PROV. 17:8; PROV. 18:16; EPH. 4: 1-15.
The term - a Covering - in Hebrew is "Rachaph" - which simply do imply to brood over like a Mother Hen over her chicks in times of danger or when a hen is giving warmth to her chicks in a cold weather or just for comfort. From this, is the outgrowth of our Greek word - Abba and the Compound Latin Word Padre or English Word - 'Father' which has come to mean more than just covering but a Seed Carrier as in Husbandry or Farming.
So in Ephesians Chapter 4 - He that holds all the gifts gave them to His Church through a divined and defined vessels. So in connecting to these God chosen Vessels, I use my human gifts to attract whatever gifts the Holy Spirit has deposited in this particular Chosen Vessel or Apostle or my Covering or Father when I serve him with my human gifts.
How do I use my human gifts to attract the gifts of the Holy Spirit as to attain my destiny here on Earth? The Alter of a Father that eats your SEED shall meet your NEED as you take on the Spirit of the Father or possess the spirit of that Father in your innermost being.
CHRIST JESUS - OUR GREAT EXAMPLE AND THE WAY
A) Twice God spoke from Heaven - This is my Beloved Son - 1) In Whom I am well Pleased and 2) Hear Him. Why????
Because Sonship and Fatherhood are the highest calling on Earth and that is the only way God perpetuates His creation physically and spiritually.
Hence Jesus Christ could say, in John 5:19 - What I see my Father do, I do.
B) The Highest Calling to any member in the Church therefore is Sonship - without which it would be real difficult to fulfill your Destiny on Earth - if you understand and flow in Sonship you would easily fulfill your destiny here on Earth.
C) The most lost person is a Fatherless person or an Orphan and the most non-entity or a person without identify is a Bastard.
THE ACUTE NECCESSITY OF HAVING A SPIRITUAL FATHER OR A SPIRITUAL COVERING
1. In 1 Corinthians 4:15 Paul tells the church that they have many instructors but one father, and that he considers himself their father through the gospel. YOU CANNOT HAVE TWO SPRITUAL FATHERS IN ANY SENSE AS A CHRISTIAN.
2. He also writes to Timothy as his “son”. And many other times he refers to being in “labor of birth” for the churches so that they would come to maturity and understanding.
3. If you are a member of any Church and therefore a son of the very Apostle that speaks into your life on a consistent basis - Then I present to you - Your Spiritual father.
4. But Everyone wants to be a son, but not everyone wants to pay the price. There is a price to pay to be a Son just like there is a price to pay to qualify as a Father.
5. Teachers teach, fathers correct with love and urgency. In other ways, fathers raise children, not clones. There are times when you can hear preachers who learned from other preachers that sound just a like (you could almost guess who they sat under without them telling you). Fathers spur sons (and daughters) on in their gifts and callings and revelations from God.
6. Fathers also bring accountability (as my spiritual father says) so you don't run off and get in a ditch somewhere (meaning a revalational, religious, powerless ditch). Who are you accountable to even when you will not be in Church or keep your obligation?????
7. The words “Father” and “son” are generational words, and the Kingdom is very generational. And for churches in the Kingdom to be generational, there needs to be fathers and sons.
Who is a Son?
a) Someone to carry FORWARD INTO THE FUTURE the name (the vision) OF A FATHER.
b) You are not a Successful Father until you have a Successor Son and you are not a Successor Son unless you can project your Predecessor Father as a Success. You can be a Cross-Over Son or Successor or a Translated Son but not a Successor Son.
c) In other words, your are a Successor Son when even in those transition times like a Spiritual Son, you could take over and keep the momentum going and continue to grow that organization or church of Your Spiritual Father from glory to glory. This is the Highest Calling for anyone in this Church - Just like the Highest Calling for a Daddy here is not just to be Bishop and Founder but to be our Father.
This is the Highest Calling For A Father and For a Son !!!!
Philippians 1:1-11
I.- The Spiritual Son benefits from the Intercession of the Spiritual Covering or Father (vv.3-5).
1.- The Spiritual Son is usually in the Spiritual Father remember of his or her Spiritual Father (v. 3).
2.- The Spiritual Son benefits the prayers of is his or her Spiritual Father.(vv.3, 4).
3.- The Spiritual father/mother pray for the spiritual’ growth of their children(v. 5 a).
II.- The Spiritual father/mother encourages the spiritual growth of his children (v. 6).
1.- The Spiritual father/mother stimulates the faith of their children (v. 6).
2.- The Spiritual father/mother reveals to their children the mystery of the transformation that affects destiny. (v. 6).
“…that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion …”
3.- The Spiritual Son inherits the convictions of Faith of a Father (v. 6).
III.- Just like the Spiritual father does not neglect his responsibility as a father - so also does the son not neglect his or her responsibility (vv.7-11).
1.- The Spiritual gift of a Son is best developed, matured and directed under the Spiritual father. (v. 7).
2.- The Spiritual father demonstrates with their thoughts and acts a legitimate love for their children (v. 8).
3.- The Spiritual father cries out for the Christians life’ growth of their children (v. 9).
4.- The Spiritual father/mother prays for their children’s ability to distinguish the good decisions and necessary fidelity that only comes through Jesus Christ (vv.10, 11).
How You Can Know if you called to a Spiritual Father in This Church !!!
Three gifts in particular distinguish the spiritual father.
The first is insight and discernment (diakrisis), the ability to perceive intuitively the secrets of another’s heart, to understand the hidden depths of which the other is unaware. The spiritual father penetrates beneath the conventional gestures and attitudes whereby we conceal our true personality from others and from ourselves; and beyond all these trivialities, he comes to grips with the unique person made in the image and likeness of God
The second gift of the spiritual father is the ability to love others and to make others’ sufferings his own. Of Abba Poemen, one of the greatest of the Egyptian gerontes, it is briefly and simply recorded: “He possessed love, and many came to him.” [14] He possessed love this is indispensable in all spiritual fatherhood. Unlimited insight into the secrets of men’s hearts, if devoid of loving compassion, would not be creative but destructive; he who cannot love others will have little power to heal them.
A third gift of the spiritual father is the power to transform the human environment, both the material and the non-material. IF YOU CONNECT TO THE ALTER OF A TRUE FATHER - YOU CAN SEE YOUR SEED BECOME A BATTLE SEED AND HIS ALTAR WILL FIGHT FOR YOU AND ALTER EVERY THING THAT IS UP AGAINST YOU. (CHECK YOU BIBLE SINCE I DON'T HAVE THE SPACE TO ELABORATE BUT WILL DO SO IN MY NEXT BLOG)
God richly bless you.
APOSTLE M. JOE OMEOKWE.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Prosperity and The Pursuit of Money !!!
The Bible has given us the key to life in all its ramifications including the Role and Spirit of Money: The just shall live by his faith. —Habakkuk 2:4, KJV
1. Financial stress comes to everyone at one stage or the other in life, recession or not. For many, life is a trend of feast and famine, with the feasts being short lived and not too extraordinary and the famine lasting for years at a time for many. Money (or the False god) is in the center of life or God (The True God) is the center of life. There is no other alternative or middle ground.
2. Sometimes prayer cannot cut through the issues of money. One can pray every day during the week and yet may never experience God's blessing or see Him answer their prayers concerning certain needs or things driving one to desperation. What then? In such circumstance, is it time to play lottery, try one's chances of making money at Casinos or at Las Vegas, gamble or resort to all the gimmicks of making money? Or is it time to heed to the very Word of God, "It is required in stewards [that is, those who have been given a trust], that a man [or woman] be found faithful" (1 Cor. 4:2, KJV).
3. Anybody can be faithful when prayer is being answered, when the wind is at one's back, and everything is going well. But what is one to do when God suddenly hides His face? What are we to do when the center can no longer hold as things are falling apart? Until you have experienced the hiding of His face and come out on the other side, you won't really come to know God as a friend.
This was Habakkuk's experience. Habakkuk 2:4 is a famous verse that is quoted three times in the New Testament.
4. There is an intentional ambiguity here. The faithfulness can be God's faithfulness to us or our faithfulness to God: the verse can be read either way, and it means both. But it can equally describe the faithfulness of the individual himself, who doesn't give up hope. The person who trusts God and lives by His promise to bless is declared righteous in the sight of God. It applies to the future—to the fact that God will accept us in heaven—but it also applies to the present that our God is meeting us at the points of our need. God is saying that we are declared righteous now - complete in Him with nothing lacking, broken or missing.
5. If we could only see and understand this, it would set us afire. If, in the moment when we don't see answered prayer, we could just look up to heaven and say, "God, I love You anyway," God would declare us righteous just because our faith pleases Him. That kind of faith has a cleansing result. We feel clean. We don't understand why God lets things happen, but we trust Him anyway. Guess what? He will cause ALL things to work together for our own good even the ugly, the very ugly. (Romans 8:28)
7. By Dictionary definition: Gambling is the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize); then I want to succinctly point out again that the god of Money is Mammon and the Spirit that controls or give money the controlling power it has over humans makes money and the desire (love) for money a very deep spiritual issue. Therefore money is a Spirit, an Influence and Captivating Force. Once it is loved or becomes the center of one's life, it takes over the one's life - deforming the character, contributes to life's shapelessness (out of order in godliness) and
communicates the wrong message of prosperity and godly establishment.
8. Lottery Visa for immigration purposes and School Admission Lottery or such are the Government's systematic ways of giving opportunities to everyone to attain a position which can only be available to a very few people. In these type of government program, one may only pay to procure the application form and nothing else apart from meeting certain qualifications for that position. Such a lottery is a means of elimination of the many unlike Money Lottery promoted by States and various Agencies/Institutions including Casinos which sells lottery tickets based on calculated actuarial Law of Large Numbers. They designed to make a Profit - to help them raise and acquire money for their own ends. While doing so, they pass on the spirit of gambling and greed to the masses and never reckoning on the consequences of their actions on the poor. Of course the rich, most educated people and wise folks are never caught on this vicious circular trap that feeds on the greed and desperation of the poor.
9. But here are few words of Wisdom on the pursuit of Lottery and such like that shows that it way it comes is the way it goes. Watch out for the lives of the many who won Money Lottery even in the Millions - see how they ended up in Seven Years (the number of life cycle for regeneration) - very wretched, divorced, broken, misery, full of regrets and many other woes in diverse degrees. All of them and none spared. Listen to the Word of God:
Proverbs 13:11 - Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labor shall increase.
Proverbs 23:5 - Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 - He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? 12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Hebrews 13:5 - Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Luke 16:1 - And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
10. Gambling including Lottery for monetary gains, by its nature, is selfish and self-seeking. The gambler seeks personal gain and profit by taking other people's possessions without requiting them. Such is completely contrary to love and the law of sowing and reaping which assures us that God's way is surely to multiply what we sow - no guess work or leaving it up to Luck, namely to Satan, the god of Luck. While Chance can happen to all, Luck does not happen to all because it is rooted in evil for those it targets to destroy.
Matthew 7:16 - Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
If gambling produces many forms of evil, which it does, this confirms the conclusion that gambling is evil of itself.
Fruits of gambling: Poverty, neglect of families, quarreling, and divorce because gamblers often gamble with money the family needs.
Drinking and drugs, alcoholism and addiction. Lying because gamblers seek to hide their habit and their losses.
One out of every five homeless people admit that gambling contributed to their poverty. Among the fifty states Nevada, long known for gambling, has the highest rate of divorce and the highest rate of high school dropouts.
Proverbs 14:21 He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
CONCLUSION: Gambling preys on the desperation of the poor. The National Gambling Impact Study Commission found that those with incomes less than $10,000 spend more on lottery tickets than any other income group. High school dropouts spend four times as much as college graduates. Scripture exhorts us to look out for the poor and disadvantaged, and issues strong warnings against taking advantage of their plight.
Some have argued that lottery like gambling can be played responsibly and that a good strategy is to give yourself an upper bound and a lower bound for when to quit. As we have seen, these types of human indulgence can quickly become an addiction or obsession. When it becomes either, it starts to seriously hurt you financially, then you've got a problem you need to fix. Love of money should never dictate your life.
In all, Romans 14:5b should be your final guide.
1. Financial stress comes to everyone at one stage or the other in life, recession or not. For many, life is a trend of feast and famine, with the feasts being short lived and not too extraordinary and the famine lasting for years at a time for many. Money (or the False god) is in the center of life or God (The True God) is the center of life. There is no other alternative or middle ground.
2. Sometimes prayer cannot cut through the issues of money. One can pray every day during the week and yet may never experience God's blessing or see Him answer their prayers concerning certain needs or things driving one to desperation. What then? In such circumstance, is it time to play lottery, try one's chances of making money at Casinos or at Las Vegas, gamble or resort to all the gimmicks of making money? Or is it time to heed to the very Word of God, "It is required in stewards [that is, those who have been given a trust], that a man [or woman] be found faithful" (1 Cor. 4:2, KJV).
3. Anybody can be faithful when prayer is being answered, when the wind is at one's back, and everything is going well. But what is one to do when God suddenly hides His face? What are we to do when the center can no longer hold as things are falling apart? Until you have experienced the hiding of His face and come out on the other side, you won't really come to know God as a friend.
This was Habakkuk's experience. Habakkuk 2:4 is a famous verse that is quoted three times in the New Testament.
4. There is an intentional ambiguity here. The faithfulness can be God's faithfulness to us or our faithfulness to God: the verse can be read either way, and it means both. But it can equally describe the faithfulness of the individual himself, who doesn't give up hope. The person who trusts God and lives by His promise to bless is declared righteous in the sight of God. It applies to the future—to the fact that God will accept us in heaven—but it also applies to the present that our God is meeting us at the points of our need. God is saying that we are declared righteous now - complete in Him with nothing lacking, broken or missing.
5. If we could only see and understand this, it would set us afire. If, in the moment when we don't see answered prayer, we could just look up to heaven and say, "God, I love You anyway," God would declare us righteous just because our faith pleases Him. That kind of faith has a cleansing result. We feel clean. We don't understand why God lets things happen, but we trust Him anyway. Guess what? He will cause ALL things to work together for our own good even the ugly, the very ugly. (Romans 8:28)
7. By Dictionary definition: Gambling is the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize); then I want to succinctly point out again that the god of Money is Mammon and the Spirit that controls or give money the controlling power it has over humans makes money and the desire (love) for money a very deep spiritual issue. Therefore money is a Spirit, an Influence and Captivating Force. Once it is loved or becomes the center of one's life, it takes over the one's life - deforming the character, contributes to life's shapelessness (out of order in godliness) and
communicates the wrong message of prosperity and godly establishment.
8. Lottery Visa for immigration purposes and School Admission Lottery or such are the Government's systematic ways of giving opportunities to everyone to attain a position which can only be available to a very few people. In these type of government program, one may only pay to procure the application form and nothing else apart from meeting certain qualifications for that position. Such a lottery is a means of elimination of the many unlike Money Lottery promoted by States and various Agencies/Institutions including Casinos which sells lottery tickets based on calculated actuarial Law of Large Numbers. They designed to make a Profit - to help them raise and acquire money for their own ends. While doing so, they pass on the spirit of gambling and greed to the masses and never reckoning on the consequences of their actions on the poor. Of course the rich, most educated people and wise folks are never caught on this vicious circular trap that feeds on the greed and desperation of the poor.
9. But here are few words of Wisdom on the pursuit of Lottery and such like that shows that it way it comes is the way it goes. Watch out for the lives of the many who won Money Lottery even in the Millions - see how they ended up in Seven Years (the number of life cycle for regeneration) - very wretched, divorced, broken, misery, full of regrets and many other woes in diverse degrees. All of them and none spared. Listen to the Word of God:
Proverbs 13:11 - Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labor shall increase.
Proverbs 23:5 - Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 - He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? 12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Hebrews 13:5 - Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Luke 16:1 - And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
10. Gambling including Lottery for monetary gains, by its nature, is selfish and self-seeking. The gambler seeks personal gain and profit by taking other people's possessions without requiting them. Such is completely contrary to love and the law of sowing and reaping which assures us that God's way is surely to multiply what we sow - no guess work or leaving it up to Luck, namely to Satan, the god of Luck. While Chance can happen to all, Luck does not happen to all because it is rooted in evil for those it targets to destroy.
Matthew 7:16 - Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
If gambling produces many forms of evil, which it does, this confirms the conclusion that gambling is evil of itself.
Fruits of gambling: Poverty, neglect of families, quarreling, and divorce because gamblers often gamble with money the family needs.
Drinking and drugs, alcoholism and addiction. Lying because gamblers seek to hide their habit and their losses.
One out of every five homeless people admit that gambling contributed to their poverty. Among the fifty states Nevada, long known for gambling, has the highest rate of divorce and the highest rate of high school dropouts.
Proverbs 14:21 He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
CONCLUSION: Gambling preys on the desperation of the poor. The National Gambling Impact Study Commission found that those with incomes less than $10,000 spend more on lottery tickets than any other income group. High school dropouts spend four times as much as college graduates. Scripture exhorts us to look out for the poor and disadvantaged, and issues strong warnings against taking advantage of their plight.
Some have argued that lottery like gambling can be played responsibly and that a good strategy is to give yourself an upper bound and a lower bound for when to quit. As we have seen, these types of human indulgence can quickly become an addiction or obsession. When it becomes either, it starts to seriously hurt you financially, then you've got a problem you need to fix. Love of money should never dictate your life.
In all, Romans 14:5b should be your final guide.
Friday, September 4, 2009
FOUR MONTHS TO END YEAR 2009
TIME TO RECIEVE FULFILLMENT OF VISION AND DESTINY IN THIS SEASON OF GOD !!!!
READ NEHIMIAH 1 & 2.
SEPTEMBER 2009: The Month that Ends All Confusions and Doubts that God will Do it For You.
Jesus, The Christ (Messiah) of God, was sent because Father loved the world enough to redeem us from the power and captivity of sin. We had all fallen short of His glory, so He sent His Son to be His perfect reflection to show mankind how to live in triumphant overcoming victory.
Jesus was God and man. He showed man the power of submission that would lead to victory. He fulfilled all requirements of righteousness. He made sure that He had done everything required from one season before He crossed into the next season. When reading through the Book of Matthew, we find John the Baptist as the defining voice in the beginning of the book. John would call people to "repent" and then require them to come out to the wilderness to be baptized. Jesus went out to be baptized.
John and his disciples had developed an order in the way they were paving the way for the Messiah to come. After giving a call to the people of the land, they led them out into a wilderness place. This place near the Jordan River would become "the place of the scapegoat." John would preach repentance and turning from sins. He used language like, "You vipers, you snakes, turn now!" As they named their sins in the wilderness, then they would be baptized. This was the way of salvation for the time leading up to Jesus.
Jesus had no sin, but knew He needed to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness. However, after Jesus was initiated into ministry through John's baptism, He spent 40 days in the desert wilderness receiving a new baptism. He was led into the wilderness by the Spirit and came out with power. He had to move from one message of change into another type of message of grace. In the wilderness, He met the devil. He resisted every temptation that would be known to man. For 40 days, His love for you and me withstood any attempt of the enemy to distract His purpose. You can move into a new grace during this time of shifting.
Nothing you are going through today can overtake you if you submit to the power of Christ in you, the hope of glory. He has overcome on your behalf. For 40 days, the onslaught of the devil was the most severe that would ever be known to man. He came out of His 40 days of resisting with overcoming power to transform the world. He triumphed over the trials of presumption and the enticements of pride. He offers a great power to you to overcome and triumph again in whatever you are facing today and the next few weeks. He has already overcome! You can overcome!
Do not give in to the pride of life or the offer to compromise. If you have been facing great temptations, shout "Go, in Yeshua's Name!" Close the door to satan's temptations. Resist the tempter. Speak the right word at the right time. Declare your assigned wilderness is creating a new power within you to stand. You can resist!
OCTOBER 2009: The Month that ends all Past Vestiges and Brings New Passions into Your Life
Leaving one season and going into the next is not always the easiest thing to do. John the Baptist had many disciples, but only Andrew left John in the wilderness and followed Jesus into the cities to eat with publicans and sinners. Our soul ties with the past structure, as well as people who are unwilling to change, can prevent us from advancing. The emotional tie that we need to cut with the old can be painful. Therefore, we resist the pain of change and choose to remain in what we are familiar with.
John did not seem excited about the changes that were coming to Israel through Jesus, the One for whom he had prayed, interceded, and paved the way. The message of repentance and the method of how to do it were both changing. Jesus went to the people instead of the people having to come out to the wilderness. Jesus loved the previous structure and all the people in that structure. However, He knew a Kingdom was calling and that He had to move forward to demonstrate the will of Father for the NOW! John eventually lost momentum and the passion to advance.
To embrace the new, you must let go of and quit clinging to the familiar. As a matter of fact, if you hold on to the last structure, you will be limited in how you can grow, mature, and efficiently operate in time in your place of stewardship. Here are some of the areas in which we cling to the old:
• Our Thought Processes–we need a new way of thinking.
• Old Methods–some are good, some are bad.
• Yesterday's Message–great revelation but not relevant today.
• A Narrow Form–one that was pliable in the past season but is now becoming rigid.
• Established Markets–creative products for a time, but now new innovation is required.
• A Great Glory Manifestation–this created belief and reorganized your life; however, now God is moving in a new way that is stretching you again.
• A Lesser Power and Demonstration–He has more to show us.
You can let go and follow! Take your new assignments! You will gain confidence as you go!
But in this Month of October, you have to watch your passion level! When we start losing vision for our future, we start losing passion and energy to advance. It is not too late to receive all that the Lord has for you. We are a people with passions and emotions like Elijah. Here are some questions to cause you to think critically:
• Are you emotionally drained and expended from the last season?
• Do you feel you have given your best and not seen the results you expected to see manifest?
• What is the "The Word" you are warring with?
• Do you need a new word for the next battle?
• Are you being confronted by a strongman that makes you want to run for your life?
• Have you come out of your abiding place?
• Do you feel vulnerable?
• Have you established your place at the gate of entry that the Lord has for your future?
• Do you know where your "GATE" or position is?
• Do you feel confident in your present assignment, position and role?
Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Cry out for new vision and allow the Lord to lead you from an old, familiar place. Sometimes our familiar surroundings tend to blind us. Jesus led the blind man out of town to heal him. The first time He touched his eyes, vision formed but was not clear. Cry out for clear vision! Notice the process of vision. Do not grow weary in the Lord's process or method. Allow Him to touch you again! Allow clarity to come into your vision!
NOVEMEBER 2009: The Month that Ends all Past Burdens With Prospecting Assignments.
The Book of Nehemiah is a wonderful example and model of project development, endurance, and completion. Most likely, where you are presently positioned is a major factor in qualifying you for the future. Nehemiah was the cup bearer in the king's palace in Shushan in Persia. His assignment gave him an advantage for his future call and positioning. Therefore, when he received a report of the brokenness of his beloved city of Jerusalem, he was already positioned to make a request to be positioned anew to accomplish God's Kingdom purpose.
Many times we do not realize that our current job, vocation, or assignment is our place of training for God's call. The mundane duties of the day and the seemingly routine tasks can hinder us from practicing His Presence and receiving His burden. The burden of the Lord can find you if you are available to go "where you presently are," not where you are "longing to go."
Because Nehemiah was performing his duties at the court where he was assigned, he had access to information and could be sent properly into his next assignment. This is very similar to Moses, who grew up in Pharaoh's court. Because he submitted during those years, Moses understood the structure and system that God was sending him into to bring change for His covenant purpose 40 years later. David had to serve in Saul's court before he could rule in the Kingdom 17 years later.
Nehemiah's relationship with the king would allow him to be sent to serve the Lord and his country. Because he had become trustworthy in his assignment in the king's court, he could now receive the higher calling of the KING!
In reading Nehemiah 1 we find that burden can be a good indication that God is about to visit us and to use us. In Matthew 25:21, we find that if we discharge that burden faithfully, we will receive the same recompense that say thus: His lord said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."
For the Month of November God says: "Let Me redefine your burden. This is not the burden you would choose. I will wash away the anxiety of your last burden and redefine your burden. I am ready to give you a new target and assignment. You have been so determined to stay spiritually focused in the way that you are going that you are missing My new assignment. I am giving new assignments and giving new burdens and raising up new intercessory calls. This will stop some of the warfare that you are experiencing. This is a time when you must listen and must quickly enter into your pause (selah).
"If not, you will be determined to correct when I am not correcting. You will misrepresent Me in the moment. I must have a people who represent Me in the moment, for moments are getting shorter. Your pause will lead you to your field. In a moment, you will be in your new field. Meet Me in the new field that I am calling you to. I am waiting for you. This is a field you have not known how to harvest. You must glean for a season once you enter the field, and then you will be favored to reap the reward of your labor from the last season. Reaping will be an indicator that you have secured your footing in the new field."
We are in a season in history where the Church is moving from one realm of the prophetic into another. We are moving from "the sons of thunder" realm into "the Sons of Issachar" realm. The tribe of Issachar was the Torah Tribe. They knew the Word and could interpret times from the Word so Israel would know what to do. This anointing is so important this hour. We are learning to discern God's perfect timing. Timing is not easy to learn. Great discipline defines your gift. Your gift makes room for you. Your maturing is a process! We all make mistakes by getting ahead of God's timing or lagging behind God's timing. There must be discipline so we learn from our missed opportunities and past passivity where we should have exercised our gift, but did not.
We cannot be a people who are just seeing problems, but we must develop the strategies to overcome and triumph. Many of us have an inner intuitive knowing or discernment. We can point out what is wrong, but never know what to do with it. This is a season of new solutions. Nehemiah saw the rubble from the season of war and destruction. When he looked at the rubble, he could also see the wall rebuilt. God is taking us beyond the rubble into a new place of building. He is calling us forth and pressing us through to get the plan.
This is not just a season to prophesy, but to execute. We love to prophesy, but now we are learning how to carry the burden of the Lord. This was one of the characteristics of the Issachar tribe—they learned how to carry burdens. We are also learning how to gain insight on how to unlock provision before we move forward in fulfilling vision.
DECEMBER 2009: The Month that Ends All Travailing as We Birth and Bring Forth for the Next Season
Nehemiah, Hannah and Jesus are examples of those who travailed to bring forth the next season. Travail is defined as birthing, delivering, being disgusted, faint, grieved, weary, distressed or troubled. The old Latin word referred to an instrument of torture composed of three stakes to which a person was tied. To travail is to be troubled, sorrowful, in agony, in intense pain, or in distress. In other words, it is not a comfortable experience. Think about Jesus at Gethsemane. He travailed until He bled.
Oftentimes, a person will initially interpret travail emotionally and become introspective. One may even suspect that something is wrong with them. However, travail is not an emotion but the burden of the Lord! A burden occurs when the voice of the Lord comes to a person and draws them into partnering with Him to birth and/or to war. The only way this burden can be released is through intense prayer. When a burden comes, you may feel weighted down by the revealed situation until it is released through sustained intercessory prayer.
This is a Romans 8:22–26 time. The Holy Spirit within a person knows how to pray under this type of burden. As the person begins to pray, the Holy Spirit takes over and begins to travail within and through that person with groaning that cannot be expressed in English words.
Isaiah 42:13 says that God Himself "shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies." Verse 14 continues, "I have held My peace a long time, I have been still and restrained Myself. Now I will cry like a woman in labor (travail)."
Many times, in this narrow place, we are distressed because we are hung between two paradigms and identities. If we internalize this distress instead of straining every nerve to release what we are feeling, we go backwards into an emotional breakdown. Let the travail produce God's plan of fullness and bring you and others forth into a new atmosphere and triumphant testimony. You will know your new choice for the life processes of God. Death's grip will give up! You are warring out of death and into life. Once the new is coming forth you must not shrink back.
My children are now having children. In the past year, there were six children born to them. WOW—lots of additions in one year! This represents a great amount of travail in the past year, just with individuals in my immediate circle. Lots of anxiety, pain, rearrangement of duties, finances expended, rooms redone and houses expanded. However, the pain of the travail to bring forth is forgotten when you see the future has already been released and is maturing.
There is a repositioning this December 2009. Just like Nehemiah, for long many of us have been positioned in the king's palace and living a life of comfort and ease. But just like this position allowed Nehemiah to be sent to his next assignment, so we are being sent to our next assignment. Your present assignment is important. A friend came to him to communicate the real issue of his people and the state of Jerusalem. Nehemiah was living at ease, and all of a sudden this divine connection caused his emotions to be stirred, and really made his life turn upside down. This is the stirring anointing for December 2009. Receive it.
This is a time that we must look deep into every connection on our path. How is something new coming into your life? How will the new information you receive change your normal, comfortable life? When the Lord is ready to do something in your life that will benefit you and His Kingdom purposes, He knows what and who to send to create the un-nesting of your current surroundings.
I see that the Lord is ready to employ many new people in His service. He has His remnant in all places! For example, Obadiah was in the house of Ahab. In Rome, Caesar's household was filled with Saints. Naaman's wife's maid was employed in Syria to connect and change, not only his life, but two nations. Esther and Nehemiah were both in the palaces of kings. Pilate's wife played a major role in Jesus' life. Paul was the Sanhedrin's finest specimen of knowledge and religion. Moses was in Pharaoh's court for 40 years. You are somewhere for a time such as this!
Nehemiah could not forget that he was an Israelite. He could not get rid of the burden and the distress he felt deep in his spirit when he discussed his people with his friend. Like Moses and Paul, he was annoyed, distressed and agitated in his spirit (see Acts 7:23, Acts 16). He could not compartmentalize his emotions and alienate himself in his comfort. He had to go and visit the burdens of his people so his spirit could find relief. He had to gain favor for a massive change.
Your present place right now is very important. The people coming into your life right now are important. The information you are receiving is important. How you process new reports and opportunities is important. The divinely sent changes into your comfortable life are important for you to watch. How you release the emotions in your life is important. How you receive and exercise the favor that is being released to you is important. Your suggestions are important. You may seem to be hidden in the past season, but you are being found for "such a time as this." Do not let your emotions stop you from moving into your next level of destiny!
READ NEHIMIAH 1 & 2.
SEPTEMBER 2009: The Month that Ends All Confusions and Doubts that God will Do it For You.
Jesus, The Christ (Messiah) of God, was sent because Father loved the world enough to redeem us from the power and captivity of sin. We had all fallen short of His glory, so He sent His Son to be His perfect reflection to show mankind how to live in triumphant overcoming victory.
Jesus was God and man. He showed man the power of submission that would lead to victory. He fulfilled all requirements of righteousness. He made sure that He had done everything required from one season before He crossed into the next season. When reading through the Book of Matthew, we find John the Baptist as the defining voice in the beginning of the book. John would call people to "repent" and then require them to come out to the wilderness to be baptized. Jesus went out to be baptized.
John and his disciples had developed an order in the way they were paving the way for the Messiah to come. After giving a call to the people of the land, they led them out into a wilderness place. This place near the Jordan River would become "the place of the scapegoat." John would preach repentance and turning from sins. He used language like, "You vipers, you snakes, turn now!" As they named their sins in the wilderness, then they would be baptized. This was the way of salvation for the time leading up to Jesus.
Jesus had no sin, but knew He needed to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness. However, after Jesus was initiated into ministry through John's baptism, He spent 40 days in the desert wilderness receiving a new baptism. He was led into the wilderness by the Spirit and came out with power. He had to move from one message of change into another type of message of grace. In the wilderness, He met the devil. He resisted every temptation that would be known to man. For 40 days, His love for you and me withstood any attempt of the enemy to distract His purpose. You can move into a new grace during this time of shifting.
Nothing you are going through today can overtake you if you submit to the power of Christ in you, the hope of glory. He has overcome on your behalf. For 40 days, the onslaught of the devil was the most severe that would ever be known to man. He came out of His 40 days of resisting with overcoming power to transform the world. He triumphed over the trials of presumption and the enticements of pride. He offers a great power to you to overcome and triumph again in whatever you are facing today and the next few weeks. He has already overcome! You can overcome!
Do not give in to the pride of life or the offer to compromise. If you have been facing great temptations, shout "Go, in Yeshua's Name!" Close the door to satan's temptations. Resist the tempter. Speak the right word at the right time. Declare your assigned wilderness is creating a new power within you to stand. You can resist!
OCTOBER 2009: The Month that ends all Past Vestiges and Brings New Passions into Your Life
Leaving one season and going into the next is not always the easiest thing to do. John the Baptist had many disciples, but only Andrew left John in the wilderness and followed Jesus into the cities to eat with publicans and sinners. Our soul ties with the past structure, as well as people who are unwilling to change, can prevent us from advancing. The emotional tie that we need to cut with the old can be painful. Therefore, we resist the pain of change and choose to remain in what we are familiar with.
John did not seem excited about the changes that were coming to Israel through Jesus, the One for whom he had prayed, interceded, and paved the way. The message of repentance and the method of how to do it were both changing. Jesus went to the people instead of the people having to come out to the wilderness. Jesus loved the previous structure and all the people in that structure. However, He knew a Kingdom was calling and that He had to move forward to demonstrate the will of Father for the NOW! John eventually lost momentum and the passion to advance.
To embrace the new, you must let go of and quit clinging to the familiar. As a matter of fact, if you hold on to the last structure, you will be limited in how you can grow, mature, and efficiently operate in time in your place of stewardship. Here are some of the areas in which we cling to the old:
• Our Thought Processes–we need a new way of thinking.
• Old Methods–some are good, some are bad.
• Yesterday's Message–great revelation but not relevant today.
• A Narrow Form–one that was pliable in the past season but is now becoming rigid.
• Established Markets–creative products for a time, but now new innovation is required.
• A Great Glory Manifestation–this created belief and reorganized your life; however, now God is moving in a new way that is stretching you again.
• A Lesser Power and Demonstration–He has more to show us.
You can let go and follow! Take your new assignments! You will gain confidence as you go!
But in this Month of October, you have to watch your passion level! When we start losing vision for our future, we start losing passion and energy to advance. It is not too late to receive all that the Lord has for you. We are a people with passions and emotions like Elijah. Here are some questions to cause you to think critically:
• Are you emotionally drained and expended from the last season?
• Do you feel you have given your best and not seen the results you expected to see manifest?
• What is the "The Word" you are warring with?
• Do you need a new word for the next battle?
• Are you being confronted by a strongman that makes you want to run for your life?
• Have you come out of your abiding place?
• Do you feel vulnerable?
• Have you established your place at the gate of entry that the Lord has for your future?
• Do you know where your "GATE" or position is?
• Do you feel confident in your present assignment, position and role?
Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Cry out for new vision and allow the Lord to lead you from an old, familiar place. Sometimes our familiar surroundings tend to blind us. Jesus led the blind man out of town to heal him. The first time He touched his eyes, vision formed but was not clear. Cry out for clear vision! Notice the process of vision. Do not grow weary in the Lord's process or method. Allow Him to touch you again! Allow clarity to come into your vision!
NOVEMEBER 2009: The Month that Ends all Past Burdens With Prospecting Assignments.
The Book of Nehemiah is a wonderful example and model of project development, endurance, and completion. Most likely, where you are presently positioned is a major factor in qualifying you for the future. Nehemiah was the cup bearer in the king's palace in Shushan in Persia. His assignment gave him an advantage for his future call and positioning. Therefore, when he received a report of the brokenness of his beloved city of Jerusalem, he was already positioned to make a request to be positioned anew to accomplish God's Kingdom purpose.
Many times we do not realize that our current job, vocation, or assignment is our place of training for God's call. The mundane duties of the day and the seemingly routine tasks can hinder us from practicing His Presence and receiving His burden. The burden of the Lord can find you if you are available to go "where you presently are," not where you are "longing to go."
Because Nehemiah was performing his duties at the court where he was assigned, he had access to information and could be sent properly into his next assignment. This is very similar to Moses, who grew up in Pharaoh's court. Because he submitted during those years, Moses understood the structure and system that God was sending him into to bring change for His covenant purpose 40 years later. David had to serve in Saul's court before he could rule in the Kingdom 17 years later.
Nehemiah's relationship with the king would allow him to be sent to serve the Lord and his country. Because he had become trustworthy in his assignment in the king's court, he could now receive the higher calling of the KING!
In reading Nehemiah 1 we find that burden can be a good indication that God is about to visit us and to use us. In Matthew 25:21, we find that if we discharge that burden faithfully, we will receive the same recompense that say thus: His lord said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."
For the Month of November God says: "Let Me redefine your burden. This is not the burden you would choose. I will wash away the anxiety of your last burden and redefine your burden. I am ready to give you a new target and assignment. You have been so determined to stay spiritually focused in the way that you are going that you are missing My new assignment. I am giving new assignments and giving new burdens and raising up new intercessory calls. This will stop some of the warfare that you are experiencing. This is a time when you must listen and must quickly enter into your pause (selah).
"If not, you will be determined to correct when I am not correcting. You will misrepresent Me in the moment. I must have a people who represent Me in the moment, for moments are getting shorter. Your pause will lead you to your field. In a moment, you will be in your new field. Meet Me in the new field that I am calling you to. I am waiting for you. This is a field you have not known how to harvest. You must glean for a season once you enter the field, and then you will be favored to reap the reward of your labor from the last season. Reaping will be an indicator that you have secured your footing in the new field."
We are in a season in history where the Church is moving from one realm of the prophetic into another. We are moving from "the sons of thunder" realm into "the Sons of Issachar" realm. The tribe of Issachar was the Torah Tribe. They knew the Word and could interpret times from the Word so Israel would know what to do. This anointing is so important this hour. We are learning to discern God's perfect timing. Timing is not easy to learn. Great discipline defines your gift. Your gift makes room for you. Your maturing is a process! We all make mistakes by getting ahead of God's timing or lagging behind God's timing. There must be discipline so we learn from our missed opportunities and past passivity where we should have exercised our gift, but did not.
We cannot be a people who are just seeing problems, but we must develop the strategies to overcome and triumph. Many of us have an inner intuitive knowing or discernment. We can point out what is wrong, but never know what to do with it. This is a season of new solutions. Nehemiah saw the rubble from the season of war and destruction. When he looked at the rubble, he could also see the wall rebuilt. God is taking us beyond the rubble into a new place of building. He is calling us forth and pressing us through to get the plan.
This is not just a season to prophesy, but to execute. We love to prophesy, but now we are learning how to carry the burden of the Lord. This was one of the characteristics of the Issachar tribe—they learned how to carry burdens. We are also learning how to gain insight on how to unlock provision before we move forward in fulfilling vision.
DECEMBER 2009: The Month that Ends All Travailing as We Birth and Bring Forth for the Next Season
Nehemiah, Hannah and Jesus are examples of those who travailed to bring forth the next season. Travail is defined as birthing, delivering, being disgusted, faint, grieved, weary, distressed or troubled. The old Latin word referred to an instrument of torture composed of three stakes to which a person was tied. To travail is to be troubled, sorrowful, in agony, in intense pain, or in distress. In other words, it is not a comfortable experience. Think about Jesus at Gethsemane. He travailed until He bled.
Oftentimes, a person will initially interpret travail emotionally and become introspective. One may even suspect that something is wrong with them. However, travail is not an emotion but the burden of the Lord! A burden occurs when the voice of the Lord comes to a person and draws them into partnering with Him to birth and/or to war. The only way this burden can be released is through intense prayer. When a burden comes, you may feel weighted down by the revealed situation until it is released through sustained intercessory prayer.
This is a Romans 8:22–26 time. The Holy Spirit within a person knows how to pray under this type of burden. As the person begins to pray, the Holy Spirit takes over and begins to travail within and through that person with groaning that cannot be expressed in English words.
Isaiah 42:13 says that God Himself "shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies." Verse 14 continues, "I have held My peace a long time, I have been still and restrained Myself. Now I will cry like a woman in labor (travail)."
Many times, in this narrow place, we are distressed because we are hung between two paradigms and identities. If we internalize this distress instead of straining every nerve to release what we are feeling, we go backwards into an emotional breakdown. Let the travail produce God's plan of fullness and bring you and others forth into a new atmosphere and triumphant testimony. You will know your new choice for the life processes of God. Death's grip will give up! You are warring out of death and into life. Once the new is coming forth you must not shrink back.
My children are now having children. In the past year, there were six children born to them. WOW—lots of additions in one year! This represents a great amount of travail in the past year, just with individuals in my immediate circle. Lots of anxiety, pain, rearrangement of duties, finances expended, rooms redone and houses expanded. However, the pain of the travail to bring forth is forgotten when you see the future has already been released and is maturing.
There is a repositioning this December 2009. Just like Nehemiah, for long many of us have been positioned in the king's palace and living a life of comfort and ease. But just like this position allowed Nehemiah to be sent to his next assignment, so we are being sent to our next assignment. Your present assignment is important. A friend came to him to communicate the real issue of his people and the state of Jerusalem. Nehemiah was living at ease, and all of a sudden this divine connection caused his emotions to be stirred, and really made his life turn upside down. This is the stirring anointing for December 2009. Receive it.
This is a time that we must look deep into every connection on our path. How is something new coming into your life? How will the new information you receive change your normal, comfortable life? When the Lord is ready to do something in your life that will benefit you and His Kingdom purposes, He knows what and who to send to create the un-nesting of your current surroundings.
I see that the Lord is ready to employ many new people in His service. He has His remnant in all places! For example, Obadiah was in the house of Ahab. In Rome, Caesar's household was filled with Saints. Naaman's wife's maid was employed in Syria to connect and change, not only his life, but two nations. Esther and Nehemiah were both in the palaces of kings. Pilate's wife played a major role in Jesus' life. Paul was the Sanhedrin's finest specimen of knowledge and religion. Moses was in Pharaoh's court for 40 years. You are somewhere for a time such as this!
Nehemiah could not forget that he was an Israelite. He could not get rid of the burden and the distress he felt deep in his spirit when he discussed his people with his friend. Like Moses and Paul, he was annoyed, distressed and agitated in his spirit (see Acts 7:23, Acts 16). He could not compartmentalize his emotions and alienate himself in his comfort. He had to go and visit the burdens of his people so his spirit could find relief. He had to gain favor for a massive change.
Your present place right now is very important. The people coming into your life right now are important. The information you are receiving is important. How you process new reports and opportunities is important. The divinely sent changes into your comfortable life are important for you to watch. How you release the emotions in your life is important. How you receive and exercise the favor that is being released to you is important. Your suggestions are important. You may seem to be hidden in the past season, but you are being found for "such a time as this." Do not let your emotions stop you from moving into your next level of destiny!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
The Secret of the Number Eight - 8/2009
1. The fact that this World as we know it today began with 'Eight Souls (Noah and his family) saved by water' according to 1 Peter 3:20 makes the Number 8, the number of New Beginnings. The Secret of the Number Eight therefore is hereby given to you to know that EIGHT as the Number of New Beginnings, is also the Number that implicates the very Beginning of Success or the very Beginning of Failure as in the case of Noah and his Family.
2. We do not need to know the full ramifications of the Secret to Success as it concerns the Number Eight but we ought to know for sure the full ramifications of the Secret to Failure as implicated by the Number Eight. Believe it or not, the very Secret to Failure is trying to please Everyone.
3. Hence, from this August 2009 till the end of this Year 2009 be very careful about trying to please everyone. This is a very critical season in the calendar of God for the rest of the Year 2009. Nothing is as painful and discouraging as failure which is the same as having every of your effort ending up in futility.
4. Failure as engineered by trying to please everyone means that the more we try to please everyone, the worse things will become around us especially in the pursuit of our destiny. This is especially true for the remainder of the Year 2009.
5. No matter how you look at the Number Eight For Year 2009, You have the authority to declare it the Beginning of Success for your life and never the Beginning of Failure for your life. That authority is rooted in your ability to take a defiant stand at all times against trying to please everyone.
6. Failure is not in your vocabulary, when you realize that you cannot please everyone. Beginning with this Eighth Month of 2009 (Solely by the Grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus, The Christ of God), make something work out for you by changing the course you're now on that tries to make you wanting to please everyone. Beginning from this very August 2009, You will be able to command the respect and attention of those around you almost without having to say much if they perceive you as someone who is not out to pleasing everyone. As such you will exhibit such great grace that shows your mature faith and strong character to all.
7. This Month - August 2009 - Being the number 8, you must begin to be very discriminate about whom you should please and when to move away from trying to please everyone. For you to have such financial, emotional and mental strength to reach your goal by December 31, 2009, do not give in to those around you, who try to change your beliefs or those things planted in you by the Lord Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION: Do not forget that the Number 8 has an emotional level of being a very strong willed number, like the number 5. This makes August the month that begins either Your Success or Your Failure. However, remember that the way a man thinks in His heart, so is he. (Proverb 23:7a) Hence, the number 8 as in the Eighth Month of 2009 marks the season when you are more intellectually stimulated and aroused by stimulating conversations. You may be finding yourself attracted to the other person for all the wrong reasons! That can tend to like things for merely outward appearances. Hence, to be Successful and reap the Harvest of Success for the remainder of this Year 2009, refuse to please everyone or be attreacted to everyone. Make it your Aim to PLEASE our Almighty God as all times in all places. Amen.
In His Righteousness,
M. Joe Omeokwe, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus - Math. Dept., C.U.N.Y.
Senior Pastor
The Harvest Center
Vineyard International Christian Ministries
1140 Teller Avenue
Bronx, NY 10456, USA.
(718) 538-9211 (Office)
(718) 542-7417 (Fax & 24 Hr. Hotline)
2. We do not need to know the full ramifications of the Secret to Success as it concerns the Number Eight but we ought to know for sure the full ramifications of the Secret to Failure as implicated by the Number Eight. Believe it or not, the very Secret to Failure is trying to please Everyone.
3. Hence, from this August 2009 till the end of this Year 2009 be very careful about trying to please everyone. This is a very critical season in the calendar of God for the rest of the Year 2009. Nothing is as painful and discouraging as failure which is the same as having every of your effort ending up in futility.
4. Failure as engineered by trying to please everyone means that the more we try to please everyone, the worse things will become around us especially in the pursuit of our destiny. This is especially true for the remainder of the Year 2009.
5. No matter how you look at the Number Eight For Year 2009, You have the authority to declare it the Beginning of Success for your life and never the Beginning of Failure for your life. That authority is rooted in your ability to take a defiant stand at all times against trying to please everyone.
6. Failure is not in your vocabulary, when you realize that you cannot please everyone. Beginning with this Eighth Month of 2009 (Solely by the Grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus, The Christ of God), make something work out for you by changing the course you're now on that tries to make you wanting to please everyone. Beginning from this very August 2009, You will be able to command the respect and attention of those around you almost without having to say much if they perceive you as someone who is not out to pleasing everyone. As such you will exhibit such great grace that shows your mature faith and strong character to all.
7. This Month - August 2009 - Being the number 8, you must begin to be very discriminate about whom you should please and when to move away from trying to please everyone. For you to have such financial, emotional and mental strength to reach your goal by December 31, 2009, do not give in to those around you, who try to change your beliefs or those things planted in you by the Lord Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION: Do not forget that the Number 8 has an emotional level of being a very strong willed number, like the number 5. This makes August the month that begins either Your Success or Your Failure. However, remember that the way a man thinks in His heart, so is he. (Proverb 23:7a) Hence, the number 8 as in the Eighth Month of 2009 marks the season when you are more intellectually stimulated and aroused by stimulating conversations. You may be finding yourself attracted to the other person for all the wrong reasons! That can tend to like things for merely outward appearances. Hence, to be Successful and reap the Harvest of Success for the remainder of this Year 2009, refuse to please everyone or be attreacted to everyone. Make it your Aim to PLEASE our Almighty God as all times in all places. Amen.
In His Righteousness,
M. Joe Omeokwe, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus - Math. Dept., C.U.N.Y.
Senior Pastor
The Harvest Center
Vineyard International Christian Ministries
1140 Teller Avenue
Bronx, NY 10456, USA.
(718) 538-9211 (Office)
(718) 542-7417 (Fax & 24 Hr. Hotline)
Monday, June 29, 2009
THE REASON FOR SO MUCH CONFUSION IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH ON ALL REALMS
Acts 19:13-14 God is not the author of confusion. Satan is. We learn this in this chapter in Acts. Wherever idols are worshiped or participation in the occult is present, there is confusion because the author of confusion is on the scene. These idols are seen in what we worship in every nation on earth. These idols extend beyond:
- Finance or Money (Capitalism exemplified by 'Wall Street')
- The loose sexual and perverted (sexually confused and disoriented) life-styles of the Western World
- The Power Thirst and Personal Greed of the Developing Nations
- The existence of actual Occult practices or the Cultic in the bid to hold on to power, wealth and all kinds of sexual appetite across the nations and in the Church of Christ on Earth
and the list goes on.
Now in Acts 19, several Jews in Ephesus who were not sincere believers in Jesus Christ took it upon themselves to try to deliver a man vexed with an evil spirit. The demon in the man recognized that these seven men did not have the authority of Jesus Christ or the power of the Holy Spirit. The evil spirit spoke through the man saying, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?" The man under the influence of this demon then became violent and attacked the seven men, who fled naked from the scene. The news of this encounter spread throughout the city of Ephesus, and many became believers because of the very testimony of an evil spirit.
That evil spirit acknowledged that he knew Jesus. This is a great example of how often the weapons the enemy sends against us do not prosper and are turned back upon him. Many were led to confess their involvement with Satan through certain practices, and they came forward and burned their curious books and other occult items.
The whole city became stirred, and many were confused. The confusion came because so many in the city were in idolatry. They worshiped the goddess Diana, and this opened the door for many evil spirits to influence and confuse the people.
Watch out for the patterns of confusion in the nations of the earth and in the very individual lives. Ask the Lord for the anointing to shut the door to the author of confusion that our nations and people have opened through dabbling in the occult. Take a stand against the occultism in your community of influence. Remember that witchcraft is the root of all sins of disobedience and rebellion against God and God's constituted authority around you. It is often subtle and uses the M.Sc. Degree - Manipulation, Seduction and Control to deal with its victim. Occultism on the other hands goes beyond witchcraft and is the root of all greed (political power and money grabbing as well as sexual exploits) and moral decay around you. It is very open but equally very deceptive and disguised. It uses the Ph.D. Degree - Power-political, Harlotry-real and economic and Devil Worship in all its dark forms to deal with nations and peoples. Individually, we have to receive the weapon to shut the door of the occult and occultism through the anointing of the Holy Ghost. God cannot do for us what He has delegated to us to execute on His behalf.
Nations and cities where people still read the horoscope daily or played with Ouija boards and fortunetellers (tarot-card or palm readers) allowed to openly operate their businesses are proof of the existence of the Spirit of Confusion. They are not for fun or mere game. These are serious occult businesses and practices. These practices need to be confessed as sin and renounced, and when you do this, you will no longer have a door open to confusion. You can look forward to clarity of mind and peace of mind and heart.
PERSONAL PRAYERS: Lord, show me all the doors opened to Satan around me and around my Church by the things being done and practiced by the men and women (no matter their position's level) within my domain of influence - the realm that collects my taxes (directly or indirectly and supply my means of livelihood through my sweat and labor. I stand in the gap as I confess and renounce these things (NAME THEM ONE BY ONE) and I close the door to and against Satan, I close the door to and against his Principalities and I close the door to and against his demonic spirits of confusion. So I say and thus speak by the authority given to me my Jesus Christ and in His Name. Amen.
- Finance or Money (Capitalism exemplified by 'Wall Street')
- The loose sexual and perverted (sexually confused and disoriented) life-styles of the Western World
- The Power Thirst and Personal Greed of the Developing Nations
- The existence of actual Occult practices or the Cultic in the bid to hold on to power, wealth and all kinds of sexual appetite across the nations and in the Church of Christ on Earth
and the list goes on.
Now in Acts 19, several Jews in Ephesus who were not sincere believers in Jesus Christ took it upon themselves to try to deliver a man vexed with an evil spirit. The demon in the man recognized that these seven men did not have the authority of Jesus Christ or the power of the Holy Spirit. The evil spirit spoke through the man saying, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?" The man under the influence of this demon then became violent and attacked the seven men, who fled naked from the scene. The news of this encounter spread throughout the city of Ephesus, and many became believers because of the very testimony of an evil spirit.
That evil spirit acknowledged that he knew Jesus. This is a great example of how often the weapons the enemy sends against us do not prosper and are turned back upon him. Many were led to confess their involvement with Satan through certain practices, and they came forward and burned their curious books and other occult items.
The whole city became stirred, and many were confused. The confusion came because so many in the city were in idolatry. They worshiped the goddess Diana, and this opened the door for many evil spirits to influence and confuse the people.
Watch out for the patterns of confusion in the nations of the earth and in the very individual lives. Ask the Lord for the anointing to shut the door to the author of confusion that our nations and people have opened through dabbling in the occult. Take a stand against the occultism in your community of influence. Remember that witchcraft is the root of all sins of disobedience and rebellion against God and God's constituted authority around you. It is often subtle and uses the M.Sc. Degree - Manipulation, Seduction and Control to deal with its victim. Occultism on the other hands goes beyond witchcraft and is the root of all greed (political power and money grabbing as well as sexual exploits) and moral decay around you. It is very open but equally very deceptive and disguised. It uses the Ph.D. Degree - Power-political, Harlotry-real and economic and Devil Worship in all its dark forms to deal with nations and peoples. Individually, we have to receive the weapon to shut the door of the occult and occultism through the anointing of the Holy Ghost. God cannot do for us what He has delegated to us to execute on His behalf.
Nations and cities where people still read the horoscope daily or played with Ouija boards and fortunetellers (tarot-card or palm readers) allowed to openly operate their businesses are proof of the existence of the Spirit of Confusion. They are not for fun or mere game. These are serious occult businesses and practices. These practices need to be confessed as sin and renounced, and when you do this, you will no longer have a door open to confusion. You can look forward to clarity of mind and peace of mind and heart.
PERSONAL PRAYERS: Lord, show me all the doors opened to Satan around me and around my Church by the things being done and practiced by the men and women (no matter their position's level) within my domain of influence - the realm that collects my taxes (directly or indirectly and supply my means of livelihood through my sweat and labor. I stand in the gap as I confess and renounce these things (NAME THEM ONE BY ONE) and I close the door to and against Satan, I close the door to and against his Principalities and I close the door to and against his demonic spirits of confusion. So I say and thus speak by the authority given to me my Jesus Christ and in His Name. Amen.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Understanding The Three Levels (0, 1 & 2) of Spiritual Warfare.
Understanding The Three Levels (0, 1 & 2) of Spiritual Warfare.
THE FIRST - THE GROUND ZERO LEVEL OR FIRST DEGREE SPIRITUAL WARFARE - THE REALM OF PHYSICAL OFTEN ONE ON ONE CONFRONTATION
Here we use the Power of Zero (Every Power Comes from God and belongs to God and will return ultimately to God) to bring the Powers of the Enemy to Nought. In the Physical Realm, Christ Jesus has given us the Power to reduce every Opposition OF THE ENEMY to Nought - Mark 16:16-18.
The is the Level that deals with the use of absolute power of the Believer - based on the Authority given to the Believer by Christ Jesus - this is the level of physical confrontation with the works of darkness and the powers of darkness. The level of warfare that deals mainly with casting out of demons and the healing of the sick - bringing their powers to nought.
It is the Realm of Extraordinary Miracles/Deliverance under the Apostolic Ministries - Reducing every Satanic Power to Zero:
“God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” Acts 19:11-12
1. True Deliverance ministry is an integral part of apostolic ministry that brings the powers of darkness to nought. Healing, signs, wonders and salvations are part of this Ground Zero Level warfare too.
2. True deliverance of a soul from demonic oppression and possession and it is about getting a sick person healed. It causes the fire of God to fall as the atmosphere of healing presents itself and sometimes so powerfully that even before hands are laid folks are falling already on the ground.
3. True deliverance under an apostolic unction beyond deliverance, rehabilitates - as in the case of recovering drug addicts and alcoholics, the Holy Spirit not only drives out the demons but pours out the grace of our Lord and Savior! It brings about a powerful and liberating experience.
4. The healing ministry or deliverance ministry gives us every reason to worship God for His goodness to us in Christ. In meetings where the power of the Lord is present to heal the sick, often when in His Sovereign Power touches one person with His Healing grace and that person shares the testimony of their healing, suddenly many more healing and miracles will begin to happen. This is so because faith has been built up in others through the release of the word of faith. As long as a praise testimony is exuberant and joyful that enables a healing atmosphere to pervade all over the room as people engaged heart by heart with the Lord - allowing God to truly meets the folks where they are!
5. In Luke 10 we read how Jesus sent out seventy two disciples and they returned to him reporting, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” Luke 10:17
Jesus responded, ”I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that our names are written in heaven.” Verses 18-20
The is the Power of Zero manifesting at this GROUND ZERO LEVEL OR FIRST DEGREE SPIRITUAL WARFARE - THE REALM OF PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION.
The disciples had been ministering deliverance in the towns and villages and many people were set free and on their return the Lord spoke to the disciples of seeing Satan fall. Whilst Jesus was in the first instance referring to the fall of Lucifer from heaven, it is noteworthy to ponder a further possible emphasis the Lord was making – casting out of demons affects principalities in the heavens!
6. True Deliverance ministry which is an integral part of the apostolic ministry is in line with the further emphasis of Jesus to His disciples about the importance of rejoicing in relationship with God. A lifestyle of intimacy with Jesus is essential if we are to be involved in spiritual warfare even at this most basic level - the Ground Zero of Spiritual Warfare.
7. We read further in Acts 19 of some Jews who went around trying to drive out evil spirits in like manner to Paul and his team. However one day the evil spirit answered them and said, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you? Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.” Verse 15, 16
True Deliverance ministry is an integral part of apostolic ministry is based on Covenant Relationship with God in Christ Jesus. Whilst these unfortunate fellows in Acts 19 received a terrible beating, for those who are in covenant relationship with God, it is important to understand that the spiritual realm recognizes the authority of Jesus Christ and His anointed servants and submits to Christ's authority. Every knee must bow at His name. Hallelujah!
UPPER FLOOR LEVEL - SECOND DEGREE SPIRITUAL WARFARE - THE REALM OF THE DIABOLICAL - OCCULT LEVEL SPIRITUAL WARFARE
The level of warfare that deals with the occult, sorcery, witchcraft, and divination. It definitely unseen and takes place in the heavenly places and in the intangible realms - Eph. 6:10-12 - Principalities, Powers, Rulers of darkness of this world and Spiritual Wickedness in high places.
These Agents of Satan are dealt with in this realm, especially Rulers of darkness of this world and Spiritual Wickedness in high places - witches, warlocks, sorcerers and Satanists. Examples include Acts 8, 13, 16 and 19.
When the story of Jesus' authority became known to the Jews and Greeks in Ephesus, the fear of the Lord fell on the people and “the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.” The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. As a result of two years of preaching, preparation of an apostolic team, and the demonstration of God’s love and power through deliverance/healing there was a mighty shift in the spiritual stratosphere. Occult practitioners were now being shaken from their old lifestyle and beginning to come forward to receive Christ as Savior and Lord.
“Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” Acts 19:18-20
1. We see in Ephesus how Satan’s agents (the sorcerers) were displaced from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of God.
2. Through their open confession and repentance from the occult there was a radical increase in the number of people who (a) responded to the salvation message and (b) manifestation of God’s power.
3. The Ground Zero level Warfare of preaching, teaching, deliverance and healing had laid the foundation for this next stage of breakthrough. Hallelujah!
4. Occult practitioners no doubt held many in the grip of fear and superstition. When they became believers the devil’s hold was loosened on all the lives over whom they had influence and God’s grace was manifest in community salvation and transformation thus the kingdom was established and advanced.
5. Church, we need to love and exercise Christ's authority for those who are trapped in witchcraft, Satanism and all manner of darkness because Jesus died to set them free just as He died for our freedom too.
THE PENTE-HOUSE LEVEL OR THIRD DEGREE - THE STRATEGIC HIGH LEVEL WARFARE – RIOT OR REVIVAL!
The level of warfare that deals with high ranking territorial spirits. . An example being found in Acts 19, where Paul’s ministry affected the worship of the goddess Diana in Ephesus.
1. When a society even a nation is held captive by a Satanic or Demonic Principality, every aspect of that society is infiltrated by the spiritual tentacles of the evil entity including the city’s economics.
In the Ground Zero (first) level of Warfare, this is equally true when a person (even someone strong in Church Activities) is held captive by Powers (of Darkness), every aspect of that person's life is infiltrated by the spiritual tentacles of the evil entity especially of rancor, unforgiveness, carnality and disobedience to authority.
2. The Ephesians' community was no exception. Prior to Paul’s ‘apostolic assault’ on the city, the economy had been controlled and influenced in many areas by the occult. The occult practitioners who had not converted to Christianity were now suffering great financial losses and about this time a great disturbance arose.
“A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades and said, “Men you know we receive a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredit, and the goddess herself, who is worshipped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.” Acts 19:24-27
A riot quickly ensued and the people were furious and began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians” and soon the whole city was in total uproar. Paul’s traveling companions (Gaius and Aristarchus) were seized by the people and rushed into the theatre. Paul wanted to appear before the people but the disciples wouldn't let him. The assembled mob was in total confusion, with people shouting in contention over one another and with most folks not even understanding why they were there. One of the Jews Alexander tried to speak to the crowd but when they understood he was a Jew they chanted for two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.” Verse 34
3. Occultism births rebellion, confusion and uproar in the places where demonic thrones operate to bring despair and destruction upon a people or a region. Watch nations, societies, communities and cities where occult practices are the norm or rampant - the nations of Africa, Haiti and such other communities.
4. It is time for the church of Jesus Christ to rise up in grace, to praise His glorious name and to pray with humility and fervency for the rule and reign of Christ to be established throughout the nations. His kingdom rule releases righteousness, peace, joy and Godly order in our lives and communities, yet we understand from the example of Ephesus that breaking through into hostile enemy territory may in part, involve a riotous enemy response prior to the establishment of righteousness in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Apostolic authority and wisdom penetrates hostile territory with the glorious Gospel of our Savior!
5. The city clerk stood up and quieted the crowd and said, “Men of Ephesus, doesn't all the world know the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image which fell from heaven?” In broad daylight and in the midst of the community the government official was stating that this city was guardian to what we may equate to be the queen of heaven.
The officials’ word confirms that the city had been in bondage to demonic rulers. However, the ensuing riot that accompanied this third stage of Spirit-led warfare by Paul and his team is evidence of a wicked ruler that was beginning to topple and needing to find a way to stop the holiness invasion that was uprooting all of its power bases in the city it had once ruled. Eventually the city clerk calmed the crowd and told them they were in danger of being charged with rioting because of their behavior and he then dismissed the assembly.
6. We live in days of increasing spiritual warfare and we must learn to ascend into the reality of being hid in Christ. When the Lord has taken me into spiritual warfare encounters with wicked evil rules, powers and principalities I can honestly say I did not ask to be taken there. Each encounter with an evil principality or ruler has been for a specific kingdom purpose.
7. Warfare on this Third Level should not be entered without the specific direction, instruction and inspiration of the Lord. It is far too dangerous to engage with high ranking evil powers if the Lord has not appointed, authorized and anointed one to do so.
One must be given an authoritative decree to proclaim in dealing with high ranking evil powers. One operating in this realm must be accompanied by a troop of angels and because the Lord in His Sovereign power initiated the encounter, one then would be divinely protected as long as that Son of God (in the Kingdom mindset) remains within the remit of God-given sphere of authority.
THE GODDESS FALLS!
Church history has it that Apostle John later went to the City of Ephesus and entered the temple of Diana. He prayed and the goddess split in two; the final blow had been cast against the evil principality and its grip on the city of Ephesus.
Hallelujah our God reigns! Let us now get into nations, cities and people groups and do Warfare - all kinds for our God has given us the nations of the earth and her people. Praise God.
THE FIRST - THE GROUND ZERO LEVEL OR FIRST DEGREE SPIRITUAL WARFARE - THE REALM OF PHYSICAL OFTEN ONE ON ONE CONFRONTATION
Here we use the Power of Zero (Every Power Comes from God and belongs to God and will return ultimately to God) to bring the Powers of the Enemy to Nought. In the Physical Realm, Christ Jesus has given us the Power to reduce every Opposition OF THE ENEMY to Nought - Mark 16:16-18.
The is the Level that deals with the use of absolute power of the Believer - based on the Authority given to the Believer by Christ Jesus - this is the level of physical confrontation with the works of darkness and the powers of darkness. The level of warfare that deals mainly with casting out of demons and the healing of the sick - bringing their powers to nought.
It is the Realm of Extraordinary Miracles/Deliverance under the Apostolic Ministries - Reducing every Satanic Power to Zero:
“God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” Acts 19:11-12
1. True Deliverance ministry is an integral part of apostolic ministry that brings the powers of darkness to nought. Healing, signs, wonders and salvations are part of this Ground Zero Level warfare too.
2. True deliverance of a soul from demonic oppression and possession and it is about getting a sick person healed. It causes the fire of God to fall as the atmosphere of healing presents itself and sometimes so powerfully that even before hands are laid folks are falling already on the ground.
3. True deliverance under an apostolic unction beyond deliverance, rehabilitates - as in the case of recovering drug addicts and alcoholics, the Holy Spirit not only drives out the demons but pours out the grace of our Lord and Savior! It brings about a powerful and liberating experience.
4. The healing ministry or deliverance ministry gives us every reason to worship God for His goodness to us in Christ. In meetings where the power of the Lord is present to heal the sick, often when in His Sovereign Power touches one person with His Healing grace and that person shares the testimony of their healing, suddenly many more healing and miracles will begin to happen. This is so because faith has been built up in others through the release of the word of faith. As long as a praise testimony is exuberant and joyful that enables a healing atmosphere to pervade all over the room as people engaged heart by heart with the Lord - allowing God to truly meets the folks where they are!
5. In Luke 10 we read how Jesus sent out seventy two disciples and they returned to him reporting, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” Luke 10:17
Jesus responded, ”I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that our names are written in heaven.” Verses 18-20
The is the Power of Zero manifesting at this GROUND ZERO LEVEL OR FIRST DEGREE SPIRITUAL WARFARE - THE REALM OF PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION.
The disciples had been ministering deliverance in the towns and villages and many people were set free and on their return the Lord spoke to the disciples of seeing Satan fall. Whilst Jesus was in the first instance referring to the fall of Lucifer from heaven, it is noteworthy to ponder a further possible emphasis the Lord was making – casting out of demons affects principalities in the heavens!
6. True Deliverance ministry which is an integral part of the apostolic ministry is in line with the further emphasis of Jesus to His disciples about the importance of rejoicing in relationship with God. A lifestyle of intimacy with Jesus is essential if we are to be involved in spiritual warfare even at this most basic level - the Ground Zero of Spiritual Warfare.
7. We read further in Acts 19 of some Jews who went around trying to drive out evil spirits in like manner to Paul and his team. However one day the evil spirit answered them and said, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you? Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.” Verse 15, 16
True Deliverance ministry is an integral part of apostolic ministry is based on Covenant Relationship with God in Christ Jesus. Whilst these unfortunate fellows in Acts 19 received a terrible beating, for those who are in covenant relationship with God, it is important to understand that the spiritual realm recognizes the authority of Jesus Christ and His anointed servants and submits to Christ's authority. Every knee must bow at His name. Hallelujah!
UPPER FLOOR LEVEL - SECOND DEGREE SPIRITUAL WARFARE - THE REALM OF THE DIABOLICAL - OCCULT LEVEL SPIRITUAL WARFARE
The level of warfare that deals with the occult, sorcery, witchcraft, and divination. It definitely unseen and takes place in the heavenly places and in the intangible realms - Eph. 6:10-12 - Principalities, Powers, Rulers of darkness of this world and Spiritual Wickedness in high places.
These Agents of Satan are dealt with in this realm, especially Rulers of darkness of this world and Spiritual Wickedness in high places - witches, warlocks, sorcerers and Satanists. Examples include Acts 8, 13, 16 and 19.
When the story of Jesus' authority became known to the Jews and Greeks in Ephesus, the fear of the Lord fell on the people and “the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.” The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. As a result of two years of preaching, preparation of an apostolic team, and the demonstration of God’s love and power through deliverance/healing there was a mighty shift in the spiritual stratosphere. Occult practitioners were now being shaken from their old lifestyle and beginning to come forward to receive Christ as Savior and Lord.
“Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” Acts 19:18-20
1. We see in Ephesus how Satan’s agents (the sorcerers) were displaced from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of God.
2. Through their open confession and repentance from the occult there was a radical increase in the number of people who (a) responded to the salvation message and (b) manifestation of God’s power.
3. The Ground Zero level Warfare of preaching, teaching, deliverance and healing had laid the foundation for this next stage of breakthrough. Hallelujah!
4. Occult practitioners no doubt held many in the grip of fear and superstition. When they became believers the devil’s hold was loosened on all the lives over whom they had influence and God’s grace was manifest in community salvation and transformation thus the kingdom was established and advanced.
5. Church, we need to love and exercise Christ's authority for those who are trapped in witchcraft, Satanism and all manner of darkness because Jesus died to set them free just as He died for our freedom too.
THE PENTE-HOUSE LEVEL OR THIRD DEGREE - THE STRATEGIC HIGH LEVEL WARFARE – RIOT OR REVIVAL!
The level of warfare that deals with high ranking territorial spirits. . An example being found in Acts 19, where Paul’s ministry affected the worship of the goddess Diana in Ephesus.
1. When a society even a nation is held captive by a Satanic or Demonic Principality, every aspect of that society is infiltrated by the spiritual tentacles of the evil entity including the city’s economics.
In the Ground Zero (first) level of Warfare, this is equally true when a person (even someone strong in Church Activities) is held captive by Powers (of Darkness), every aspect of that person's life is infiltrated by the spiritual tentacles of the evil entity especially of rancor, unforgiveness, carnality and disobedience to authority.
2. The Ephesians' community was no exception. Prior to Paul’s ‘apostolic assault’ on the city, the economy had been controlled and influenced in many areas by the occult. The occult practitioners who had not converted to Christianity were now suffering great financial losses and about this time a great disturbance arose.
“A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades and said, “Men you know we receive a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredit, and the goddess herself, who is worshipped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.” Acts 19:24-27
A riot quickly ensued and the people were furious and began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians” and soon the whole city was in total uproar. Paul’s traveling companions (Gaius and Aristarchus) were seized by the people and rushed into the theatre. Paul wanted to appear before the people but the disciples wouldn't let him. The assembled mob was in total confusion, with people shouting in contention over one another and with most folks not even understanding why they were there. One of the Jews Alexander tried to speak to the crowd but when they understood he was a Jew they chanted for two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.” Verse 34
3. Occultism births rebellion, confusion and uproar in the places where demonic thrones operate to bring despair and destruction upon a people or a region. Watch nations, societies, communities and cities where occult practices are the norm or rampant - the nations of Africa, Haiti and such other communities.
4. It is time for the church of Jesus Christ to rise up in grace, to praise His glorious name and to pray with humility and fervency for the rule and reign of Christ to be established throughout the nations. His kingdom rule releases righteousness, peace, joy and Godly order in our lives and communities, yet we understand from the example of Ephesus that breaking through into hostile enemy territory may in part, involve a riotous enemy response prior to the establishment of righteousness in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Apostolic authority and wisdom penetrates hostile territory with the glorious Gospel of our Savior!
5. The city clerk stood up and quieted the crowd and said, “Men of Ephesus, doesn't all the world know the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image which fell from heaven?” In broad daylight and in the midst of the community the government official was stating that this city was guardian to what we may equate to be the queen of heaven.
The officials’ word confirms that the city had been in bondage to demonic rulers. However, the ensuing riot that accompanied this third stage of Spirit-led warfare by Paul and his team is evidence of a wicked ruler that was beginning to topple and needing to find a way to stop the holiness invasion that was uprooting all of its power bases in the city it had once ruled. Eventually the city clerk calmed the crowd and told them they were in danger of being charged with rioting because of their behavior and he then dismissed the assembly.
6. We live in days of increasing spiritual warfare and we must learn to ascend into the reality of being hid in Christ. When the Lord has taken me into spiritual warfare encounters with wicked evil rules, powers and principalities I can honestly say I did not ask to be taken there. Each encounter with an evil principality or ruler has been for a specific kingdom purpose.
7. Warfare on this Third Level should not be entered without the specific direction, instruction and inspiration of the Lord. It is far too dangerous to engage with high ranking evil powers if the Lord has not appointed, authorized and anointed one to do so.
One must be given an authoritative decree to proclaim in dealing with high ranking evil powers. One operating in this realm must be accompanied by a troop of angels and because the Lord in His Sovereign power initiated the encounter, one then would be divinely protected as long as that Son of God (in the Kingdom mindset) remains within the remit of God-given sphere of authority.
THE GODDESS FALLS!
Church history has it that Apostle John later went to the City of Ephesus and entered the temple of Diana. He prayed and the goddess split in two; the final blow had been cast against the evil principality and its grip on the city of Ephesus.
Hallelujah our God reigns! Let us now get into nations, cities and people groups and do Warfare - all kinds for our God has given us the nations of the earth and her people. Praise God.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Beloved,
Since you have watched the video clip of this very interesting demographic projections - Which is still A MUST SEE and concerns you as a Christian in this time and age - What are your reactions and what commnets do you have as to assists our Church leaders to prepare the Church of Christ for the soon coming head onn collusion with Islam. But, if you haven't watch this video clip, please go back to my encyclical and watch it. it is titled:
MUSLIM DEMOGRAPHICS
You may need to join our 24 Hr Prayer hotline and let us beat back the force of Islam.
Maranatha.
mjomeokwe
M. Joe Omeokwe, Ph.D.
Senior Pastor
The Harvest Center
Vineyard International Christian Ministries
1140 Teller Avenue
Bronx, NY 10456, USA.
(718) 538-9211 (Church)
(718) 542-7417 (Fax & 24 Hr. Hotline)
Since you have watched the video clip of this very interesting demographic projections - Which is still A MUST SEE and concerns you as a Christian in this time and age - What are your reactions and what commnets do you have as to assists our Church leaders to prepare the Church of Christ for the soon coming head onn collusion with Islam. But, if you haven't watch this video clip, please go back to my encyclical and watch it. it is titled:
MUSLIM DEMOGRAPHICS
You may need to join our 24 Hr Prayer hotline and let us beat back the force of Islam.
Maranatha.
mjomeokwe
M. Joe Omeokwe, Ph.D.
Senior Pastor
The Harvest Center
Vineyard International Christian Ministries
1140 Teller Avenue
Bronx, NY 10456, USA.
(718) 538-9211 (Church)
(718) 542-7417 (Fax & 24 Hr. Hotline)
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