WORD OF THE WEEK from Pastor Martin

29th April 2011, Hash!

Praise the Lord brethren.

     My message this week is from the book of Joshua 6:10, "Now Joshua had commanded the people, saying, “You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, ‘Shout!’ Then you shall shout.”

    God commanded Joshua to tell the people of Israel to keep quite as the marched round the walls of Jericho seven days. This has happened again in the case of Zechariah father of John the baptist when God was about to break his barrenness.

Have you ever said something that made you hope you better had never opened your mouth. This is especially true when we don't have the adequate detail of what we are talking about. In the instance of the children of Israel in the Jericho walls experience, never had an idea of how God would do it for them. 

    If God is doing it for you, don't interfere with it, if He is fighting for you, don't fight! We are often caught with excitement or just wonder with amazement until we can't hold it inside any longer. Words have power when spoken, they have their own impact in any situation. Somebody once said, a spoken word cant be taken back. Sometime we decree negative just because we are too pressed by our circumstances or we simply don't know what will happen. If you have been trusting God, then give Him the opportunity to work it out. It is easier to work when God is at work as Jesus once admitted.We normally try to even guide the Hand of God, we find ourselves interfering with what God is doing or even give the enemy details he didn't deserve to get. If you have to talk, give God the glory.

    Keeping quite sometimes can save you much! When you are not sure, be like Mary the mother of Jesus, keep it in heart, though it tarries, it shall surely come to pass. Has God said something, is He doing something? Please hash and let Him!

19th April 2011, Nothing stops

Praise the Lord brethren.

My message this week is from the book Genesis 15:12,"Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him."

    This is a time when Abram, was determined to offer an acceptable sacrifice to God. It meant alot to him with the knowledge of the future he wanted in God. He direly needed a covenant with God. He had an opportunity to offer a sacrifice but also had to wait for its acceptance by the LORD. The animals that he offered were also food to the birds of the air which didn't have a clue of his need. He had to wait for God to respond and this called for a fight with the birds. He was scared that they would get to the sacrifice before God did. He had one of the most horrible experience like we usually do. A "fight with the birds" is what most of us are experiencing in our lives. We are facing all manner of challenges that are bent to making sure we wont succeed, never have peace, never have joy, breakthrough or anything you might name as Godly success.
 The whole experience was so taxing, draining and frustrating that he finally got tired, worn out and fell asleep. It is surprising to note that God came while he was sleeping and accepted his sacrifice! It didn't need his effort to have God come into the situation! God has the ability to protect what has been offered and dedicated unto Him. Leave the birds alone, just do your part, God will take care of the birds. 

    The action of God wasn't stopped by Abram's capability. Abram's slumber didn't stop God from addressing his need. We always think that things will be messed up if we did nothing about them. Maybe we are wrong! God is the author and finisher of everything that He created. God doesn't stop because we stopped. Actually, He never ever goes to sleep! He who watches over Israel never slumbers or close His eyes.

     A study in our body system reveals that the main work inside our body continues even as we sleep. Most of the things that God has done aren't known to us, whatever He does is always in secret from us. We only see the manifestation of the same. We have a problem of remaining in control while He should be and then our  curiosity to know everything. Let go and let God, nothing will stop.

    My sister , my brother, let God take over the protection and fulfillment part in your situation. Your end ushers in the beginning of God. Have you been trusting and waiting upon the LORD? Nothing has stopped. Nothing can stop God.

31st March 11' How big?

Praise the Lord brethren.

My message this week comes from the book of 2 Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
This was Prophet Elisha praying for his servant Gehaz who couldn't figure out how God could rescue them in the midst of a siege by the Syrian Army. This time he knew they were to fall in the enemy's hands but Elisha saw otherwise. He acknowledged the danger at hand but also acknowlegded the soveregnity of his God even to deliver them.

Many time we face crisis, danger, failures or anything of the sought, we tend to magnify the problem more than even it can ever be. Every problem blown out of proportioncauses anxiety, depression and fear. There is a possibility in such circumstances to not even remember the ability of your God. Whenever you are faced with the newest big challenge, it good to ask yourself, "What really is the magnitude of my problem? How big is it? Is God able to intervene? Is it the biggest problem i ever faced? and so forth and so forth" Sometimes we need our eyes to be opened. We need to look at our problems from all viewpoints. Sometimes they are even a blessing in disguise!

Don't magnify your problem without considering other factors involved. I once got a cut on my foot. It was the worst that had ever happened to me in that sense that i had to be taken to the local hospital. As i waited for the doctor to attend to me, i saw other people who were brought in with major cuts and amputated legs. My problem shrunk until i almost went back home without treatment. Nothing could have convinced me earlier that the worst hasn't happened to me until i saw other people who had a bigger problem than i had.

I really don't know what you are going through, but is it as big as you think? The ability of your God and other factors needs to be given a thought. Your problem might be big, but how big is it anyway?

25th March 11', Look up!

Praise the Lord brethren.

My message this week comes form the book of Luke 21:28, "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

This was a time when Jesus was speaking to His disciples about the last days when the  world will come to an end. The endtimes is one of the most misconceived topics in recent history when many have even set dates for. The bible says, no one knows the day which the Father have set in His own ability to reveal. My topic is really on the fact that many Christians tend to get confused when things happen that are beyond their understanding but as Jesus, told His disciples, some of these things are signs of other things! How many times do we worry, get depressed when really God is showing us signs of better things that we ought to discern? Maybe you have to loose a job to get a better one. I didn't say you have to, but there is a big possibility that loosing something is sometime gaining something better. Sometimes we are very good at taking things at face value especially if we dont understand what is really happenning.

Jesus told His disciples that after the appearance of all that is mentioned(Japan episode) in the context of this passage, they should now that thetime of His appearing are near. Many of the situation that the people of God go through are signs of God's latest intervention! The book of Revelation chapter 12:12b talks about a devil who is mad because his time is short. Wow! That means that he is desperately at work (overtime) trying to make an impression with the full knowledge that he is on his way out or down! in normal circumstances, one would whine, cry, worry and complain, when the devil's onslaught is on you but theWord of God talks about the time factor for the onslaught itself.

  Talk about understanding the word of God? That's what every Christian should desire. We perish for lack of knowledge. If only we knew! Is it possible that you have seen life threatening signs in your life, career, marriage, family...? What are the signs here? Have you looked up? That's where your perfect help comes from! Maybe, it is time to LOOK UP!

9th March 2011, Nothing less!

Praise the Lord brethren.

My message this week comes from the book of Jeremiah 31:15, "Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not."

Here, God speaking to the children of Judah through Prophet Jeremiah about a situation that would once arise to their descendants. My point is, this lady Rahel or Rachel, couldn't be comforted from her weeping. She seemed to desire an answer for her lost children. My dear brethren, it comes a time when we can't take uncertainity for an answer, there is a time that you will need to address what needs to be addressed. Many allow circumstances to mold their destinies hence giving the enemy a field day! I want to remind you that some things won't change until you decide to do something about them. When nothing can't be done, then you can pray. God tells us to call upon Him-Jeremiah 33:3.

The burden of need is only known precisely by the person in need. Other people may comfort you which is good but it is only God who can fulfill the need in totality. Any quick fix will help but for a moment. Go for the answer itself- a yes, a no or a wait! All else is confusion, and leads to depression. We trade our peace, joy, fulfillment, with temporary comfort while breakthrough is just a prayer away.

Retiring as a victim won't help. Temporary help won't do you any good. Hannah in 1st Samuel had endured mockery for many years from her husband's second wife until she decided to take no more comfort from men but to seek God for her situation! God intervened! Little did she know that God desired to give her a child that would serve Him faithfully. I know your situation may seem hopeless but have you talked to God? Are you comforting yourself in denial, procrastination and self pity? It is time to seek the face of God, it is time to pray about it again, it is time to get new strength and cast your net again.

Many times, we think we are at our end while breakthrough is around the corner. All we need is to get real with about our situation and know that God can do something about it. Continue knocking, calling, kneeling, trusting in God and don't give up on Him. Go for nothing less but what God has for you! Nothing less, i say, nothing less but a breakthrough!

 

3rd March 11', More than just you

Praise the Lord brethren.

My message this week is from the book of Esther 4:14,"For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Esther was queen in the Persian kingdom, she was a jew in a tme when Jews were about to be wiped out from the kingdom as it has always turned out in many regimes. What is important to note here though is that she had an opportuniy to change the outcome of the situation. She also could have decided to mind her own business. Most of us ussually choose the latter whenever a challenging situation arises. Many times, God gives us the oportunity to change the destinies of many people around us but we often choose to mind our own business.

Many, like Esther,  choose to risk their name, ego, status, poitions, or anything they  hold dear to them but many choose to ignore and assume they never saw it, never heard it and never knew about it. What problem are you turning a blind eye or dumb ear to? Sometimes, we see people suffer while we could have done something that was in our ability to solve though it might have been uncomfortable to us in the moment.

The world we live in today is one that emphasizes comfort and individualism. The bible tells us to be mindful of the next person's welfare like it was our own. When you dont care, dont worry about what happen to so and so, you forget it might as well happen to you at one time. Many dont know the importance of giving their seat in a bus to the sick, elderly, physically challenged until they or someone close to them get to that situation. We need to be mindful of one another's welfare. When we see  other people suffer, we have no reason to assume they deserve it.

When one makes decisions, when you act , how people conduct themselves is not just subject to them, it affects millions of people. Our personal decisions have public consequences. Nobody can assume that whatever you are doing can't hurt or even bless somebody whether directly or indirectly. Esther's decision changed the way things happened to millions of Jews. Some have done things because they are far away from people they know, forgetting that the people around them though unknown to them are also affected by those things. There is war in the world because somebody made a decision. Whatever it is, it more than just you!

02 Feb 11', Its an inside job!

Praise the Lord brethren.

My message this week is from the book of Job 32:18, "For I am full of words;The spirit within me compels me."

This is Job after many of the confusing and sometimes mocking words he recieved from some from his friends. He too felt as if he had words to say. Actually his belly was full of them. But he didnt really say what they were other than he had them. What i am trying to say is that your inside man is your GPS. He navigates you. Many of the things we see from the outside are actually the finished product of the inside job. What navigates our actions is the workmanship within rather than without.

When David sinned, he asked God to renew His Spirit within him. That was all he needed. Many of us need an inside repair job urgently. This is because a face-wash won't help. Job knew that he too had words to say though he chose not to. He glorified his God instead. This tells you where his help and trust was based from. Having a space for God within your heart might help alot. This might help avoid many of the negative outpourings, volcanic eruptions coming from a turbine within, for from the abundance of the heart a mouth speaketh.

Look at yourself in the mirror, most probably it is a good lead to what is happening within. Depression is an accumulation of stress over time. Some catastrophic happenings like suicide comes from a long period of contemplation and plan. Many things dont just happen, they are harbored in the inside for a long time. Many of the thing we are seeing today are just being birthed from conceptions that happened years ago. Cain had a choice but he chose to have his way instead of God's. Revenge is a purposed and planned non-released evil thought. Many haven't stolen just because they havent had a good chance to do so. Many are in jail because they got an opportunity to manifest what had been in the inside.

The most successful plan are the inside jobs.  Apostle Paul once cried out, "woe unto me for the enemies within me". It was a battle within him. You become what you harbor in your heart.Let heaven manifest within you!Release anything that you wont need and let God do an overhaul of your heart. What many will need is not actually a repair but a new heart. It is an inside job!

16th Jan 11', There is more!

Praise the Lord brethren.

My message this week is from the book of Isaiah 45:3, "I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel."

This is the servant of God Isaiah who through prophesy reveals to us about the hidden treasures of God. We as many that has gone before us in history,sometimes gets to that point in time where we think that all discoveries have been done. I have a word for you, God has more that is not yet revealed! The are other greater companies than microsoft, google, mac Donald, other major discoveries than just the earth's rotations and gravity. Some of the best medical breakthrough are still ahead. They are with the maker of the earth, the owner of creation, the God who created them. He is the same who know where He placed them.

Sometimes our biggest challenge has been, 'the search' and whatever it takes. We sometimes are not willing to spend time getting details for our next discoveries but we are dire need of the treasures. As the bible reveals, God has some hidden riches of secret places and hidden treasures of darkness that He is willing to give. Are you ready to recieve? The most fascinating feature of every treasure is that they call for a detailed search.

Take it from me, whatever the world needs is with the creator. God has so many answers that He about to give to His people. There are more inventions coming! Does all opportunities seem taken? There is more!

 

07th Jan 2011, All day, all the time!

Praise the Lord brethren.

My message this week is from the book of Hebrew 4:8,"For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day."

This talks of Joshua the leader of the children of Israel who led them into the promised land of Canaan. It is easy to think that because it was the land that they eagerly strove to enter, it would be the place where their wandering would end. As it turned out, Canaan didn't end the suffering and hardships of the children of Israel. For a change of location; yes but personally most of them remained with the same attitude their forefathers had in Egypt. Some actually took it a notch higher to even become idol worshippers. Joshua, before he died summoned them and cautioned them against forgetting their God. He told them that they were to be successful if they would stick with their God. Too much land was still not possessed in Canaan by the time Joshua died. He still spoke of another day that if they were willing to obey, they would have the joy and peace they had always looked for. The search continued.Whoever would get a revelation of the purpose would automatically get the rest from toil and labor. Their rest was with God not the land. The purpose of all this was to give them a revelation that God was all they needed to have the rest that they really needed.

We are just coming from the holiday season. Christmas has sometimes turned to be a nightmare to many who do not understand its purpose. Many who don't have what they need and many who don't have their families around them look at Christmas as a dark cloud. They hope it would pass fast. Many have been depressed by it. This is all because of what they have made it to become- a season to buy and sell!

The reason for Christmas is the remembrance of the intervention that God made by personally stepping into a messed world to give us hope and a future.We were given the opportunity to partake the peace that surpasses all human understanding. It is a time of rest. Not because of the day but because of the purpose that came with the day.

Anyone can choose to enjoy that day under whatever circumstance. Everyday, is a gift from God that comes for a sole purpose to be enjoyed. We many times spend our days sad, complaining and depressed.The day for your rest is today! Today is that day that Joshua couldn't give the children of Israel now that the Son of God and His Eternal plan for saving mankind has been revealed to us. He says to you, "Why labor and toil alone when i am here ready to see you through? Come all ye that are heavy laden and i will give you rest!"  Brethren, that's Christmas right there! All day, all the time! Choose how to spend the gift that is the day God has given you.

8th Dec 2010, Eat it!

Praise the Lord brethren.

My Word this week comes form the book of Revelation 10:10, "Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter."

This was John the revelator, in patmos island. God showed him amazing things but the issue of the 'little book' is our main focus today. He was shown the book that was held in the angel's hand and was requested to take it and eat it. The content of the book was first sweet then bitter.  It would have been wishful thinking if he didn't actually try it out.

Many times, we live with things that we haven't really known their worth. God has given us so much but a lot go to waste. I usually say that many of the things we are praying for ; we already have them. Anything un-utilised or underutilised is a wasted resource. Sometime we fear the outcomes of our full commitment. We sometime avoid really submitting, truly humbling, sincerely expressing or anything that you can mention but with that comes non-ending hoping. We end up trusting for things that we actually could have owned. We miss on our blessings and inheritances for lack or fear of venturing. We live with people that we do not even try to discover who they really were meant to be in our lives. Our children passes by our lives without us actually discovering the hidden talents and opportunities they truly inhabit. The Bible says that time and chance happens to both the poor and the rich. What you do with your time makes who you become. Standing in hope is not an excuse for failure of walking in faith.

Take to time to discover what God has put in your vicinity. A man in the bible had a land that was a goldmine but he hired men to cultivate it for him. He really never knew how rich he was until he lost the whole fortune to one man he had hired who when he discovered the gold went and sold all that he had and bought the land becoming the richest in those days. What is it in your life that you haven't taken serious time to think about or to discover? The simpleness of the matter doesn't decrease its importance. Maybe what we need is just one miracle, one word, one revelation, one simple counsel and our lives will never be the same again!

There are many unread books on our shelves that  have the key to our breakthroughs, many un-prayed prayers, many enjoyable times we have spent sad, many opportunities we have dismissed as another temptation, and the many angels we have labelled the devil himself; take time to eat that 'little book'

There are good little books in simple covers; open, read and you will discover what they really are about. God bless you!

 

24th Nov. 2010,Brother Lot

Praise the Lord brethren.

My message this week is from the book of Genesis 12:4, "So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him;..."

This was Abram whom God had; in the previous verses clearly instructed him to leave his people. Lot was a nephew to Abram whose dad had died some few years before. It is as if Abram never heard precisely; what God said. "Leave your people!" It is not surprising that Lot became not only a liability to Abram but also brought him into many near-death situations. He had to rescue 'brother' Lot in many situations and finally separated after a sharp conflict. Lot later slept with his own daughters brought forth some of the incestuous children into this world. He is known in the bible by his carelessness and finally drunkenness. If walking by sight is anything to go by, Lot then was a big success. The bible says that if you rescue a wicked person, you will have to rescue them again.

How many times have we heard from God and still added our own agendas in the process of doing what He said? As much as Lot was in need, he still didn't qualify in the vision that God had for Abram. Our righteousness is as filthy rugs before God.  Giving without obedience,becomes just another donation, doing what you think is right doesn't just qualify it before God. We need to follow, carefully, what God says.There is always a danger in presumptions. In the perfect will of God, there is peace and security. Abram loved or even was passionate to 'brother' Lot, but that didn't warrant an inclusion to what God commanded. When God instructs, He sees and know the dangers and challenges ahead. The best thing is to trust Him at His Word. When He says stop, He means stop.Go means go. Elijah would have died of hunger if he tried to stay in the brook where the ravens brought him meat and bread. Whatever God didn't instruct you, is a 'brother' Lot to you! Whatever it is, however justified it might seem to you, it has nothing to do with the vision you have. As a matter of fact, it will mess that vision up.

Maybe, you might have been a victim of 'brother' Lot in your life, take heart; obey and part ways as early as you can. Many of the things we are passionate about might be out of the will of God. Many even get married to wrong choices just because it looked good to them at that time. Next time when you are making choices and decisions, leave 'brother' Lot alone!