Why was Jesus Silent?

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: Why Was Jesus Silent?

Matthew 15:21-28

Matthew 15:22-23 KJV
And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. [23] But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

Jesus was silent possibly because she was not a Jew, hence, she was not entitled to the benevolence she was requesting. Looking at the Scripture, Jesus answered her in Matthew 15:26 when He said "It is not right (proper, becoming, or fair) to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." In Matthew 10:5-6, when Jesus sent out His disciples and charged them to "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." He made them understand that salvation was for the Jews first, as the dispensation of the Gentiles had not come. Paul says in Romans 1:16 that the Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jews first and to the Gentiles. Salvation was first for the Jews, so this woman was not qualified for divine intervention because she was a gentile. Everything was against her. Though She called Jesus the Son of David but He is more than that. The divine intervention she wanted for her daughter was reserved for the children of God and not for dogs (Matthew 15:26). This woman's state can be likened to those who are not yet born-again which Ephesians 2:11-12 [KJV] refers to; "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world." This woman was a stranger from the Covenant of Promise. Hence, if you don't know Jesus Christ as your personal LORD and Saviour, your situation is hopeless. It doesn't matter if you think you are doing well right now, it is only the blessings of the Lord that maketh rich and adds no sorrow.

Since it appeared the woman was not getting through to Jesus; she appealed to the mercy of God. She told Jesus "Have mercy on me..."

LET US PRAY
In Jesus Name this week God will have mercy on you on every side

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Strategy to Overcome

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: Strategy to Overcome

Mark 1:35-39

We see Jesus being attacked by the devil at every turn: chapter1:14, John the Baptist is imprisoned; vs.24, evil spirits speaks lies against him, "Have you come to destroy us?" It reads as if one thingafter another confronts Jesus as he starts his earthly ministry. Thereis no time to stop, no time to rest. There is so much to be done as weread in vs. 33-34, "he drove out many demons, he healed many who were sick."

Jesus is fighting against the power of Satan. How does Jesus remain strong in that battle? We need to know because the battle still goes on today.

You are fooling yourself, you are being fooled by Satan if you think everything is fine. We still face persistent temptation and attack by Satan.
Events like sickness, trouble, pain, hardship, disappointment, even death. These are constant struggles in this sin-filled world.

Where do we get the strength to stand against this attack, to keep fighting the good fight of faith?

Where does Jesus get the strength? We might think of him as some kind of super hero: The Son of God. He has super powers and just keeps going. Of course it is true that Jesus as Son of God is the greatest, the most powerful person who ever lived. He demonstrates his divine power in healing, casting out demons, even raising the dead (Mark 5). But we need to remember that Jesus was also completely human. He was "like us in every way" the author of Hebrews tells us, except he was without sin. (Heb 4:15).

Here in Mark 1 we see the importance for Jesus to do the work he is doing, to stand against the devil, to overcome the flood of sin and evil in the world, to be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Jesus needs to be strong in that communion with God. Jesus takes the time to pray.

How much time do you spend in personal devotions? I’m afraid the devil has succeeded in convincing many here that it is not important. Or maybe we can agree it is important but for you there is really no time. Many here do the equivalent of no devotions. No personal devotions, No prayer, No Bible reading,
No time in the week, so you feel weak, you are weak. Weak in the faith, weak in prayer, with little Bible knowledge, little sense of God working in your life, powerless before the temptations and attacks of the devil. Busy all right. The devil has you busy being "ineffective and unproductive." (2 Peter 1:8)

You can tell if you are this kind of a weak believer if you do not have a special time set aside. The Bible is speaking to you today. Jesus is demonstrating for you the importance of setting aside a time, a special time.
Maybe you think you are strong enough in the faith, you can manage without a special devotional time. Don’t you think Jesus was tempted that way by Satan too? Satan could say, "You are the son of God, you know what you are about, you don’t need it." We are so quickly tempted. We feel we know it all. We don’t need to study the Bible more. We have better things to do. We are busy.

Jesus took a special time. Perhaps you can start with 10 minutes in the morning or at the end of the day, or maybe even in between somewhere. Take the Bible, some devotional material, read and pray. Get in tune with God. Consider his will for you, for your relationship to your spouse, kids, family, in church. Start now, start today, decide right now, pick a time.

LET US PRAY
In Jesus Name, you will not die unfulfilled

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Prayer Drives Away All Fears

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: Prayer Drives Away All Fear

David the king said:
Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. (Psalm 3:1-4)

David’s enemies had increased greatly. Trouble was all around. They mocked his faith in God and said, “Who can help him now?” But David knew the secret of deliverance from trouble. He cried to the Lord and found Him to be a present help in time of trouble.
You, too, will experience God’s power as you call on Him in your time of anguish and fear, for you will find Him to be your shield and the lifter of your head. And as you seek Him, He will fill you with His peace and cause your sleep to be sweet as He holds you in His arms and sustains you.
Truly great peace belongs to those who know how to call upon the Lord.

LET US PRAY
Every chains of darkness and scheme around you to frustrate you is hereby destroyed in Jesus Name

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A Place of deliverance

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: A Place of Deliverance

Job 28:9 tells us that God puts forth His hand upon the rock and overturns mountains by the roots: It is only as we pray that obstacles are revoked from our path. It is there He makes for us a way of escape and sends His power to bring us out:
“He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing (verse 10).

It is as we seek Him that He binds floods from overflowing over our lives, protecting and keeping us, revealing to us His love and His will, for the thing that is hid, He brings forth to light:
“He bindeth the floods from overflowing, and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light” (verse 11).

Prayer is the only place of protection, deliverance, and revelation:

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. (Psalm 91:1-7)

Through the prophet Jeremiah, God sent us His royal invitation and said,
“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3).

Dangers and trials will come our way, but if we obey the command of Proverbs 27:12, we cannot be defeated or overcome. We will prevail, for none who prays ever fails:

“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.”
Only as we hide in God—not like Adam who hid from God—can we find continual safety from harm. For God in His great love will warn us of coming dangers, yet He expects us to beware and hide in Him. Only the prudent know how to pray. The foolish neglect God and are punished.

“And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me”(Psalm 50:15).

LET US PRAY
In Jesus Name God will deliver you of every spirit of affliction

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Secret place

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: SECRET PLACE

Do you realize that movements on earth govern movements in heaven? Do you realize that a child of God in prayer affects decisions in heaven? The Lord declared:
“Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matthew 18:18).

So awesome is this power that it releases angels to do God’s bidding on the earth and binds demons as it destroys the purpose of the enemy!

PRAYER – A Place of Supernatural Protection
Job tells us there is a secret place, known and available only to God’s children. And when God’s children enter into it, only then is the power of God activated on their behalf and on behalf of those in desperate need:

“There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen: The lion’s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it” (Job 28:7-8).

There is a path, a place which no fowl knows. That place is the secret place, that glorious place so secure and protected that no demonic power can find it. It is a place hidden in God that no vulture’s eye has seen. No demon on earth or satan, the enemy of our souls, has seen or knows. It is a place of refuge, a place of safety that no lion’s whelps (principalities and powers) pass by—not even the lion, satan. That place is the place of prayer. The psalmist tells us it is in that secret place that you will find the Lord to be your refuge and fortress, and it is in that secret place that He covers you with His wings so that no evil will befall you nor will any plague come nigh to your dwelling. That secret path, that secret place is prayer.

LET US PRAY
Heaven will open unto you and pour out his blessing upon you this week as an answer to your prayers in Jesus Name

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QUESTIONS THAT HUSBAND AND WIFE NEED TO ASK THEMSELVES

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: QUESTIONS THAT HUSBAND AND WIFE NEED TO ASK THEMSELVES

Yesterday morning meal was for the youth preparing to get married and questioned they need to ask each other, and I believe it has blessed many, I am forwarding this for the wedded couple as well to balance the equation for a better and sweet home.

The honeymoon can last five days or five years, but at some point the heat and hormones subside.
Oh, yeah? Romance can never last, but intimacy can never end.

In marriage There are questions that When we began to answer, something wonderful will begin to happened. We will started to get to know each other beyond love and sex.

Please ask yourself

The Questions

1. What have you learned to appreciate about me that you didn’t know when we first married?

2. What have you learned that irritates, upsets or frightens you?

3. Are you satisfied with the amount of time we spend together? The amount of time we spend separately?

4. Have we had any major life shocks? If so, what did we learn about ourselves, each other, our relationship?

5. What dreams or expectations did we have about married life? Which have been fulfilled and which have not?

6. What have I given up for you? How do I feel about it?

7. What have you given up for me? How do you feel?

8. At what times have we felt happiest together?

9. Is our sexual connection satisfying to you? To me?

10. How do we manage when desire levels differ?

11. Where are you feeling content in your life? Our life?

12. How much money do we have now? How much did we think we would have at this point?

13. How much money do we wish we had? How much do we want in five years? Ten years? Are we planning for retirement?

14. How much is each of us contributing to our financial health? Is each person’s contribution acceptable to the other?

15. Are we preparing for our parents’ aging and death? (Emotionally, financially, spiritually.)

16. Are we in agreement about having children, raising them, educating them?

17. If we have children, have we explained to them about sex, death, God? Are we comfortable with how we’ve dealt with these topics? How are they doing with these explanations?

18. How have we learned to cope with the normal, day-to-day irritations of married life? How could we handle them even better?

19. Do we feel more emotionally connected than we did early in our relationship?

20. How would we define love now? How does it compare with what we thought love was when we married?

LET US PRAY
In Jesus Name your home will not scatter, your love will not grow cold, your achievements will be great and your blessings much

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Questions to be ask before getting married

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: Questions to Ask Before Getting Married

Amos 3:3 KJV
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

When it comes to marriage, what you don’t know really can hurt you.

Whether because of shyness, lack of interest or a desire to preserve romantic mystery, many couples do not ask each other the difficult questions that can help build the foundation for a stable marriage, according to relationship experts.

In addition to wanting someone with whom they can raise children and build a secure life, those considering marriage now expect their spouses to be both best friend and confidant.

Sure, there are plenty of questions couples can ask of each other early in the relationship to help ensure a good fit, but let’s face it: most don’t.

“If you don’t deal with an issue before marriage, you deal with it while you’re married,” said Robert Scuka, the executive director of the National Institute of Relationship Enhancement. It can be hard to keep secrets decade after decade, and reticence before the wedding can lead to disappointments down the line.

The following questions, intimate and sometimes awkward, are designed to spark honest discussions and possibly give couples a chance to spill secrets before it’s too late.

1. Did your family throw plates, calmly discuss issues or silently shut down when disagreements arose?

2. Will we have children, and if we do, will you change diapers?

3. Will our experiences with our exes help or hinder us?

4. How important is religion? How will we celebrate religious holidays, if at all?

5. Is my debt your debt? Would you be willing to bail me out?

6. What’s the most you would be willing to spend on a car, a couch, shoes?

7. Can you deal with my doing things without you?

8. Do we like each other’s parents?

9. How important is sex to you?

10. How far should we take flirting with other people? Is watching pornography O.K.?

11. Do you know all the ways I say “I love you”?

12. What do you admire about me, and what are your pet peeves?

13. How do you see us 10 years from now?

14. Will you do your best to help me make Heaven at the end

LET US PRAY
Whatever is planted by the enemy to destroy your relationship is uprooted in Jesus Name

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How to make your marriage last and enjoyable

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: HOW TO MAKE YOUR MARRIAGE LAST AND ENJOYABLE

Making marriage last - what is the key?"

What can a married couple do to ensure that their marriage will last? The first and most important issue is one of obedience to God and His Word. This is a principle that should be in force before the marriage begins. God says, “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” (Amos 3:3). For the born-again believer, this means not beginning a close relationship with anyone who is not also a believer. “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14). If this one principle were followed, it would save a lot of heartache and suffering later in marriages.

Another principle that would protect the longevity of a marriage is that the husband should obey God and love, honor, and protect his wife as he would his own body (Ephesians 5:25–31). The corresponding principle is that the wife should obey God and submit to her own husband “as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22). The marriage between a man and a woman is a picture of the relationship between Christ and the church. Christ gave Himself for the church, and He loves, honors, and protects her as His “bride” (Revelation 19:7–9).

Building on the foundation of a godly marriage, many couples find practical ways to help make their marriages last: spending quality time together; saying, “I love you” often; being kind; showing affection; offering compliments; going on dates; writing notes; giving gifts; and being ready to forgive, for example. All these actions are encompassed by the Bible’s instructions to husbands and wives.

When God brought Eve to Adam in the first marriage, she was made from his “flesh and bone” (Genesis 2:21) and they became “one flesh” (Genesis 2:23–24). Becoming one flesh means more than just a physical union. It means a meeting of the mind and soul to form one unit. This relationship goes far beyond sensual or emotional attraction and into the realm of spiritual “oneness” that can only be found as both partners surrender to God and each other. This relationship is not centered on “me and my” but on “us and our.” This is one of the secrets to a lasting marriage.

Making a marriage last for a lifetime is something both partners have to make a priority. Couples whose marriages last celebrate their commitment to each other. Many couples make it a point not to even speak of divorce, even in anger. Solidifying one’s vertical relationship with God goes a long way toward ensuring the horizontal relationship between a husband and wife is a lasting, God-honoring one.

A couple who desires their marriage to last must learn how to deal with problems. Prayer, Bible study, and mutual encouragement are good. And there is nothing wrong with seeking outside help; in fact, one of the purposes of the church is to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). A struggling couple should seek advice from an older Christian couple, a pastor, or a biblical marriage counsellor.

LET US PRAY
Every evil power that want to crash your marriage will be crush to death in Jesus Name

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Dating and Courting

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: DATING AND COURTING

Although the words “courtship” and “dating” are not found in the Bible, we are given some principles that Christians are to go by during the time before marriage. The first is that we must separate from the world's view on dating because God's way contradicts the world's (2 Peter 2:20). While the world’s view may be to date around as much as we want, the important thing is to discover the character of a person before making any commitment to him or her. We should find out if the person has been born again in the Spirit of Christ (John 3:3-8) and if he or she shares the same desire toward Christ-likeness (Philippians 2:5). The ultimate goal of dating or courting is finding a life partner.
The Bible tells us that, as Christians, we should not marry an unbeliever (2 Corinthians 6:14-15) because this would weaken our relationship with Christ and compromise our morals and standards.

When one is in a committed relationship, whether dating or courting, it is important to remember to love the Lord above all else (Matthew 10:37). To say or believe that another person is “everything” or the most important thing in one’s life is idolatry, which is sin (Galatians 5:20; Colossians 3:5). Also, we are not to defile our bodies by having premarital sex (1 Corinthians 6:9, 13; 2 Timothy 2:22). Sexual immorality is a sin not only against God but against our own bodies (1 Corinthians 6:18). It is important to love and honor others as we love ourselves (Romans 12:9-10), and this is certainly true for a courtship or dating relationship. Whether dating or courting, following these biblical principles is the best way to have a secure foundation for a marriage. It is one of the most important decisions we will ever make, because when two people marry, they cleave to one another and become one flesh in a relationship which God intended to be permanent and unbreakable (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5).

LET US PRAY
Every Spirit of marital confusion, delay and disappointment on your way, catch fire in Jesus name, you are rightly connected to the right person for you in Jesus name

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What should be the response of a Christian whose spouse has had an affair?

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: What should be the response of a Christian whose spouse has had an affair?

Infidelity creates a very difficult and painful situation, one that involves all the emotions, and, for the Christian, can stretch faith almost to the breaking point. The best thing to do is “turn all your worries over to Him. He cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7). If you have been wronged, go to the Lord for comfort, wisdom, and direction on a daily basis. God can help us through the deepest of trials.

Adultery is always wrong. “God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” (Hebrews 13:4). The injured party should rest in the truth that God is the avenger. The wronged individual does not need to fret over getting even. God will do a much better job of avenging us. When we are betrayed, we need to commit the pain to the One who knows every detail and will deal with it appropriately.

PRAY. Seek the Lord for wisdom, for healing, and for guidance. Pray for yourself, pray for the offender, and pray for anyone else involved. Pray for the Lord to direct your thoughts, words, actions, and decisions.

BE HONEST. A betrayed spouse is going to suffer the effects of deep hurt. It is appropriate to engage the anger and hurt caused by infidelity. Expressing these emotions to God can be a first step toward true healing (see Psalm 77:1–2). Giving our emotions and needs over to God allows Him to minister to our hearts so that we can begin to let go of the offense. Godly counsel from a Christian counselor or pastor is helpful.

BE WILLING TO FORGIVE. We are to forgive others as we have been forgiven (Ephesians 4:32). We should be willing and ready to extend forgiveness to anyone, including a spouse who has had an affair, who comes to us in repentance, confessing his sin (Matthew 6:14 –15; 18:23 –35; Ephesians 4:31 –32; Colossians 3:13). True forgiveness may not be accomplished for some time, but the willingness to forgive should be present always. To harbor bitterness is sin and will negatively affect everyday decisions.

BE WISE. We must consider the possibility that the unfaithful spouse does not repent of his or her sin. Are we to forgive a person who does not confess his sin and remains unrepentant? Part of the answer is to remember what forgiveness is not:

Forgiveness is not forgetting. We are not asked to forget the experience but to deal with it and move forward.

Forgiveness is not the elimination of consequences. Sin has natural consequences, and even those who are forgiven may still suffer as a result of their past choices: “Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished” (Proverbs 6:28–29).

Forgiveness is not a feeling. It is a commitment to pardon the offender. It is a transaction made between the offended and the offender. Feelings may or may not accompany forgiveness.

Forgiveness is not a private, secret act within an individual’s heart. Forgiveness involves at least two people. This is why confession and repentance are required.

Forgiveness is not the automatic restoration of trust. It is wrong to think that forgiving an unfaithful spouse today means everything is back to normal tomorrow. Scripture gives us many reasons to distrust those who have proved themselves untrustworthy (see Luke 16:10–12). Rebuilding trust can only begin after a process of reconciliation involving true forgiveness—which, of course, involves confession and repentance.

Also, importantly, forgiveness offered is not the same as forgiveness received. The attitude of forgiveness—being willing to forgive—is different from the actual transaction of forgiveness. We must not short-circuit the process of confession and repentance and the rebuilding of trust.

Forgiveness may be offered by the wronged spouse, but, to be complete, it requires that the one who had the affair acknowledges his need for forgiveness and receives it, bringing reconciliation to the relationship.

BE FORGIVEN. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). When a marriage is in crisis, both parties should ask God to help them see how each may have contributed to the whole situation and be released from the weight of guilt before God. From that point on, there will be freedom to seek His counsel and guidance. His Holy Spirit will enable them to do what they could not do on their own. “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

As God leads, true forgiveness and reconciliation are possible. No matter how long it takes, every effort must be made to forgive and reconcile (see Matthew 5:23–24). As to whether to stay or to leave, “whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful” (Matthew 19:9, NLT). While the innocent party may have grounds for divorce, God’s preference is forgiveness and reconciliation.

In summary, when a Christian’s spouse has had an affair, the wronged party must guard against bitterness (Hebrews 12:15) and be careful not to repay evil for evil (1 Peter 3:9). We should be willing to forgive and genuinely want reconciliation; at the same time, we should not extend forgiveness to the unrepentant. In all things we must seek the Lord and find our wholeness and healing in Him.

LET US PRAY
Every power and evil agent working to scatter your marriage or relationship shall catch fire in Jesus name

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WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME FOR MARRIAGE?

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME FOR MARRIAGE?

The right time for marriage is different for each person and unique to each situation. Maturity levels and life experiences are varying factors; some people are ready for marriage at 18, and some are never prepared for it. As the U.S. divorce rate exceeds 50 percent, it is obvious that much of our society does not view marriage as an everlasting commitment. However, this is the world's view, which will usually contradict God's (1 Corinthians 3:18).

A strong foundation is imperative for a successful marriage and should be settled before one even begins to date or court a potential life mate. Our Christian walk should include much more than just attending church on Sundays and being involved in Bible study. We must have a personal relationship with God that comes only through trusting in and obeying Jesus Christ. We must educate ourselves about marriage, seeking God's view on it, before diving in. A person must know what the Bible says about love, commitment, sexual relations, the role of a husband and wife, and His expectations of us before committing to marriage. Having at least one Christian married couple as a role model is also important. An older couple can answer questions about what goes into a successful marriage, how to create intimacy (beyond the physical), how faith is invaluable, etc.

A prospective married couple also needs to make sure that they know each other well. They should know each other's views on marriage, finances, in-laws, child-rearing, discipline, duties of a husband and wife, whether only one of them or both will be working outside the home, and the level of the other person’s spiritual maturity. Many people get married taking their partner's word for it that they are a Christian, only to find out later that it was merely lip service. Every couple considering marriage should go through counseling with a Christian marriage counselor or pastor. In fact, many pastors will not perform weddings unless they have met several times with the couple in a counseling setting.

Marriage is not only a commitment, but a covenant with God. It is the promise to remain with that other person for the remainder of your life, no matter whether your spouse is rich, poor, healthy, sick, overweight, underweight, or boring. A Christian marriage should endure through every circumstance, including fighting, anger, devastation, disaster, depression, bitterness, addiction, and loneliness. Marriage should never be entered into with the idea that divorce is an option—not even as the last straw. The Bible tells us that through God all things are possible (Luke 18:27), and this certainly includes marriage. If a couple makes the decision at the beginning to stay committed and to put God first, divorce will not be the inevitable solution to a miserable situation.

It is important to remember that God wants to give us the desires of our heart, but that is only possible if our desires match His.
People often get married because it just “feels right.” In the early stages of dating, and even of marriage, you see the other person coming, and you get butterflies in your stomach. Romance is at its peak, and you know the feeling of being “in love.” Many expect that this feeling will remain forever. The reality is that it does not. The result can be disappointment and even divorce as those feelings fade, but those in successful marriages know that the excitement of being with the other person does not have to end. Instead, the butterflies give way to a deeper love, a stronger commitment, a more solid foundation, and an unbreakable security.

The Bible is clear that love does not rely on feelings. This is evident when we are told to love our enemies (Luke 6:35). True love is possible only when we allow the Holy Spirit to work through us, cultivating the fruit of our salvation (Galatians 5:22-23). It is a decision we make on a daily basis to die to ourselves and our selfishness, and to let God shine through us. Paul tells us how to love others in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” When we are ready to love another person as 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 describes, that is the right time for marriage.

LET US PRAY
May the lord open your eye to chose rightly and be happy with your choice forever in Jesus Name

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Should a married person have a close friend of the opposite sex?

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: Should a married person have a close friend of the opposite sex?


The Bible does not forbid close friendships between men and women. As Christians, however, there are some principles that we would be wise to heed.
Married people especially need to be wary of friendships with members of the opposite sex because temptations are more likely to arise when there are marital problems. If a man’s best friend is a woman who is not his wife, he is likely to share these problems with her, which can lead to an unhealthy emotional attachment.
The same holds true for a woman who has as a best friend a man who is not her husband.
Most married people who have affairs don’t purposely go out to find a romantic interest outside of their marriage. Many people say, “I didn’t mean for it to happen; it just happened.” But these things “just happen” when we “play with fire” and put ourselves in situations that are difficult to control.

When we feel a spouse is not attentive to our needs, we can easily feel that we have “fallen in love” with someone else who does give us the attention we crave. When we feel ignored or under-appreciated by a spouse, we should communicate our struggles with the spouse and avoid the danger of seeking comfort elsewhere.

Even a marriage that is built on a foundation of faith in Christ and has relatively few problems is not immune to extra-marital temptations. This is why the Bible does not tell us to stick around and try to fight temptation, but to flee from it like we do from all "youthful lusts" (2 Timothy 2:22).

Trying to fight temptation seems to become difficult when it comes to matters of the heart or the lusts of the flesh. First Corinthians 6:18 tells us that we need to run away from sexual sin, because it is much easier to run away from temptation than to stay and fight it.

Married men and women should carefully avoid putting themselves in compromising situations when it comes to the opposite sex. If they are seen together in public, it might give the wrong impression. If they are alone on the phone or in person, they will subject themselves to the temptation of an emotional or physical affair. The Bible tells us that everything we do should be for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31),

LET US PRAY
In Jesus Name you will not miss your days of glorification and your destiny will not be truncated

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WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MARRIAGE?

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MARRIAGE?

Is it necessary for a Christian to marry? What is the purpose of marriage?

The Bible has a lot to say about this, Since the first marriage was between the first man and the first woman, it is assumed that marriage is God’s will for most people.
It was instituted in the dispensation of innocence and is therefore a holy institution.

The first reason that the Bible gives for the existence of marriage is simple: Adam was lonely and needed a helper (Genesis 2:18). This is the primary purpose of marriage—
fellowship,
companionship, and
mutual help and comfort.

Another purpose of marriage is to create a stable home in which children can grow and thrive.

The best marriage is between two believers (2 Corinthians 6:14) who can produce godly offspring (Malachi 2:13–15). In Malachi, God tells the Israelites that He will not accept their offerings because they have been unfaithful to the wives of their youth. This shows how much God cares about marriage being kept intact. Not only that, but He tells them He was seeking “godly offspring.”

This Mean...
a) That godly offspring are the purpose of marriage;

b) That a good marriage between two godly people will mean that any children they have will tend to be godly as well;

c) God wanted the Israelites to be faithful to their wives instead of leaving them for foreign women who would produce for them ungodly offspring because of the idolatry of those nations; and

d) That God Himself was seeking His own offspring (the people) to exhibit godliness by their faithfulness. In any of these interpretations, we see a common theme: the children of faithful people will tend to be faithful, too.

Not only does marriage teach children how to be faithful and give them a stable environment in which to learn and grow, it has a sanctifying effect on both marriage partners when they submit to God’s law (Ephesians 5).

Every marriage has difficult moments or difficult dynamics. When two sinful people are trying to create a life together, they must submit to God’s command to love each another as God has loved us—selflessly (1 John 3:16). Our attempts to follow God’s commands in our own strength tend to end in failure, and that failure tends to make the believer more aware of his dependence on God and more open to the Spirit’s work in him, which tends to result in godliness. And godliness helps us to follow God’s commands. So, marriage is very helpful for the one trying to live a godly life; it helps to scrub the heart clean of selfishness and other impurities.

Marriage also protects individuals from sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 7:2). The world we live in is full of sexual images, innuendo, and temptation. Even if a person doesn’t pursue sexual sin, it pursues him or her, and it is very hard to escape it.
Marriage provides a healthy place to express sexuality, without opening oneself up to the severe emotional (and many times physical) damage that is caused by casual, non-committed sexual relationships. It is clear that God created marriage for our good (Proverbs 18:22), to make us happy, to promote a healthier society, and to produce holiness in our lives.

Finally, marriage is a beautiful picture of the relationship between Christ and His church. The body of believers that make up the Church are collectively called bride of Christ.
As Bridegroom, Jesus gave His life for His bride, “to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word” (Ephesians 5:25–26), and His selfless act provides an example for all husbands. At the coming of Christ, the church will be united with the Bridegroom, the official “wedding ceremony” will take place, and with it the eternal union of Christ and His bride will be actualized (Revelation 19:7–9; 21:1–2).

LET US PRAY
In Jesus Name, your relationship will be sweet and all God's promises for your home will come to fulfilment in Jesus Name

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Is it wrong for a husband and wife to have separate bank accounts?

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: Is it wrong for a husband and wife to have separate bank accounts?

For various reasons, couples want separate bank accounts. Money is the number-one cause of problems in marriage, and because the issue of finances is the most common source of arguments in marriage, engaged couples would do well to take the time to decide how these things will be settled prior to entering into marriage. The Bible speaks very clearly about the joining of a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Ephesians 5:25-33), and those verses all show that the two shall become one entity, with the man as the spiritual leader and the woman in submission to him. This is the principle which should be brought to bear upon the issue of finances in general and separate bank accounts in particular.

A couple who are truly “one” will be one in all areas of their marriage. Most importantly, they will be of one mind regarding spiritual matters. Men are called to be "priests" of their homes (1 Corinthians 11:3), which means that they are to be the spiritual leaders and to bring together the family to serve the Lord. Wives are to submit to their husbands’ leadership, helping to bring up children in the “training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). In parenting, as in all things within a marriage, unity and harmony are essential.

This unity of spirit is to be present in temporal matters as well, where husband and wife are again to be of one mind and one heart. This means that money and possessions are seen as belonging to both partners equally. Just as there is no “your child and my child,” there should be no distinction between “my money and your money.” All is shared equally in a true partnership, and no partnership is more equal than two people united in Christ. Therefore, there is really no reason to have separate bank accounts. Usually the situation of separate bank accounts occurs when there is a severe issue with trust, and in such a case there are greater problems in the marriage than just where the money resides. Lack of trust is deadly to a marriage, and if it exists, prayer is crucial to seek the wisdom of the Lord (James 1:5) on how to resolve this. The Bible says that we are one with our spouses, and so we should be resolved to show this unity to our children, our friends, our church, and the watching world. Where conflict over money exists, there is an opportunity to grow in love and most importantly in trust to bring together the entire family for God's purpose.

LET US PRAY
In Jesus Name, your home will not scatter, your relationship will not hit the rock

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Why Praying pt7

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: WHY PRAYING pt7

"Why pray? What is the point of prayer when God knows the future and is already in control of everything? If we cannot change God's mind, why should we pray?"

For the Christian, praying is supposed to be like breathing, easier to do than to not do. We pray for a variety of reasons. For one thing, prayer is a form of serving God (Luke 2:36-38) and obeying Him.

We pray because God commands us to pray (Philippians 4:6-7). Prayer is exemplified for us by Christ and the early church (Mark 1:35; Acts 1:14; 2:42; 3:1; 4:23-31; 6:4; 13:1-3). If Jesus thought it was worthwhile to pray, we should also. If He needed to pray to remain in the Father’s will, how much more do we need to pray?

Another reason to pray is that God intends prayer to be the means of obtaining His solutions in a number of situations. We pray in preparation for major decisions (Luke 6:12-13); to overcome demonic barriers (Matthew 17:14-21); to gather workers for the spiritual harvest (Luke 10:2); to gain strength to overcome temptation (Matthew 26:41); and to obtain the means of strengthening others spiritually (Ephesians 6:18-19).

We come to God with our specific requests, and we have God's promise that our prayers are not in vain, even if we do not receive specifically what we asked for (Matthew 6:6; Romans 8:26-27). He has promised that when we ask for things that are in accordance with His will, He will give us what we ask for (1 John 5:14-15). Sometimes He delays His answers according to His wisdom and for our benefit. In these situations, we are to be diligent and persistent in prayer (Matthew 7:7; Luke 18:1-8). Prayer should not be seen as our means of getting God to do our will on earth, but rather as a means of getting God's will done on earth. God’s wisdom far exceeds our own.

For situations in which we do not know God's will specifically, prayer is a means of discerning His will. If the Syrian woman with the demon-influenced daughter had not prayed to Christ, her daughter would not have been made whole (Mark 7:26-30). If the blind man outside Jericho had not called out to Christ, he would have remained blind (Luke 18:35-43). God has said that we often go without because we do not ask (James 4:2). In one sense, prayer is like sharing the gospel with people. We do not know who will respond to the message of the gospel until we share it. In the same way, we will never see the results of answered prayer unless we pray.

A lack of prayer demonstrates a lack of faith and a lack of trust in God’s Word. We pray to demonstrate our faith in God, that He will do as He has promised in His Word and bless our lives abundantly more than we could ask or hope for (Ephesians 3:20). Prayer is our primary means of seeing God work in others' lives. Because it is our means of “plugging into” God's power, it is our means of defeating Satan and his army that we are powerless to overcome by ourselves. Therefore, may God find us often before His throne, for we have a high priest in heaven who can identify with all that we go through (Hebrews 4:15-16). We have His promise that the fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much (James 5:16-18).

LET US PRAY
May God glorify His name in our lives as we believe in Him enough to come to Him often in Prayer in Jesus name

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Why praying pt6

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: WHY PRAYING pt6

WE PRAY THAT GOD MIGHT RECEIVE GLORY

Acts 3:7-9 KJV
And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. [8] And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. [9] And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

When the lame man is healed in Acts 3 by the prayer of Peter, his response is to rise, leap in joy, and praise God. When God answers our prayers, we offer praise. God receives glory as men receive from Him and respond rightly.

Prayer is a gift from a heavenly Father, who loves to hear from His children. There are countless reasons to pray. Let's be a people of prayer. Never will one minute in prayer closets be a minute wasted or later regretted.

Get up anytime any how and raise your voice in prayer to God in faith for it is sure you will testify if you do. Don't be discouraged because of the present circumstances or for the fact that you have prayed and you haven't received answer, persist and endure your miracle shall come

LET US PRAY
In Jesus Name your enemy will bow in shame as your miracle shake ground in Jesus Name

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Why praying pt5

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: WHY PRAYING pt5

WE PRAY BECAUSE GOD CHOOSES TO USE MEANS

There are many who say, "Why pray if God already predestines all things? Why pray for someone's conversion, why pray that God would heal my body, why pray for anything?" Because God chooses to use means.
He uses rain to make the grass grow. He uses the sun to light the world. He uses our prayers to accomplish His purposes. It is one of the most amazing and humbling realities in the universe, but it is true.

God chooses to use us in accomplishing His purposes. Our prayers may be the very means He uses to save our children, to provide health to the person on the prayer list, or maintain unity in our local church.

James says, "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working" (James 5:16). We have no clue this side of heaven what our prayers are accomplishing for the sake of the Kingdom, our church, our families, or our person. Frankly, we would be overwhelmed in the present if we knew how purposeful, meaningful, and essential God has made our prayers. It is humbling. And it is terribly exciting.

LET US PRAY
In Jesus Name, your prayer will work wonder that will turn your life around for better

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Why praying pt4

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: WHY PRAYING PT4

WE PRAY TO RECEIVE FROM HIM

James says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach and it will be given him" (James 1:5).

We ask to receive. Jesus follows his teaching of the Lord's Prayer in Luke 11 with the story of the man who is awoken from bed by a friend who desires three loaves of bread. And Jesus says, "How much more the Father? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

This is all in the context of the Lord's Prayer, which is filled with asking to receive. We do pray to receive. And we have a Heavenly Father, who loves to give. He is the giver of all good gifts. If everything good comes from Him, then in prayer we rightfully seek and ask of Him.

Today, our Heavenly Father is calling you to ask him what you desire and what you really want, won't you have a nice time with him, remember there is no place he can't hear you, no time is too sort or much for you to connect him. He is waiting to hear from you, pray today to receive from him. AMEN

LET US PRAY
In Jesus Name, the lord will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Jesus name

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Why praying pt3

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: WHY PRAYING PT3

WE PRAY TO BE CONFORMED TO HIS IMAGE

Some have said that prayer's purpose is not so that we might change God, but so that God might change us. And there is much truth in this. Calvin said, we pray in Jesus' name so "that there may enter our hearts no desire and no wish at all of which we should be ashamed to make him a witness, while we learn to set all our desires before his eyes, and even to pour out our whole hearts."

In prayer our hearts are shaped and molded, our affections are stirred, and our minds are transformed. The prayer closet is the academy of righteousness.

WE PRAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR DEPENDENCE UPON HIM

We are not independent beings. As Paul preached at the Areopagus, "In him we live and move and have our being." We are and can be nothing apart from Him.

"Prayer is as necessary for us as it is necessary for a beggar to ask alms."

A beggar is by definition one who asks for alms. We are people, human beings, created in His image; by very definition we are dependent and are to pray.

LET US PRAY
This week, God will answer your prayer and your testimony will shake ground and turn unbeliever to Christ in Jesus Name

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Why praying pt2

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: WHY PRAYING PT2

WE PRAY BECAUSE WE WANT TO KNOW GOD MORE FULLY:

There is nothing more lovely, nothing greater our hearts can seek, and nothing more fulfilling than God Himself. And as we speak with Him, we get to know Him more. As the Psalmist says, "One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple" (Psalm 27:4).

We want to know Him. We want to know God in all His glory. If that is the case, then like a young woman dating and trying to get to know a young man, we will want to talk with Him MORE. if you take prayer like this it will be easy for you to Pray Always

WE PRAY TO KNOW OUR OWN HEARTS MORE FULLY:

I think of Habakkuk's words, "The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silent before him" (Habakkuk 2:20). There is a real benefit in coming before the Lord in silence. It is true that we get to know Him more fully in prayer, but we also get to know ourselves more fully.
How often we pray and are convicted by some sin that we didn't know was present before. We hear it uttered from our lips or find our minds entangled by it as we approach Him in prayer.
we are made aware that what we have believed or practiced or dreamed or sought is unholy. Prayer lays open our hearts not only before God, but before ourselves. God already knows what is in them, we often do not.

...CONTINUE NEXT WEEK....

LET US PRAY
May God expose and destroy every satanic power that is holding back your miracle in Jesus name

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Why praying

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: WHY PRAYING

Why should we pray? God already knows our hearts. He already knows our desires. So why pray? We could easily say it is because the Bible commands it. Paul goes as far as to say, "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17)—that is reason enough. But let's explore a few other reasons for why we should pray.

WE PRAY BECAUSE WE LOVE

A relationship of love is one of enjoying each other. If I say "I love my wife" but never speak to her, it is likely that I don't love her. If I love her, then I will want to talk with her, spend time with her, and desire her. This is why we see Jesus in passages like Mark 1, "rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed." He loves the Father. The Father loves Him, so He wanted to spend time talking with Him even before the day started.

WE PRAY OUT OF GRATITUDE

James says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17). Paul says in Philippians that we are to "be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6). Like the one leper who returned to Jesus, we are to return to God time and again with thanksgiving. All that we have been given, all that we have received, is a gift from His hands. Prayer demonstrates and provides a vehicle for our offering gratitude.
... CONTINUE TOMORROW...

LET US PRAY
In Jesus Name, your prayer will bring fourth more blessing for you before the end of this month

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Prayer that God Hears

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: Prayers that God Hears

“The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:11-14, New Living Translation)

The parable’s lesson is found in what these two men do in response to God’s presence. The proud church leader attempts to validate his own “righteousness” in his prayer. He judges his neighbor all while spouting his good deeds, as if that’s going to guarantee him some Brownie points with God. The tax collector approaches his prayer in humility. With no self-righteous bone in his body, he asks God to show him mercy.

The Lord hears the prayers of the justified and the humble. King Josiah’s god-fearing life, as recorded in the Old Testament, is an example of this. In 2 Chronicles 34:27, we see that a repentant heart gets God’s attention.

You were sorry and humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this city and its people. You humbled yourself and tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord. (NLT)

God wants to hear sincerity in our prayer, not vanity. As we pray, let’s determine to stay steadfastly humble before the Lord. Fortunately, God extends mercy to everyone who comes to Him in repentance, even those who get stuck in Churchianity, like the Pharisee. Bottom line: God is concerned with the heart of a person. So next time you go to God in prayer, ask yourself, am I humble or proud? Either way, it’s a chance to get right with Him.

LET US PRAY
In Jesus Name, your prayer will not be a castaway, God will make you smile with miracle in Jesus name.

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Keep Going

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: Keep Going

Know you're making a difference.

Spiritual warfare often comes when we are about to make a dent for God's kingdom which brings glory to God.
If you are encountering spiritual warfare, know that God is using you, and you are making a difference. In fact, the greater the spiritual warfare likely means the greater the impact you are having for the kingdom.

Jon Bloom shared a powerful blog about spiritual warfare that has helped me immensely. He writes:

In war a breakthrough only really matters if it occurs at a strategic location. And the evidence that a location is strategic is almost always revealed by the amount of enemy forces amassed to protect it. An enemy led by skilled generals plans to ferociously protect what it prizes highly.
But we must keep in mind that strategic ground is not yielded easily. Whether we’re battling for breakthroughs against our own stubborn sin or the unbelief of a loved one or breakthroughs in the missional advance of our local church, reaching unreached peoples, rescuing persecuted believers, orphans, sex slaves, or the unborn, we are up against “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). We don’t know exactly what that means, except that these forces are very strong.

So if you are encountering spiritual warfare, you may be about to see a strategic breakthrough for the kingdom of God, for freedom in people's lives, and for the glory of God. Keep going!

LET US PRAY
In Jesus Name, you will make it to the top and be celebrated.

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Understanding the spiritual warfare

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: UNDERSTANDING SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Double back on your joy & peace in the Lord.

Spiritual warfare often comes right before unprecedented seasons of God's blessing. If you are experiencing unusual adversity and the timing seems odd as you are simply trying to make an impact for the kingdom of God, be encouraged that God may be about to bless your efforts significantly.
Often spiritual warfare is the enemy's attempt to steal our happiness about what God is doing in our lives. Don't take the bait! Double back on your peace and joy in God, and His sovereignty over every situation in your life.

Nehemiah told the people, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10) In moments where God is moving, and blessing and spiritual warfare comes your way, don't let it steal your joy - enjoy, and be satisfied and grateful for everything God has done for you, and is about to do through you!

If you need to, pray with David, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." (Psalm 51:12)
Jesus promised he would give us a peace that this world cannot take away, and that surpasses understanding. (John 14:27; Philippians 4:7)

LET US PRAY
In Jesus Name, your joy will not turn to sorrow and may your happiness multiply

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Recognizing Spiritual warfare

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: RECOGNIZING SPIRITUAL WARFARE.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 KJV
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: [4] (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Here is what it often looks like:
Spiritual warfare most often happens right before or after God uses us for powerful ministry impact, or right before or after God moves in our own spiritual lives in a significant way.

Spiritual warfare often comes in an attempt to steal our happiness in God and His work in our lives. If God has opened a door of opportunity for you, or is furthering you along in His calling on your life, and suddenly something happens that dampens your joy, that could very well be spiritual warfare in an attempt to draw you away from your joy in God.

Spiritual warfare may look like unusual adversity that has unusual timing right before or after God uses you for kingdom impact, or does something significant in you.
Spiritual warfare can also look like unusual temptation right before or after God uses you for kingdom impact, or does something significant in you. Years ago, I read Jim Elliot's journals, and noticed he experienced unusual temptation the month before he was martyred for bringing the gospel to an unreached tribe. The story of his sacrifice has impacted millions of believers to abandon all for the sake of getting the gospel to the unreached.

For pastors, spiritual warfare often comes in the way of unusual relationship struggles, where a deacon or member in the church causes abnormal issues for the pastor, causing them to be exhausted and discouraged.

Ephesians 6:12 KJV
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places .

LET US PRAY
In Jesus Name, you will overcome and testify.

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Spiritual warfare pt2

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: SPIRIT WARFARE (PT2)

Don't call everything spiritual warfare.

We will all face hardship in this life. Even as believers, we will face hardships - sometimes even because of our faith! Jesus promised this, and the Church has always experienced this reality.

Not every hardship in life is spiritual warfare. As they say, "don't look for a demon under every rock."
Sometimes what we perceive as spiritual warfare may actually be God testing and refining us (Psalm 66:10, 1 Peter 1:7, Isaiah 48:10, Proverbs 17:3), or it could even be us reaping what we've sown. (Galatians 6:7-8, Proverbs 19:3)
That being said, we should also recognize that sometimes there's a spiritual reality to what we are facing.

LET US PRAY
May the lord Jesus correct every of your past mistake that is affecting your life negatively in Jesus Name

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Spiritual warfare

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: Spiritual warfare (pt1)

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:11-12)
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

Know that spiritual warfare is very real.

Spiritual warfare doesn't have to be some weird, confusing, overly spiritual thing. It can be recognized, clearly labeled and endured in God's strength. Recognizing that the Bible often warns that we will face spiritual warfare, is your first step to being on guard against it. And in recognizing that spiritual warfare is real, we can also know that we are given the tools we need to combat it, outlined in Ephesians 6:

LET US PRAY
You will overcome all your spiritual warfare and victory is yours in Jesus name

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Don't give up

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: DON'T GIVE UP

Take the steps that God shows you. As you seek God’s will for your life, sometimes God will give you clear signs to follow, and sometimes He will simply give you a sense of peace. Humbly pray for wisdom every day and step out in faith whenever God shows you a way in which he wants you to put your faith into action. In the process, miracles can happen.

Don’t give up until God answers your prayers. Since God’s timing (which is perfect) often takes longer than the immediate results that human beings like to see, many people give up praying for miracles when they don’t see answers to their prayers right away. But God will always answer your prayers with either a “yes” or a “no” that’s clear; you just need to patiently wait until the right time for the answer to come. In the meantime, never give up praying and trusting God to do what’s best.

LET US PRAY
Before you are tired, your miracle will come in a big way in Jesus Name

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