A Promise Fulfilled: The HOLY SPIRIT

In John 14:15-21 Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit: “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” NLT (See also Joel 2:28; Zech 10:1)

"Suddenly there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the HOLY SPIRIT and began speaking in other languages, as the HOLY SPIRIT gave them this ability" Acts 2:2-4.

Glory to GOD! Aren’t you excited? The HOLY SPIRIT dwells among us, with us and for us. You must recognize HIM, believe in HIM, and invite HIM into your life to embark on a most wonderful journey of life here on earth that you can’t otherwise comprehend. Imagine being on a walk with the CREATOR, the maker of Heaven and Earth (Gen 1:2: …and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters), picture this wonderful thing JESUS CHRIST has done for us. You see, if you can just sit down to try to imagine it, the thought, in itself, is wonderful and beautiful; something one should long for. If you are born again you are born of the SPIRIT. Talk to Him, tell Him you know He is right there with you, worship Him and tell Him how much you Love Him, and ask Him to walk with you and let His fire keep you burning for Him. I’m excited for you already.

GOD bless you.

Christianity Is Not A Religion, But A Love Relationship

GOD started in John 3:16 by announcing how much He was interested in establishing a relationship based on ‘Love’ with us: “For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. It was a sacrifice of His beloved Son, the second person of the trinity, Jesus CHRIST, as He announced “…This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt 3:17). He is also called Love (1 John 4:8), meaning His very nature is love. All of these and the entire gospels of Matthew to John, juxtaposed, expose us the realities and premises of our relationship with our Abba Father (Loving Father), Love.

As Christians, as believers, we are transformed into the very nature and essence of GOD (Romans 8:29), therefore we should also be referred to as ‘Love’. And that is why Jesus CHRIST expects us to lead a life of love, first with Himself (“Thou shalt love the LORD thy GOD with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”Matt 22:37,38) and with everybody we encounter (“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” Matt 22:39), as He encouraged us to love even our enemies and pray for those who hate us or persecute us (Matt 5:44).

We can continue to live in Love by continuous fellowship with GOD and our brethren, studying GOD’s word daily will build His Love in our hearts, and help us to walk in it, and in Him. Jesus CHRIST kept teaching and instructing us on how to live in Love, and constant study and meditation on the Word of Jesus CHRIST will help us to live as He says.

GOD bless you!

JESUS Will Say “…Depart From Me, Ye That Work Iniquity”

Heb 6:4-6

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

“And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

“If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”KJV 

This is a serious matter. The passage above may seem scary, but we must take cognizance its realities and premises. Many believers today know of the Grace of GOD the creator, which abounds to all, but do not really understand its terms. Grace is what enables us to be saved (Acts 15:11) and the requirement to live righteously (Rom 5:20), and not a justification to continue in sin. Heb 6:1-2 says “Well then, should we keep on sinning so that GOD can show us more and more of HIS wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” JESUS the CHRIST himself has already told us what will happen in the future, because HE is the Future. HE said “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?

“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matt 7:22-23

In case you are still complacent, meditate on these sayings and be wise.

A Christian Must Be HOLY

2 Tim 2:19
"...The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity"
KJV

You are not a christian until you live like Jesus CHRIST, you being a believer not withstanding. He Had no sin or unrighteousness in HIM until when He bore our sins upon Himself on the Cross of Calvary, during which GOD the Father forsook Him, because His eyes cannot behold iniquity (Matt 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?). The entire host of heaven forsakes you, when you sin.

But Good News is that there is hope for a sinner who repents of his sins, as GOD beckons on all sinners to come for reconciliation (Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.), asking JESUS to cleanse you with His blood.

Iniquity is not peculiar to our generation alone, CHRIST was also tempted, Mary Magdalene was caught in the act, even long before the flood, but He expects us to be the Light in a world covered in darkness (iniquity) Matt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

True Story of Heaven and Hell

Luke 16 vs 19-31

JESUS CHRIST told this story of a 'rich man' and Lazarus, 'a beggar'. It was not a fiction story or a parable, He narrated a true life event, as it actually happened (and still happening today). The rich man had all the pleasurable things on earth, the beggar didn’t, and was very sick; the latter is better off today. It is better for a man to be very wretched or sick or destitute here on earth, and go to heaven when he die, than to be rich or healthy or popular here on earth, but die, and go to hell. For anyone who cares to think, it is a serious matter, knowing that this ‘rich man’, is there crying – even as you read this right now – in endless sorrow and torment, even till the next countless billions of years. There is no pleasure on earth worth giving up heaven for… none whatsoever. Prosperity is the will of GOD for us all (1 John vs 3), but HE said “What shall it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?” and about Judas Iscariot HE said “it had been good for that man if he had not been born.” Let these words persuade you to live for CHRIST.

Here is a full text of the passage.

"There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."

KJV

INSEPARABLE LOVE

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Romans 8:32

A lot of this day believers are faced with one challenge or the other at a point in life and rather than face and fight the real enemy the devil, they begin to withdraw slowly from God and his business/work. They make the challenge a priority. The life of Paul is our perfect example. After he met with God and at the initial stage of his work with God and his work for God, he had his freedom, he was able to travel around the world to make sure the gospel, the good news was heard. And then came a point when he was chained and imprisoned for the sake of the same gospel he preached, he didn’t relent on his mission neither did he grumble which was the case of John the Baptist, he made use of the measure of freedom he had even in the prison cells. He wrote lots of letters and admonition to the Church urging them to carry on the work of Christ he was persecuted and imprisoned for. He did all of this in chains.

Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds. Colossians 4:3

The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. Colossians 4:18

Paul was in chains and still cared about the gospel, he still wanted the Good news to be heard. He wasn’t in chains for some reason connected to his personal life, or for an act he committed or an omission. He was in there for the sake of the Gospel. What then..? What challenges are you facing that should make you turn your back against God? Am most positive the chains or bonds referred to in Colossians 4:3 & 18 is not restricted to being imprisoned, it could be the bonds of poverty, hunger, frustration, lack and want, traumas, sorrow or pain. These chains are inflicted on believers by the devil and in some circumstances these chains are as a result of one’s actions. If Paul could still pant and seek after God, and even continue the work of God in the measure he could , never for once did he blame God for ending up in the prison or did he think about ending his service to God. Then, that sums it all. Neither circumstance nor situation we find ourselves warrants or justifies withdrawal from our fellowship with God and from the things of God, or even judging God. Be it persecution from the preaching and practice of the gospel, the inflictions of the devil or what we bring upon ourselves. NOTHING should separate us from the love of God as well as continuing the work of God.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39…

God’s love for me is unchanging and so is my love for God. Nothing can stand in my way in my love for God.

……And hey!!!

P.S

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:37

I AM CHRISTAIN, MOST IMPORTANTLY, I AM A BELIEVER

From the records of Scripture, it is a known fact that we were in no way referred to as “Christians” by Christ himself. Rather, the pagans paused for a moment, analyzed the lifestyle of the apostles of that time, saw undeniable similarity with the lifestyle of Christ and from then on, referred to as Christians. Acts 11:26. The word Christian is translated as Christ like. Have you ever paused to ask why we were so called (Christians) originally by the Pagans? There obviously was a light they saw in Christ and his representations of earth. They also saw his mark being replicated in an outstanding manner and even in a multiplied state.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12

So that from his body [Peter] were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. Acts 19:12  Emphasis mine.

          Jesus is the most awesome Spirit man ever. He didn’t do the work all alone to gain recognition and a Crown of Glory from our Heavenly Father. If he had wanted to preach to save the entire world and even generations still unborn, it certainly was and is not a difficult thing to do.

                                  Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard                                     for me? Jeremiah 32:27

             He didn’t take up the task all to himself, he wanted us to be partakers of his glory in Heaven. He created a path for us to follow to become just like him and to be partakers of eternal glory. Even here on earth, in a family setting, we like it so much when we get praised by our earthly Father for having participated in something that have overtime yielded great results or something worthwhile. How much more when we are highly recognized to be solely responsible for what we are acknowledged for. Am sure you can relate. But no, Christ was different. He didn’t want to be the only one acknowledged. He really wanted us to be partakers; he wanted for us just what his entitlements were. A Crown, Glory and Eternal Life. The Apostles of the time understood these facts clearly and they began to work in the path created by Jesus. They upheld the gospel transferred to us from many generations to this present day. Any time there was a gathering, people need not be told that the Christians were gathered because of the acts displayed and the results of the gatherings.

            However, this day definition of Christianity is being compromised. A lot of people under the covering and pretence of being Christians have hurt a good number of people who unknowingly have high expectations from Christians. This explains comments like ‘and she claims she’s Christian. I least expected such show of character’. This comment establishes a great deal of expectations from the Christian folks. If you ever mention to someone that you are Christian, the thought that first crosses their minds is perfection, love, charity peace because that is what we preach. Unless of course, you give them a reason to doubt it. In the world today, there are a lot of misrepresentations about the personality of a Christian. It’s so sad that when you identify yourself as Christian, people begin to look out for negative things. Even Christ had a premonition that this time will come and so he warned us to beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing.

                                                 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's                                                                   clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 7:15

            People now associate this day Christianity with spite, hate, disdain, distrust and many negative things, but that doesn’t dissuade me from having to identify myself as a Christian. I am Christian! I certainly do not want to run away from it, I truly want to represent what the name stands for and it is my responsibility to carry on this legacy passed from the apostolic generation to this present generation and to the world at large. I want to protect that name and bring back its originality and its distinct qualities which include having so much love to give to everyone, peace, charity, perfection, beauty, righteousness, holiness and more. I want that more than anything. I want the world to again see its true meaning.

             I am a Believer because I have total and absolute faith in God. I trust him completely without any reservations whatsoever.  Being a Believer also entails establishing a relationship with God and having an insatiable hunger to know and want more of God.

                                            But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that                                                         cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them                                            that diligently seek him. Hebrew 11:6                                                            

                                          [for my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may                                              progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him,                                          recognizing and understanding the wonders of His person more strongly                                         and more clearly] and that I may in that same way come to know the                                         power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers]                                        and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed                                        [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death,[in the hope] that is possible                                       I may attain the[spiritual and moral resurrection [that lifts me] out from                                        among the dead [even while in the body.] Philippians 3:10-11

            So this is it. Cards on the table. I am Christian because it is my responsibility and most importantly I am a Believer.

           

THE BLESSING OR THE ONE WHO BLESSES…

…and the lord said who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season. Luke 12:42

…most men will proclaim every one of his own goodness but a faithful man who can find? Proverbs 20:6

More often than not, when God blesses believers, we tend to turn our backs on him completely and focus on the blessing. This has being the trend for most rich Christian folks overtime. They of course make appearances now and then in Church but the vibe and commitment for which they began the race with begins to die slowly, they become excessively busy with working out the blessing and they slowly fail out in acknowledging the one who blesses. 

There are quite a lot of believers out there who are attached to God for the benefits and that accounts for the continuous growth of this trend.  Personally I feel this probably moves God to be rather selective on whom he chooses to bless so he doesn’t end up losing them. That notwithstanding, the blessings of God are available to all who are willing to make sacrifices. Its starts off little by little you know…how faithful are we over the little things he blesses us with? Do our tithes come first before our attendant needs and insatiable wants? Luke 16:10…he that is faithful in that which is least is faithful in much and he that is unjust in the least is also unjust in  much. I’m guessing this should strike us to make tithing a need.

It’s so phony when the devil creeps in and tells us…”heyy! remember the gifts and calling of God are without repentance(Romans 11:29) so if he has chosen to bless you and you don’t acknowledge him or reference him with your tithes, it’s no big deal you know, he wouldn’t take it back”...of course he wouldn’t take it back, but guess what? He transfers it to someone else who indeed is faithful. Remember the parable of a master and his servants and how he took the one talent that he prior gave the last servant, and added it to the ten he gave the faithful servant?. He didn’t take it back to himself, did he? But he passed it on. Matthew 25:28.This in essence means we can get relieved of God’s blessings if we don’t manage it properly.  A lot of believers are guilty of this not because they planned it or ever conceived the thought. They just got caught up along the way. The sure way to get through this is to walk consciously in the awareness of the need to be faithful, put the giver of the  blessings  first, then grace comes and picks you up, sweeps you off your feet and makes the journey swift and smooth. Just like faith is a conscious steps and decision to walk with God, so also note that the decision is yours to make first to be faithful before you are engraced. Remember Daniel first purposed in his heart right before he appeared before the King’s table (Daniel 1:8) and upon his appearance, grace clothed his determination and made him overcome.

The bottom line is this, be determined in your heart to be faithful to the giver of the blessings, work diligently towards being faithful and committed to him, both accounts for taking a bold step and then, out of the blue, Grace comes by and sweeps you off your feet. Ultimately, you become an over-comer and it becomes your lifestyle. Remember the decision is yours to make first. I rather I am broke and still acknowledge the one who blesses than be rich and forget all about the one who blesses. I have made my choice. I choose the ONE who blesses. What or who is your choice?

BIBLE REFERENCES

·        Matthew 25 The Parable of The Talents

·        Luke 19; 11-26… the Parable of The Ten Minas

Scriptural Perspectives on Divine Protection

    No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”

Psalm 91:1-16 ESV / 89 he

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, ...

Jude 1:24-25 ESV / 59 helpful votes

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Isaiah 40:28-31 ESV / 47 helpful votes

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 37 helpful votes

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...

Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV / 34 helpful votes

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Psalm 18:1-6 ESV / 28 helpful votes

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord, who addressed the words of this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord rescued him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. ...

John 3:16 ESV / 25 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Psalm 91:10 ESV / 25 helpful votes

No evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.

Psalm 121:1-8 ESV / 24 helpful votes

A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. ...

Isaiah 43:1-7 ESV / 23 helpful votes

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. ...

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / 21 helpful votes

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Psalm 1:1-6 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; ...

John 8:32 ESV / 18 helpful votes

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 3:16-17 ESV / 15 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Psalm 25:1-22 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Of David. To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. ...

Daniel 12:1 ESV / 14 helpful votes

“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book

Reinhard Bonnke's 5 Tips For A Victorious Life

Some of God’s people have wishes. Others, like Joshua, have purposes.

A whole generation of Israel wished—and died wishing. For them, 40 years of wandering turned the Promised Land into Fantasy Land. For those same 40 years, Joshua nurtured a victory just waiting to happen. When God commissioned him, Joshua responded and turned others’ wishes into land, cities, homes and possessions—the inheritance of generations to come.

Why did Joshua succeed where others did not? It’s vitally important to first say that the reasons all lay in Joshua’s own heart, not in his circumstances. That’s the difference between what happens for some people and what doesn’t happen for others. Success is in ourselves and God’s Word, not in our circumstances.

Let’s look at the five victory factors behind Joshua’s success, all set out in Joshua 1.

1. Realize your greatness is in God. Twice the Bible makes this wonderful, all-inclusive statement: “With God all things are possible” (see Matt. 19:26, Mark 10:27). Note the preposition with. To you all things are possible, with God. Joshua did not ride into Canaan on the back of an Arabian stallion but marched in upon the basis of the promises of God. God told him: “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you” (Josh. 1:3).

2. All of God’s promises to others are ours by faith. God’s Word is for you as much as if He personally appeared and spoke it to you. Your only requirement is to “put on” His promises by faith. What had God promised to Joshua? “From the wilderness ... to the going down of the sun, shall be your territory” (Josh. 1:4). For Joshua and Israel, the only land remaining to be possessed was what Joshua had made up his mind to have. It was theirs by faith. And it happened when he decided. The door of history swung open at his touch.

3. Get a vision of what you should do for God, then work to bring it about. One of the most deeply rooted beliefs (actually, unbeliefs) some have is that God’s presence is greater with some people than with others. But from the beginning God said, “I will not leave you nor forsake you” (Josh. 1:5). He promised this to Joshua and repeated the same statement 1,300 years later by the writer of Hebrews (see Heb. 13:5). God is with us not because we are good or because we have great faith; He is with us because He has committed Himself irrevocably to us. If God was with us only when we had success, success would never come.


advertisement
4. Know that God is with you as much as He was with anybody. Don’t hang around waiting for the right circumstances. God is your circumstance. He is with you. Others before you simply took advantage of this great circumstance, believed it and acted on it. You can go forth in the name of the Lord with the same courage that God drummed into Joshua: “Be strong and of good courage” (1:6); “Only be strong and very courageous” (v. 7); “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid nor be dismayed” (v. 9).

5. Believe God’s Word and act on it. God didn’t give Joshua much forewarning when He said within three days Joshua would cross the Jordan River to possess the land (see Josh. 1:11). Israel had been on the east side of the Jordan for an entire generation. They were used to thinking of the other side of the Jordan as Fantasy Land. They had become “grasshoppers” in their own sight (see Num. 13:33). If you think you are a grasshopper, you are; because as a person “thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7). But in God you are not a grasshopper—ever.

Realize what was happening when God called Joshua. “The Lord [said] to Joshua: ‘Moses ... is dead. Now therefore, arise, go’” (Josh. 1:1-2). What a moment for purpose to unfold! It began with a funeral. It was a disastrous hour. However, God revels in bringing life out of death.

Cast off feelings of inferiority. Remember: A person’s greatness lies only in God. That’s why Joshua succeeded—because the same God who was with Moses was with him. He’s the same God who is with you.

Seven Laws Of Success For Seven Days

SUNDAY The Law of Pure Potentiality Take time to be silent, to just BE. Meditate for 30 minutes twice a day. Silently witness the intelligence within every living thing. Practice non-judgment. MONDAY The Law of Giving Today, bring whoever you encounter a gift: a compliment or flower. Gratefully receive gifts. Keep wealth circulating by giving and receiving care, affection, appreciation and love. TUESDAY The Law of Karma Every action generates a force of energy that returns to us in like kind. Choosing actions that bring happiness and success to others ensures the flow of happiness and success to you. WEDNESDAY The Law of Least Effort Accept people, situations, and events as they occur. Take responsibility for your situation and for all events seen as problems. Relinquish the need to defend your point of view. THURSDAY The Law of Intention and Desire Inherent in every intention and desire is the mechanics for its fulfillment. Make a list of desires. Trust that when things don’t seem to go your way, there is a reason. FRIDAY The Law of Detachment Allow yourself and others the freedom to be who they are. Do not force solutions—allow solutions to spontaneously emerge. Uncertainty is essential, and your path to freedom. SATURDAY The Law of Dharma Seek your higher Self. Discover your unique talents. Ask yourself how you are best suited to serve humanity. Using your unique talents and serving others brings unlimited bliss and abundance.