Living for Christ

In John 12: 23-24 Jesus said, “…The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified...” When He went on to explain how the glory would come. He said, “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” In other words, “My time of glory has come but this is the way to it, I must first of all fall to the ground as a grain of corn and die.” So, the way to glorification is self denial. Except you die to self you cannot live a life that glorifies God. Glorifying God often entails counting yourself as a nonentity; disregarding yourself. Self abandonment is the route to glorifying God. You can't glorify yourself and at the same time glorify God. Jesus said, “If anybody would come after me, let him deny himself; let him count himself as a nonentity, let him take up his cross through the city for all to mock him, and let him follow me” (Matt. 16:24

Living your life to glorify God is the only guarantee for your own glory. As long as you are seeking God's glory, you can't loose your own. It is when you stop seeking His glory that you begin to drop in glory. When Nebuchadnezzar stopped giving glory to God, he dropped from His glory. Outside of God's glory you have no glory. No wonder Jesus kept saying, “I seek not my own glory but the glory of Him who sent me.” And as a result, God gave Him His own glory, He gave Him a name that is above all names. What is the route to God's glory?

 In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed that the cup should be removed from Him, but when He remembered that He must live to glorify God, He said, “Not my will but thy will be done” (Matt. 26:42). Your greatest enemy in spiritual adventure is self.

 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Always seek the glory of God in your life and in all that you do. Remember that the ass was honoured and respected only as long as Jesus sat on it's back. The moment Jesus got off, nobody made reference to the ass again. So, only those who make their backs available to God to ride upon will be glorified. The glory of any branch is to remain connected to the tree. When the branch is tired of showing forth the glory of the tree by bearing the leaves and the fruit, it will be cut off. So, when your life stops glorifying God He cuts you off.

The greatest yearning of every believer must be to glorify God. If you want to remain a reference point, keep making reference to God. You can't give glory to God and miss your own glory. You know why the name of Paul the Apostle has refused to die? It is because he lived to glorify God. His greatest aspiration and ambition was that Christ may be glorified, whether it be through his life or death. That was all he lived for. May you begin to live your life to glorify Him.

 

True knowledge

Isa 55:8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the

LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and

my thoughts than your thoughts.

When relating with God, revelation knowledge is essential, revelation is getting spiritual insight into what God has for us to do to get breakthrough. The Lord's ways are not always our ways , not seeking and trusting the intuitive knowledge that God gives us by his Spirit will cause us to miss many blessings of God. The holy spirit reveals God to us, but it’s your responsibility to educate your spirit man to get acquainted with the ways of God. Lets look at Pauls prayer for the Ephesians , Eph 1:15  Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.  God wants to manifest in our life but it will only depend to level of our knowledge of him. Naturally you can’t enjoy what you don’t know, people only enjoys what they know. People who know God ways do great exploits,Dan11:32.

Many people have substituted their zeal for christian knowledge, when I do something out of mystic feelings and emotion vibrations I count it done well before God but that is just one part. No one is a doctor, teacher etc without studying, so we can’t be anything God has said we are without studying the word of God in that area, have you not heard seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness. To seek is by dedication , its being sold out to continuous word study and prayer which are the demanding price for true Gods knowledge of God’s success acquisition.1Sa 2:3  Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogance come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

Until you are doing what you say you know in the bible, you don’t know yet. Be aware of  the danger for  limited knowledge ,it leads to pride and comparison. Never be contented to  basic sense knowledge rather contest to get more and more light to flow into abundance of God. When you expand your knowledge you expand success in any area. many people they fill their heart with all junks from TV, newspaper, internet, friends etc and yet they expect to be useful in the church or to be healed, well what I know is that if you want to make your life a reference or testimony for others to follow you must have some references you have committed yourself to daily.  Nothing happens because you desire it or deserve it, things happen coz you are working the required knowledge for delivery of your expectations. It is not the goal of a good church  to make you happy or blessed or feel well etc,a good church will make you holy and teach you the truth that will set you free ,the church gives you 40% and you make it by yourself 60%. But all this requires you to be present in church on time, take notes ,obey and practice what you are told. To get true knowledge we have to memorize the word and believe it in your heart, personalize the word, visualize the word, assimilate the word, confess the word against your entire adversary, let all things be false but the word of God true. You see, everything--including healing--starts inside you. Your future is literally stored up in your heart. As Jesus said, "A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In

all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear

the LORD, and depart from evil.

Rom 10:6  But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who

shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the

deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even 

in hy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; For with the heart man

believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

WHERE IS YOUR HEART

1Sam13:14  But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his

own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast  not kept that which the LORD commanded thee. King Saul knew the will of God, but he decided to change it to fit his desires ,he added his desires to God’s will. Brethrens It's not enough just to know God's will, we need to continue to seek the Lord until we know God's plan for accomplishing that will. If we are not keen about obeying God to the letters then our heart are not with him. Your heart is not with God by your words but by your attitude and by your action. The kingdom of God and the will of God are inseparable Mathew 6:10, Samuel instructs King Saul to go to Gilgal and wait for him there seven days in order that the prophet could offer burnt offerings.  The Philistines were gathering against Israel with three thousand chariots and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. Those who stood loyal were frightened and desperate.  Saul thought he could wait no longer. He offered the burnt offerings, hoping that God would understand and accept his human worship.  Samuel arrived just as the burnt offerings were finished.  He said, “What have you done?” (1 Samuel 13:11-12).

We, like King Saul, have done too much thinking and not enough waiting in prayers before our Lord when trouble strikes. We spent little time in church, we lay our plans and programs for Gods approval for solving the problems facing us, then spend a few minutes in the presence of the Father asking Him to bless our best effort.  We then go about our business out of human thought, human effort, and human experience. We overlook seeking the face of God to his perfect will for our life in what we are passing through. People are more interested in having their needs met than seeking the face of God. Prayer is not just for receiving things from God and having our needs met; prayer is basically for meeting with God. one major reason God put up the Friday programme of prayer is so that we can meet with Him and have fellowship with Him. It is in the process of beholding His face that you get to know Him better. And when you know God, no other knowledge will threaten you, when you see His face no other face can harass you, when you hear His voice, the voice of doubt will die. Beholding the face of God is the end of all confusion and shame. Don’t be like king soul he played short cuts to survive and they cut him off his kingship. One day I heard from the Lord saying: they are interested in what I have but not in me. Choose to seek God and love and fellowship with him like King David.

Mat 15:7  Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto

me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. In on other words where your

money go most is where your heart is.

Above Stress and depression

1kings19 speaks of Elijah's depression because of stress caused by Ahab, the king of Israel, and his wife

Jezebel deserted God Jehovah and worshiped foreign gods Baal and Asherah in Israel. Elijah became

furious about what affected his faith  and prayed to God. God heard him and didn't give rain to

Israel for three and a half years. After that, Elijah confronted the 400 prophets of Baal and the 450
prophets of Asherah on Mt. Carmel. When Elijah prayed again, God Jehovah answered him by sending fire instantly. As a result, all of Israel recognized God Jehovah as the true God and Elijah killed the 450 prophets of Baal at Gishon. After that Elijah earnestly prayed again for rain and God gave rain to Israel.

While doing such a wonderful work, suddenly Elijah was under heavy stress attack. He came back into

the city and was threatened by Jezebel. She sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with

me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them." , I wish Elijah could have prayed again instead of taking it in to stress him !!!!!!!

Today in our times the devil is attacking us with all manner of weapons, while we serve God in church, or support the work of God, we expect rewards from God, however while we are still waiting on Gods

rewards the devil comes with stress reports which causes depression. We find we are pressured by too much work and earn little,we face health problems, document problems, racism in society or  no job, difficulties at home, school, work ,family etc.  We are not alone brethrens, the bible says 1Cor 10:11-13 

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,that ye may be able to bear it.

 Elijah was a great prophet of God, when he heard jezebel report, he could not overcome stress any more and collapsed. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.

What is it you have heard or you are passing through? We are exposed to and surrounded by various

stress. Nonetheless, we must overcome stress.

 First don’t carry it alone, your battle is Gods battle and God has anointed his servant in the church  to

help you in your battle therefore swallow your pride and share out what is causing stress and depression

to you , don’t be Elijah who took it upon himself alone without seeking help . Psa 20:2  Send thee help

from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt

sacrifice; Selah.

Second is prayer,Peter problems became when he neglected prayers for ambitions service,

infact jesus told him peter satan has desired you just like he desired judas , but you I have prayed for

you.While jesus is still talking prior to temptation peter argued with jesus you all the story. After

denying Jesus three times, he could not stand himself. He cried and became hysterical, restless and

almost desolate. He gave up his mission as a disciple and went fishing. Prayer draws the hand of God

into a situation. It is the link that connects man to the throne room of God. If you want to

know the ways of God in any situation, you must pray and ask Him for direction. Daniel was

never stressed to depression,why, he prayed and fasted. When we try to carry our burdens by

ourselves, we can't overcome stress.

Jer 33:3  Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which

thou knowest not.

Psa 50:14  Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

  And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Above Stress and depression

1kings19 speaks of Elijah's depression because of stress caused by Ahab, the king of Israel, and his wifeJezebel deserted God Jehovah and worshiped foreign gods Baal and Asherah in Israel. Elijah becamefurious about what affected his faith  and prayed to God. God heard him and didn't give rain toIsrael for three and a half years. After that, Elijah confronted the 400 prophets of Baal and the 450
prophets of Asherah on Mt. Carmel. When Elijah prayed again, God Jehovah answered him by sending fire instantly. As a result, all of Israel recognized God Jehovah as the true God and Elijah killed the 450 prophets of Baal at Gishon. After that Elijah earnestly prayed again for rain and God gave rain to Israel.
While doing such a wonderful work, suddenly Elijah was under heavy stress attack. He came back intothe city and was threatened by Jezebel. She sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them." , I wish Elijah could have prayed again instead of taking it in to stress him !!!!!!!

Today in our times the devil is attacking us with all manner of weapons, while we serve God in church, or support the work of God, we expect rewards from God, however while we are still waiting on Godsrewards the devil comes with stress reports which causes depression. We find we are pressured by too much work and earn little,we face health problems, document problems, racism in society or  no job, difficulties at home, school, work ,family etc.  We are not alone brethrens, the bible says 1Cor 10:11-13  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,that ye may be able to bear it.
 Elijah was a great prophet of God, when he heard jezebel report, he could not overcome stress any more and collapsed. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.What is it you have heard or you are passing through? We are exposed to and surrounded by variousstress. Nonetheless, we must overcome stress.
 First don’t carry it alone, your battle is Gods battle and God has anointed his servant in the church  to help you in your battle therefore swallow your pride and share out what is causing stress and depression to you , don’t be Elijah who took it upon himself alone without seeking help . Psa 20:2  Send thee helpfrom the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burntsacrifice; Selah.
Second is prayer,Peter problems became when he neglected prayers for ambitions service, infact jesus told him peter satan has desired you just like he desired judas , but you I have prayed for you.While jesus is still talking prior to temptation peter argued with jesus you all the story. After denying Jesus three times, he could not stand himself. He cried and became hysterical, restless and almost desolate. He gave up his mission as a disciple and went fishing. Prayer draws the hand of God into a situation. It is the link that connects man to the throne room of God. If you want to know the ways of God in any situation, you must pray and ask Him for direction. Daniel wasnever stressed to depression,why, he prayed and fasted. When we try to carry our burdens byourselves, we can't overcome stress.
Jer 33:3  Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, whichthou knowest not.
Psa 50:14  Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:   And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.