What God Told Me Today

How to be Led by the Spirit of God

2006-06-28T16:16:00.000+05:00

By Valentina Ibeachum

1. How are we meant to get direction in life? Romans 8:14
To be led means to be shown the way to follow. It means to be directed on a certain course of action or shown what to do or what to say or how to handle a particular situation. In all of life’s circumstances and in our daily living, we are meant to be led by the Spirit of God. This is how we ensure we make decisions and take steps that we can never regret in life.

2. How does God give us direction? Romans 8:16, Proverbs 20:27
Our spirits are called God’s candle. What do you do with a candle in a dark room? You light it up. When God wants to give us direction, he does it by relating with our spirits.

3. What are some of the different ways he leads us?
- Inward Witness – Romans 8:16
The bible says that the Spirit bears witness with our spirits. NIV translation says “testifies”. The communication is with our spirit. Have you every heard someone say “Something told me…” when trying to describe the reason why they took a certain action that led to their deliverance or victory? That was the Holy Spirit bearing witness with their spirits about what to do. That is the inner or inward witness.

- Guidance through prophecy – Acts 21:10 – 14, Acts 11:28
Agabus was a prophet who showed Paul and the other disciples some events that would take place in the future. In this case, the Spirit led them by prophecy.

- Guidance through the Word of God – Ps 119:105
God lights up our spirit through his Word. Every time we study God’s word, it shows us God’s thoughts, his will, and his ways of doing things. It also shows the everyday expectations that God has for us.

4. How do we judge the leading we receive? Thess 5:21; Acts 4:12-13
We are admonished to “prove” all things. In other words, examine it to make sure it’s true. What can we use to prove the leadings we have, but the Word of God which is described as “a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” For example if someone has a leading to marry a person who isn’t a born again Christian, when this leading is examined under the light of 2 Cor 6:14, it is proven to be wrong for God will not contradict himself.

Recommended Reading
To find out more on this subject read the book “The Holy Spirit and You” by Chris Oyakhilome.

How Many Ways to God?

2006-06-22T17:32:00.000+05:00

By Valentina Ibeachum

Contrary to popular opinion, many ways do not lead to God. Some would argue, “There are so many religions. So who is to say that there’s only one way?” Think about this, there may be many different currency notes in circulation, but only the one minted by the Bank of England would be legal tender. There’s only one selection process to get into a football club like Chelsea. No matter how eager a player is, at the end of the day, it’s not his choice that matters, but the manager’s and the qualification process acceptable to him. Many are seeking God honestly from their heart, but are going through a way chosen by them or a way they were born into.
There is only one God and only one way that leads to life. It’s a good way and a wonderful way. But many will not find it because they will try to travel on the spiritual road that looks right to them, but this road will not lead to LIFE.

For the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.

For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14

What spiritual road are you travelling on? Is it the road that leads to life? For if it is only in this world that you have hope, then you are of all men most miserable. There is a way that leads to ETERNAL LIFE and that Way is Jesus Christ. You see ETERNAL LIFE is the key.

And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. 1 John 5:11-12
God has made it so simple. You don’t need to work as hard as you think. Jesus did all the hard work on the cross. That’s why He died. For your sins. That’s why He rose again. So that you would be a brand new person on the inside (Romans 4:25). So get unto that Way that leads to life.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14.6

So what do you do?

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. John1:12

Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus. You are the way that leads to life. I have been following another way which doesn’t lead to ETERNAL LIFE.

Difference between faith and faithfulness

2006-06-16T16:25:00.000+05:00

I was reading the daily devotional Rhapsody of Realities by Chris and Anita Oyakhilome this morning when some light dawned deeply in me. I was pondering on the Loveworld Updates in the centre of the booklet where they gave some amazing news about the Good Friday Night of Miracles that took place on the 14th of April 2006. They said by a conservative measure, at least 3.5 million people were gathered in one single service. As I read the testimonies and saw pictures of people that had been healed of illnesses that had no medical solution, I became inspired and began to praise God under my breath right there in the train.

Then I began to think about why God gives us miracles. He does so because he loves people and he doesn't want them to suffer. That got me thinking about many lovely wonderful and amazingly FAITHFUL Christians who have various problems in their bodies. I thought of some who had died in car, plane, and various other accidents. And I caught the revelation of something that Pastor Chris has been telling us for some time,

FAITH and FAITHFULNESS ARE NOT THE SAME.

I realised that many of our faithful brothers and sisters expect God to deliver and heal them because of their faithfulness. Faithfulness is wonderful. Merriam-Webster defines it as

"Unswerving adherence to a person or thing or to the oath or promise"

God rewards our acts of faithfulness at various times in our lives and at the Seat of Judgement. Check out Malachi 3:16-18.

But faith is different. According to Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith is seeing as real what is not perceived by the physical senses. This includes the promises of God which encompass our authority in the Name of Jesus, divine healing and divine health, angelic protection, and so on.

If we truly believed in this things, we would speak them out. Like King David said, "I believed and therefore have I spoken". Paul also echoed him in 2 Corinthians 4:13 and said if we believe, we should also speak. I've heard stories of Christians who were in dangerous situations and the first thing that came out of their mouths were words of fear. In particular, I watched a TV interview of a couple of missionaries whose flight developed serious trouble. They were on a missionary journey to somewhere in Africa. They told their interviewer that they looked at each other and said, "We're going to die!" I thought to myself at the time, "Wow, those are words of fear. It's a wonder they made it."

These were faithful men on their way to do a good work for God, but they hadn't expressed faith in their hour of danger, they had expressed fear. Their faithfulness will give them a reward before God's Judgement Seat, but it won't deliver them in time of danger. Do you remember the story of the disciples and Jesus in a boat on turbulent waters? If Jesus hadn't stood up to SPEAK to the storm and commanded it to be still, it would have raged on. Let me take it a step further, if he hadn't been in that boat, the disciples of Jesus could very likely have perished. What did he rebuke them for? For having LITTLE FAITH. He said nothing about faithfulness.

I learnt today that no matter how faithful I am towards God and the things of God, in my hour of need, danger, or difficulty, I must EXERCISE MY FAITH and NOT DEPEND ON MY FAITHFULNESS.

This is the key I learnt: Faithfulness gives you a reward, but faith delivers what you hope for unto you. And when I have faith, I will speak and act my faith for God responds to my words and actions of faith. The bible is full of abundant examples of this.

Email about Isaac Newton

2006-06-14T21:35:00.000+05:00

-----Original Message-----
From: IBxxx, Chxxx
Sent: 14 xxxx xxxx 13:08
To: Ibxxx, Vxxx
Subject: A Moment in History...

That a maker is required for anything that is made is a lesson Sir Isaac Newton was able to teach forcefully to an atheist-scientist friend of his. Sir Isaac had an accomplished artisan fashion for him a small scale model of our solar system which was to be put in a room in Newton’s home when completed. The assignment was finished and installed on a large table. The workman had done a very commendable job, simulating not only the various sizes of the planets and their relative proximities, but also so constructing the model that everything rotated and orbited when a crank was turned. It was an interesting, even fascinating work, as you can image, particularly to anyone schooled in the sciences.
Newton’s atheist-scientist friend came by for a visit. Seeing the model, he was naturally intrigued, and proceeded to examine it with undisguised admiration for the high quality of the workmanship. ‘My! What an exquisite thing this is!’ he exclaimed. ‘Who made it?’ Paying little attention to him, Sir Isaac answered, ‘Nobody.’

Stopping his inspection, the visitor turned and said: ‘Evidently you did not understand my question. I asked who made this. Newton, enjoying himself immensely no doubt, replied in a still more serious tone. ‘Nobody. What you see just happened to assume the form it now has.’ ‘You must think I am a fool!’ the visitor retorted heatedly, ‘Of course somebody made it, and he is a genius, and I would like to know who he is.’

Newton then spoke to his friend in a polite yet firm way: ‘This thing is but a puny imitation of a much grander system whose laws you know, and I am not able to convince you that this mere toy is without a designer and maker; yet you profess to believe that the great original from which the design is taken has come into being without either designer or maker! Now tell me by what sort of reasoning do you reach such an incongruous conclusion?’

What is your true purpose?

2006-06-13T21:03:00.000+05:00

For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

You can only discover the true purpose for your life when you are created anew in Jesus. God is your Creator and like every manufacturer, He has a specific plan for your life. Your life has an eternal purpose and an eternal reward. Find out what it is and start fulfilling it.

Prayer
Dear Lord, I have seen that You have a plan for my life. Thank you for what you did on the cross for my sake so that my life would have true meaning. I receive you as my Lord today and for the rest of my life. Begin to show me the things you would have me do in order for me to fulfil my life’s purpose. Amen.

Log on to Christ Embassy

Key God gave Joshua for Success

2006-06-12T17:44:00.000+05:00

1. What is the key God gave Joshua for success? Joshua 1:8
Joshua had a great responsibility. God’s instruction was to go into the land of the Canaanites which was full of giants and multitudes of different races, wipe out ALL the inhabitants and take the land. The task was so huge that God had to tell him several times in that chapter to be STRONG and COURAGEOUS. But He gave him the key to succeed in this great dream: Meditation.

2. What is meditation? Joshua 1:8
When people think of meditation, their first thought is transcendental meditation which involves emptying your mind, sitting in a yoga position, with occasion humming. Bible meditation is quite different. If practiced properly, it will make your life prosperous and cause you to succeed in everything you do.
Brown’s Lexicon defines it as
to moan, growl, utter, muse, mutter, meditate, devise, plot, speak
a. (Qal)
1. to roar, growl, groan
2. to utter, speak
3. to meditate, devise, muse, imagine
From the above we can see that it requires the use of your mouth and mind

3. What are the various aspects of meditation?
• Knowing and memorising the word (book of the law)
• Muttering it to yourself through the day
• Imagining the reality of the word
• Acting based on that word (observe to do)

4. Who does God give the responsibility of making your life prosperous?
Look at the verse of scripture:
For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
He gives you that responsibility. It’s up to you to do it. God won’t meditate for you. You need to do it for yourself in order to make your way prosperous.

5. What do you meditate upon and what’s the end result? 1 Timothy 4:14-15, Joshua 1:8
We meditate on the word of God, the things God has done for us and put in us, and we meditate on the prophecies that we have received. When we do so, we make progress in our lives which is evident for all to see.

Link

Are there things happening around us that we can't see?

2006-06-09T16:54:00.000+05:00

Life is spiritual. It's important that we look at life through the Word of God. God's word written in the scriptures is a light that shines in a dark place. Why do some certain things happen to people that we can't find explanations for? Because the source of the problem isn't physical, but spiritual.

Not all lights work the same. There are some things that can't be seen in natural light. For example, I can't see someone's bone structure just by looking at them under sunlight or the light from an electric bulb. But the X-ray light will reveal all those things. You can't know or understand everything in life if you're trying to use your normal human reasoning. It's only knows and understands the things it can feel, see, touch, taste, or smell. But there's a realm that the 5 senses cannot discern and that's the realm of the spirit.

God's divine actions in our lives and study of His Word are the revealers of that realm to us.

1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.