NIGERIA IN PROPHECY

Happy 55th Independence Anniversary to Nigeria.

Okay.
Let's do this.

A few years back, I accessed the prophetic alot.
I will repost some of those words and trust God to revive them in lives and situations, especially for our dear country Nigeria.

Amen.

1 Oct. 2012.
1.
You are an upcoming musician...
You will hit a contract to do a sountrack of a major programme...

God is setting you up for greatness.

2.
God also told me He is setting Nigeria up for greatness.

3.
God just told me He is setting a number of people up for greatness.

4.
This is the prophecy for Nigeria at this point in time...

Psa 52
Psalm 52

1 Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man?

the goodness of God endureth continually.

2 Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs;

like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

3 Thou lovest evil more than good;

and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.

4 Thou lovest all devouring words,

O thou deceitful tongue.

5 God shall likewise destroy thee for ever,

he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place,

and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.

6 The righteous also shall see, and fear,

and shall laugh at him:

7 Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength;

but trusted in the abundance of his riches,

and strengthened himself in his wickedness.

8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God:

I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

9 I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it:

and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

5.
This is the prophecy for Nigeria at this point in time...

Isa 52
Chapter 52

1 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion;

put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city:

for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

2 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem:

loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

3 For thus saith the Lord,

Ye have sold yourselves for nought;

and ye shall be redeemed without money.

4 For thus saith the Lord God,

My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there;

and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

5 Now therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord,

that my people is taken away for nought?

they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the Lord;

and my name continually every day is blasphemed.

6 Therefore my people shall know my name:

therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.

7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace;

that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation;

that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice;

with the voice together shall they sing:

for they shall see eye to eye,

when the Lord shall bring again Zion.

9 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem:

for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

10 The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations;

and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing;

go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.

12 For ye shall not go out with haste,

nor go by flight:

for the Lord will go before you;

and the God of Israel will be your rereward.

13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently,

he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.

14 As many were astonied at thee;

his visage was so marred more than any man,

and his form more than the sons of men:

15 So shall he sprinkle many nations;

the kings shall shut their mouths at him:

for that which had not been told them shall they see;

and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

6.

This is the prophecy for Nigeria at this point in time...

Isa 18:7
7 In that time shall the present be brought unto the Lord of hosts

of a people scattered and peeled,

and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto;

a nation meted out and trodden under foot,

whose land the rivers have spoiled,

to the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, the mount Zion.

7.
This is the prophecy for Nigeria at this point in time...

Psa 18
Psalm 18

1 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.

2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

my God, my strength, in whom I will trust;

my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised:

so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

4 The sorrows of death compassed me,

and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about:

the snares of death prevented me.

6 In my distress I called upon the Lord,

and cried unto my God:

he heard my voice out of his temple,

and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

7 Then the earth shook and trembled;

the foundations also of the hills moved

and were shaken, because he was wroth.

8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils,

and fire out of his mouth devoured:

coals were kindled by it.

9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down:

and darkness was under his feet.

10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly:

yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness his secret place;

his pavilion round about him

were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed,

hail stones and coals of fire.

13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens,

and the Highest gave his voice;

hail stones and coals of fire.

14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them;

and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.

15 Then the channels of waters were seen,

and the foundations of the world were discovered

at thy rebuke, O Lord,

at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

16 He sent from above, he took me,

he drew me out of many waters.

17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,

and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.

18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity:

but the Lord was my stay.

19 He brought me forth also into a large place;

he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness;

according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord,

and have not wickedly departed from my God.

22 For all his judgments were before me,

and I did not put away his statutes from me.

23 I was also upright before him,

and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

24 Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness,

according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful;

with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;

26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure;

and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people;

but wilt bring down high looks.

28 For thou wilt light my candle:

the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

29 For by thee I have run through a troop;

and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

30 As for God, his way is perfect:

the word of the Lord is tried:

he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

31 For who is God save the Lord?

or who is a rock save our God?

32 It is God that girdeth me with strength,

and maketh my way perfect.

33 He maketh my feet like hinds 'feet,

and setteth me upon my high places.

34 He teacheth my hands to war,

so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation:

and thy right hand hath holden me up,

and thy gentleness hath made me great.

36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me,

that my feet did not slip.

37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them:

neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise:

they are fallen under my feet.

39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle:

thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies;

that I might destroy them that hate me.

41 They cried, but there was none to save them:

even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.

42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind:

I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people;

and thou hast made me the head of the heathen:

a people whom I have not known shall serve me.

44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me:

the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

45 The strangers shall fade away,

and be afraid out of their close places.

46 The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock;

and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

47 It is God that avengeth me,

and subdueth the people under me.

48 He delivereth me from mine enemies:

yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me:

thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen,

and sing praises unto thy name.

50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king;

and sheweth mercy to his anointed,

to David, and to his seed for evermore.

1 Oct 2011
8.
20 And I will make (Nigeria) unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against (her), but they shall not prevail against (her): for I am with (her) to save (her) and to deliver (her), saith the Lord. 21 And I will deliver (her) out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem (her) out of the hand of the terrible. -Jeremiah 15

1 Oct 2010
9.
celebrate NIGERIA. celebrate Greatness.

1 Oct 2009
10.
Quo Vadis, Nigeria?

- Adeolu Olumodeji

TRIAL OF BROTHER LAZZIE - Part 1

LESSONS  FROM LAZARUS

I have this idea that I believe is grand.

Please feel very free to take it if you have the means and you are sufficiently inspired. We are all working for one kingdom ultimately, so we should have one vision; one goal.

I have this idea to write Christian fiction. And I want to focus on all the silent characters of the Scriptures. People like the Hebrew maid in Captain Naaman's house. People like the man whose house Jesus and the Twelve used for the Lord's Supper. People like Deborah the nurse that stayed with Jacob's household. Okay so, you get the idea. Those guys who featured like guest stars in the Bible Series. I want to trust God to use sanctified imagination to do volume about their lives. I mean, full scope of their lives. I once wrote a piece about Matthias, the disciple that replaced Judas. I will post that soon. By the way, I would do Christian Film Series too on those characters.

So take note. If you caught the vision and you got the means, please do it! Just make sure your imagination is Spirit filled. Okay.

Today, I want to pick on Lazarus.

That guy's name and life looks like he would have earned himself the nickname 'Lazy'.  For instance see this hint in John 12.

John 12:1-3 KJV
Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

[2] There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

[3] Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Now that is a portrait of this family friends of Jesus Christ. Martha is always catering for Jesus. In fact she does the invitation and makes sure Jesus gets the best of meals. Mary is always at Jesus' feet. Always listening to Jesus. She is one other person's life I should explore in my santified imaginary journey. Anyway, Mary was always at Jesus' feet. So where will you always find Brother Lazzy, sorry, Lazarus? At the table. Laughs. Where the food is, there Bro Lazarus is. I hope my imagination is still sanctified. But you will soon discover I am a serious fan of Brother Lazarus. Okay.

Let us use this account of Dr. Luke to compare or confirm all my assumptions about these siblings above.

Luke 10:38-42 KJV
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

[39] And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

[40] But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

[41] And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

[42] But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Did you see Lazarus here? Did you see food? Laughs. Relax bro. Learn to find some fun and laughter in the Scriptures. Its a Whole Book. Everything is there, including Comedy.

Okay let me stop this Trial of Brother Lazarus. His name is not Lazy. His name is Lazarus. And it is such a beautiful name.

Before we go into Names and Meanings, let me point out that of the 3 people Jesus raised from the dead, only one was named. And that person is Lazarus. Other's were described and not named. Jarius' daughter. Widow's son.

So that Lazarus was named, means there is something to see there. If you have been blessed with the gift of studying Scriptures, you would know the excitement when you get a revelation about a name in the Bible. Not one name in that Book strayed there.

So what does Lazarus means ? Where do we go ? Don't be shy jor. We all know Pastor's secrets. Internet. Yea. But before Internet, we did Strong's. Let's do Strong's today.

G2976

Original: Λάζαρος

Transliteration: Lazaros

Phonetic: lad'-zar-os

Thayer Definition: Lazarus = "whom God helps" (a form of the Hebrew name Eleazar)

an inhabitant of Bethany, beloved by Christ and raised from the dead by hima very poor and wretched person to whom Jesus referred to in Luk 16:20-25

Origin: probably of hebrew originH499

TDNT entry: None

Part(s) of speech: Noun Masculine

Strong's Definition: Probably of Hebrew origin [H499]; Lazarus (that is,Elazar), the name of two Israelites (one imaginary): - Lazarus.

That was Strong.
So Lazarus was not lazy afterall. He was just The Man Whom God Helps. Hmmm.

Eleazar is Hebrew. Lazarus is Greek. Ezer-Li is God.

They all have same root word.

Let's focus on God for a while.

Elohim Ezer-Li. God is my help. Or God our Helper. It is the divine instinct of God to help. He made man complete with all things and then said it was not good for him to be without help. What was it that Adam needed help for? Laughs. Companionship. As complete as Adam was he was alone. Alone. Allone. All one.

It is not good for man (or woman) to be all one. That is the reason for Family. That is the essence of Community. No man is an island. It is the human instinct to need help.

For God to help is divine. 
For man to need help is human.

But why do we do like we don't need God?
We do as if we don't need help.

One of the best songs of this generation is 'My Helper o . . .'. You know it? Sing it please. Thank you.

There is this other old song too. I know the chorus more. 'My help! My help! All of my help cometh from the Lord'. I think that was the story of Lazarus. A man whom God helps. What a way to describe a man! Imagine someone asking about you from another. And the response is 'You mean that man whom God helps?' So beautiful!

Are you the man whom God helps?
Or you are the man who helps God?
Okay, the man who helps himself?

Hear what the Scriptures say about how much God wants to help you and guage yourself how much of this help you get daily - or should I say, microsecond-ly?

Psalm 46:1 KJV
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Deuteronomy 33:26 KJV
There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.

Psalm 54:4 KJV
Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

Isaiah 41:14 KJV
Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord , and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Hebrews 4:16 KJV
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

John 1:16 KJV
And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. (And help for help)

Psalm 121:1-2 KJV
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. [2] My help cometh from the Lord , which made heaven and earth.

Genesis 49:25 KJV
Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:

Let me just stop here. I was about to leave the flow and go online - no, offline.

But we know God wants to help us, just that we don't want too much of it.

Grace is an integral part of our Faith. But we like the Faith and leave the Grace. So we struggle to even believe, for you need Grace to even have Faith. You were designed to need help. Take it or take it.

Grace is unmerited help. SomeOne wants to help you even when you don't deserve it. No. We want to deserve it. And those who dared to receive all the help from God, we call Lazarus, sorry, we call 'Lazy'.

So we got the first clue into the person of Lazarus.

Secondly, Lazarus was The One Jesus Loves.

Oh! You can't take that now.

Let's break it. 
Watch Out for Part 2.

*Wink*

- Adeolu Olumodeji

MOTHERHOOD 2

MOTHERHOOD 2

Motherhood simply means the state of being a mother.

Mother means the female parent of a child.

It is the aspiration of every mother to be a successful mother. A mother who brings up a child that is approved by God and the society. A child who becomes the 'Father's Child'. A Yoruba adage says 'Omo to ba dara niti baba re'. (A good child is his father's). Simply put, a mother has the responsibility of bringing up an acceptable child.

Children begin to learn at their mother's knee. That is to say that very early in life, children begin to learn right from the time they are on the knees. At this position children learn the language of love. They are cuddled, petted, lullaby songs and rhymes are sung to calm them down. Their first words, rhymes, songs are learnt mostly at their mothers' knees.

Unfortunately the world is getting too busy for these 'first roles' of a mother. The knees are being replaced by other man made things like all kinds of baby chairs, cots, play pens etc. So that the mothers can attend to other matters. The pre-recorded rhymes on the television and laptops now replace the mothers' nursery rhymes or songs.

In recent years, the computer has taken on the prominent role as a moulder of young minds. These things are good as longs as they are probably controlled and channeled in such a way as not to replace the appropriate love and attention a mother should give to her child.

A good mother must first of all give love and proper attention to her children and not allow other things to take her position. Not even a good housemaid. People say 'Oh my housemaid is good. She can manage well'. The love of a househelp cannot be compared to that of a mother to her child.

A good mother has time for her growing children. Be involved in what they do. A mother should really bond with her child. Let his interests interest you. Where they are bad, discourage them in love and let him know why. Some mothers  use the 'stamping your feet' method which does not always work out. It should be last resort especially if such interest is harmful.

How much time do we spare to know their interests, where they go, what programmes they watch, what subjects on thw internet interests them, what they have in their possession, who their friends are? I said a mother is supposed to be all things. A mother is sometimes a private investigator especially where the child is not forthcoming. (A friend taught me this).

It has been confirmed by a study that violent music lyrics promote violent thoughts and feelings. Some of our music videos are so graphic and sexually explicit that they leave  little for imagination. We cannot imagine the extent our children's behaviour are affected by these things around us. Lack of sufficient parental supervision (or investigation) is an invitation to trouble.

(To be continued)

- Mrs. Grace Ebe Olumodeji

EFFECTIVE WITNESSING

EFFECTIVE WITNESSING

Proverbs 14:25 (ESV)
A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.

One major assignment the Lord Jesus Christ gives to every believer in Him is to bring another person to Him. Just before He ascended into heaven, He told His disciples to go into all the world and make other people His disciples. This is known as the Great Commission. (See Mat 28:18-20; Mar 16:15-18). The Lord also sent the promised Holy Spirit to empower us to be His witness to the world. (Act 1:7-8). So our most important personal and coporate obligation to the Lord is to witness for Him. How then can we be effective witnesses ?

To be a witness is to have or claim to have  first hand experience of an event. So there are two kinds of witnesses in a broad sense; a true witness and a false witness. Our main text assures us that a true witness would save lives. Who can be said to be a 'true witness' for the Lord ?

A true witness for the Lord is someone who has had a genuine personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. That kind of testimony is backed with spiritual evidence and power is communicated to the hearers. An example of a true witness is found in John Chapter 4. A Samaritan woman had encountered the Lord Jesus and she went to town with such compelling message that many Samaritans believed in the Lord Jesus because of her testimony. (John 4:39). The villagers then requested that the Lord should stay with them so they could also have that first hand experience and be effective witnesses too.

We must examine our selves whether we actually had a personal encounter when we 'claim' to be saved. And we must keep the experience fresh and ongoing by the Holy Spirit. This way, our witnessing is empowered and more souls are won for the Lord.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to know you deeply and personally. Let my words, actions and life compell others to seek you. Amen.

- Adeolu Olumodeji

For Streamglobedevotional.com

HOLINESS 2

HOLINESS 2

Exodus 15:11 (KJV)
Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? 
Who is like thee, glorious in holiness,
fearful in praises, doing wonders?

Holiness is not a scare word. A scare word is a word chosen to instill fear and alarm in one's audience. And that is what most preachers have made Holiness to sound like. Holiness is a glorious word. In Isaiah 6:3 the seraphims cried and said, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory'. And in our main text for today, we see that God is glorious in holiness.

Holiness is the intrinsic nature of God. It is the most important ingredient of being God. God is holy. The Lord Jesus Christ is holy (Luk 1:35; Luk 3:34). The Spirit of God is called 'Holy Spirit'. To be holy is to be 'separate' or 'set apart'. It is the quality of being distinct and of superior moral excellence. That is the quality that makes God eternally dependable. And we should be glad our God is holy.

As children of God therefore, God wants us to share in His holiness. That should really excite us! He told the Israelites as they left Egypt in Leviticus 11:45 'For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy'. We are told in Hebrews 12:10 that God being our Father disciplines us primarily for our own good so that we can be 'partakers of his holiness'. It is a glorious thing to share in God's holiness. What is fearful (according to our main text) is to attempt to share in His praises.

Let us as children of God seek to display the beautiful holiness of our God. When we are holy we contrast the filth of sin and worldliness and expose the unholy nature of the devil. In words and all our conducts, let us bring glory to God's name by being holy. We have the Holy Spirit in us to help us overcome whatever hinders us.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, please help me. I want to be holy. I want to represent you well every where I am. Thank you for Your help. In Jesus' name. Amen.

- Adeolu Olumodeji

From Streamglobedevotional.com

ETERNAL SALAH

ETERNAL SALLAH

How is the holiday going ?
Thank God for the muslims. We get a lot of holiday from them. Happy Eid Kabir. Assallamu aleikum!

By the way, that topic was just to get your attention. Today I want to share my thoughts on Eternal Security. I know it has already created arguements in your mind. Luckily, I am not even in the mood to argue right now.

I think we will all be right at the end of the day. Because those of us who kick against Eternal Security have good intentions. We believe the doctrine will make believers throw caution to the wind. And I discovered that all of us quote from Scriptures. I am almost tired of arguing with a fellow well meaning believer. Just believe what is working for you as long as you are saved by Christ Jesus. Paul and Peter did not behave so much like they always agreed. Even John the Baptist and his cousin Jesus did not relate so much like they were sync on many fronts. We can disagree and both be right. That is how God uses the foolishness of our preaching to produce His manifold wisdom.

But let me tell you this secret. I became saved sixteen years ago. Since that fateful day in November on the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife, I knew in my heart of heart that I was on an eternal journey and I was bound to a destination. You cannot convince me that I will not make it to be with Christ forever. I cannot convince myself that I can lose what I found that day. Okay, did I tell you about Olumide ?

Olumide was a friend on campus. He knew me shortly before I got saved. We both were active sinners and our nature was sin. I met the Lord some time later and Olumide was present in one of the gatherings where I gave a testimony about my past and how the Lord had saved me. After the meeting, Olumide came to me and said 'Deolu, don't be too serious about this thing. I myself have been saved over and over. I keep going back. You will soon find out it does not last'. I cannot remember my exact response that day. But it looks like I could say something like this 'Lummy, what I know is something very real has happened to me. About what happens later, I will have to wait to know'.

But you know, Olumide did strike a chord that day. I myself knew a number of 'so-called believers' who 'turned back' to their vomit. I do not want to be one of that number. If this is not going to last, whats the point? If there is no assurance of reaching the destination, why begin the journey? What now makes this God so different if He can not keep what is given to Him? Anyway, like I told you I may not say some things exactly back then, but I know a few things for sure. One of them is that; that night after Olumide said those words to me, I went to pray to God. And I am sure I must have cried to God with desperate tears. I said things like ' Lord Jesus, keep me till the end. I do not want to ever return. Please Lord... Please Lord... Please oh Lord... '. I prayed till I felt some peace in my heart or till there were no more tears dropping, maybe.

Men and brethren, this is just 16 years out of Eternity. And I can tell you I have fallen a number of times. Laughs. Go ahead and judge me. When you are through, judge yourself. If you have never fallen since you met Christ then you are among the 144,000. Laughs. (Oh Jehovah! These witnesses will not kill us). So there have been times I struggled and a number of times I stumbled. But I have never for a fraction of a second lost my assurance of being eternally saved. Say what you like.

Now I know the scriptures to quote. In fact I just finished a series on 'Jesus Christ, our High Priest' in Sunday School. With all my scriptures and passion, I still felt a thick smoke of resistance in the air. Believe what you like, bro. Just make sure you make it at last. Then we will compare notes. And like I said earlier, I think we will both be right.

Let me confess really, this gospel (or doctrine) of Eternal Security is what is mentally keeping me in the faith. I would have reasoned my way out if I had believed that I could somehow eventually not make it to God even after believing His Son. I would have asked 'If His priesthood could not be forever, why did He bother to come?' (Please forgive my audacity). I would have just prefered the annual Feast of Atonement. I would at least be eating ram and on a pilgrimage to the Holy land. I would not bother leaving Egypt if He could not take me to the Promised Land. Yes. That's me reasoning. What now is the difference between the Old and the New Testament? The best the Old could do was to take only two people through among the multitude that left. Oh dear, if it is meant for two, I won't join the rat race. Leave me where I was and let me just revel in my vanity. I can not sacrifice that for a venture that is not sure. No sir. Not me.

But I know better. I knew it early in my Salvation that Jesus Christ will ensure my eternity once I become born again.

Okay. One Scripture. Maybe two.

John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Laughs. You see, that John Chapter 17 was a prayer Jesus prayed for our eternal security. So when Paul said in Hebrews that He ever lives to intercede for us, you have an idea what His prayer points are.

Now take note  of that scripture above. Jesus said we are the ones God gave Him and He keeps us. None of us will be lost except the son(s) of perdition. Anyway, if you ever gave your life to Christ, you can take it back when you like. But if God gave you to Jesus Christ by saving you, and you ever miss it, just know today that your surname is Iscariot. Son of perdition. Doomed for destruction. Read Psalm 109 to understand the forces that sealed Judas' fate. And see if they apply to your life. Good luck to you.

Another scripture.

John Chapter 6:

 37  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

 38  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

 39  And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

 40  And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Jesus said again that whoever comes to Him was given to Him by His Father. That He neither casts them away nor loses them. He went on to say that it is His Father's will that He loses none of us. And that we all (who have believed in Him) be raised on the Last Day.

Anything else you have believed or have read in the Bible that does not allign with these clear words of Christ is a result of your misunderstanding of the Truth of the Gospel of Grace.

I knew I cannot convince you. I only wrote because I felt led to.

If by chance you are liberated by what I have shared, just before you get excited, please check if you were saved  indeed by Christ. Once you have that witness  of the Spirit, go ahead; shout.

Halleluyah. Glory to Jesus! Amen.

- Adeolu Olumodeji

GOD OUR GUIDE

GOD OUR GUIDE

Psa 48:14
For this God is our God for ever and ever:
he will be our guide even unto death. [KJV]

The Scriptures gave account of an insightful conversation between God and a young prophet, Jeremiah. The following extract is found in Jeremiah Chapter 1:4-8;

LORD: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

JEREMIAH: Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

LORD: Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee.

We can see from the LORD' s statement that He knew Jeremiah long before Jeremiah knew himself. Our journey started before we were born and continues even after death. Our main text today assures us that we have an eternal God as guide. Like Jeremiah, we who believe in Christ have the privilege of being called into His eternal purpose- and being guided into fulfillment. After which He guides us into eternal rest.

Go into the day knowing you have a great purpose to fulfill and you have a great God to guide you through.

Prayer: Pray that God gives you a humble heart to stay under His guidance.

- Adeolu Olumodeji

For More: Streamglobedevotional.com

HOLINESS 1

HOLINESS 1

Psa 30:4
Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his,
and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. [KJV]

The Youth Group of a Church was to have a mid-year program so the Youth President decided to communicate to the members the revelation he received in his spirit as the theme for the program. This conversation ensued between the Youth President (YP) and a young church member (Jack).

YP: I felt the Holy Spirit leading us to tag this program 'Perfecting Holiness'.

Jack: Sir, that theme will scare people away. We may not get much result from our publicity.

YP: Why do you think so, Jack?

Jack: Holiness as a topic is usually harsh. People know they will be reminded of their inadequacies and the consequences.

The Youth President decided to go ahead with the theme and trusted God more for the turn out. The event was very successful with the hall filled to capacity and a good number of people saved.

Holiness is the nature of God. God, who is so loving and compassionate, still cannot deny His intrinsic nature. He draws us through His love to embrace His holiness. Those who use God's holiness to scare others, and those who get scared of God's holiness, both have not experienced the love of God. The verses preceding our main text showed how David experienced God's love and could remember His holiness with thanksgiving.

Go into today thanking God for being such a holy and reliable God.

Pray that He helps you to be more and more holy in your conduct. Tell Him you desire to be more and more like Him. Not yet born again? Tap: http://po.st/QJ7qx3

- Adeolu Olumodeji

For more: streamglobedevotional.com

MOTHERHOOD - Part 1

MOTHERHOOD - Part 1

Every body expects every mother to be perfect. That is the expectation of every member of the society. I learnt this very early in my life as a mother.

My first son had what the medical world call 'neo-natal jaundice' in its lay language. None of the nurses who attended to me and the child during my 3 day stay in the hospital noticed it. It was at the point of discharge when we were to take the BCG injection that the schedule nurse took a look at the baby and said 'Madam, watch out. Its likely your baby is jaundiced'. Naturally, I was alarmed and disturbed. I went back to the ward and told the nurses who had been attending to us. They replied 'Who said so ? It is a false alarm. Don't mind her. Its not true.' They looked at my face and noticed I was still not satisfied and said 'Don't worry. If you are still not convinced, when you get home add a little glucose to his drinking water before feeding him'. (It was the era of baby friendly saga).

Reluctantly I took the baby home. Thank God for the schedule nurse. She was the Rescue Angel God sent to me. So my mind was on it. Jaundice? I did not have the faintest idea of what it is. That was my first child and neither of the two very experienced mothers (my mother and my aunt) with us in the hospital knew too. I complained to them that the baby was not sucking well and not taking the water at all. These mothers would reply 'How much food do you expect a baby to eat?'. I equally told them the baby was sleeping too much. They asked again 'What else do you expect babies to do so much?'.They did not understand; just like me.

The following day after we were discharged, my aunt came to visit us at home and I said 'Auntie, please lift upthe curtains and let me look at the baby properly.' Alas! The eyes were completely yellow. And for the first time I noticed the urine on the napkin was yellow. 'What! Auntie, oya! Hospital ya!'. We took off immediately and returned to the hospital where we left only a day before.

The nurse on the table (not one of the ones on duty the previous day) took one look at the baby in my hand and said 'i bo lo wa ti omo da ba yii mo e lo wo? You must be a careless mother'. (Where were you when your baby turned to this?). Since that day through out my childbearing years, I fought against ever being labelled a 'careless mother'.

Deep down in my mind, I knew it was not my fault. Why did they not notice until another nurse pointed it out? Why did the nurses not call the attention of the doctor to it and were so quick to discharge me? Why did they assure me that all was well? At the end of the day, they tagged me 'a careless mother'.

That is the picture of a mother against the world. When the child turns out bad, nobody wants to know what factors turned him into what he is. Nobody cares to find out the details. You as the mother is expected to know all things, to be able to do all things right. In fact, the mother is supposed to be Mrs Fix It in the life of the child. Like the nurses expected me to know the signs of jaundice and blamed me for their own (ir)responsibility. Even when the other conditions around do not favour the proper upbringing of the child and his general well being, the blame will majorly be that of the mother.

A mother is expected to be a physician, a psychologist, a priest, a counsellor, a teachet etc but particularly a mother.

So what is motherhood?

(Stay tuned for Part 2).

- Mrs. Grace Ebe Olumodeji

GRACE OF GOD

Tit 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
(KJV)

The Grace of God brings salvation and then teaches us to remain in that grace as we await rapture.

I am of the belief that Grace saves eternally. Grace forgive our sins past, present and future.

I am also of the belief that Grace sanctifies. That you should not continue in any sin if you are truly saved. Grace will not leave you in sin.

Grace forgives. Grace sanctifies.

So base on this Scripture above which the Holy Spirit has led us to, there are two major contenders for God's grace in our lives.

1. Ungodliness
2. Worldly lusts

We shall take a quick look at the potency of these two adversaries and how God's grace will see us through.

1. Ungodliness is Godlessness.

Specifically, ungodliness is defined as “living one’s everyday life
with little or no thought of God, or of God’s will, or of God’s glory,
or of one’s dependence on God” [1].

Living as though there is no God.

Psa 14:1-3
1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works,
there is none that doeth good.
2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men,
to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy:
there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
(KJV)

It's deep seated in the heart ; an attitude that easily and unconsciously manifest in actions.

Unknown to many believers, the systems of this world are increasingly programming men to think less of God; to de-emphasize God. If you just pay a little attention, you will realise this. No wonder, the Holy Spirit told us to live soberly.

We are sick, we think hospitals. We need jobs, we think government. And I think government in particular seeks to replace God in all human endeavours.

This is why ungodliness increases.

Our pulpits are not exonerated. We preach messages that breed ungodliness. We teach humaninstic philosophies, motivational talks that empower the soul above the spirit. Preachers hold and tell the truth in unrighteousness.

2Ti 2:14-18
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings:for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker:of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
(KJV)

When the word of God is not rightly divided, error sets in and ungodliness is the goal of all doctrinal errors. The serpent came to set man apart from God. That is the goal of all errors.

So ungodliness is a state of denying the existence and relevance of God in our attitudes and actions.

Rom 1:18-19
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
(KJV)

What may be known of God is manifest, but denied.

Rom 1:21-22
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
(KJV)

And the direct result of ungodliness is worldly lusts.

Rom 1:24-25
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
(KJV)

Ungodliness is the root of all sins primary among which is fornication and idolatry.
When you consciously or unconsciously set God aside, you invariably make room for all kinds of inordinate affections.

Rom 1:21-32
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections:for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
(KJV)

Other manifestations of ungodliness.

Jud 1:16
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. (See preceeding verse to deepen understanding)
(KJV)

The current state of Israel is ungodly.

Rom 11:26-27
26 And so all Israel shall be saved:as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
(KJV)   

The current state of the church is ungodly

Jud 1:4
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
(KJV)

Jud 1:17-19
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
(KJV)

Once ungodliness is turned away, all sins are dealt with.

The grace of God that brings salvation must teach us how to stay godly in an increasingly ungodly world.

Worldly lusts.

The world is knocking constantly on the door of our hearts. A little opening or cracking of the door lets in the world and its lusts.

1Jo 2:15-17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
(KJV)

In perpetual contest always are worldly lusts and the will of the Father.

Rom 12:2
2 And be not conformed to this world:but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
(KJV)

Worldly lusts vs. Will of God.

The course of this world is lust and majority are on its roller coaster.

Eph 2:2-3
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
(KJV)

Grace produces godliness (divine power; internalised God-consciousness) in us to overcome (the world and it's) lusts.

2Pe 1:2-4
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
(KJV)

So, Grace keeps us from ungodliness and invariably, from worldly lusts.

So, Grace makes us live soberly, righteously and godly according to Titus 2:11-12.

Grace increasingly establishes and sanctifies us so that we become increasingly stabilise and I daresay, infallible.

Read it yourself.

2Pe 1:5-11
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure:for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
(KJV)

"... ye shall never fall". That is daring!

But that is Grace!

That is the working of Grace. When Grace is multiplied in our lives, we grow with trembling to such state.

So, how do we multiply Grace ?

Jude gave us precise apostolic solutions for the endtime challenge of ungodliness.

Jud 1:18-25
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
(KJV)

Watch these very closely, for these are the areas to apply God's grace in these endtimes. Amen.

1. Prayer.

I have 2 friends and myself, making 3.

Seye. Lanre. Deolu.

A testimony in prayers.
Don't joke with your prayer life, please.

Prayer in the New Testament is more than asking God for a need. In the NT, we pray in tongues a lot. We pray the programmes of God to be without even our own awareness.

And when you pray in the Holy Ghost, you unleash the full order and power of God's holiness. Holiness is God's nature.

When you pray in the Holy Ghost, Jude tells us by the Holy Spirit that we are being built up to our MOST HOLY FAITH! That is staggering!

Do not worry about the bastardisation of speaking in tongues, one sure way to stay godly or holy in an ungodly and unholy world, is by constantly praying in the Holy Ghost.

Luk 22:40
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
(KJV)

Luk 22:46
46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
(KJV)

A Christian should pray at least one hour a day. Not negotiable.

Mat 26:40-41
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation:the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
(KJV)

Mar 14:37-39
37 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? 38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. 39 And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.
(KJV)

Jesus Himself prayed.

Heb 5:7-8
7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
(KJV)

The Lord taught us to pray saying;

Mat 6:13
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
(KJV)

When you pray in the Holy Ghost you smash temptations right on their head.

2. Love of God.

Keep yourself in the love of God. That is one sure way to stay godly ib this ungodly generation.

Jn 15:9
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you:continue ye in my love.
(KJV)

Continue in the love of Christ. How?
By obeying His commandments.

Jn 15:10
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
(KJV)

What is/are His commandment(s)?

Jn 15:12
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
(KJV)

Jn 15:17
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
(KJV)

1Jo 3:23
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
(KJV)

As you continue in your love for your brethren, you are consciously keeping yourself in the love of God.

1Jo 4:7-8
7 Beloved, let us love one another:for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
(KJV)

1Jo 4:11-12
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
(KJV)

Once the motive is love unfeign, you can hardly find sin in it.

It shall increasingly become difficult to find love as the motive behind men's acts, but it is those who persist in love that will make it.

Mat 24:12-13
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
(KJV)

We all must return to our first love. Loving God and loving the brethren and loving our neighbours and loving our enemies- in that order of importance.

Rev 2:4-5
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
(KJV)

We need God's grace of course, and it's available for us! Teaching us to love, sanctifying us in love by the Holy Ghost.

Rom 5:5-8
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die:yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(KJV)

With the help of the Holy Ghost, we are able to love like Christ loved us! Amazing Grace!

Eph 3:17-19
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
(KJV)

By His grace, we grow into the love of Christ that passes knowledge and into the fullness of God. Amazing grace indeed!

3. Mercy.

Looking for mercy.

Jud 1:21
... looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
(KJV)

The Holy Spirit taught me about Mercy in a sermon a few days back. See
https://www.evernote.com/shard/s475/nl/84434722/50da8e9c-f220-42a7-8643-5931a7c0687f

But note that the Mercy of God supercedes all spiritual principles. It overturns all judgement. Mercy throws out all judicial evidences against a culprit.

Jam 2:13
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
(KJV)

In this end time and dispensation of Grace, no one will make it without mercy.

Mat 24:21-22
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved:but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

(KJV)
Mat 24:24
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
(KJV)

See this Scripture too;

Psa 32:1-2
Psalm 32
A Psalm of David, Maschil.
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no guile.
(KJV)

Jer 31:34
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying,
Know the Lord:for they shall all know me,
from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord:
for I will forgive their iniquity,
and I will remember their sin no more.
(KJV)

By grace, we must keep looking for the mercy of Christ unto eternal life. Till Christ returns, just hinge all your faith on the mercy of God. Never  ever become confident in your own self.

Grace magnifies God's mercy.

Hear from Lot;

Gen 19:19
19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy...
(KJV)

Grace and Mercy produces Peace.

1Ti 1:2
2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith:Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
(KJV)

Tit 1:4
4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith:Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
(KJV)

- Adeolu Olumodeji

REDEMPTION FROM CURSES

Preached message is available on http://mystreamglobe.com/devotional/Redemption%20from%20Curses%20by%20PASTOR%20ADEOLU.mp3

Main text:
Gal 3:13-14
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us:for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
(KJV)

Salvation is a full package. 
If you believe Jesus forgives your sins but He does not heal your diseases your salvation has jaundice.

Recent experiences of mine and others around me initiated this message. And I have the go-ahead of the Holy Spirit.

As long as you believe you are saved  but can still be harrassed and tormented by the forces of darkness, you just need to grow fast or you will suffer unduly.

THE FULL PACKAGE

Psa 103:1-7
Psalm 103
A Psalm of David.
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul:
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;
who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;
who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;
so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The Lord executeth righteousness
and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses,
his acts unto the children of Israel.
(KJV)

Isa 53:1
Chapter 53
1 Who hath believed our report?
and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
(KJV)

Read the whole of Isaiah 53.

Psa 91:1
Psalm 91
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
(KJV)

Luk 10:19-20
19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
(KJV)

As in, that is the smaller issue.

Mar 16:15-18
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
(KJV)

It is he that believeth... Not even me preaching...

We must quit preaching the gospel of weakness. I am not ashamed of the gospel of power.

Rom 1:16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
(KJV)

Check out the faith of Daniel and his friends, do they look weak, weather beaten and worn out? You must accept all that Christ is offering you. And one of them is Covenant Freedom from Curses.

CURSES ARE REAL. People. Places. Things.

Whether you believe they are or not, they are. In fact, they like ut when you do ont believe they are.
It is not an African thing.

Case Studies
1. Kennedy Family.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9271425/Timeline-the-Kennedy-Curse.html

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennedy_curse

Other supposed cursed families

http://www.womansday.com/_mobile/life/10-cursed-famous-families-105420

2. Eli family

1Sa 2:30-33
30 Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever:but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. 32 And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel:and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. 33 And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart:and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.
(KJV)

3. David.

2Sa 12:9-10
9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
(KJV)

Just look around and convince yourself that curses are not real.

But more real is the Blessings of God!

BLESSINGS ARE REAL TOO

1.

WHERE DO CURSES COME FROM?

SIN IS THE ROOT OF CURSES

1. God.

Please be patient.

Gen 3:14
14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
(KJV)

Gen 4:9-12
9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not:Am I my brother's keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
(KJV)

Gen 8:21
21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
(KJV)

Please take note: You will hardly read that God cursed a man. The word "curse" will not be used. So it is the man's actions or dispositions that produces the curse essentially.

2. The Devil
He is the most cursed any way...

Gen 3:14
14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life

Everything that issues from the devil is cursed. He has nothing good to offer any one.

3. DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD'S INSTRUCTIONS

Deu 28:15
15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
(KJV)

Jer 11:3-4
3 And say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, 4 Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you:so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:
(KJV)

Tithes.
Money is dirty. Tithe sanctifies it. 
Tithe honours God as your sole Source, whatever the channels.

4. FROM MAN TO MAN. 
a. People of authority

Fiduciary authority.

Parents
Eph 6:1-3
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord:for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
(KJV)

This is another example of disobedience.

Children
Eph 6:4
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath:but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
(KJV)

Lev 20:9
9 For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death:he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.
(KJV)

May God forgive all the parents that hve cursed their children.

Spiritual authority

Prophets. Pastors. Etc

Num 22:6
6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me:peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land:for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
(KJV)

2Ki 2:23-24
23 And he went up from thence unto Bethel:and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. 24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
(KJV)

Spiritual authorities have abused the anointing. They derive pleasures in curses.

Luk 9:54-56
54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
(KJV)

Jam 3:9-11
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
(KJV)

Jam 3:8
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
(KJV)

FALSE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL

Gal 1:8
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
(KJV)

BEING WICKED

Pro 3:33
33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked:
but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
(KJV)

BEING UNDER THE LAW

This is the most potent.

The law reinforces sin thereby reinforcing curses.

Gen 2:16-17
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
(KJV)

Thou shalt surely die... That is the vehicle of all curses.

Rom 7:5
5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by

the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

(KJV)

Rom 7:7-9
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law:for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9 For I was alive without the law once:but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
(KJV)

Study these scriptures

Jn 7:45-49
45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said 6
nto them, Why have ye not brought him? 46 The officers answered, Never man jjuu6j like this man. 47 Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? 49 9 this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.
(KJV)

They thought you need those rules to be blessed.

Gal 3:7-14
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are thejjjyuy children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the yworks of the law are under the curse:for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight 6 it is evident:for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith:but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 Christ uath redeemedk us from the curse of the law, ui made a curse for us:for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
(KJV)

They forget that if you offend in one you offend in all.

Gal 3:10
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse:for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
(KJV)

Jam 2:10-11
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
(KJV)

One point...

A believer is open to witchcraft the moment he begins to believe wrongly. That it is his works that counts.

Gal 3:1-3
Chapter 3
1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
(KJV)

THE WAY OUT

1. BELIEVE IN THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST

Isa 53:1
Chapter 53
1 Who hath believed our report?
and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
(KJV)

Gal 1:3-4
3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
(KJV)

Luk 1:68-75
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel;
for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David;
70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets,
which have been since the world began:
71 That we should be saved from our enemies,
and from the hand of all that hate us;
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers,
and to remember his holy covenant;
73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies
might serve him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him,
all the days of our life.
(KJV)

That baba knew what he was saying. They have served God in fear of their enemies all those centuries

Hear David...

Psa 11:1-4
Psalm 11
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1 In the Lord put I my trust:
how say ye to my soul,
Flee as a bird to your mountain?
2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow,
they make ready their arrow upon the string,
that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
3 If the foundations be destroyed,
what can the righteous do?
4 The Lord is in his holy temple,
the Lord 's throne is in heaven:
his eyes behold,
his eyelids try, the children of men.
(KJV)

Psa 27:1-4
Psalm 27
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh,
they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:
though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
(KJV)

Is it the Lord or the Law that is the strength of your life? Check it.

Heb 13:6
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
(KJV)

Rom 8:31-34
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
(KJV)

Col 2:13-22
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
(KJV)

Col 2:6-10
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
(KJV)

-  Adeolu Olumodeji

THE MERCY OF GOD

Mercy is the strongest of God's prerogative. Prerogative is a right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class.

Exo 33:19
19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
(KJV)

1. To God alone belongs Mercy.

Psa 62:11-12
11 God hath spoken once;
twice have I heard this;
that power belongeth unto God.
12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy:
for thou renderest to every man according to his work.
(KJV)

Power belongs to God. All power belongs to God. In fact, Jesus told us God has given Him all the power in heaven and earth.

Mat 28:18
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
(KJV)

So without doubt all power belongs to God. But somehow, the Holy Spirit did not write that scripture in Ps. 62 as though power was God's prerogative. We read else  where that the enemies have some powers.

Luk 10:19
19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
(KJV)

The Holy Spirit used the word "alone" only when He spoke about Mercy. Laughs. I am reading or hearing "alone" in it.

Mercy is exclusive to God.

2. Power is measured by Mercy.

The extent to which a man can forgive is the extent of his power. A president can pardon any offender. Thay shows the greatness of his power.

Lets remember that the Jews did not have much issues with Jesus' power. God showed God was with Him. Hear one of the greatest religious figures say concerning Jesus ...

Jn 3:2
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God:for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
(KJV)

The power showed God was with Him- at best. But Mercy showed Jesus was God!

Mar 2:5-7
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
(KJV)

Mercy is God's prerogative and Jesus was exhibiting it. When they doubted His right to forgive; He backed it with power.

Mar 2:10-12
10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
(KJV)

What amazed them was not the power (in the miracle of healing), but Mercy (in the forgiveness of sins).

Mercy belongs to God.

How to share in God's mercy.

1.  Be merciful. God marks a forgiving person.

Mat 5:7
7 Blessed are the merciful:for they shall obtain mercy.
(KJV)

Luk 6:36-38
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged:condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned:forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
(KJV)

You get the measure of mercy that you give to others.

Take pleasure in forgiving people.

Luk 16:7-8
7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. 8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely:for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
(KJV)

Let your target in forgiveness be the impossible forgiveness Christ exhibited on the cross over you.

Eph 4:32
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
(KJV).

2. Ask for mercy from God.

It is pride not to ask mercy from God.

Luk 18:13-14
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other:for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
(KJV)

A cry for mercy stops Jesus Christ on His track.

Mat 20:30-32
30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace:but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
(KJV)

Jesus stands still at a cry for mercy.

David knew how to cry for God's mercy.

Psa 51:1
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness:
according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
(KJV)

God cannot ignore a cry for mercy. He knew that we are dust. But we forget we are dust. The cry for mercy shows we remember we are dust. The cry for mercy reminds God that we are dust.

Psa 103:13-17
13 Like as a father pitieth his children,
so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame;
he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass:
as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone;
and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him,
and his righteousness unto children's children;
(KJV)

Mercy is the strongest covenant.
The man that God has bestowed mercy cannot be accused. Nothing works against him. Mercy covers the ground that even righteousness will not reach.

1Ki 8:23
23 And he said, Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:
(KJV)

Psa 32:1-2
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no guile.
(KJV)

Psa 31:21
21 Blessed be the Lord:for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.
(KJV)

3. Salvation qualifies you for mercy.

Heb 4:16
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
(KJV)

If you are saved, you have direct access with boldness to the throne of grace, the very habitation of mercy and obtain it. There is a boldness with which my son will ask me for a thing and a stranger may not be so bold.

Jn 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
(KJV)

4. Ministry qualifies you for mercy.

2Co 4:1
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
(KJV)

1Ti 1:12-13
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious:but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
(KJV)

- Adeolu Olumodeji

NEGATIVE OR EVIL WORKINGS OF THE ANOINTING

Recently, the Lord began to show me how the anointing can be misused in this dispensation of Grace. He actually took me to a place where someone else's anointing does not have a negative effect or working on me.

There are indeed negative workings of an anointing. It is all over Scriptures especially the Old Testament. Jesus Christ redefined the terrain by His examples and His doctrine.

Luk 9:54-56
54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
(KJV)

In the scriptures above, Jesus Christ makes it abundantly clear that He is not here to destroy men's lives.

He gave His mission statement earlier at the start of His ministry...

Luk 4:16-21
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up:and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
(KJV)

Jesus stopped reading where there is a comma injuction. You wouldn't do that most likely.
Why did He close the book at that point when the scriptures He read from continues with these words " Isa 61:2 ...and the day of vengeance of our God...
(KJV) ?

This is what a man of God refered to as 'rightly dividing the word of truth'.

Jesus Christ made it abundantly clear in that statement that He is not here for vengeance yet.

And you think of it; whose death or illness or misfortune would you trace to Jesus Christ? Like maybe someone resisted and offended Him and He cursed the person or the person just began to experience ill luck because of Jesus? Even when he was being put to the most agonising of human torture, hear His words...

Luk 23:33-34
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
(KJV)

Wow! Who can do such a thing? A prophet was mocked in the Old Testament by some children who called him 'bald head', see that happened...

2Ki 2:23-24
23 And he went up from thence unto Bethel:and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. 24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
(KJV)

How did you see that? It sounds good to prove that one is called of God except that the victims were little children whom you feel thw prophet should overlook and forgive.

Story: My experience with a big MOG at a crusade in OAU Ife

Let's see another Old Testament order...

2Ki 1:9-12
9 Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him:and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down. 10 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. 11 Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly. 12 And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
(KJV)

What a testimony! 'If I be a man of God...'

But Jesus laid a higher standard when He came.

You see, anointing is like a weapons given to a force man by the government of a country. The government expects that force man to be responsible in the use or the catridges primary to protect and not to destroy the same  citizens he was empowered to save.

Likewise, the Lord Jesus was anointing and He used it for good only.

Act 10:38
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power:who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
(KJV)

And He has given to us His ministers the ministry of reconciliation... not destruction.

2Co 5:18-21
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us:we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
(KJV)

This ministry of reconciliation involves edification, exhortation and comfort - NOT DESTRUCTION!

2Co 10:8
8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
(KJV)

2Co 13:10
10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
(KJV)

We are anointed (authorised) to minister edification of men and not their destruction.

The Church of Jesus had revelled in the "Die! Die!" Ministry and it is okay for that time being. It reminded men and demons that we have the power. But it is counter productive. Men are no longer attracted to our gospel of destruction. Now we must grow up.

- Adeolu Olumodeji