of our Father at the right time.

Prayer: Help me, Lord not to fail you and my generation.

Dear Servants of God all over the World, please hear me very well,
“The Battle against your Spiritual Father is a Battle you can NEVER WIN, no matter who is backing you”.

Don’t even attempt it, you can never win it.

You may be annointed to kill Goliath but will forever not be Anointed and Permitted to Kill Saul.
Ask David whenever you see him.

You cannot ERASE the Man who RAISED you.

You cannot DISHONOUR the Man who made people HONOUR you.

You cannot bring EMBARRASSMENT to the Man who gave you ENDORSEMENT.

Never become a PROBLEM to the Man who gave you a PLATFORM to Rise.

Why become a WARFARE to the Man who took care of your WELFARE.

Determine not to become a DISAPPOINTMENT to the Man who gave you APPOINTMENT.

How can a Man put so much INVESTMENT into your life, and your thank you to him, is to put so much BEREAVEMENT into his own life.

In most cases, Fathers may be the one who WRONGED you, but still remember, the God who ANOINTED David to kill Goliath will not ALLOW him to kill Saul.

The DRUNKENNESS of Noah is not a licence to expose his NAKEDNESS.
That will be WICKEDNESS AND FOOLISHNESS in the sight Of God.

One of the Sons of Noah EXPOSED his Father’s NAKEDNESS, FORGETTING it was his Father’s RIGHTEOUSNESS that once SAVED him from the FLOOD.

Remember, Noah found GRACE with GOD, yet he found DISGRACE with his Son.

Some Sons think they are more RIGHTEOUS than God who CHOSE a Man despite his WEAKNESS.

If you KNOW the WEAKNESS of your Father, it is because he gave you the ACCESS you don’t DESERVE.

Imagine for a moment, if Noah had LOCKED himself up ALONE in his BEDROOM to drink his stuff, he will wake up and package himself all by himself, without any Son SEEING him and coming under a CURSE.

The MISTAKE of Moses in MARRYING an Ethiopian Woman has not taken away from him the MANTLE to make Mariam LEPROUS.
Members must beware of Assistant Pastor Aaron. They will lead you in a FIGHT AGAINST your GOD-GIVEN MOSES, but when it is time for Leprosy to be given, the oil on their head MAY save them, but the GULLIBLE Mariam will suffer alone for following what is wrong.
It was Aaron that led the attack against Moses, yet it was Miriam alone that suffered Leprosy.

God respects the Priesthood ANYDAY and ANYTIME.

I AM NOT HERE TO DEFEND THE ERRORS OF SPIRITUAL FATHERS.
ALLOW THEIR HEAVENLY FATHER TO DEAL WITH THEM IN HIS OWN WAY AND TIME IF THEY DON’T REPENT.

BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN SONS FIGHT THEIR SPIRITUAL FATHERS ON BEHALF OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER ONLY TO BE PUNISHED BY THE SAME HEAVENLY FATHER.

You know why, EVERY FIGHT AGAINST SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY, REMINDS GOD OF SATAN’S REBELLION AGAINST HIM.

Never forget this statement for the rest of your life:
The MAN who came to TELL King David that Saul had DIED, would have been expecting David to rejoice that “finally my enemy is dead.”
Instead, King David killed him and said your BLOOD be upon your own HEAD for your MOUTH has TESTIFIED against you that you KILLED the LORD’S ANNOINTED.

Let us pray for Spiritual Fathers:

Dear Lord,
We ask you keep our Fathers all over the World from Failing and Falling.
Help them to live a life of Scriptural Examples at all times.
For those going through the pain of betrayal, heal them and bring them out stronger.

Some are Bleeding and Leading at the same time, let your Grace be sufficient for them.

This I ask for, In Jesus Mighty Name I have prayed. AMEN.

If you have been blessed by any Spiritual Father, all over the World, let this message bless someone by sharing it.

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way _rejoicing. ( Acts 8:34-39)

It is often said that, “whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well.” Hear me! Baptism is worth doing and it must be done well. Anyway, I cannot actually say about how the mercy of God would handle the issue of water baptism that is not done well or done ignorantly. The question is, how should a minister of God conduct water baptism and what should be the doctrine of his recitation? You see, under the order of service for water baptism, you’ll find what a minister of God ought to recite. There it reads thus…. “The Pastor shall ask the person to be baptised the following questions….. (Q) Your name……(A) My name is…….(Q) Do you believe in Jesus Christ?……(A) _I believe in Jesus Christ whole heartedly that He is the Son of God and He is my Saviour. And on this answers by the fellow who is to be baptised, the Pastor shall say ” …..On this declaration of your faith, I baptise you in the name of the Father, and the Son; and of the Holy Ghost.” Now, I have come to realise that this doctrine of water baptism is from the Holy Scripture and that makes it more valid in my sight. See how the Scripture gave us its own example of the doctrine of water baptism according to Acts 8:36-37 “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD.” You see, out of all the identities of Jesus Christ, His identity as the Son of God is so preeminent to the extent that it must be the core of the belief of whoever is willing to be baptised. The revelation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God should precede the baptism of anyone. Hear me beloved! It is expedient for a minister of God or a leader of a folk to always check out the belief of the people he is leading whether they have obtained the correct revelation of who Jesus Christ is or not. You see, as for Jesus, He didn’t assume that His followers would have known who He is, He still went ahead to confirm the core of their belief in Matthew 16:13-17 “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” Thank God that Jesus didn’t call Himself the Son of God when He was asking them the question, we would have thought that He manipulated their answer. See how He referred to Himself in Matthew 16:13 when He says, “Whom do men say that I the SON OF MAN am?” You see, one of the ways to know that God has brought anyone to the true knowledge of Jesus Christ is when the fellow has wholeheartedly believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God. You see, Jesus is always excited whenever anyone is fully persuaded of this wonder of His identity. At this stage of belief Jesus excitedly said to Peter, “…..Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” You see, the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God is one major sign that God has fully persuaded someone to come into the faith of Jesus Christ. You see, as a preacher also, you must constantly preach Jesus as the ‘Son of God,’ so that God can assists the hearer to catch up with the revelation. Hear me! It takes a divine revelation for anyone to accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God and this is the major belief that the devil does not want anyone to conceive. He prefers you to see Jesus as any other thing than seeing Him as the Son of God. Devil also has been fully persuaded that the whole portion of the benefits for every believer in Christ can only be released to them when they have been assisted by God to whole heartedly believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Now, let me ask you, what was your declaration when you were baptised into Christ? You see, it is not the dipping of your body into water that really matters; what really matters is what you wholeheartedly believe in before you are baptised and that should be Jesus Christ is the Son of God. This is what we derived from the acts of one of the outstanding evangelists in Acts 8:36-37 “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” This also implies that baptism is forbidden for anyone who has not been fully persuaded of this divine revelation that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Hear me! This is where those who are doing infant baptism are missing it. There must be a declaration of belief before anyone is baptised. May God assists those who are yet to know the importance of seeing Jesus as the Son of God in Jesus’ name.

Prayer: I receive the grace and enlightenment of God to see Jesus Christ as the Son of God, in Jesus’ name.