JESUS: THE REIGNING KING - PASTOR CHRIS

JESUS: THE REIGNING KING *PASTOR CHRIS* FRIDAY, MARCH 7TH, 2014
For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet (1 Corinthians 15:25).

Whenever certain things are trendy, such as a hairstyle, clothes, shoes, cars, designs or a business for example, many make comments like, “This is the reigning thing.” What they’re trying to say is, “This is the vogue of the moment.” I always interject when anyone makes such a statement around me, because the only One who’s reigning is Christ Jesus; and I’m reigning with Him.

Notice what our opening verse says: “For he (Christ) must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.” He’s the reigning King, and you’re reigning with Him: “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17). Colossians 1:13 tells us that we belong to the Kingdom of God’s dear Son. So, as a child of God you live in this spiritual kingdom where Jesus reigns.

You therefore shouldn’t accept that anything else but the Lord is reigning. He’s the only King, and we only recognize His eternal Kingdom to which we belong. He must reign over demons, devils, hell, and the grave. He must reign over sickness, disease, and infirmities. He must reign over them until they’re all subdued, and have no more voice or way to express themselves.

As long as a tumour, cancer or any kind of sickness can express itself in your body, it’s against your reign. So what do you do in such a condition? Don’t keep quiet. Refuse to accommodate sickness in the Name of Jesus. That’s how to make the Word of God reign in your life. Reject everything that’s not of God and endorse only that which is consistent with His perfect will for you.

CONFESSION
I dwell in Zion; the Kingdom of light, and of God’s dear Son where I reign with Christ and rule by the power of the Spirit! I thank you Father, for bringing me into such a beautiful place of glory, honour and prosperity. Halleluiah!

FURTHER STUDY
Hebrews 12:22
Living Bible (TLB)
22 But you have come right up into Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the gathering of countless happy angels;

Isaiah 33:24
Living Bible (TLB)
24 The people of Israel will no longer say, “We are sick and helpless,” for the Lord will forgive them their sins and bless them.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1 Year Reading Plan : Mark 12:18-44 Numbers 20-21
2 Year Reading Plan : Acts 25:1-12 Psalm 61-64

LIVING IN HIS EXCELLENT NAME - PASTOR ANITA OYAKHILOME

LIVING IN HIS EXCELLENT NAME *PASTOR ANITA OYAKHILOME* THURSDAY, MARCH 6TH, 2014
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring (Acts 17:28).

True Christianity is living in the Name of Jesus. The very thought of this is so awe-inspiring! Colossians 3:17 says "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus...." Notice that the underlined phrase says "...do all in the name of the Lord Jesus," not "through the name of the Lord Jesus." There's a big difference between the two. Doing all things in His Name means living in His Name. That's the way to live a supernatural life. That means you're living for Him, in His authority. Therefore, defeat, failure, and poverty can't be a part of your life. Life for you is glory all the way, because the Name of Jesus is named upon you.

Not realizing this truth is the reason some Christians erroneously, pray through Jesus. Nowhere in the scriptures are we told to pray through Jesus Christ. Rather, we're to pray 'in' the Name of Jesus. To pray through Him is to make Him a medium; but to pray in His Name is to exercise the power of attorney that He has given to you. The former is a demonstration of unbelief, while the latter is real Christianity.

Nothing could be more sublime than our call to live in the Name of the Creator of the universe. His is the most wonderful and excellent Name there is. Living with this consciousness will stir unprecedented boldness in your spirit, such that you're totally unruffled by any crisis! What a glorious life we have in Christ!

Everything in life is subject to the power and authority of His Name. God gave a decree to that effect; He commanded all of nature—everything in life—animate or inanimate, to hear and obey Jesus (Matthew 17:5). He has all authority in heaven, and on earth. So if you find yourself in a challenging situation, declare, "In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I decree a change! I command peace and calmness," and that'll be it!

PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for giving me the Name of Jesus, to use and to live by. By the power and authority of that Name I declare that the lines are falling unto me in pleasant places; I'm making progress with giant strides today, with all of nature, and everything that exists, working together in my favour, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY
Acts 4:12
Living Bible (TLB)
12 There is salvation in no one else! Under all heaven there is no other name for men to call upon to save them.”

Colossians 3:17
Living Bible (TLB)
17 And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, and come with him into the presence of God the Father to give him your thanks.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1 Year Reading Plan : Mark 11:27-33-12:1-17 Numbers 18-19
2 Year Reading Plan : Acts 24:22-27 Psalm 59-60

YOUR PROSPERITY IS GOD-ORDAINED - PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME

YOUR PROSPERITY IS GOD-ORDAINED *PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME* WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5TH, 2014
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth (3 John 1:2).

The first step to living in prosperity is to believe in prosperity. Some Christians don’t believe in it. Most times, they’re the same who condemn and criticize preachers who teach God’s Word on prosperity. Not to believe in prosperity or in the message of prosperity is not to believe in God, for if you study the Bible carefully, you will discover that the prosperity of the Christian is God-ordained, God’s idea, and God’s desire. If anyone must question, doubt, or get skeptical about the message of prosperity, it shouldn’t be the Christians. We must understand that God already gave the Christian his heritage in Christ Jesus. Man is a spirit and his life isn’t dependent on circumstances. What matters to God is your spiritual condition. Therefore, whether or not you have money in your bank account doesn’t change who you are, and it shouldn’t change your testimony of God.

Money is only a tool to get the things you want, and where money isn’t enough to get them, you can obtain them through faith. The Bible says, “…all things are yours” (1 Corinthians 3:21). Your purchasing power isn’t money, it’s faith. So you’re prosperous irrespective of the value of the currencies in the world. It’s the same thing with your health; it doesn’t matter if you’re feeling headaches or pains in your body, divine health is your divine present-hour heritage. Declare, “I refuse to be sick, because I’ve got the life of God in me.”

If you’re a child of God, believe in prosperity and don’t be apologetic about it. Don’t accept to be poor or average. You’ve been made rich (2 Corinthians 8:9); refuse to talk lack and poverty. Instead, keep talking your abundance!

PRAYER
Thank you, heavenly Father, for my heritage in Christ. I believe and acknowledge the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ who though was rich, made Himself poor that I might become rich. I accept my prosperity as your will and plan for my life in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY
Deuteronomy 8:18
Living Bible (TLB)
18 Always remember that it is the Lord your God who gives you power to become rich, and he does it to fulfill his promise to your ancestors.

2 Corinthians 8:9
Living Bible (TLB)
9 You know how full of love and kindness our Lord Jesus was: though he was so very rich, yet to help you he became so very poor, so that by being poor he could make you rich.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1 Year Reading Plan : Mark 11:1-26 Numbers 16-17
2 Year Reading Plan : Acts 24:10-21 Psalm 57-58

WE'RE CHILDREN OF LIGHT - PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME

WE'RE CHILDREN OF LIGHT *PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME* SUNDAY, MARCH 2ND, 2014
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8).

The sun and the moon have a wonderful relationship. The moon isn’t a light; it’s a very black substance, and yet it reflects the light it gets from the sun. So sometimes, we say we’re like the moon, while Jesus gives us light to reflect. This is a powerful idea, but it’s not the best. God doesn’t regard us as the moon that reflects the light of the sun. Yes, the Bible says Jesus Christ is the Sun of righteousness (Malachi 4:2), but who are we? You’ll find the answer in 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8, "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation."

A dog will only give birth to a dog, just as a human can only give birth to a human. God is Light, and having begotten us through the Gospel, we’re lights just as Jesus is the Light of the world. Jesus never told us to reflect His Light; instead, He said, "Ye are the light of the world…" (Matthew 5:14). We’re the children of light and the children of the day, not of the night, nor of darkness.

Light is that which makes manifest (Ephesians 5:13); it illuminates so that you can see. That’s our calling in this life, to bring illumination to the world. We’re of the day, and we give light for others to reflect because we’re illuminators. Blessed be God!

CONFESSION
I’m of the day and not of the night. I am the light of the world; my calling is to illumine the hearts of men. When I arrive anywhere, illumination comes, and confusion and perplexity are dispelled.

FURTHER STUDY
Matthew 5:14-16
Living Bible (TLB)
14 You are the world’s light—a city on a hill, glowing in the night for all to see. 15-16 Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father.

Philippians 2:15
Living Bible (TLB)
15 so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of people who are crooked and stubborn. Shine out among them like beacon lights,

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1 Year Reading Plan : Mark 9:33-50 Numbers 9-10
2 Year Reading Plan : Acts 23:11-21 Psalm 52-54

BE COMMITTED TO ACTUALIZING HIS DREAM - PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME

BE COMMITTED TO ACTUALIZING HIS DREAM *PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME* SATURDAY, MARCH 1ST, 2014
Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants….Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me (Philippians 2:25-30).

We have a divine commission to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Jesus said: "...Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). You can be rest assured that what we require to achieve this great task is already available to us. The Lord Jesus said something remarkable to His disciples: "...When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing" (Luke 22:35). When God sends you on an assignment, He sees to it that everything you require to accomplish that assignment is made available to you.

All God needs from us is our commitment to actualizing His dream. You have to make a commitment that there’ll be no limit to how far you’re willing to go and do for the Gospel. As far as God has given breath in your nostrils, as far as He has made your body His living tabernacle, the Gospel will not be limited. That’s the kind of commitment David made in Psalm 145:3-5. He said, "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works."

There’re people who have committed their time and resources to ensuring that the Gospel of Jesus Christ reaches every nation of the world. They do great exploits for the Kingdom, making up for what others may not have been able to do. They give so much money to the furtherance of the Gospel; and the more they give, the more the Lord channels resources their way so they can accomplish greater things for Him.

What’s your commitment to the Gospel? What’s your role in ensuring the establishment of Christ’s Kingdom on earth? Let the actualization of His dream be your greatest pursuit. Decide that through you, the Gospel will continue to prosper, and you’ll keep at it, until the "roll is called up yonder," when we stand before the Master.

CONFESSION
I’m convinced that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, hence, my avowed commitment to its continued propagation around the world. By the ability of the Spirit, I’ll keep preaching and fulfilling God’s plan of bringing many to righteousness, in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY
1 Corinthians 9:16-18
Living Bible (TLB)
16 For just preaching the Gospel isn’t any special credit to me—I couldn’t keep from preaching it if I wanted to. I would be utterly miserable. Woe unto me if I don’t.
17 If I were volunteering my services of my own free will, then the Lord would give me a special reward; but that is not the situation, for God has picked me out and given me this sacred trust, and I have no choice. 18 Under this circumstance, what is my pay? It is the special joy I get from preaching the Good News without expense to anyone, never demanding my rights.

Romans 1:14-16
Living Bible (TLB)
14 For I owe a great debt to you and to everyone else, both to civilized people and uncivilized alike; yes, to the educated and uneducated alike. 15 So, to the fullest extent of my ability, I am ready to come also to you in Rome to preach God’s Good News.
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is God’s powerful method of bringing all who believe it to heaven. This message was preached first to the Jews alone, but now everyone is invited to come to God in this same way.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1 Year Reading Plan : Mark 9:14-32 Numbers 7-8
2 Year Reading Plan : Acts 23:1-10 Psalm 50-51