BELIEVE HIS PROPHETS AND YOU SHALL PROSPER

By Brother Godwin

Beloved,

He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward (Matthew 10:41).

Every word of God is for a purpose, and it is only God’s way or no way. Now we are not talking about how you feel. Actually feelings have nothing whatsoever to do with the things of God. Jesus Christ, God’s son appeared with all his anointing in his village. This was the commentary: And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief (Mark 6:5-6). This is the same Jesus that the woman with the issue of blood touched and got her healing (Luke 8:43-44); the Jesus that the wind and storm obeyed (Mark 4:41); the Jesus that the fish obeyed (Luke 5:4-7). Friends, the dead heard his voice and rose up from dead but Jesus could do no mighty work in that environment.
This is one lesson we must learn: don’t just go to church or fellowship or meet any servant of God with nothing in your heart. Don’t go to be spoon fed. Go with your faith because no matter the anointing on the life of any minister of God, it can be shut-off by an unbelieving congregation. I mean, go with your faith. There are a lot of commentators and spectators in the house of God today. We need to be in church busy working. While listening to the teaching, you need to be busy working. What is the work? Faith is the work (John 6:29). This is why the scripture enjoins us to fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life (1 Timothy 6:12).
Now note that Jesus could not do any miracle. Jesus wanted to do miracles but he could not. Someone might ask, I thought all things are possible with God? Yes, all things are certainly possible with God but this possibility is only where he finds faith. God or even devil cannot have access in your life unless you permit (Philemon 14; Ephesians 4:27). True! This is why Jesus asked “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth” (Luke 18:8)? God is everywhere looking to find faith in order to manifest his goodness and love. His eyes are everywhere looking to show himself strong in the life of those whose hearts are perfect toward him (2 Chronicle 16:9).
But someone may ask but they recognized he was Jesus. Yes, they did but they did not accept his prophetic office. Remember he that recognizes a prophet in the name of a prophet. The prophet may have been your classmate just like Jesus was to many of those folks but you need to recognize his office as a prophet. This means accepting him with the anointing of God upon his life with full recognition that God sent him or her for your good. Am I encouraging the worship of men? No Sir. I am talking about what the scripture says. Let God be true and all men lies (Romans 3:4). As I said earlier, it either God’s way or no way. We all have the Spirit of God but God has set ministers in our mist for our good….and no man takes this honor to himself accept he that is called (Hebrews 5:4).
We have examples in the scriptures. In Ezra 4:24, the building of the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it needed the help of the Prophets of God in Ezra 5:1-2 to resume. See this:  And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo (Ezra 6:14). How did they prosper?  They prospered by the prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah. Look at this And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved (Hosea 12:13). What is it that has locked you up? Perhaps you need a word from someone with the anointing of God on his life. Is there a sense of insecurity about anything in your life? Remember by a prophet was he preserved. Here is what Paul told Timothy; this charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare (1 Timothy 1:18). We need to be Bible-wise.
Now I am not talking about white garment stuff. At times God brings people our way but we are more concerned with comparing what they know and miss out on the blessings of God they carry. Measuring ourselves with ourselves is foolishness (2 Corinthians 10:12). This calls for sensitivity and believe. Potiphar was sensitive to discover that Joseph was not an ordinary person (Genesis 39:3). Laban was observant to recognize that the presence of Jacob in his household has been a blessing (Genesis 30:27). God gives us gifts of men but we need to be sensitive to take the delivery of the blessing they carry.
Remember, Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper (2 Chronicles 20:20).
God shall crown 2011 with his goodness for you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

WAITING TO BE GIVEN ACCESS

Brother Godwin

Beloved,
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20).

I went to a men’s fellowship meeting yesterday and what I heard made so mcuh meaning to me. That is what I will document here. I am sure my brother would not mind. Brother Chijioke shared the above scripture which is a popular scripture for evangelism. First he pointed out that Jesus Christ was knocking at the door of a church, as clearly defined by verse 14 “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God”. So the scripture was not referring to unbelievers. As it were Jesus was outside his own church, and virtually begging to be allowed in. Now think of it, this is supposed to be the church of the living God (1 Timothy 3:15) and Christ is supposed to be the head of this church. Yet he did not have a free access to his church. How did it come to the level that Jesus did not have access to his own church?

Such is the nature of a lot of places today. There is no God in our hallelujahs. There is no fruit of the Spirit and clearly no manifestation of gifts of the Spirit. I mean no virtue and no power. We entertain one another without any regard for God. You know what? That was also happening in the days of Jesus Christ. In Luke 13:16, Jesus asked, And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? I mean this daughter of Abraham was suffering and instead of being healed, she was being entertained in the synagogue. No one sought to know God; no one wanted to experience his power. Yet the house was supposed to be the house of God. There was the worship of the god of money and god of position and the god of tradition. And because God is a purer eyes than to behold iniquity (Habakkuk 1:13), he excused himself. You know what? He wishes to come back and is "begging" us to allow him in.

And Brother Chijioke continued: notice that God wanted access into individual’s life. “If any man hear my voice”. So we could rush to condemn the church as a body but the church is made of individuals. So Christ is saying by implication that when individuals like you and I give him access into our lives, Christ would have access into his church. When Adam sinned, God was driven out of fellowship with man. God finally found a man who would allow him back, by obeying him. Abraham made himself available, and through Abraham, God made a covenant that allowed him back into fellowship with the man he made in his image (Genesis 12:1-3). God wants you and I to make ourselves available. He desires to use you and I. He is not sitting down about it: For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him (2 Chronicles 16:9). This means God is ready anytime we are ready.

As I thought about Brother Chijioke’s sharing, I remembered that he also said that a lot of times we call stuff accidents when actually they were full blown manifestation of a process that started a long time ago. This is a truth I will encourage you to get hold of. Nothing in life happens by accident they all come in the process of time. The preacher puts it this way:  Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:  So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man (Proverbs 24:33-34). The house is the full blown manifestation of the first shoveling. David committed adultery and murdered Uriah, but it started by refusing to go to war when kings go to battle (2 Samuel 11:1-19). Is it wrong to rest? No it is not but it was not the time to rest and  stroll around the house. It was when kings go to battle. It was a small decision, but the consequence was very huge. David drove God out of his life and did a lot of wrongs for cover up until God sent Nathan to as it were knock on the door of his heart. Judas Iscariot did not start by planning to sell Jesus. It started by his love for money, then stealing from the purse and finally thought “Let’s get it big, 30 pieces of silver would be some money” (John 12:1-6, Matthew 26:15). So let’s watch it. When we choose to miss fellowships, forego our morning prayers, avoid our personal Bible studies, pick offences on minor issues and toss our lives into the hands of people we do not know much about, we might be laying the foundation for something huge. Elimelech decided to move due to famine and that cost his life and the lives of his two sons (Ruth 1:1-5). Eve first started with a simple chat and that was what put God’s creation in jeopardy (Genesis 3:1-24). See this scripture 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 (Romans 1:21). So vanity of imagination started simply; by not giving thanks to God. Now read that passage to verse 32 and see. Verse 30 says that ungratefulness is the building block to becoming Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, and disobedient to parents. Did you notice all those? They basically became Satan incarnate and these started from a simple thing; refusing to be thankful.

 This is Brother Chijioke’s conclusions: We need to watch the choices we make because they have consequencies. Did you read that?
Receive grace today to make good choices
God shall crown 2011 with his goodness for you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ

WHAT ARE YOU SERVING GOD?

By Brother Godwin

Beloved,

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1)

A lot of us think that we serve God only when work in the church: I mean church as a place of worship. While that is service to God, it is perhaps a very small part of our service to God. Except for Pastors and those that run churches, the time we spend in church is very small compared to the total time available to us in a week or a month. A better mentality is to take service as working on the church. This is because the church is a living being, consisting of Jesus as the head with every believer as a member. So if you are a believer, everything you do in every minute of the day is working on the church of God. This is true whether you are conscious of it or not.
Romans 12:1 said that your reasonable service is to present your body unto God. First it says you should sacrifice your body. This implies giving yourself over; you do not have an opinion or choice as it were. Secondly, note that this is your reasonable service. This is the level of service acceptable to God. So the question is, the things you do with your body are they acceptable? Imagine for a moment that you are a waiter in a restaurant, and God is the customer, what you are presenting to him is it acceptable? In other words, what are you serving God?
Let’s take this from another angle. Colossians 3:17, 23-24 says “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ”. First note that service is defined as whatever you do in word or deed. This means whatever you say, think or do in activity, is service. Secondly, note that ye serve the Lord Christ. So all your words, thoughts and actions whether good or ugly are services unto God. If that is true, could you for a moment think about what you have been serving God?
Am I just talking or do we have examples in the scriptures? See this But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment (Matthew 12:36). Did you notice “every idle word”? Words are to be spoken with good purpose and intension to have positive impact. This means someone is taking note. Now what about the day of judgment? It does not refer to judgment seat of Christ. It refers to the here and now. It refers to what we experience  today.  1 Peter 3:10 says  “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile”. This means that what you will experience here has a lot to do with the words of your mouth.  Friend, your words are services to God, and Colossians 3:24 says of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of inheritance. So what are the rewards? The life and the good days as stated by the scriptures. Would you want to read verse 11 of that scripture?
We had a couple that did something, without the consciousness that they serve the Lord Jesus Christ. They wer called Ananias and Saphira. We know the story but let’s see what the Holy Spirit said to them through Peter:  why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land (Acts 5:3)?  Remember, whatever you do in words and deed? They lied and kept back part of the price of the land.
You are serving God, whether you know it or not. We sit in churches and judge everything from the songs to the message. We sit in our houses and destroy people with the words of our mouth. We have killed so many people in our thought. Here this, Ananias and Saphirah may have kept back part of the price of the land. True, but are we keeping back part or all of our tithe? For instance, we remove our insurance money, our mortgage and other commitments, whatever remains, we offer the 10% of it as tithe. That is offering part of the tithe. I told myself a long time ago, “if I do not come late when I have an appointment with man, why should I come late to church which is an appointment with the King of Kings”?  I don’t want to offer part of my time to God.
The purpose of this write-up is not to make anyone feel guilty. It is to point out that God’s word remains the same forever. Whatever we do in word or deed is service to God. Take time to do everything well and in that consciousness because of the Lord we shall receive the reward of our inheritance.
God will crown 2011 with his goodness for you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen
Godwin

A Hubby With Inspiration

Dear All,

The Temple of Praise Blog has the priviledge of sharing with everyone Sister Annette's Hubby.

The link below has some lovely pictures with words that help you appreciate the beauty and awesomeness of God from the perspective of Sister Annette.

Just click: http://www.flickr.com/photos/crownprincess/

God bless you.

Patrick

ANYTIME YOU ARE READY, GOD STARTS COUNTING

Brother Godwin

Beloved,

Scripture Reading: At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision (Daniel 9:23).Let me say this right away: we have been waiting for God for miracles and breakthrough in several areas of our lives but God is waiting for us to set the process that brings the miracles or breakthroughs to manifestation. Paul writing in 1 Corinthians 12:10 said that we have been given the gift of the working of miracles.  Note that it did not say the “gift of waiting for miracles” which appears to be the gift that many Christians in our time have. Jesus speaking to the disciples (which means speaking to you and I) said, “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:7-8). Now did you notice who Jesus told to do all those miracles? The people he sent and empowered.  Take a moment to think about this! This is why the scripture says that the manifestation of the spirit is give to every man (1 Corinthians 12:17). Friend, you have been given the gift of working of miracles; not waiting for miracles. This is the reason John and Peter told the lame man at the beautiful gate that they had his healing (Acts 3: 1-9). You and I are the hope of humanity. We are the hope of our community and our environment. The whole creature is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God (Romans 8:19). Hey! Now are we the sons of God (1 John 3:2). Hallelujah! The point is this, God is ready anytime you are ready; be it in your finances, your health, your family or anything that concerns you. Moses had the rod but was expecting God to divide the sea. God told him “Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea”(Exodus 14:15-16). It our responsibility to use what God has given us to ease our lives. God is not going to do that for us. True!
In Daniel chapter 9, as soon as Daniel decided to pray, God sent the answer to the prayer he has barely prayed. So it was essentially in Daniel’s hand when God would fulfill his desires. When the prodigal son chose to return home, the father was already waiting for him for “when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). The question is; who determined when the prodigal son’s suffering ended? The prodigal son of course! God is not holding anything from us. God’s divine power has ALREADY given us all things that will make us live for him and enjoy life (2 Peter 1:3-4).  You and I choose the one we wish to have and when we wish to have them. God speaking in Malachi 3:7 declared,”return unto me and I will return unto you”. Christians would want to create the impression that it is all in God’s hand. No, it is not. It is in my hand and your hand.
One may ask, “I have prayed and fasted but my desires have not been fulfilled”.  You know what, you are probably right. It is has not physically manifested because you just said it has not been fulfilled…..and you shall have whatever you say. When do you know that what you have prayed for has been fulfilled? The answer is clear in 1 John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him”. You know that you have your desires as soon as you have prayed according to the word of God (which is the will of God). You don’t know that you have it when you see it physically. No, that is not what the Bible says.
Joshua asked the Israelites, “How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you”(Joshua 18:3)? Jesus asked the disciples, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you?”  (Mark 9:19). How long are we going to wait before we step into where God wants us to be? How long? Hear this:  “I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Friend the time is now. God is not going to get bigger tomorrow. He is not going to get more powerful tomorrow so that he would be able to help you. No. All that needed to be done has been done. The remaining thing that needs to be done is in your hand and in my hand. The just does not live because he is just. He lives by his faith (Habakkuk 2:4). If we refused to use what have been freely given to us, we will continue to suffer in the mist of plenty. "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation" (Hebrews 2:3)? I am persuaded of better things concerning you.
Psalms 1:3 says you determine your season. Joshua 1:8 says you shall make your way prosperous. Proverbs 24:13-14 says when you have found the word, and eaten it as honey,  your expectation shall be fulfilled. Isaiah 66:8 says that as soon as Zion travails it brings forth her fruits. Friend, it is not in God’s hands. It is in your hand and in my hand. Thank God that in our time, the prince of persia CANNOT prevent our answers from reaching us because we pray in the name to which every knee bows (Philippians 2:9-11, Isaiah 45:23). Hallelujah!
You have your Bible, study the scriptures here and more to find out for yourself.
Never forget this: anytime you are ready, God starts counting

Check out The Pictures From Sunday by clicking the link below.

https://picasaweb.google.com/100546209979802680453/October232011

OUR GOD REIGNS

By Brother Godwin

Beloved,

Scripture Reading: But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid (Matthew 14:27).

I wish to begin by thanking everyone for their support and prayers during the celebration of my father life. Your prayers, visits and gifts were very much appreciated. I have known for some time now: who ever receives me, receives a reward. Yours would not elude you in the name of Jesus Christ. Everything went on very well. To God alone be all the glory.
In the story in Matthew 14: 22-32, although Jesus had sent his disciples to cross over, when he noticed that the wind was contrary to their movement, he walked on the water to go and help them. Jesus walked on the water to get to them because that was the fastest way to reach them. Friend, God will do anything necessary, including creating additional miracles in order to be there when you need help. He is a present help in the time of need (Psalms 46: 1). The truth is this: if what you are asking God does not exist, God would create one. Hear this Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert (Isaiah 43:19). God is ready to do a brand new thing for you: something that would amaze you when you know the details. Amen!
Note that although the wind was contrary, it did not sink the ship. The wind could not sink the ship because Jesus had told them to cross over. They were in the centre of God’s will. Friend, God’s will is for you to have a job. He will not allow anybody to sack you until another provision have been made for you. See that job as your inheritance (because the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, Psalms 24:1) because your inheritance by God’s program should be forever (Psalms 37:18-19). This means you determine when you leave. Stop imagining who hates you and who does not. Do not join colleague who are expert commentators. No, don’t join them. There is a way for you, and that way is in God; in God’s word.
Then Peter walked on the sea. Not only was Peter riding on the wave of miracle, he was an instant miracle himself. Note that the wind was still contrary while Peter was inside the ship. The wind was still contrary when he chose to step out of the ship, straight into water. He knew he was stepping into water. Of course water was water, even if the wind was still, and yet he chose to take that step of faith. Peter took the step based on the word of Jesus Christ. Friend, you can generate a miracle based on God’s word. I mean concerning any area of your life, you can stand on the revealed word and watch things turn to your favor. A long time ago, I was demoted on a job I felt I was doing well. I discussed with my wife Gloria, and we agreed that based on Proverbs 4:18, it was an error to accept that lower position. It was just a matter of time (a very short time) before things turned to my favor. Hallelujah! His word, revealed to your heart is a sure foundation.  How I wish many of us would begin to take conscious efforts based on God’s word. The more I read the scriptures and compare them with the songs we sing and the way we pray, the more it appears to me that we are expecting God to do what he has given into our hands. For instance, Matthew 10:8 read Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. This suggests they had control over the healing of the sick. Was that not what Peter and John demonstrated when they told the lame man Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk (Acts 3:6-7). You and I carry the miracle working rod, the word of God. We need to put it to work (Matthew 16:19, Isaiah 45:11).
Then Peter beginning to sink. First note that Peter did not sink; he was beginning to sink. There was no way he could sink because Jesus was there. Friend Jesus is with you.  Once your trust is in him, God will make up for your mistakes (2 Corinthians 12:9). But wait a minute. What made Peter to begin to sink? He removed his eyes from Jesus and began to see the wind. The wind was there before he stepped out of the ship. Now tell me, do people walk on water when the weather is calm? This means that the wind has nothing whatsoever to do with Peter’s miracle or lack of it. Don’t let the enemy to deceive you that your survival is in the hands of any man (Hebrew 13:5-6). Every good and every perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17). Stop making Peter’s mistake. Remove your eyes from market reports and news. Stop watching analysis of the economic crisis. You are from above where the economy does not fail (John 17: 14, 16). Fix your eyes on the Word of God. Read it aloud to yourself, confess it and act based on it.
No matter what the issue is, our God reigns and he has put you and I in control.
Learn to take control!