Mercy of God (Romans 9:15-16)

  

Mercy of God (Romans 9:15-16)

‘’…I will show mercy on whom I will show mercy; and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of whom that wills, nor of him that runs, but of the Lord that shows mercy’’ (Romans 9:15-16)

Prayers:

       I.            Mercy of God, overshadow my life, family, ministry and destiny in Jesus name

     II.            Mercy of God, perfect everything that concerns my life in Jesus name

  III.            Mercy of God, speak for me where I cannot speak; go for me where I cannot go; fight for me where I cannot fight in Jesus name

  IV.            Mercy of God, reconnect me to my destiny if I have detached from it in Jesus name

    V.            Mercy of God, reconnect me to the Narrow Way if I have strayed away from it in Jesus name

  VI.            Mercy of God, forgive me my sins, iniquities and transgressions in Jesus name

VII.            Mercy of God, enlarge my coast on every side in Jesus name

VIII.            Mercy of God, rearrange my life, business, education, ministry, marriage etc. for forward progress in Jesus name

  IX.            Mercy of God, make straight the crookedness in my paths (Isaiah 45:2) in Jesus name

     X.            Mercy of God, bring to me the blessings and opportunities that I am not qualified for, or not meant for me in Jesus name

  XI.            Mercy of God, convert my mistakes to miracles in Jesus name

XII.            Mercy of God, turn around my captivity (Psalm 126:1) in Jesus name

XIII.            By the mercies of God, I triumph over the gates of hell assigned against my manifestation (Romans 8:19) in Jesus name

XIV.            By your mercies O God, remove the gates of hell from my portion and make my life and ministry a glorious wonder in Jesus name

XV.            Mercy of God, make a way for me where there seems to be none in Jesus name

XVI.            Mercy of God, turn my barren lands to fruitful and productive lands in Jesus name

XVII.            Mercy of God, convert my insult to result; convert my ridicule to miracles; convert my mess to a message; convert my tears to laughter; convert my lamentation to laughter in Jesus name

XVIII.            Mercy of God, convert my trials to triumph; convert my tests to testimonies; convert my setback to a comeback; convert my disgrace to grace; convert my disappointments to divine appointments in Jesus name

XIX.            Mercy of God, convert my lack and want to abundance; convert my poverty to riches; convert my pain to gain; convert my Cross to a Crown; convert my captivity to freedom in Jesus name

XX.            Mercy of God, convert my blunders to blessings; convert my story to glory; convert my frustration to fulfillment; convert my shame to fame, and change me from borrower to a lender to many nations in Jesus name

Ayodele Adegbulugbe

www.xtianrace.blogspot.com.ng

www.maritalsuccessresource.simplesite.com

Beautifying Cathedrals or Beautifying Your Heart for God

King Solomon built a magnificent temple for God but he did not beautify his body for God. He was the man who spread out his hands toward heaven during the dedication of the temple in 1 Kings 8:22 but ended up an idolater worshipping the idols of his foreign wives.

In the Old Testament, God dwelt in temples built by hands but in the New Testament, He dwells in the hearts of men through the Holy Spirit which descended on the Day of Pentecost. Our bodies are the temple of God where the Holy Spirit now dwells (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

In this Last Day, many churches worldwide are in a fierce competition building huge magnificent cathedrals for God, striving to have the largest or the most magnificent auditorium in the country to attract God’s attention and blessings?

Are the hearts of the worshipers who gather in these cathedrals beautiful before God? God is much more interested in the spiritual condition of our hearts individually and collectively than the beautiful physical cathedrals we claim to be building for Him.

God is interested in pure and circumcised hearts (Deuteronomy 30:6) (Matthew 5:8). Are the worshipers genuinely born again followers of Christ or mere church attendants or church sinners who worship God with their lips only while their hearts are far away from Him (Matthew 15:8) (2 Corinthians 5:17-18)?.

What is the condition of our hearts toward God? Do we love God with all our hearts as commanded in Matthew 22:37-39?

Or have we allowed our addiction to the modern day idols (Facebook, social media, television, internet, relationships, mobile phones, sports, love of gold, love of pleasure and many others to displace God from the front seat position in our hearts, drawing our hearts away from Him?

What is the condition of our hearts toward our neighbor? Do we love our neighbor as ourselves as commanded in Matthew 7:12 and Matthew 22:37-39)?

Or are our hearts bitter, hateful and unforgiving toward our neighbors? Do we have a malicious heart towards our neighbors yet come to spread our hands toward God in our beautiful temples?

Check the condition of your heart toward God and your neighbor. If you are far away from the Lord, it is time to repent and to return to Him with a whole heart and not a divided heart.

Joshua and Caleb were the only two out of the six hundred thousand men who left Egypt in the exodus that entered the Promised Land because they followed God with their whole hearts (Numbers 32:12), not a divided heart.

Your thoughts can defile you before God (Genesis 6:4) (Jeremiah 17:9) (Mark 7:21-23)
Your words can defile you before God (Matthew 12:36-37)
Your actions can defile you before God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Check the spiritual condition of your heart toward God and men and return to Him wholeheartedly.

Prayers:
• Lord Jesus, have mercy on me for I am a sinner (Luke 18:13)
• Lord Jesus, give me a new heart and a new spirit (Deuteronomy 30:6)
• Blood of Jesus, wash and cleanse me from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit (2 Corinthians 7:1).
Ayodele Adegbulugbe
www.xtianrace.blogspot.com.ng

The Right and Wrong Ways to be Angry

There is a right and a wrong way to be angry. The word ‘anger’ means to provoke or to irritate. The faculty of anger was created by God and it is perfectly sinless in itself. This means it is not a sin to be angry but it is a sin to allow your anger to lead you into sin (Ephesians 4:26-27).

The reference in Ephesians 4:26-27 is to being provoked by the Devil to commit sin when angry but one must not yield to such provocation or give place to the Devil to manipulate his anger. Anger is allowed by the gospel but the misuse of the faculty of anger and the other emotion based faculties is what God condemns (Mark 3:5) (Ephesians 4:26-27).

Anger is an attribute of God and of man. God is angry because of sin and is angry with sinners everyday (Psalm 7:11). He was angry with the Israelites in Numbers 11:1 when He was irritated by their complaints. He was also angry with them in Numbers 14:9 when they provoked Him.

Jesus demonstrated holy anger in Mark 3:5 when He was grieved by the attitude of the Pharisees at healing on the Sabbath day. Therefore, anger is not always a manifestation of sin and Satan as both God and man have it and will always have it. As an attribute in man, man must have a lawful cause to be angry else his anger will cause him eternal ruin (Matthew 5:22).

There is holy anger and without holy anger, man will not be capable of confronting and waging war against sin and Satan. It may be futile to be praying for us to be dehumanized but we should be praying for the grace and the power to control the faculty of anger and the other emotion based faculties within the bounds of the Scriptures (Galatians 5:22-23).

Galatians 5:22-23 talks about the fruit of the Spirit and one of the components is self-control or temperance. Though anger is allowed by the gospel, the same gospel tells us to maintain strict control over this faculty. James 1:19 counsels us to be slow to anger, slow to speak and swift to hear and listen. Our anger must not lead us to sinning against God (Ephesians 4:26-27).

Though anger is allowed by the gospel, it is foolishness to be easily angry or annoyed. Proverbs 12:16 tells that a fool is he who makes his anger visible at once when offended while a wise one holds his peace. Likewise Proverbs 14:29 tells that he that is hasty to be angry magnifies folly and foolishness.

 In addition, Proverbs 27:3 tells that ill-temper is injurious to one’s health, reputation and the personality. Ecclesiastes 7:9 tells us that a fool is he who retains anger in him, keeps it alive in him until it incites him to revenge while a wise man quickly casts anger out of his bosom.

Though anger is allowed by the gospel, the Bible has record of men who abused or misused this faculty and brought them into disfavor with God or caused themselves ruin. Prominent examples in the Scriptures include:

Ø Haman (Esther 3:5)

Because Mordecai, a Jew refused to bow before him and show him respect, Haman was angry and in a bid to revenge, he plotted the destruction of the Jews which backfired and led to his fall and destruction.

Ø Cain (Genesis 4:5-6)

Cain’s anger led to envy and the eventual murder of his brother Abel and ended up a fugitive

Ø Simeon and Levi (Genesis 34:25)

Because the prince of Shechem defiled their sister Dinah, Simeon and Levi in fierce and unrestrained anger plotted and executed the cold blooded murder of the prince and all the inhabitants in the city –a horrendous massacre!

Ø King Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:16-21)

Because this King was resisted by the priests when he intruded into the sacred things beyond his jurisdiction, he became angry and God struck him with leprosy till the day of his death. He started as God’s favourite, mightily blessed by God before he fell out of favour and died in a leper’s colony.

Ø Moses was also God’s favourite but was denied the opportunity of entering the Promised Land because he lost his temper and dishonored God when he was provoked by the Jews at the waters of Meribah

Though anger is allowed by the gospel, Proverbs 22:24 warns ‘’make no friendship with an angry man and with a furious man, thou shall not go.’’ 

This is saying that we should be careful of the company we keep because we can unconsciously imitate and imbibe their spirit and ways and be ensnared. As a heaven focused Christian, you must watch the company you associate with if you want to go in the way of righteousness (1 Corinthians 15:33)

Anger has been defined by scholars as ‘’temporary madness’’ or ‘mental disorder.’ Anger can cause a person to lose the Kingdom of God and send one to eternal hell.

Ayodele Adegbulugbe

www.xtianrace.blogspot.com.ng

Lagos, Nigeria.

Beware of False Gospels (Galatians 1:8-9)

Beware of false gospels ( Galatians 1:8-9)

1) The gospel that teaches about a God of love and mercy without judgment.
God is a God of judgment and a Consuming fire ( Hebrews 10:26-31) ( Hebrews 12:29).
They teach about the love and the promises of God but will not tell you about Hell, eternal judgment, holiness, need for repentance and conversion, self denial, consecration and sanctification etc.

2) The gospel that teaches grace without holiness ( Romans 6:1-2). The grace of God is not a licence to commit sins. Without holiness, no man will see God ( Hebrews 12:14).

3) The Bread Alone Gospel i.e. the gospel of prosperity and riches without righteousness ( Proverbs 11:4) ( Revelations 3:17-18).
The greatest riches are spiritual riches, to be rich before God by seeking first the kingdom of God and its righteousness ( Matthew 6:33). Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).

4) The gospel that teaches faith without obedience ( Luke 6:46) ( Romans 10:9-10).
They tell you that once you are saved on the basis of Romans 10:9-10 that you are saved forever even if you live in wilful and habitual sin.

Matthew 19:17 says that for anyone to enter into life, he must obey the commandments. Obedience is nonnegotiable.

5) The gospel of religion without salvation ( Matthew 15:8). Recognizing and acknowledging that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour, and belief in His bodily resurrection is the basis of salvation ( Romans 10-9-10) ( 1 Corinthians 15:1-23).
Those who do not have faith in the bodily resurrection or do not accept Jesus as the Saviour are following mere religion without salvation.

6) The gospel of salvation by good works alone ( Ephesians 2:8-9).
Salvation is a work of grace and by faith, not of works lest men boast.
We are called to good works but good works without the second birth ends in eternal death.
This false gospel teaches that if your good works outweigh the bad, God will accept you. The righteousness of men is filth before God ( Isaiah 64:6).

These false gospels are a way that seems right but leads to death ( Proverbs 14:12).
Beware of one-sided gospels.
Beware of false teaching and false teachers ( 1 Timothy 4:1) in the church.

Ayodele Adegbulugbe
Lagos, Nigeria
www.xtianrace.blogspot.com.ng

Prayers for Anointing to do Exploits

Prayers for Anointing
Without the power of God in our lives, we can do nothing (Joel 2:28) (Luke 24:49) (John 7:37-39) (Acts 1:8) (Acts 2:1-4) (Acts 4:29-30)

Pray as follows:

The anointing of Elijah to decree a thing and be established, possess my tongue in the name of Jesus

The anointing of Elisha to see from the throne of grace, possess my eyes in the name of Jesus

The anointing of Samuel for accurate reception from heaven, come upon my ears in the name of Jesus

The anointing of Joshua for success and victory in the battles of life, fall upon me in the name of Jesus

The anointing of Moses for leadership and counseling, possess me in the name of Jesus

The anointing of Nehemiah to build, repair and make forward progress, possess me in the name of Jesus

The anointing of Father Abraham for closeness to God, for faith and generational blessings, come upon me in the name of Jesus

The anointing of Isaac for investment, productivity and fruitfulness, fall upon me in the name of Jesus

The anointing of Daniel for an excellent spirit, fall upon my life in the name of Jesus

The anointing of Queen Esther for divine favour and deliverance, come upon my life in the name of Jesus

The anointing of Deborah for leadership and deliverance, fall upon me in the name of Jesus

The anointing of Ruth for loyalty to God and the people of God, possess my life in the name of Jesus

The anointing of Joseph for righteousness, come upon me in the name of Jesus

The anointing of Shedrach, Meschach and Abednego for unfailing commitment to God, fall upon me in the name of Jesus

The anointing of the Disciples of Jesus for boldness to preach the Gospel of Salvation everywhere, come upon me in the name of Jesus

Ayodele Adegbulugbe.
www.xtianrace.blogspot.com.ng
www.maritalsuccessresource.simplesite.com

Jesus Christ, the Only Way to Eternity with God!

Hello Friend,

The Bible teaches that there is no other way to salvation than through Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
He is not a way, as in one of many ways to Heaven with God. He is the Way, as in the One and Only Way to God the Father. No one, regardless of reputation, achievement, special knowledge, or personal holiness, can come to God the Father except through Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the only way to heaven for several reasons. Jesus was “chosen by God” to be the Savior (1 Peter 2:4). Jesus is the only One to have come down from heaven and returned there (John 3:13).
He is the only person to have lived a perfect human life (Hebrews 4:15). He is the only sacrifice for sin (1 John 2:2; Hebrews 10:26).

He alone fulfilled the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). He is the only man to have conquered death forever (Hebrews 2:14–15).

He is the only Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). He is the only One whom God elevated to the highest place and He alone has a name above every other name (Philippians 2:9).
Jesus spoke of Himself as the only way to heaven in several places besides John 14:6. He presented Himself as the object of faith in Matthew 7:21–27. He said His words are life (John 6:63).

He promised that those who believe in Him will have eternal life (John 3:14–15). He is the gate of the sheep (John 10:7); the bread of life (John 6:35); and the resurrection (John 11:25). No one else can rightly claim those titles.

The apostles’ preaching focused on the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Peter, speaking to the Sanhedrin, clearly proclaimed Jesus as the only way to heaven: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Eternal life in heaven is made possible only through Christ. Jesus prayed, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

To receive God’s free gift of salvation, we must look to Jesus and Jesus alone. We must trust in Jesus’ death on the cross as our payment for sin and in His resurrection. “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3:22).

At one point in Jesus’ ministry, many of the crowd were turning their backs on Him and leaving in hopes of finding another savior. Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” (John 6:67).
Peter’s reply is exactly right: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God (John 6:68–69).

A) HOW TO RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE:

 Recognize that you are a sinner and hopelessly lost without Christ (Romans 3:23) (Romans 6:23)

 Believe the good news that God sent Jesus Christ to take your place, die in your stead and paid the full price for your sin (Romans 5:8); that He not only died but was buried, was resurrected and is alive forever more to be your advocate before God (1 Corinthians 15:1-5)

 Confess to Jesus that you are a sinner, guilty before God and hopelessly lost, and ask for mercy and forgiveness. Realize that ‘if thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thy heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shall be saved.
For with the heart, men believe unto righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.’’ (Romans 10:9-10) (1 John 1:8-9)

 Rely on God’s promises, not upon your own feelings and theories (Romans 1:16)

 Declare and realize that you are saved by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ and the gospel, and that you are cleansed from all sin because you have met the terms of God – proper faith and confession of sins (Ephesians 2:8-9) (1 John 1:9).

You are welcome to the family of God and are now one of the sons of God (John 1:12)

How to receive eternal life is the first part, but how to maintain the eternal life in you and not lose it till you enter into eternity with God it is the second and the most important part.

B) HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR ETERNAL LIFE AFTER RECEIVING IT:

 Believe the gospel and the entire Word of God at all times and walk in the light as you receive it (1 John 1:7).

 Walk by faith in newness of life, not by sight or by feelings (Hebrews 10:23-39)

 Read the Bible daily and search its scriptures. Meditate on it day and night to feed and nurture your spirit to grow the spiritual life (Psalm 1:1-3).

 Pray to God daily as your heavenly father in the name of Jesus Christ, casting all your cares upon Him; for He cares for you’’ (John 16:23-26)

 Claim all the benefits of the promises of God and appropriate them by faith (2 Peter 1:1-4)

 Keep your mind stayed on God and grow in grace, in all the virtues of grace and of God (Philippians 4:8).

 Recognize at all times your own weaknesses as well as God’s strength and keeping power (1 Corinthians 10:12-13) (1 Peter 1:5). Faith is the victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:1-4). Faith is when you quit believing what you see and start seeing what you believe.

 Confess the Lord Jesus Christ frequently and daily as your Lord and personal Saviour (Matthew 10:32-33) and be busy at soul winning and other phases of Christian work.

 Avoid temptations and shun evil company and evil companions (Psalm 1); resist sin and Satan (James 4:7), make friends with God’s people and strive to be a blessing to them and others (1 Corinthians 13).
 Attend church regularly (Hebrews 10:25)

 Seek God constantly for the full anointing of the Holy Spirit, the fruit and gifts of the Spirit, and yield to and obey the Holy Spirit in all things (Luke 24:49) (Galatians 5:16-26).

8 Religious Acts that Cannot Save the Souls of Men

Ø Being a devout person:

A devout person is a pious man who is dutiful to a religion or belief. Devotion to religious rules and regulations are good but are not adequate to save and deliver the soul from eternal death which is the wage of sin. 

Mere devotion to religious rules and practices without faith in Christ for salvation is not enough. In the Bible, there are several records of devout men and women who were strong devotees to religious practices yet were unsaved men.  

Acts 2:5 is a record of many devout men who witnessed the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Disciples of Christ on the Day of Pentecost and yet were no partakers in it. They were devoted to Judaism, circumcised men and strict adherents to the Laws of Moses, yet they were unsaved men as far as the Gospel of salvation is concerned.

Acts 13:50 is another account of devout Jews who raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabbas, expelling them out of Antioch where they were preaching the gospel that emphasizes belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the key to salvation. Also in Acts 17:17, is another group of devout Jews who doubted and disputed the message of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Ø Fearing God:

The Bible teaches that the fear of God is the beginning of all wisdom (Proverbs 4:7) and that to fear God is to depart from evil (Proverbs 16:6). The Bible also teaches that the whole duty of a man is to fear God and obey all his commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). However, fearing God does not guarantee one’s salvation.

Demons also fear God but their fear avails nothing as they have been condemned and are hopelessly and eternally lost (James 2:19). 2 Kings 17:32-34 refers to a nation who feared the Lord, yet served other gods after the manner of other nations. Also in Jonah 1:16, the pagan sailors in whose ship Jonah travelled also feared God and made vows but lacked the full light that saves men.

Ø Giving alms:

The Pharisees in Jesus’ days did much in alms giving but they rejected salvation and were Christ’s bitterest enemies. The Bible tells us that one can give all that he has but without love, can be lost eternally (1 Corinthians 13:3).

Ø Praying always:

The Bible commands us to pray without ceasing and without fainting. But the Bible also condemns certain kinds of prayers as unacceptable before God. Many hypocrites whose hearts are not right with God pray to be seen and praised by men.

In Hell, some are praying and an example is the rich man in Luke 16:23-31 praying prayers that cannot work. Another prominent example was the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14 whose prayer was condemned on grounds of self-righteousness, pride and hypocrisy.

Ø Seeing visions:

Ability to see visions is not an evidence of salvation or right standing with God. Ability to see visions is a gift from God and one can live in flagrant sin and continue to manifest this gift because the Lord does not usually withdraw His gifts once given (Romans 11:29).

There are men who saw visions which could not save them. Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan and King of Babylon saw visions from God more than once (Daniel 2:1-9). Acts chapter 10 is the story of Cornelius, who was a pagan who also received visions from God before his conversion. There are false prophets who use magical arts to see visions too.

Ø Fasting:

Matthew 6:16-18 condemns a fasting system where men wear a sad countenance, disfiguring their faces before men and announcing to others that they are fasting in order to be praised by men.

Ø Having a good report among men:

Saul of Tarsus had an excellent report among men before his conversion. He was a Pharisee, was circumcised on the eighth day; of the stock of Israel and from the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of the Hebrews and an authority in the Laws of Moses.

He had a good reputation among men but not before God. At a time, he was the greatest persecutor of the Church of Christ who murdered many saints thinking he was fighting for God until he was arrested by the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus leading to his conversion.

Ø Knowledge of the Scriptures:

Having knowledge of the Scriptures and an ability to memorize and quote it offhand are good qualities. But it is one thing to have the knowledge of a thing and another thing to believe what one knows. It is one thing to have knowledge of a thing and yet another thing to do and practice what one knows.

One may know the truth but harden his heart against it and speak evil of it (Matthew 13:15). Mere head knowledge of a thing is different from believing in it with the heart. Men will not be judged on the basis of what they know only but also by what was done with what they knew. 

The hearers of the law alone shall not be justified but the doers shall be. In Luke 6:46 Jesus asked ‘why do you call me Lord, Lord, yet do not the things which I say?

One may be teaching what he knows but what he knows or claims to know may be imperfect doctrine and he may not have a teachable spirit that accepts correction. What one teaches may fall short of the true gospel and be in error of the Bible’s claims.

In Acts 18:24-28 is the record of Apollonius who was thoroughly acquainted with the teachings of the Law and the Prophets (the Old Testament) and skilled in interpreting them. He was also zealous of the knowledge he had, but it was limited and imperfect falling short of the full light of the gospel.

He had a teachable spirit and was receptive to the full gospel which God led him into through Acquilla and Priscilla who taught him. The problem is not with knowing and teaching what one knows but is he open to correction when his doctrines are imperfect and falling short of the true and full gospel?

Many stick to what they know or claim to know and do not want to come into the full light because they do not have a teachable spirit and are not open to correction and do not accept to be corrected.

Romans 10:9-10 says:

‘If thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shall be saved. For with the heart men believe unto righteousness and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.’’

Therefore the key to salvation is belief in the Lord Jesus: faith in his death, burial and resurrection. Mere religious practices without belief in Jesus Christ avail nothing. These practices amount to self-righteousness and reliance on carnal works of the Law which can prevent no one from facing eternal judgment for sin.

John 14:6 says:

 ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes unto the Father but by me.’’

Ayodele Adegbulugbe

www.xtianrace.blogspot.com