WITHOUT HEAVY BAGGAGES

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: WITHOUT HEAVY BAGGAGES

Josh 3:10 By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Cannanites and the Hittites and the Hivites and the Perizzites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Jebusites.

All the “ites” were the hidden ghosts Israel failed to defeat 40 years ago. Our hidden ghosts often comes back to trouble us.

We need to release to God “mountains” and understand that He will remove the mountains in our lives.

Josh 4:20 Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they camped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. (20) And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal.”

It is significant that this happened on the tenth day of the first month, this is exactly forty years to the day, since Israel marched out of Egypt.

Leaving the edge of the river, the Israelites went to a place called Gilgal to make their camp. Gilgal was “on the eastern border of Jericho (v. 19).

Gilgal means “the reproach has been rolled away.”

God rolled away the following things at Gilgal :

a) Forty years of spiritual defeat, failure, death, cancers.

b) 40 years of wandering.

c) 40 years without a vision.

It was the dawn of a great new beginning in a new land. The days of sullen refusal to respond to God under Moses were gone, complaining was ended, hopeless wandering in the wilderness was behind them.

Joel 2:24-25 - The threshing floor shall be full of wheat……I will restore to you the years that the locust have eaten.

IN JESUS NAME YOU SHALL FORGET YOUR SHAME AND YOUR REPROACH SHALL TURN TO JOY

Good Morning 

SPIRITUAL CHECK UP

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: SPIRITUAL CHECK UP

Josh 3:5 Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, the Lord will do wonders among you.

Josh 5:5 For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all who were born in the wilderness on the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised.

It appears Israel was not living under the covenant during the 40 years in the wilderness. Everyone was caught by surprise. A spiritual check up will high light areas we need to adjust in our lives.

Physical check ups - Need to be done at the beginning of each year

Cholesterol and sugar levels, cancer markers

Make adjustments to your lifestyle

Spiritual Check ups are needed every Year. Thanks be to God that you made it to another new year. Another opportunity and another grace. I want to tell you that you need spiritual check up if you are indeed expecting the year to bring you it blessing and miracle. Do some cleaning and look for any virus that is set to eat up your miracle.

It may be Sin, attitude, journey, lifestyle, association, career, doings and practices. You need to clean up for sins always separate us from God. Isaiah 59:2

Josh 3:5 Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, the Lord will do wonders among you.

MAY THE BLOOD OF JESUS CLEAN YOU AND MAKE YOU WORTHY OF GOD'S BLESSINGS IN JESUS NAME.

Good Morning 

URGENT

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: URGENT! URGENT!! URGENT!!! 

Josh 3:4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits, by measure.

This is a prophetic picture of the church crossing over to rule and reign with Jesus in God’s Kingdom approximately 2000 years after the first coming of Jesus.

We are living in the last of the Last Days. Make full use of the time to achieve the purposes of God.

Eph 5:15,16 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

1. Walk carefully

2. Walk wisely

3. Walk consciously (redeeming the time)

If you knew you had one year to live, what are the things you would plan to do in the last year of your life ?

Eg. New Straits Times – 35 years old corporate figure Dr. Liew dies in a freak ACCIDENT. and many we have lost suddenly like that, we must always prepare this is a matter urgency. Jesus is calling us all to repentance. 

You can lose money today and earn it back tomorrow. However, time and life is something you can only lose once.

IN JESUS NAME SUDDEN DEATH WILL NEVER BE YOUR POTION. YOU WILL LIVE A FULLFILED LIFE. 

Good morning 

LET YOUR YEAR BE FULL OF GOD'S PRESENCE

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: LET YOUR YEAR BE FULL OF GOD'S PRESENCE

GOD’S PRESENCE

Josh 3:3 Whenever you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.

We need to be God chasers. Run after the things of God. Be passionate about the things of God.

In Ezekiel, there is life wherever the river flows but the water from off shoots from the river of God became stale and ended up as swamps and marshes but

Eze 47:9 – And it shall be that every living thing that moves , wherever the rivers go will live..…for they will be healed and everything will live wherever the river goes.

Eze 47:11 But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt.

God’ presence brings life. The absence of God will brings death.

IN JESUS NAME, GOD'S PRESENCE WILL NOT DEPART FROM YOU THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR IN JESUS NAME. 

Pick your goal early

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: PICK YOUR GOALS EARLY.

Josh 3:1 – Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out for Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over.

Never leave for tomorrow what you can do today.

Stop talking and start doing. God is waiting for you to start.

Josh 3:15,16 And as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan and the feet of the priest who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of the harvest) that the waters which came down from the upstream stood still.

The waters stopped only when the feet of the priest touched the water.

It is better to fail attempting to do something than succeed in doing nothing.

THE PEOPLE WHO FAILED 

Thomas Edison – failed in 10,000 bulb experiments

Bill Gates – dropped out from college to pursue his soft ware business

Peter – was the only man who walked on water and sunk…

IN JESUS NAME YOUR FAILURE SHALL TURN TO SUCCESS AND NEW DISCOVERY TO YOUR PROMISE LAND IN JESUS NAME

Good Morning 

Just Because You Failed Dosen't Mean You Are A Failure

Topic: Just Because You Failed Dosen't Mean You Are A Failure

: Mark 14:66-72 THE STORY

I don’t know how you feel about it, but when I read this story I get a little angry at Peter. What about you? Don’t you get a little upset with Peter? Aren’t you a little aggravated and disappointed?

We want to fuss at Peter. We want to take Peter and shake him and say, "Man, what in the world have you done? You’re a disciple! For three years you walked with Jesus! You heard the sermons and you saw the miracles! You were there in Capernaum when Jesus walked into your house and healed your mother-in-law."

We want to say, "Peter, weren’t you there at the house of Jairus along with James and John when Jesus ... said to that little twelve year old girl, ’Arise.’ And all of a sudden the incredible happened to that little twelve year old body. Her eyes began to open; that little heart began to beat again. You were there! You saw Jesus raise the dead! What’s wrong with you, man?"

Peter, what’s wrong with you? You saw all of these miracles and you were there. Ah, we want to fuss at Peter, don’t we? At least I do. I’m a little disappointed in Peter, but that’s not God’s response. Let me show you how God responded to Peter.

It’s Sunday morning. The tomb is empty. Jesus has died. He’s been buried. He’s been raised. The women go, looking for the body of Jesus and the angel appears. I love what the angel says in Mark 16:7
"Go and tell his disciples and Peter that he’s going ahead of them to Galilee. There they will see him, just as he told them."

Have you ever wondered why the angel singled out Peter? Think about it.

Why didn’t the angel say, ’Go tell His disciples --- and John’? or James’? or Philip’? Why do you think the angel singled out Peter? Why Peter of all people?

It’s as though the angel is saying, ’Peter, I want you to know that just because you failed, heaven does not believe you are a failure.’

The women show up. It’s a Sunday morning. ’Whom are you looking for?’ the Angel says. ’We’re looking for Jesus.’ ’He’s not here. He’s risen. Go, tell His disciples,’ and it’s as though the angel pauses and smiles ... and says, ’especially tell Peter. Tell Peter that though he struck out, he gets to bat again; that just because he threw an incomplete pass, he doesn’t have to sit on the bench. ’Tell His disciples --- and Peter.’ Tell Peter that just because he failed he’s not a flop! Tell Peter that just because he failed, that doesn’t mean he is a failure!

THE SAME PETER
And then who preached that great sermon on the Day of Pentecost? Who stood up before that group and said:

"People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus of Nazareth by doing wonderful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But you followed God’s prearranged plan. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to the cross and murdered him. However, God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life again, for death could not keep him in its grip. Acts 2:22-24

We’ve seen the resurrection! Who said that? Peter!

Who preached to those Jews: "Repent, and be baptized” Peter!

What about the sermon in Acts 10? Cornelius and his family. All the relatives are there. Somebody shows up and says: "... "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right….So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ." Acts 10:35, 48

Who preached that sermon and who baptized Cornelius? Peter!

What about Acts 3? The Lame man. He’s sitting there, begging. Somebody passes by and says:

"I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-- walk!" Acts 3:6

Who raised that lame man and enabled him to walk again? Peter!

Who wrote, "Add to your faith virtue and to virtue, knowledge, knowledge temperance, temperance patience, patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness"? I’ll tell you who wrote that! The one who denied Jesus! The Apostle Peter!

Just because Peter failed that does not mean he was a failure!

Let’s make an application. I want you to think about the most horrible sin that you’ve ever committed. Everybody think with me! About the most painful, ugly sin of your life!

Maybe you publicly used God’s name in vain.

Maybe you have been addicted to alcohol. You’ve been drunk.

Maybe you have been addicted to drugs.

Or, maybe you’ve gone through a divorce, and been told that we in the Church don’t do that.

Or, maybe you have committed fornication. You’re not married and you’ve lost your virginity.

Maybe you’ve even tried and experimented with Homosexuality.

Maybe as a teenage girl you slipped off one night and got pregnant. Then you slipped away again and had an abortion. You took the life of that innocent baby.

All of us have been there, haven’t we! All of us have been there! But I’ve got news for you, folks: Just because you have failed, doesn’t mean you have to be a failure!

Are you listening to me?

Just because you’ve failed, that doesn’t mean you’re a failure! You can turn your life around and accept the love of Jesus!

There’s an interesting part of this story that Luke includes in his Gospel. Luke says that when Peter denied, cursed, and swore, Jesus turned and looked at him. I don’t know what you see in those eyes of Jesus. Let me tell you what I see. All of a sudden you curse and swear and say, ’I don’t know the Man.’ And Jesus looks at you. What do you see in the eyes of Jesus?

I see LOVE!

When I look into the eyes of Jesus, as He looks at Peter:

I do not see eyes of anger. I see eyes of acceptance!

I do not see eyes of bitterness. I see eyes of benevolence!

I do not see eyes of criticism. I see eyes of compassion!

I do not see eyes of guilt. I see eyes of grace!

I do not see eyes of hostility. I see eyes of hope!

When Jesus turned and looked at Peter, it’s as though Jesus is saying, ’Peter, I’m disappointed, but I want you to know: Just because you have failed, that doesn’t mean you’re going to be a failure!’

All of us have skeletons in the closet! All of us have dark, ugly sides about us. And Jesus turns and looks, but I want you to know:

He’s looking with eyes of love, and hope, and compassion.

You can accept His love: and just because you’ve failed, doesn’t mean you have to be a failure.

CONCLUSION
Peter was indirectly fulfilling a word already spoken by Jesus. He was not a failure because he repented

Whatever mistake you might have made might be a fulfillment of what has been written either by God or enemy. But all you need to do now is to accept Jesus Christ and repent. Amen 

Just Because You Failed Dosen't Mean You Are A Failure

Topic: Just Because You Failed Dosen't Mean You Are A Failure

: Mark 14:66-72 THE STORY 

I don’t know how you feel about it, but when I read this story I get a little angry at Peter. What about you? Don’t you get a little upset with Peter? Aren’t you a little aggravated and disappointed?

We want to fuss at Peter. We want to take Peter and shake him and say, "Man, what in the world have you done? You’re a disciple! For three years you walked with Jesus! You heard the sermons and you saw the miracles! You were there in Capernaum when Jesus walked into your house and healed your mother-in-law."

We want to say, "Peter, weren’t you there at the house of Jairus along with James and John when Jesus ... said to that little twelve year old girl, ’Arise.’ And all of a sudden the incredible happened to that little twelve year old body. Her eyes began to open; that little heart began to beat again. You were there! You saw Jesus raise the dead! What’s wrong with you, man?"

Peter, what’s wrong with you? You saw all of these miracles and you were there. Ah, we want to fuss at Peter, don’t we? At least I do. I’m a little disappointed in Peter, but that’s not God’s response. Let me show you how God responded to Peter.

It’s Sunday morning. The tomb is empty. Jesus has died. He’s been buried. He’s been raised. The women go, looking for the body of Jesus and the angel appears. I love what the angel says in Mark 16:7

"Go and tell his disciples and Peter that he’s going ahead of them to Galilee. There they will see him, just as he told them."

Have you ever wondered why the angel singled out Peter? Think about it.

Why didn’t the angel say, ’Go tell His disciples --- and John’? or James’? or Philip’? Why do you think the angel singled out Peter? Why Peter of all people?

It’s as though the angel is saying, ’Peter, I want you to know that just because you failed, heaven does not believe you are a failure.’

The women show up. It’s a Sunday morning. ’Whom are you looking for?’ the Angel says. ’We’re looking for Jesus.’ ’He’s not here. He’s risen. Go, tell His disciples,’ and it’s as though the angel pauses and smiles ... and says, ’especially tell Peter. Tell Peter that though he struck out, he gets to bat again; that just because he threw an incomplete pass, he doesn’t have to sit on the bench. ’Tell His disciples --- and Peter.’ Tell Peter that just because he failed he’s not a flop! Tell Peter that just because he failed, that doesn’t mean he is a failure!

THE SAME PETER 

And then who preached that great sermon on the Day of Pentecost? Who stood up before that group and said:

"People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus of Nazareth by doing wonderful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But you followed God’s prearranged plan. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to the cross and murdered him. However, God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life again, for death could not keep him in its grip. Acts 2:22-24

We’ve seen the resurrection! Who said that? Peter!

Who preached to those Jews: "Repent, and be baptized” Peter!

What about the sermon in Acts 10? Cornelius and his family. All the relatives are there. Somebody shows up and says: "... "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right….So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ." Acts 10:35, 48

Who preached that sermon and who baptized Cornelius? Peter!

What about Acts 3? The Lame man. He’s sitting there, begging. Somebody passes by and says:

"I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-- walk!" Acts 3:6

Who raised that lame man and enabled him to walk again? Peter!

Who wrote, "Add to your faith virtue and to virtue, knowledge, knowledge temperance, temperance patience, patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness"? I’ll tell you who wrote that! The one who denied Jesus! The Apostle Peter!

Just because Peter failed that does not mean he was a failure!

Let’s make an application. I want you to think about the most horrible sin that you’ve ever committed. Everybody think with me! About the most painful, ugly sin of your life!

Maybe you publicly used God’s name in vain.

Maybe you have been addicted to alcohol. You’ve been drunk.

Maybe you have been addicted to drugs.

Or, maybe you’ve gone through a divorce, and been told that we in the Church don’t do that.

Or, maybe you have committed fornication. You’re not married and you’ve lost your virginity.

Maybe you’ve even tried and experimented with Homosexuality.

Maybe as a teenage girl you slipped off one night and got pregnant. Then you slipped away again and had an abortion. You took the life of that innocent baby.

All of us have been there, haven’t we! All of us have been there! But I’ve got news for you, folks: Just because you have failed, doesn’t mean you have to be a failure!

Are you listening to me?

Just because you’ve failed, that doesn’t mean you’re a failure! You can turn your life around and accept the love of Jesus!

There’s an interesting part of this story that Luke includes in his Gospel. Luke says that when Peter denied, cursed, and swore, Jesus turned and looked at him. I don’t know what you see in those eyes of Jesus. Let me tell you what I see. All of a sudden you curse and swear and say, ’I don’t know the Man.’ And Jesus looks at you. What do you see in the eyes of Jesus?

I see LOVE!

When I look into the eyes of Jesus, as He looks at Peter:

I do not see eyes of anger. I see eyes of acceptance!

I do not see eyes of bitterness. I see eyes of benevolence!

I do not see eyes of criticism. I see eyes of compassion!

I do not see eyes of guilt. I see eyes of grace!

I do not see eyes of hostility. I see eyes of hope!

When Jesus turned and looked at Peter, it’s as though Jesus is saying, ’Peter, I’m disappointed, but I want you to know: Just because you have failed, that doesn’t mean you’re going to be a failure!’

All of us have skeletons in the closet! All of us have dark, ugly sides about us. And Jesus turns and looks, but I want you to know:

He’s looking with eyes of love, and hope, and compassion.

You can accept His love: and just because you’ve failed, doesn’t mean you have to be a failure.

CONCLUSION

Peter was indirectly fulfilling a word already spoken by Jesus. He was not a failure because he repented

Whatever mistake you might have made might be a fulfillment of what has been written either by God or enemy. But all you need to do now is to accept Jesus Christ and repent. Amen 

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: Make Space to Worship God

"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." – Galatians 5:24-25

It's easy for Christians to get swept up into our daily schedules. We wake up, go to work, eat dinner, maybe watch some television, and prepare to do it all again tomorrow. In such an environment, we can often forget to worship Christ regularly, but that worship itself refreshes the soul. Before you step out the door each morning, sit down and take a moment to thank the Lord for a new day. If you work in a nice area, spend your lunch hour walking around and praising God for his workmanship. In the evening, make a space where you can be alone with God.

We are called to love God, so let us make time for Him. Start today in experiencing God's goodness and blessings as you seek to serve him daily.

MAY GOD GIVE YOU A SIGNIFICANT MIRACLE THAT WILL LEFT YOU WITH NO CHOICE THAN TO PRAISE HIM IN JESUS NAME.

Good Morning 

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: ANOTHER WAY TO SERVE GOD pt4

Show Forgiveness

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." - Mark 11:25

Forgiveness, true forgiveness, can be a difficult thing. As much as we like to believe we understand the concept of grace, some of us are still learning what it means to let go of our anger and pain. There are dozens of moments in life where even Christians would rather not show forgiveness: the guy who cut you off in traffic, the coworker who still hasn't sent you that important email, the friend who blows you off at the last minute. God teaches us that forgiveness means letting go of grudges, of the expectation for payback, and choosing love over retribution.

MAY GOD NEVER COUNT YOUR SINS AGAINST YOU ANYMORE IN JESUS NAME

Good morning 

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: YOU ARE BLESSED (Pt 2)

There are some necessary things you need to do to possess and enjoy God’s blessing:

Jam. 2:20-22 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

HOW TO POSITION YOURSELF FOR GOD’S BLESSINGS

You must be at the right place at the right time. You need to change your location to change your position. 

The people you surround yourself with are important to your faith. 

Association determines your faith. You will need to leave some of your associates, friends and relatives. 

You need to change your position to change your condition – Pro. 27:8. You need to change a number of environments: mental, psychological, physical, spiritual, et al.

You must live a life of obedience – Gen. 12:4, 13:14-16, 15:18. When a man acts in obedience to God’s word there is a blessing for it – Gen. 21:12-20, 22:1-2 and 16-18,. 

For a blessing to go into operation, you must live a live obedience.

You must live a life of sacrifice. When sacrifices are offered God shows up. Sacrifice is a thing of importance to God. It is anything you do or give that cost you something and it essentially comes from the heart. When it is a sacrifice it moves God. Hannah gave her son, Abraham gave God his only son, and the widow of Zarephath gave her last meal. Sacrifice is doing things from the heart – Gen. 46:1-2, 1 Kings 3:4-5.

IN JESUS NAME. YOU WILL NOT MISS OUR OF GOD'S BLESSING FOR YOU.

Good Morning 

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: YOU ARE BLESSED 

The moment you give your life to Christ your perception about God’s blessing must change. There’s got to be a change in your psyche and mentality about blessing. The consciousness that you don’t have or what you have is insufficient is called “Shortage Mentality”. You’ve got to have a balanced mentality about this.

From the beginning, we were positioned for God’s blessing. 1Pet. 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. It is important that you’re properly positioned for His blessing. As a matter of fact, man was blessed from the beginning, but he lost it through sin. What he was blessed with was cursed when he was banished out of the Garden of Eden. Until you come to Jesus, all the positions and possessions you have is cursed. It is Jesus that lifts up this curse from the blessing. Every blessing outside Jesus carries sorrow. Only Jesus’ blessing is sorrow free.

Gen. 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Ps. 129:8

Pro. 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Blessing is God’s empowerment in action. It is an empowerment in a man’s spirit which translates in the physical. I want you to know that you are thoroughly blessed by the God that made the heaven and the earth. Blessing is not really about the physical possession but the content within.

Gen. 12:1-4  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

Isa 51:2 Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

According to the account in Genesis, this is the first encounter of Abraham with God. God called him and even referred us to his account as a reflection of true blessing. Until this encounter, Abraham was just a man like any other but was blessed increased afterwards.

I want to address the following questions people usually ask about blessing:

Is it the will of God to prosper me more than this level? The answer is a resounding yes. 3 John 2

Can God prosper me? Yes! Is. 60:15

Am I ready to receive the blessing? To be ready is to be positioned like Abraham. Grace found Abraham but he needed faith to actualize the blessing. Besides grace, you need faith to actualize God’s blessing.

GOD BLESS YOU

Good Morning 

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: DO YOU WANT TO BE BLESSED? 

It is God’s will that everybody be blessed. It does not matter who you are, God wants you to be blessed. It does not matter how young or how old you are, God wants you to be blessed. It does not matter what race, color, ethnic, or nationality background you may be, God wants you to be blessed. It does not matter what gender you are, it does not matter how much education or money you have, it does not matter if you are single, married, separated, widowed, or divorced, God wants you to be blessed. It does not matter what part of town you may be living in, God wants you to be blessed. It is not God’s will for you to be cursed, but it is God’s will for you to be blessed.

Now to be blessed by God, there are some things that we must do.

1. The first thing that you should do if you want to be blessed by God is that you must Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. 

To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ means to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, it means to rely on the Lord Jesus Christ, it means to hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, it means to have confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ, and it means to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. To receive your blessing from the God, you must believe on Christ because Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith, you cannot please Him, for He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” And also, in Psalms 37:3-4 it says, “Trust in the Lord and do good so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord and he shall give you the desires of your heart” So if you want to be blessed by God, you must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

TODAY YOU ARE CHOSEN BY GOD TO BE BLESSED AND TO BE A BLESSING IN JESUS NAME.

Good Morning 

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL 

TOPIC: Miracles

Acts 19:11 - Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul

1. Miracles are secondary to the Gospel

Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you

2. Miracles draw a crowd

John 6:2 - Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.

3. Miracles reinforce the message of the Gospel

John 2:23 - Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.

4. Miracles demonstrate God’s compassion

Mark 1:41- Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

5. Miracles test our hearts

Numbers 14 – 22 - Because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.

6. Miracles are for today

1 Corinthians 12:28 - And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

Miracles killers

1. Misplaced priorities

Matthew 17:19 - Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”

2. Faltering faith

Matthew 17:20 - "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ’Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Luke 13 – 18 - Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19“It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

3. Lack of Effective Prayer

Mark 9:29 - So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”

4. Fear factor

Job 3:25-26 - For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes.”

THIS WEEK YOU WILL NOT MISS YOUR MIRACLE IN JESUS NAME.

Good Morning 

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: Benefits of God's Mercy

“Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because God is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:35-36 NIV)

The benefits of God’s mercy include peace, love, and joy. None of the behaviors Luke speaks of come naturally. In Christ, mercy and truth meet together. Christ-centered people see the world through His perspective, and His love flows through their lives. When we are merciful to others, it brings their hearts, and ours, joy. When we submit to His merciful ways, we choose to acknowledge peace. Apart from Christ this is impossible. Thankfully, His mercies are new every morning. 

Psalm 86:15-16 says, “But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength on behalf of your servant; save me, because I serve you.”

IN JESUS NAME MERCY WILL SAVE YOU FROM ALL EVIL THAT IS PLANED AGAINST YOU.

Good Morning 

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: Because of Mercy

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV)

God’s plan stems from His merciful love for His people. Knowing there was nothing we could do to earn our way into His presence, He made a way through the crucifixion of Christ. Defeating death, Jesus opened up access to God for us. Through prayer, God’s Word, and the Holy Spirit living in us, each day brings fresh new mercy. Every morning, God is faithful, even though every day, we fall short. Mercy is God’s gift to the repentant heart. The following verses define this element of God’s love:

“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.” (Psalm 86:5 NIV)

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4-5  NIV)

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5 NIV)

IN JESUS NAME MERCY WILL OPEN DOOR OF FAVOUR FOR YOU AND YOU WILL FORGET YOUR PAST SUFFERING

Good Morning 

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: CONDITIONS FOR OVERCOMING ATTACKS BY FLYING ARROWS

For us to overcome attacks by flying arrows, we need to take the following step consistently and seriously:

1. Pleading the blood of Jesus for covering.

The blood of Jesus remains the greatest weapon against the devil that can never loose its potency and power. Revelation 12:11:And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

2. Fervency in prayer and diligent in warfare prayer.

We must be fervent in our prayers at all times and be diligent in warfare prayers which should be supported with fasting to challenge the devil and to undo all his activities in our lives. James 5:16-18: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. CONTINUE TOMMOROW...

MAY THE POWER OF JESUS NAME CONTINUE TO WORK AMAZING WONDERS FOR YOU IN JESUS NAME

Good Morning 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE. 

My heart is overwhelmed with joy and am so grateful to God for giving you to me.

What more can I ask for in a wife that you don't have.

God has made you my joy, my inspiration, my destiny Fulfilled, my life, my heart, my soul, my best friend, my world, my love, my helper the very bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. You are in deed God's favour as the lord called you, Proverbs 18:22 KJV

Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.

 you are so virtuous because the Bible said Proverbs 31:10 KJV

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. You are God's endow, spirit feed, full of anointing and grace, I bless the day you said yes to my proposer, oh what a day of destiny Fulfilled.

Thank you for accepting Christ as your personal lord and savior, thank you for knowing the lord and serving him, thank you for accepting the call of God when he called you, thank you for been my wife, thank you for been my baby girl, thank you for been a good mother to me and the children, thank you for been a good pastor in our ministry to the sheep that God's has committed into our hands, thank God for who you are,

I Pray that God will continue to protect you, guide you and bless you with your heart desire i pray for more strength more anointing more God's leading and clear revelation, may your enemy tremble and bow before you, may the rest of your life be the best and may you be always God's favorite. May you keep the fire burning spiritually till the trumpet sound in Jesus name.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU MY DEAR WIFE Pastor Omolola Israel. 

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: OPEN DOOR FOR FLYING ARROWS PT2

4. Ignorance of satanic devices and of spiritual authority.

- When we are ignorance of satanic devices and strategies, the devil can take advantage of us, and he will succeed in launching several attacks against us and our breakthroughs. God has given us the Holy Spirit who knows every deep and hidden thing and can reveal them to us.

- Another area we could be ignorant is in the area of spiritual authority God has given us power over the devil and all his agents. Luke 10:18-19: And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

- Jesus has given us power to challenge and overcome the devil and all his agents; we should therefore be bold to use the power we have to destroy all the works of the enemy in our lives and against our lives.

Every satanic devices and spiritual attack on your life is hereby send back to the sender in Jesus name 

Good Morning 

Open door for flying arrow

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: OPEN DOOR FOR FLYING ARROWS

1. Unshielded or unprotected life.

- Certain conditions make somebody to become unshielded and such people can not enjoy divine protection against the arrow of the enemy. This include when a man is not genuinely born again and washed by the blood of Jesus, or when somebody born again is living in one ore more un-confessed or un-repented sins. The only way out is to confess your sins and repent from them all, then to receive Jesus as your Lord and personal saviour.

2. Luke warmness and prayerlessness.

- When a believer is not consistent in serving the Lord fervently, not regular in church attendance and healthy fellowship with other Christians, he will be exposed to attacks by the arrows of the devil. Moreover, carelessness in the area of prayer will make one to be weak spiritually and liable to attacks by satanic arrows.

3. Not putting on the whole armour.

- Ephesians 6:10-13: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

- God, who understands the nature of our battle, and our inability to fight this battle with our own power, has made available unto us suitable armour, and He is encouraging us to put on the whole armour at all times. Failure to put this armour on or putting on alternative armour would result in defeat and total downfall.

EVERY EVIL DOOR THAT OPEN FOR YOU IS CLOSE TODAY IN JESUS NAME

Good Morning 

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: Arrow of destiny manipulation.

This kind of arrow is arranged to alter the divine course of life. Certain wicked people are able to see a bright glory ahead of the person and they can do something to exchange, or prevent the glory from showing forth, and if they are not confronted by the power of the Holy Spirit after experiencing a new birth in Christ, they may cause a permanent damage. 

The brothers of Joseph were afraid of his dreams because they understood he was going to have a brighter future than them, so they attempted to kill him and eventually sold him to a strange land. If not for God, the divine course of Joseph’s life could have been altered, but God moved through the situations to fulfill His purpose in his life. You too can experience a lasting victory over destiny manipulators by completely surrendering your life to Christ, and praying under Holy Spirit anointing to recover your destiny from the hands of the manipulators.

Sometimes this kind of arrow will make somebody to experience terrible failures and setbacks in various aspects of lives. There can also be oppositions both in the physical and in the spiritual against somebody’s success and breakthroughs, when under the influence of this kind of arrow.

In Jesus name you are deliver and set free from destiny manipulators

Good Morning 

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: ARROW OF DEVOURER. 

This kind of arrow is sent to attack somebody’s wealth and properties. It can come as a result of sudden mishap resulting in great loses, or a collapse of business with great shortage. 

Job 1:13-19: 

And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

- This arrow entered into Job’s life and all he had labored for over several years were ruined within a shot period of time.

- Other manifestations of this type of arrow is for somebody to be making money, but unable to have good accountability for the money, or whenever somebody who has been saving money for something good and an unexpected bad thing happen that will warrant the diversion of his savings.

- One way God promised to rebuke devourer for our sake is through our faithfulness in paying tithes and offerings. Malachi 3:8-12: Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

EVERY DEVOURER SENT TO ATTACK YOUR INCOME, FINANCES, PROFIT AND WORK. MAY FIRE COME UPON THEM NOW IN JESUS NAME. YOU SHALL NOT KNOW LOSES

Good Morning 

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: ARROW OF CHARACTER-DISORDER 

This arrow is making people to misbehave when there is no reason for it or where they should not have misbehaved. 

John 13:2: And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; 

John 13:26-27: Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

- This arrow was shot against Judas, and he made a move of betraying his master for monetary gain. Under normal circumstances, Judas would not have thought of doing that. But under the influence of this satanic arrow he did it and forfeit the kingdom of God. Many people have lost great opportunity and blessings due to the influence of this arrow.

- We can also see the case of Vashti, who lost the kingdom due to misbehavior. Esther 1:10-12: On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

- No one could understand why Vashti under a joyful celebration would refuse the king’s request. The king thought of showing off with her beauty, a thing that should make Vashti to feel high and honoured, yet she refused and lost the kingdom. I see this as a satanic arrow against her glory, although it works for the good of Esther and consequently for the good of the whole Jews. This is because God can move through any situation to show goodness to His own people.

IN JESUS NAME THIS EVIL ARROW WILL NOT HIT YOU. YOU WILL NOT LOSE YOUR SEAT OF HONOR AND GLORY.

Arrow of affection

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: ARROW OF AFFLICTION. 

When an arrow of affliction is sent to a target, it will result in various afflictions and oppressions, most of which will not respond to any physical means of solving the problem, unless when they are properly diagnosed spiritually and tackled with fervent prayer under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. 

Luke 8:43-48: And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him and how she was healed immediately.

And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

- The woman had a seemingly medical condition but failed to respond to medical care and attention, only the anointing of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus could break the yoke and set the woman free.

- This kind of arrow includes epileptic attack of spiritual origin. By the grace of God, I met a young man after my seminary in a town call Ada Osun State some years back who was attacked with the spirit of epilepsy. All efforts to get her cured were without success. Several times he will be disgraced among his colleagues manifesting this spirit. But under the Holy Spirit anointing, in one of the day of our revival this yoke was totally destroyed as he vomited the animal out and the young man was permanently set free to the glory of God. 

Arrow of affliction can also be an attack with the spirit of madness. A woman was attacked by this spirit sometimes ago, and she started removing her cloth in order to go naked into the street, but she was quickly noticed and rushed to the hospital to receive a medical attention. While in the hospital, there will be a temporary relief, and the problem will aggravate again. When this problem was discerned to be an arrow from the devil, this woman was prayed for under the anointing of the Holy Spirit and she was totally set free.

EVERY ARROW OF AFFLICTION TARGET AT YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR WORK IS DESTROY BY FIRE IN JESUS NAME.

Say it louder... every evil arrow, go back to the sender in Jesus name 

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: ARROW OF DEATH. 

- An arrow of death is one sent to kill people before time. 2 Kings 4:18-22: And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.

- The boy here had no symptoms of any sickness or infirmity, but suddenly he cried out because a flying arrow attacked his head, and in no time, the boy died. That is an arrow of death, we may not know the source or the reason behind it, but it got to the boy and killed him.

- Many people had been killed through an arrow of death in this manner or the other. Some people while sleeping without any prior sickness will not be able to wake up again but will die from their sleep. Some of the ghastly motor accidents or plane crashes that has taken away many lives are as a result of an arrow of death again one or more individual in the vehicle or the aircraft. A lot of mishap such as fire accident, building collapsing on some people, flood disasters claiming lives, and so on could be a product of an arrow of death form the kingdom of darkness.

- Sometimes this arrow of death can stay for a while in a person before it will eventually kill the person. For instance some people being attended to in the hospital already have an arrow of death in their bodies, so after wasting money on laboratory investigations and treatments, they will eventually die. If this arrow could be recognized before hand’ it could be prevented or extracted from the body of the victim and the intended death will be annulled.

PRAYER 

- Call upon the name of Jesus three times and ask the fire of the Holy Spirit to destroy any arrow of death shot against you, and confess that you will live and not die in Jesus name.

Good Morning 

HOW CAN I BE SURE I AM GOING TO HEAVEN?

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: HOW CAN I BE SURE I AM GOING TO HEAVEN?

This is the most important question of all. Here is a wonderful truth: God has made it easy for you to go to heaven. He did the hard part when he sent his Son to die on the Cross for you. He paid the price for your sins so that you could one day stand before God in heaven. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). He also said, "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved" (John 10:9, NASB). Jesus is not only the way to heaven, he is also the door to heaven. If you want to go to heaven, you've got to go through the door marked "Jesus Christ." There is no other entrance.

Suppose you were to die and found yourself standing at the door of heaven. If God were to say, 'Why should I let you into heaven?' what answer would you give?

Picture the scene. You are standing at the very gates of heaven. It's more beautiful than you ever dreamed possible. This is where you want to spend eternity. This is where you belong. But before you enter, the Lord himself asks what possible reason you have to claim admission. You pause, knowing that all eternity hangs on your answer. What will you say?

Let me make this very personal. If you were to die tonight, do you know for certain that you would go to heaven? I've already said that this is too important to say "I think so" or "I hope so." If you're wrong, you're going to be wrong for a long, long time.

If you want to go to heaven, you must base your hope on the solid rock of Jesus' blood and righteousness. Are you standing on the Rock this morning? Are you wholly leaning on Jesus' name?

No one goes to heaven by accident. Heaven is God's prepared place for prepared people. We prepare for heaven and then God prepares heaven for us

What is your hope for heaven? Mine is Jesus Christ. I've staked everything I have on him. If he can't take me to heaven, then I'm not going there. What about you?

IN JESUS NAME YOU AND ME WILL NOT END IT IN HELL FIRE

Good Morning

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL By Pst Israel O Israel

TOPIC: Fruit of the Spirit. Kindness and Goodness

The characteristics of “kindness” and “goodness” are closely related. Together they present the picture of one who not only possesses moral goodness and integrity, but also generously expresses it in the way they act toward others.
This “goodness in action” reflects God’s kindness and goodness toward us.
God demonstrated His kindness and goodness to us in our salvation (Titus 3:4) and will continue to “show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us” for all eternity (Ephesians 2:7)!
And God expect us to have this fruit of the Spirit too and appropriate it in our daily dealing

THIS WEEK YOU WILL NOT MISS YOUR APPOINTMENT WITH FAVOUR AND BLESSING OF GOD

Good Morning

The lord is good,

All the time

Thank you Jesus

Welcome to CKGC Blog.....

WHAT CAN I DO IF MY SPOUSE IS NOT REPENTANT AND TAKEN CORRECTION ?

WHAT CAN I DO IF MY SPOUSE IS NOT REPENTANT AND TAKEN CORRECTION ?

Turning the Heart of Your “King”
when a husband is unrepentant over moral failure

I often direct these women to read the Book of Esther and to see her life as an example to follow in this situation. Queen Esther was married to a very ungodly man. He was willing to allow her whole family to be destroyed. This situation is really what most of the women who ask this question are facing. They’re married to men who are living ungodly lives and who are willing to allow their family to be destroyed while they sit back and do nothing.

What could Esther do in this situation? Was she hopeless? Did she just sit back and hope that somehow God would change her husband’s heart? No, she devised a Godly plan of action. This solution didn’t come from worry and fret; it came from days of fasting and seeking God’s help. Esther sought God with all her heart and with an attitude of total surrender to God’s will, whatever the outcome.

Now, do I think that Esther didn’t worry at all? I’m sure that as a human being and as a woman who cared for her family, she did struggle with these feelings and concerns—but they didn’t prevail in her heart. Faith prevailed—a faith strong enough to carry out the plan that God gave her.

There are a number of things that Esther and her cousin Mordecai did in response to the situation that God used to bring freedom to their people. These are concepts that a wife should consider when responding to a husband who does ungodly things and when facing the needs of a family about to be destroyed.

FAST AND SEEK THE LORD

When faced with the plans for the destruction of her people, Esther began a fast herself and called for a fast among her people. This was no wimpy fast—it was a fast of three days. “Fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king” (Esther 4:16).

Esther did not ask the people to fast for her ungodly husband, and she did not fast for him. She called for a fast for herself. She needed a plan! She needed to hear God’s voice about what she needed to do.

Many times I meet women who say they are fasting for God to change their husbands, and I tell them that this focus is wrong. They need to be fasting for God to change them. We need to give up on tying to change anyone except ourselves. A key to your husband finding brokenness is you finding it in your own life. Taking your eyes off how you have been wronged and realizing your own sin will cast you on Jesus, your only hope.

A WOMAN TELL A STORY BETWEEN HERSELF AND HER HUSBAND. READ.... The story of my husband Paul coming clean really starts with me fasting. I had fasted for Paul in the past, but now the focus was on my own life. After 13 years of frustration in my marriage, I began to become desperate. Paul and I had just gone through the John Regier counseling material, and Paul once again seemed to not have any problems, so I assumed I was the whole problem. All the marriage counselors and pastors had been telling me that for years anyway, so I began to fast and asked God to free me from whatever had me bound.

I realized that I could not change Paul, but I could ask God to change me. Bitterness was the first issue that really came to the surface. As I fasted, I realized the stronghold was much stronger than I had ever imagined. I was completely unable to help Paul remove sin from his life, because I had so much in my own.

God spoke to me through Matthew 7:3–5: “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” As I began to pray about the bitterness in my own life, my focus came off of Paul and onto myself and my sin. Fasting was the first step towards freedom for Paul and me. As I became free from bitterness, God was free to use me as a light in Paul’s life to draw him to the truth. I had to get out of the way!

A lot of women tell me they’ve tried to fast but can’t do it. When you get desperate, you can do a lot of things you think you can’t do, and fasting is one of them. Fasting is never easy because it’s brings death to the flesh, and the flesh never wants to die. “The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would” (Galatians 5:17).

Fasting puts down the flesh and strengthens the spirit so that you can hear what God wants to speak to you. It is saying to your body and your mind, “I don’t want you to be in control, I want my spirit to be in control.” God instructs us to “walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16). According to Isaiah 58, fasting also frees us from bondage. “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6).

SPEND TIME IN PRAYER

We can picture the earnest prayers of Esther, her servants, Mordecai, and all the Jewish people who took part in the fast. So much depended on the outcome of Esther’s presentation to the king, and she needed divine strength to act against the laws of the land and go to the king without a formal summons to his presence.

Praying seems simple enough. We all know we need to pray, but I want to remind you that prayer is not just talking to God—prayer is also letting God talk to you. Supplication to the Lord is a part of prayer, but you also need to allow God to speak to you and reveal His requests for you. We are to pray without ceasing as we go throughout the day attending to children and caring for everyday needs, but you still need a time to pray when you set aside all your duties and just seek the heart of God.

Have your Bible with you during these times of prayer so that if a verse comes to your mind, you can look it up and allow God to speak to you through it. Often I have found that as I sit quietly before the Lord in the spirit of prayer, thoughts come to me that I have never thought before. Many times these thoughts provide the answer to a question I have been asking.

CRY OUT TO THE LORD FOR HELP

When Mordecai heard of the decree against the Jewish people, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and cried out with a loud voice. “When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and bitter cry” (Esther 4:1).

When your heart is desperate, it’s hard to simply pray a quick, soft prayer—you are more likely to cry out with emotion and passion! God promises to hear these cries for help, to work, and to receive glory for rescuing us in the midst of despair. “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me” (Psalm 50:15).

The Power of Crying Out by Bill Gothard has been a powerful influence in my life as I have learned the difference between prayer (requests and supplication) and a cry to the Lord. It’s not the tone of the voice that makes the difference, it is the desperation of the heart. The example of a man who has fallen into a deep pit helped me understand this concept. This man doesn’t speak in a low voice and calmly ask for help. He desperately screams for help. There are times of desperate need in our lives when we call out to God in the same way.

SURRENDER TO THE LORD

Esther was surrendered to God’s will and purposes, and she knew that she might have to give up her life to see them fulfilled. She was willing to give her all to obey the Lord and to walk in His ways. I believe this was the most important step Esther took. She said and meant, “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).

We as women have to come to this point of surrender. We have to be willing to “die” and give up our lives to the Lord, as Esther was willing to die for her family. Every woman’s point of “death” will be different.

Ask God, and He will show you where you need to die. Your area of surrender may be different from mine. One woman felt that she was to keep her mouth shut—that was her death. Another was to be sexually intimate with her husband when she hated it, another felt she was to stop interfering with her husband’s discipline of their children, and some women have to die by learning how to confront their husbands about their sin.

As brothers and sisters in Christ we are called to reprove, rebuke, and expose sin in each other’s lives. (See II Timothy 4:2 and Hebrews 3:13.) Holding each other accountable is to be done without hypocrisy and in a spirit of genuine love, and this must come after prayer, fasting, and crying out to the Lord. It must come out of a spirit of love and concern for your family and not out of bitterness for how you have been mistreated.

Don’t say, “Well I can’t do it until I get my attitude right, so I guess I may never do it.” My dear friend, this doesn’t need to take days! Repent of your bitterness, ask God for grace to carry out the plan He is giving you, and move on. Don’t let the enemy of procrastination keep you from doing what you need to do. This really isn’t about you; it’s about your children. Keep reminding yourself of that.

SERVE AND APPEAL TO YOUR HUSBAND

Esther diligently sought the Lord, and He enabled her to effectively present her appeal. You must ask God for a plan on how you can serve your “king” in order to gain his heart and present your appeal.

“If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him” (Esther 5:4). It was from the place of service that Esther was able to make her appeal. As she served the king, she gained his attention. He was now ready to listen to her heart.

Appeal to Your Husband
Ladies: fast, pray, cry out to the Lord, surrender to Him, and serve your husband. Once you have done these things, God will give you a plan of appeal just like He gave to Esther. He granted her wisdom to know how to serve the king in order to capture his attention. She needed him to be willing to hear her appeal, to listen to her heart, and to respond in order to save her family from destruction.

What is your appeal? “Honey, we need help. Can we please seek help? I see these problems, and they are destroying our children and our marriage.”

Ask questions of your husband and his struggles, and make sure you are not hiding anything yourself. You need to tell your husband if you are seeking counsel and help, because it is wrong for you to hide anything. He needs to know that you are seeking help for your problems.

DO NOT GROW WEARY

The other day I spoke with a woman and told her these things, and she responded by saying, “I’ve tried all this and nothing works.” I know this woman well, and I am assured that she has tried it all, but never for more than a few days. After giving it a small chance, she’s back to her old ways of speaking to her husband with bitterness and dishonor in her voice.

Sometimes it takes time. Be willing to go through day after day and to trust God with the outcome. Ladies, God has to change us, just as He must change our husbands. We have to cry out for that change, we have to beg God to help us become women of God like Esther. He is willing to change us and to equip us in the path that we are traveling. Will we accept His truth and His grace at work in us to transform our hearts?

“He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).