Thriving Words

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. - John 8:36 On friday Morning  (yesterday), I finally watched (or finish watching) the new blockbuster movie from the stable of Mount Zion Film Production "Stalker". The movie was written and produce by Damilola Mike-Bamiloye. I rarely post movies reviews but when something is worth posting and sharing, you shouldn't keep it to yourself. The Movie is about a  young and newly married lady that is victimized and tormented by her hidden past but she gets her freedom when she decides to expose them all.  The movie explores how to break free from the fetters of yesterday and walk in the freedom of Christ.  Stalker  establishes the fact that sin is only powerful when under cover on the premise of the scripture that says ‘whosoever covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.’ Despite the seemingly glum tone of the movie, it’s not devoid of...

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.   - Romans  8:37 . Paul writing to the Romans has earlier ask a rhetoric question about what can separate us from the love of God, his answer is what came down to the above verse. ( Romans 8:35-37 ) The devil aims, in all the sufferings of God’s children, to draw them off from Christ, to make them murmur, despair,  but in this he is defeated and disappointed, for God inspires his children with such a generous and noble spirit, that sufferings abate not their zeal and patience, but rather increase them.    When we go tough times, the enemies intend to have our faith reduced and eventually stopped believing in God. Nay, that doesn't happen, a believer wax stronger in tough times, a believers victory is already achieved trough the love of Jesus. Our victory is always certain in Jesus. What should makes you going even when thing are difficult is the Love of Jesus. What sho...

Guard your heart with all diligence for  out of it flows issues of life.  - Proverbs  4:23 The heart is the source of every actions in life (good or bad). Whatsoever we set out to do are firstly proposed in our hearts. A heart that is filled with evil and wickedness will surely do bad things. The wise author of the book of proverb advise us to guard our heart diligently. To guard your heart means to carefully screen and select what comes into the heart. A man that fails has already started failing from the heart. Guarding your hearts is to keep the heArt from  vanity, the understanding from error, the will from perverseness, the conscience clear of guilt, the affections from being inordinate and set on evil objects, the thoughts from being employed on bad subjects; and the whole from falling into the hands of the enemy, or being the possession of Satan: great diligence had need be used in guarding the heart, since it is naturally so deceitful and treacherous...

Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.   - 2 Kings 4:2 This story is really somehow funny. A prophet of the Most High God in debts? He even died in the debts and his family were to pay off the debts. It's a pathetic story There is always this misconception we do have, I have heard things like "once you are Christian, you are automatically wealthy because Jesus became poor for you to be rich". Yet we found many Christians still poor. Is it that Jesus didn't became poor for them or what?   A late prophet of God was a debtor and left his family in more difficult situation. Being a Christian doesn't mean you will be rich and not having any debt. If you are bad planner or you don't know how to be accountable with your money, Christian or no Christi...

The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. - Proverb 15:14 Many times, I do received the so called 'chain messages' that ask you to pass a particular message to 10, 20 people or else. They both promises and threaten you. Funny enough, there are folks that literally get scared of the chain messages and thereby forward it to virtually all their contacts.  At times, there is are messages purported to have come from a famous clergyman who has a vision about the rapture or sees Jesus coming back. Due to the gullible nature of some folks, they virtually take everything hook and line. No wonder, I do hear and read stories of people eating grass after been told to do so by their pastors. One of the causes for all these is ignorance. People who don't have knowledge will be at the risk of perishing. Knowledge is power. Always seek to learn and know more. Don't just do things because someone ask you. Find out if what you are to do is in...

...for we live by faith, not by sight.  - 2 Corinthians 5:7 Sometimes, as a believer looking around you, you don't really like where you are. You have study God words well enough and yet, the reality seems to be delaying, all what you see physically is the opposite of what you have been praying and reading about.  Truth be told, physically speaking, when we look at our lives and where we are, we would grow weary and feel like giving up. But we don't live by what we see. What you see is not the future but the present. Your sight will only see the present state. We walk and live by faith. Faith shows you what the sight won't show you. Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Faith shows you the future. Even when the present is not too okay, faith shows you it will be okay because the Word of God says so. Our physical eyes can't not comprehend the promises of God for our lives. Faith is what we need to access that realm.  Your sight sees the things th...

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:  - Galatians 3:13 Yesterday post talks about the consequences of the sins of the fathers that affect his generation. Many have been fighting 'inherited' battles. But the question one will ask is how do one get out of this consequences, how does one stop the generational curse. The actions of our forefathers (idol worshipping, killings of strangers/visitors, slavery, etc) has great consequences which affect us. Solomon Son suffered for the sins of his father. Ruben generations suffered for the sins of their Father. Isaac generation till today have no long period of peaceful rest because of Ishmael. Ishmael generation keeps tormenting them. The first step to been free from this is to have Jesus. Jesus is the redemption for every battles, curse, consequences that we are under. A man/woman without Jesus will be easily tormented by the e...

Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. 12  Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.        - 1 Kings 11:11-12 The story is Solomon is a sweet story turned bitter. He started well but ended badly. God gave the Israelites specific instruction about the tribes/nations they must not marry from, But Solomon disobey every of the instruction, as a matter of fact, He did the exact opposite, He marry from virtually every tribe God has commanded them not to marry from. These strange women eventually turned his heart (Solomon) away from God and He did evil in the sight of the Lord. (1 Kings 11:1-10). As a result of that, God gave Solomon Son a troublesome regime, the kingdom collapses during his son ...

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?  - Esther 4:14 The Jews were at the risk of been wiped away, Mordecai beckon on the Queen who happens to be a Jew to use her influence to stop this evil plan. At first, Queen Esther was afraid to do such because it's also risky for (as her own move may backfire). Mordecai challenge her to take up this and told perhaps, that was the reason she was the Queen. She was at the right place And at the right time for a time like this. Esther could have looked the other way round and watches her fellow countrymen and women killed. But she stood up to the task and prevented it.  Wherever place of influence we find ourselves in, there is always a role to play, a task to do. God will elevate you not just becau...

...But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. - Exodus 1:12 Many years After the death of Joseph, Egypt new king was looking for ways to reduce the might, expansion and influence of the Israelites. So he decided to task them and make them work vigorously, to his dismayed, the more this special people are afflicted , the more they wax stronger and grew. What was meant to kill them increase them. One beautiful thing about God is this: He never let down His own even when the enemy keeps afflicting . The schemes of the enemy can't stop the plans of God for your life. We all go through trials and battles in life, The devil wants those battles to kill us, diminish us and to destroyed us. But because God is greater, those things that were meant to kill us instead spur us into greater heights. The Israelites didn't offend the king, he was just jealous of their enlargement. So many jealous...

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 23  The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. 24  Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? 25  And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26  If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?  - Luke 12:22-26 It's natural of we humans to worry. We worry about our health, our children, we worry virtually about everything. Jesus told His disciples not to give themselves to worrying. He gave an example of the birds, they don't sow nor reap yet God does feed them, how much more we His children. This is what Jesus is telling us. Instead of us worrying, we should put our trust in God that He will take go...

...but my God shall supply lol your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.    - Philippians 4:19 One of the most-quoted and misquoted bible verses is Philippians 4:19. To really understand why Paul prayed that prayer, you need to read from verse 14-19 . That prayer was as a result of the giving by the church in Macedonia. They constantly gave to Apostle Paul Ministry, even when Paul didn't request for it.  It was their giving that brought about the prayer. They gave and He blessed them. Philippians 4:19 is not for a stingy person, neither is it for a lazy person. Today, we have all done that verse into a confessional statement. It is a prayer for givers. It's a prayer that we pray with our act(giving) first before praying it with out mouth. Do you believe the Lord shall supply all nyour needs? Do you believe He will meet you at every point of your needs? Then you shouldn't have problem giving. Everybody loves a wonderful and bountif...

...but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. - Daniel 11:32 There is the thought of  knowing God, being strong  and  doing exploits.  God’’s people are characterised by what they know, what they are and what they do. Believers (Christians) are different from worldly and unconverted people in these three respects – in the matter of  knowing, being  and  doing.  Notice that these three characteristics of the child of God are related, for only as we know God can we be strong; and only as we are strong can we undertake exploits in the name of the Lord.  Believers are called to do exploits for God in every area of our life. We can only do exploits when we are strong and we are strong when we know our God well enough. The first step in doing exploit for God is to know God. The more you know God, the more strength we received through knowing Him, there is always an enablement in knowing God. The second s...

Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me …” - Isaiah 29:13 I remember one of my lecturers (years back) utters a quote in the lecture hall: he says 'Don't be heavenly minded that you are not earthly good'. He was talking about Religious people. These days, we are having more and more religious people but less followers of Jesus. Generally, we tend to believe a religious person is a righteous person just the same way we believe a simple man is a humble man.  During Jesus days, the Pharisees and the Sadducees were highly religious, they looked outwardly righteous but deep down their heart, they ain't. Many folks are like that too, they go to church every Sunday, worship God but back to the office on Monday to friday, it's another life entirely. Religious people lives a life of pretense, a life of show off. God created Man and man created religion. Religion was never fro...

I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you  - John 13:15 Apart from Bering compassionate, another major quality found in Jesus is humility. He was humble man to the core. In  John 13:1-17,  we were told of how Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. What a rare kind of leader. Historically, Feet washing is an imperative act that takes place before the communal meal basically because of the filthy roads in those days. So when people sat down round the low table to eat, you wouldn't see a dirty feet in sight. What makes this act more humbling is fact that Jesus was doing the work of the lowliest of servants. And after doing so, He told His disciples to do likewise.  In this modern age, servant leadership is reducing. Leaders don't serve again, instead they want to be served. In the Kingdom of God, you are called to serve and not to be served.  The disciples must have been stunned at this act of humility and condesce...

Good Morning beloved, there is a word for somebody this morning, kindly prayerfully and prophetically read the below verses through: “But you, are my servant.      You’re  my first  choice,      descendants of my good friend Abraham. I pulled you in from all over the world,      called you in from every dark corner of the earth, Telling you, ‘You’re my servant, serving on my side.      I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you.’ Don’t panic. I’m with you.      There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you.      I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you   “Count on it: Everyone who had it in for you      will end up out in the cold—      real losers. Those who worked against you      will end up empty-handed—      nothing to show...

Lo,  children  are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are  children  of the youth.     - Psalm 127:3-4 Here comes the time and the season that children go back to school (or start school for the freshers), some have resumed, others about to. To every dad, mom, guardian, sister, brother, uncle, aunty, here are back-to-school tips for you to help your child/ward/brother/sister succeed in the new school year.: • Be Physically involved in your child's learning: Meet your Child's teacher. Attend PTA's meeting. Review your child's assignment from school  • Encourage your Child to Set Achievable Goals: encourage your child to obey school rules. Encourage your child to be respectful and courteous. Encourage your child to be kind and friendly. • Be positive to your child in words and deeds. Stop comparing your child with other children. Every child is un...

... thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. - Psalm 3:3 David been a military man, and often alludes to military affairs; and borrows words from thence to express his great security from the Lord. The significance of the above verse comes out as we read in  2Samuel 15:30  how the humiliated monarch went barefoot over Olivet, with head bent down and muffled in his mantle; no glory or dignity left; mute and humiliated under the insults and curses of Shimei. David in the midst of his dangers and distress, quiets his mind by calling to remembrance the power, and love, and faithfulness of God, and trusting in him. We also are to do likewise, in all our perplexities and troubles. God is our shield, shield like no other, Protector is another word for shield.  We live in such a wicked world but the Lord God will surely shield us from every evil.  God is our Glory, like no other. Honour is another word for Glory. God ev...

Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. - 1 John 2:6 The Bible tells that, as believers in Jesus, we are to be conformed to His likeness ( Romans 8:29 ). We are to put on the mind of Christ (I  Corinthians 2:16 ). Every minute of every day we should strive to behave as Jesus would behave if He were facing the situations that we face. Therefore, what daily choices should we make in order to be more like Jesus? In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter five, we find Jesus telling a group of people how His followers should behave. Using the above as a background, let us examine how we can make choices that make us more like Jesus Christ . Believers are called to be like Jesus in every ways. Many a folks believe that is not possible. But if it wasn't possible, Paul won't admonish the believers to be like Jesus. We all at one point have imagine, can we truly be like Jesus in our conduct, our speech, in our relationships etc? One simple to be like Jesus is to ask o...

And  Jabez  called on the God of Israel... and God granted him that which he requested.      - 1 Chronicles 4:10 One beautiful thing about Christianity is we serve a God that answer prayer. When we pray by HIs Will, we are rest assured that He will answer us. The story of Jabez started badly as his mother named him sorrow because of the pain she went to. Just like many folks, people now called them according to the problems they have. But Jabez refused to be limited by that. He prayed to God and God granted His request. Prayer changes things. Be prayerful in your trying times and watch God change things.   The mistake of many people is they seek alternative outside God. They go after herbalist, horoscope readers, fortune tellers and many other ways. All these are ways of the devil, and nothing you seek from the devil that he does add sorrow to it, it might feel cool and good at first but believe you me, it has its hidden sorrow behind. God...