Path of Your Destiny

Isaiah 41:4 (AMP)
Who has prepared and done this, calling forth and guiding the destinies of the generations [of the nations] from the beginning? I, the Lord—the first [existing before history began] and with the last [an ever-present, unchanging God]—I am He.

Since the beginning, God is the one who has been preparing and guiding the destinies of generations. Before you were even formed, God had already prepared and guided your destiny. 

Jeremiah 1:5

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

You may read this verse and say that only prophets were ordained. However, we are all prophets to the nations. Whenever we speak to the world words that have life, we are prophets to the nations. 

We should be thankful to God that we are alive, to ensure that we fit into that path that God created us for. It does not matter what you have gone through or where you are; what matters is that God had already designed your life. God knows the end from the beginning. 

The most important thing is to know if we understand if we are in God's plan/ destiny. 

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

The plans have already been made, and these are what makes the thoughts that God is always thinking about us. God never plans evil. 

There are people who are dead and cannot change anything about their lives, and unfortunately they did not meet their destinies. This is why someone says that the cemetery is the richest place on earth, as it is full of unfulfilled dreams, songs that have not yet been written, talents not yet utilized etc. We, who are alive, have an opportunity to fit in to that plan that God created for us even before we were formed. 

God's plans are always good. People who understand their destinies will not compromise their destinies because of any trials, temptations or rejection they may go through. My prayer is that everyone catches their destiny. Your destiny is that what God had decided He will accomplish in your life. 

You do not guide your destiny; it is what God wants you to be, and has already planned. 

A few years ago God revealed to me that it's either destiny or death. 

Genesis 37:5-11

Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. 6 So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: 7 There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.”

8 And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

9 Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”

10 So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” 11 And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

God had already decided the destiny of Joseph, and revealed His plans for him to him. May the Lord open our eyes that we may see what we are supposed to do. It is never a waste of time when we are doing what we were meant to be doing. It does not matter what we are doing, as long as we are conscious and aware of our destinies. The dangerous thing is reaching a dead end and not being aware of our destinies. 

I would encourage everyone who reads or hears this message to read Genesis 37-47. 

If Joseph did not have a destiny, he would have been eaten by lions at the pit. Because he was a child of a destiny, God would not have allowed him to be eaten by lions at the pit. Because he was a child with a destiny, Potiphar's wife could not have defiled his destiny. The temptation could not stop the destiny that God had for him; no lies could, neither could any prison. 

No lie, temptation, rumors etc. about you can stop or hinder your destiny. 

Genesis 45:1

Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.

It may tarry, and in Joseph's case it did, but it surely came to pass. Later they all bowed down to him, as Joseph had dreamed. It may tarry, it will surely come to pass. It does not matter who hates or loves you, nothing will stop you. 

Colossians 2:10

and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

When you know your destiny, you will be confidently saying that you have become complete; and confidently saying that you are blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places:

Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

It is for this purpose that Jesus came, to restore the Samaritan woman to her destiny, from prostitution to evangelism (John 4:1-42). 

Intimacy with God will take you to your destiny. Walking in righteousness and holiness, and being totally submitted to God will take you to your destiny. These are just a few of some principles that we will be discussing from next week, that will help us walk and remain in our destinies. 

Time has come for us to stop wasting time, and walk in the path of our destinies. 

Amen. 

-- Pastor Mary Mugo

(2/06/13 Sunday Service Sermon, Africa Transformation Mission. Pramukh Plaza, 6th Floor) 

Pastor Mary Mugo is the Administrative Pastor at Africa Transformation Mission, a ministry under Christ Harvesters Ministries.

Intimacy with God

Why did God create you? Why did He send His Son to die for you? Why did He even create Adam and Eve in the first place? The Bible tells us that “in the beginning God…" Genesis 1:1, meaning that God was there before the beginning. It is therefore clear that He does not need us, with or without us and the earth He is still God. So why did He create the earth and us?

God does not need you, He wants you. God loves human beings, which is why He created us in His own image, that we can feel, think, decide, act and be just like Him. This way we can enjoy each other’s relationship. He created Adam and Eve to love them, to enjoy a relationship with them. Just like you would buy a dog or a cat to love him or her, He created us to love us and bring Him glory. When humankind failed to do this by sinning, He sent His son to mend this, give us an opportunity to once again have a relationship with Him, and bring glory to Him; an opportunity to once again experience His love, and love Him back. Jesus was the solution God had, the plan “B”, to bring us closer to Him.

God doesn't want to be your morning/evening/Sunday companion. He didn't send Jesus for that. He sent His son to bring us closer to Him, that He can be a part of EVERY detail of our lives. This is what is called INTIMACY.

Intimacy means “close familiarity or friendship; closeness. A private cosy atmosphere. Something of personal or private nature.”

There is a HUGE difference between intimacy and respect. Have you ever tried to have a “casual friend” who would never allow you to be intimate with them? Or even a relative who you’ve been trying to close the boundaries with, and be closer to but they just keep pushing you away? You respect them and value their friendship, but you would never allow it to go beyond casual friendship? This is how many Christians are, with God. They respect Him and even fear Him, but have no intimacy with Him. They go to church on Sunday, give tithes and offerings, pray to Him, study His word etc. but have no intimacy with Him. They just respect Him. They have put some boundaries between them and God, seeing Him as a “far away God.” This is not what God wants.

Going back to the story of creation to see God’s intention with man, we see that God created man and was so close to Him that He and his wife knew the footsteps and voice of God (Genesis 3:8, 10). 

Genesis 3:8, 10

8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

Adam was so intimate with God that God knew His deepest needs, including one for a helper, and made him one without him even asking! 

Genesis 2:18

And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

He wanted this deep and intimate relationship to persist. Sin broke this intimacy. Sin equals to pride and rebellion. When sin came, the intimacy was lost and casualness crept in. Fear and 'respect'  showed up in place of genuineness and openness, and Adam and Eve hid from God. God wants us to fear Him, not be afraid of Him. Fear results from knowledge of Who He is, being afraid results from guilt over wrong done.

After Adam, few men had intimate relationships with God, until Jesus came. One of them was Moses.

Exodus 33:7-22

Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp. 8 So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle. 9 And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. 10 All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door. 11 So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.

12 Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’ 13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.”

14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”

17 So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.” 18 And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.”

19 Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” 20 But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” 21 And the Lord said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. 22 So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. 23 Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”

Few points to note from the story of Moses:

1. There was a tabernacle of meeting. Everyone went into this tabernacle (verse 7), but it’s Moses’ relationship with God that made a difference. People watched Moses entering into the tabernacle (verse 8). You have to have a place of quiet meeting with God, a place where you spend time with God on a daily basis. It may be a common place where people go, but your time with God alone matters. It is not the place that matters, it is your relationship with God. The tabernacle was the same, but it’s Moses’ relationship with God that brought down the pillar of cloud and caused God to talk to Moses (verse 9). It is not the place that matters, it is the heart.

2. Others went to talk TO God, but Moses talked WITH God (verse 9). God spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to a friend (verse 11). His relationship with God was so intimate that the children of Israel admired it. Intimate relationships are admirable by many. How does someone man speak to a friend to suggest and exhibit intimacy? There are several factors that characterize intimate friendship:

a. Time: Time grows friendship. Intimate friendship is characterized and made by time. Friends who do not have time for each other will never be intimate, or grow past the “casual” boundary. The more time invested, the stronger the relationship will be. Time away from each other erodes intimacy. An intimate relationship with God is enjoyable, just as a normal one is. In the presence of God there’s fullness of joy; so an intimate relationship with God means that you always walk with Him, and you’re always in His presence = joy at all times!

b. Two-way Communication: Intimate friendship is characterised by a willingness to speak, and to listen. It is characterised by a swiftness to listen/hear, slowness to speak:

James 1:19

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

There is a time to speak, and a time to listen. 

Ecclesiastes 3:7

A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

The more the communication, the stronger the relationship will be. Casual relationships are characterised by 'once in a while' communication. The more you communicate, the more you know each other, and trust each other.  How's your communication with God?

c. Trust: Trust is the boundary that, when broken, will take a casual friendship to intimacy level. Most people do not relate intimately because they do not trust each other. To relate with God intimately, you have to trust Him: that He is who He says He is, can do what He says He can do, and is willing to do ANYTHING to win your trust and be intimate with you. That He has your best interests at heart, no matter what He does or tells you to do. God wants the best for us, and will never hurt us. That's what a good and intimate partner does. He has your best interests at heart.

d. Genuineness: Casual friendship is superficial and hypocritical. Intimate relationships are characterized by total OPENNESS. You are hiding nothing from each other. This is what broke Adam and Eve's intimacy with God, when they started hiding their sin from God. No matter how deep the relationship is, hiding things from each other takes you back to casualnessn until the time HONESTY will resume.

e. Commitment: For every relationship to grow, there has to be mutual commitment and submission. Selfless sacrifice and determination to do whatever the other partner needs and whatever it will take to grow the relationship is what grows relationships. God wants us to give OUR ALL to the relationship, put His interests above ours, just like He did:

Philippians 2:2-5

... fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus...

He wants us not to do anything out of selfish ambition, as long as we're in a relationship with Him. It calls for a death to pride and selfishness. He has already made the first move, are we willing to make the next move? 

James 4:8

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. 

f.  Love: It is next to impossible to have an intimate relationship with the absence of love. Love has to be mutual, and each party has to be aware of the others' love for them, besides loving them back. The more you're aware of God's love for you, the easier it will be to have an intimate relationship with Him. You can't love God if you don't know how much He loves you:

1 John 4:19

We love Him because He first loved us.

Love is the life of intimacy. The difference between strangers and best friends is time put in, communication, trust, genuineness/ openness, commitment and love. Love is as a result of all the five, and all 6 are constantly growing, complementing each other. Love isn't forced or pushed, it's intentional and deliberate. God can make you do all things, but can never and will never make you love Him. He has given you free will, and hopes for you to CHOOSE to love Him. 

3. Moses' relationship with God was so admirable and visible that it prompted others to worship (verse 10). No one needs to be told that a relationship is intimate, if it is we'll all see. Intimate relationships with God always attract and make people want to have the same. What are people seeing from your relationship with God? Does your relationship with God prompt people to worship, or push them away from God?

4. When Moses went into the tabernacle to worship, the pillar of cloud would descend (verse 9-10). This signified the glory of God. People who have intimate relationships with God are covered by His glory, and His presence is visible in their lives. Gradually or even suddenly even your countenance changes, and everybody is attracted to you: young, old, men, women, children etc. Once the glory of God covered Moses' face that it glowed, they couldn't even look at him and he had to cover his face with a veil:

Exodus 34:29-35

Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him. 30 So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him; and Moses talked with them. 32 Afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them as commandments all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. 33 And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. 34 But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded. 35 And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him.

It wasn't a one time thing, but eventually he had to keep His face covered with a veil. Intimacy with God changes your life completely.

5. Joshua wanted to grow his relationship with God, which is why he remained behind after Moses left the tabernacle/ tent of meeting (verse 11). This shows an intention and desire to spend more time with God, and grow his level of relationship with God. You have to desire more and make efforts towards growing your relationship. It doesn't come naturally/ automatically. Spend more time in His presence, seeking His face. Don't ever be satisfied with your level of relationship with God. Be contented with your relationship with God, but don’t be satisfied. Being contented will help you not seek after other things and just enjoy your relationship with God; not being satisfied will make you want to get deeper and deeper in relationship with God. 

6. Moses’ prayer in verse 12-13 shows someone who was both open/honest with God, and also hungry for Him. Also it signified that Moses knew what God had said regarding Him, and based on this he could now pray and ask God for what he needed. Moses was not satisfied with God just knowing him by name and him finding grace in His sight, but was more interested in him knowing God, and knowing His way! 

7. Moses wanted God’s presence to go with Him (verse 15). How many of us are “okay” with going places without God’s presence? Moses wasn’t! He did not want to move without God’s presence. You HAVE to get to this point brethren, where you cannot move if you’re not aware of God’s presence with you. You have to value God’s presence that much, which comes by knowing Him and interacting/ spending time with Him. 

8. In verse 16, Moses knew that God’s presence with them will create a difference, as we saw earlier. There is no way you will be intimate with God and be the same; people around you will start noticing that you are not alone, and will want what you have. God’s presence alone makes the difference. Even devils will know you’re not alone, and give way whenever you show up. The atmosphere will change wherever you go, as you’re aware of God’s presence with you. This even builds your confidence and faith. 

9. In verse 18, Moses further exhibits his desire for a deeper relationship with God. He seeks God’s glory. Whenever you get intimate with God, His glory becomes your desire. You’re no longer concerned with your glory, but His. This is what caused Jesus to pray for God to glorify His name (John 12:27-28). If you want to get more intimate with God, you have to die to your own self/ interests. Seek God’s glory. He’ll help you do it.

You are as close to God as you want to be. We all determine our level of relationship with God, God doesn’t. He says we draw near to Him, AND He’ll draw near to us. It starts with us. Determine to seek first His kingdom, and all other things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33). Delight in Him, and He will grant you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). When you’re close to God, you don’t have to worry about many things, as He is committed to cater them for you. Seek His face, not His hand. If you seek Him, He’ll be found by you (Matthew 7:7, Jeremiah 29:13). If you submit to Him and obey Him, then He’ll even fight your battles for you! (James 4:6-8). Before you resist the devil, make sure you’re close enough to God.

How do you do build intimacy with God? 

1. Prayer: The Bible instructs us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Ephesians 6:18). I believe God doesn't like religious prayers (using big words, formality and hiding behind structured prayers). He's our Father, and which father would want their kids talking to them like they were talking to a dignitary? Talk to Him from the bottom of your heart, like you would a friend. Let Him know when you're angry, sad, happy, disappointed, irritated, moody, afraid, faithless, feel guilty, condemned, etc. Remember, He knows it already - so just let Him know -- it creates more intimacy and breaks formality with Him. 

Let Him know how you REALLY feel. I usually tell my friends to let God be their best friend, and the 1st person you tell things. When you do this, you'll find that you need less people in your life to confide in, since you've already discussed it with your Almighty n Powerful best friend. What happens to your stress-levels? They drastically go down! Don't get me wrong, I don't mean you need less people in your life. I mean when you get used to telling your friends your issues and not God, guess who takes up the place of God in your life.. Yep!. 

Spend quiet personal time with Him on a frequent basis, as much as you can. Talk to Him about your friends, family, job, everything and anything. Make Him part and parcel of your life. Your prayer means A LOT to God: 'The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].' 

James 5:16b

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

You are righteous by virtue of what Christ did, not by virtue of what you do or not do.

2. Constantly interact with His Word. His Will is His Word, and His Word is His Son (see John 1:1-3). Spend time in His Word, not as a routine but as a necessity, something you can't do without. Start with a few verses or a chapter a day, but do it thoroughly. Ask Him to commune with you and reveal Himself to you through His Word. Take your time. He delights in us when we desire to know Him (see James 4:8), and He will reveal Himself to us. Invite the Holy Spirit, our teacher, to interpret the scriptures for you. Furthermore, He is there to teach us all things:

John 14:26

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Memorize the word and memorize scriptures, so that you can have the Word implanted in your spirit (see James 1:21). The enemy isn't bothered much by the fact that you may own many Bibles, or by the Word that is read casually and out of obligation, but that which is meditated on and implanted in your spirit. How much Word is implanted in your spirit?

3. Consult with Him in every area of your life. Ask His Spirit, who is always with you, for guidance even for simple stuff such as 'should I eat this food?' 'What should I wear?' 'Is this person telling the truth?' 'Is it wise to buy this thing?' 'Should I give my heart to this person?' 'Is this movie worth my time?' Remember, whether you acknowledge the truth or not, it doesn't cease from being the truth. The truth is, whatever God is involved in becomes sacred and blessed. 

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, and His work is to lead us to all truth (see John 16:13). Acknowledge Him, learn to recognize and listen to His voice. He's our Helper, make use of Him. Imagine me hiring you a helper and realizing you do everything on your own, and don't make use of Him. Jesus paid for the Helper (by His life), so that we may live, do things and be just like Him on earth, I believe it hurts Him when we don't make use of His Spirit! 

Please, don't shut God out of some areas of your life. Evaluate yourself: which area of your life are you afraid of involving God? Is it your job? Relationship? Friends? Shopping? Fun time? Family? Whatever God is involved in becomes sacred, and is blessed. You not involving Him is futile as He knows everything and just wishes that you allowed Him to be a part of EVERYTHING you do, so that everything you do and have becomes blessed and sacred.

Always keep in mind that Jesus didn't die for you to have a religion, but for you to have a close and personal, intimate relationship with His Father, like Adam and Eve had, before they sinned. Don't be comfortable with half the package (accepting Christ and waiting to go to Heaven); go for the real deal (walking with God and enjoying a loving close Father-child relationship). Don't be content with the gift wrapper, go for the real gift!

Revelations 3:15-16, 20-21

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

There are only 3 people who know the exact depth of your relationship with God: you, God and the devil. God knows your depth so well that He states that He knows your works. He knows if you’re cold, or hot. We may fool everyone around us by the way we talk, walk and behave, but we can never fool God. He wants us to be either hot or cold: there is no neutral ground, no lukewarm ground. He hates lukewarm ground, so much that He says that He will vomit the lukewarm.

Don’t get me wrong, just because you’re not intimate with God doesn’t mean you’ll go to hell. You’ll go to heaven as long as you've accepted Christ; but you’ll end up missing on a lot, and not pleasing God or honoring the sacrifice He paid for you to be intimate with Him.

Revelations 3:14-22 was written to the church of the Laodiceans, who were believers. Yet, Jesus says that He’s standing on their door and knocking! They were believers, but still Jesus was knocking on their doors! I believe this is because they Is there an area of your life that you’re locking Jesus out of? Today, Jesus is knocking on the door of your business, job, marriage, relationship, pass-time, eating habits etc. He wants to be involved in EVERY area of your life. Will you let Him in? If you do, He doesn’t promise to condemn you or punish you for the time you locked Him out: He just wants to dine with you! If you let Him in, you will be victorious and an overcomer (verse 21). Jesus was an overcomer because of His intimacy with the Father, and with the Spirit. 

IF you’re intimate with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, you will definitely be victorious in life.

Blessings.

-- Sam Gitonga. 

(26/5/13 Sunday Service Sermon, Africa Transformation Mission. Pramukh Plaza, 6th Floor.) 

Sam Gitonga is a Youth Leader at Africa Transformation Mission, a ministry under Christ Harvesters Ministries. 

The Importance of Speaking the Right Words

If faith is a substance (Hebrews 11:1), it has to be built. It takes time and effort to build faith. Nobody will build your faith for you - you are personally responsible for growing your own faith.

Jude 20
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

You have to build your own faith, and work out your salvation with fear and trembling - no one will do it for you:

Philippians 2:12-13

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

You do not work for salvation, but you work it out. You keep building your faith. 

As we said last Sunday, what you cannot see is more real than what you can see. 

Proverbs 18:20

A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.

Whatever is filling your life is a product of what you say. 

John 7:38

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

You can change what you see by using the right words. What you continuously speak is what will fill your life. Your stomach, according to John 7:38, is your heart. Your heart is filled by what you continuously speak. 

Let us look at a few instances from the Bible of people whose speaking brought them blessing and cursing. 

Genesis 25:32

And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?”

Esau, by such a simple statement as the one above, sold his birthright to his brother. Due to this, Isaac his father blessed Jacob instead of Esau (Genesis 27:28-29), and cursed Esau (verses 39-40). Esau did not watch what he said, and by this forfeited his birthright and blessing. 

Genesis 31:32

With whomever you find your gods, do not let him live. In the presence of our brethren, identify what I have of yours and take it with you.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

This is the story of Jacob and Laban. Jacob's wife Rachel had stolen the gods of laban, and when Laban realized this and chased after him, Jacob made this statement. For sure, Rachel died shortly after this incident, while giving birth to Benjamin (Genesis 35:18-19). 

Let us now study the importance of positive confession:

1 Samuel 17:37-51

Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

38 So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. 39 David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off.

40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. 41 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. 43 So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 

52 Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron.

David had already spoken the outcome of his battle with Goliath. He declared his deliverance in advance. 

Many people are defeated even before they start the battle. David was declaring that the battle belonged to the Lord, not to him (verse 45). David prophesied to himself victory. You can prophesy what will happen to yourself, you do not need a prophet. You are a prophet yourself.

David did not have a sword; he called those things that were not as though they were, by saying that he would take Goliath's head from him. 

God wants to do something that will make the whole earth know that you have a God, but you will have to stand up like David (verse 46). 

David recognized that the battle was not his. God wants to do something with you that will bring victory and challenge others to know that the Lord does not save by swords, spears and javelins. 

You may have a lot of words/ scriptures, but you will only need one. Because David spoke his fate with one word, he determined his fate, and that's how it came to be. He struck Goliath and took his head from him, just like he said he would. 

All the cowards and mockers could rush and fight after David slew Goliath, because David decided to speak God's promises over his life (verse 52). 

Jeremiah 23:28-29

“The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?” says the Lord. 29 “Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

What you declare stays. Many people are speaking the word, but few are speaking it faithfully.

The woman with the issue of blood said continuously that if she touched the hem of Jesus' garment, she would get healed (Mark 5:26, AMP). This is what she did, and got healed. By saying this continuously, she was building her faith and deciding her fate. When she touched the hem of Jesus' garment, she received her healing. 

There are times when you will be forced not to say anything. Jairus, in Mark 5:36, after hearing that his daughter had died, did not say a word. Earlier on, he had spoken by faith that if Jesus laid His hands on her she would get healed and live (verse 23). Jesus, upon reaching Jairus' house, did not even pray. He just took her hand and told her to arise, which she did. Note that Jesus Himself refused to confess that she was dead, and instead said that she was only asleep (verse 39). 

Even when the circumstances are giving you negative reports and want you to speak negatively, continue to speak the word of God faithfully, according to Jeremiah 23:28. 

By speaking the word, you're releasing fire to your situation. As you continue speaking to your situation, it will eventually break into pieces, as the word of God is like a hammer. BUT, you have to speak it faithfully. 

Job 22:28 (AMP)

You shall also decide and decree a thing, and it shall be established for you; and the light [of God’s favor] shall shine upon your ways.
 

What you declare has to be decided by you. A decree is a law, and cannot be changed. If you want to walk in favor, you have to stop speaking negativities over your life. God will only establish for you what you decree and declare. 

Whatever the Lord will establish for you is not what people have said over your life, but what you declare over your life. Do not be concerned with what people say, be concerned with what you say. 

Proverbs 6:2

You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth.

Are you being taken captive by what you speak? 

We are co-workers with God. From today, declare the word of God over your life, over and over and over again, and it will be established for you.

Amen. 

-- Apostle Dr. David Karanja. 

(19/5/13 Sunday Service Sermon, Africa Transformation Mission. At Pramukh Plaza, 6th Floor)

Apostle Dr. David Karanja is the Senior Pastor at Africa Transformation Mission, a ministry under Christ Harvesters Ministries.

Looking at the Unseen

Many people say that seeing is believing. According to the Bible, the vice versa is true: believing is seeing.

2 Corinthians 4:18
... while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Whatever you can see has the potential to change. If you can see it and touch it, then you can change it. If you can see a problem, you can change it!

Hebrews 11:1-3 (AMP)

Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. 

2 For by [faith—trust and holy fervor born of faith] the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good report.

3 By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.

If you have faith, you can talk about hat you cannot see. Faith is the title deed, the assurance of things not seen. With faith, you can speak about it even if you cannot see it. 

Let us go back to our previous text, now reading from the Amplified Bible:

2 Corinthians 4:18 (AMP)

Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.

You cannot judge me or write my story based on what you can see; what you can see is just temporary. You cannot make judgement/ decisions based on what is seen/ temporal. Do not waste your time talking about what is seen. This is because it is fleeting and brief! Rather talk about what is unseen. What is unseen is deathless -- this means that it cannot be killed. 

Healing, prosperity etc. is unseen. You cannot see them. Still, as long as you have faith, you can talk about them with boldness, as you have the assurance/ title deed of them. Many people have been deceived by what they can see. 

2 Corinthians 5:7

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Faith can never make sense. It operates in a frequency that the mind/ senses cannot understand. This is why the Amplified version of Hebrews 1:1 talks of faith as "perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]". 

If you are trying to figure out your miracle with your mind or believe it with your mind, you will go crazy trying to. You can never understand the spiritual things with your mind, which is why the Bible says that spiritual things are foolishness to natural man (1 Corinthians 2:14). 

Let us go back to our text in Hebrews 1:3:

By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.

The world was made by the word of God. If the world was formed by what is not seen, then all that is seen will have to obey the word from that which is unseen. What is unseen is the origin of all that is seen, and is more real than what you can see. What you see was founded by what you cannot see. 

I can use what people cannot see to change what surrounds me. I can use the word of God to create what is seen, and change what is seen. That's what God did when He created the universe!

Faith is that unseen force that uses the word of God to be able to change the landscape of this universe. In Genesis 1:3, God said, ""Let there be light”; and there was light." What God was speaking could not be seen, but had the ability to change what was being seen. God did not talk about or speak what He saw, which was darkness and void. 

In every match, there are rules that govern it. Be it football, basketball etc., there are rules that govern the game. In the kingdom of God, there are rules. We see one during creation. God used a force that was able to change the universe -- faith in His word. This is what is required for us too, if we will change anything we see around us. Light was, because God focused on the unseen, to change what He could see, and spoke light. 

So, what is it that makes words so powerful?

John 6:63

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

Words have spirits. Whatever you speak has a spirit. The words you speak are supposed to release spirits. What kind of spirits are you releasing? 

This is why we are told in Joel 3:10 that the weak should say they are strong. Saying this releases the spirit of strength. 

Some people disregard the power of words so much that they tend to say that "you'd better insult me than beat me up." Words are so powerful, someone had rather beat you up than cause you to suffer verbal abuse! Children who grow up hearing of how bad/ useless/ irrelevant etc. they are grow up to be exactly what their parents used to call them. 

There is nothing like a "slip of the tongue"; whether positive or negative, words have life -- or death. Because words are spirits, they always connect to our spirits. This is why words move people to tears, or make them smile. You can tell anyone how well dressed they are, how beautiful they are, and you see them suddenly start to smile. This is because you connected to their spirit, and evoked feelings of happiness inside them. 

Negative words are spirits, and carry death. 

If God used His words to change that which could be seen, I can use my words to change what is seen by my eyes. 

Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Start releasing life out of your mouth. 

Luke 21:15

for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.

If I say I am blessed, no devil can resist or contradict that!

Proverbs 6:2

You are snared by the words of your mouth; you are taken by the words of your mouth.

Our own words have ensnared us. So many people claim to be bewitched; what they do not know is that they have bewitched themselves, using their own words which they speak continuously over their lives. Whatever you speak programs everything in you, as it is spirit. 

Spirits do not know distance/ limitations. You do not have to go somewhere to change the place, just send your word and it will change that place/ situation. This is because by doing this you will be releasing some spirits. 

Why do you think people ask, "are you seeing what I'm saying?" This is because words are real!

Matthew 12:37 (AMP)

For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.

"Justified" from the dictionary means "having, done for, or marked by a good or legitimate reason; declared or made righteous in the sight of God." 

There are things that have been justified to be yours, but will not be yours until you align your words to the word of God. God has said they are yours, but you will only be yours when you align your words to His word regarding those things. Whatever you see in the Bible is yours; it will never become yours if what you speak does not align to what is written. 

If you want to live a blessed life, you have to speak it every day. 

Isaiah 54:17

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.

Every day you have to declare your portion and heritage, and what isn't. WE have been given the ability and authority to condemn every tongue that rises against us in judgement. God does not do the condemning for us; WE have to do it ourselves, as we have the authority to. 

If you want to be justified to receive anything, start speaking it. If you want to be justified to receive healing for example, start speaking healing. No matter what you feel in your body, speak healing. Speak what you is unseen, not what is seen. 

Because of your words, some things cannot be yours even if they were released to come to you. This is because the words you have been speaking have disqualified you from getting them! These words repel these things, as you have already sentenced yourself. 

If what you speak is greater than your environment, your environment will have to change. 

If you want to walk in freedom in any area of your life, start speaking freedom, and you will be acquitted.  

We bewitch ourselves. There are many people who are sentenced to sickness/ poverty. Even if you can still see the sickness, speaking healing. The spirit of healing will eventually push away the sickness. 

Your freedom is not dependent on prayers. The first freedom is in your mouth. You can walk out of any captivity in your life by speaking what you want to see. 

Take the Bible and make it your friend. What is in the Bible is not a proposal/ manifesto/ idea; it is life. It will come to life when you speak it. 

History has discovered that the Israelites are most blessed people in the world. This is because they bless their children continuously by declaring the blessing of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The child grows to know they are blessed, and the blessing being upon them, because words are spirits and are life. 

Parents, start speaking blessings and protection over your children, declaring what you want to see in their lives every day. 

Start making declarations over your life every day, and watch them come to pass. 

Let us speak our prophetic destinies. 

Amen.

-- Apostle Dr. David Karanja. 

(12/5/13 Sunday Service Sermon, Africa Transformation Mission. At Pramukh Plaza, 6th Floor)

Apostle Dr. David Karanja is the Senior Pastor at Africa Transformation Mission, a ministry under Christ Harvesters Ministries.

Only Believe (cont...)

I want to show you a principle that, when applied in your life continuously, will lift you up above any situation. Based on a few scriptures on the Bible, this principle will ensure that you get breakthrough in every situation in  your life.

Mark 9:23
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

"If" is conditional. Note that the Bible does not tell us that all things are possible for Christians. All things are possible to believers. 

Everything that God has said in His word is truth. There are two types of truth: Relative and Absolute. Relative truth is dependent on conditions. It is dependent on other factors. Absolute truth on the other hand is independent, and stands on its own. The Bible has absolute truth. Whether you believe in absolute truth or not, it remains to be true. The truth of the Lord is independent; if you believe in it, it will work for you. 

If you talk of impossibilities, then you do not believe; you are not a believer. Believers do not know any limits/ impossibilities in their lives. You have to believe exactly what the word says, and all things will be possible. 

It is my responsibility to introduce you to the world of responsibilities, which I'm doing right now. What do you want to believe? 

Mark 10:27

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

With men, it may be impossible for you to achieve your dreams, get where you want to go, move from where you are, come out from where you are, etc. But not with God. 

God has no problem. If I do not receive my miracle, that does not mean that God is limited, or is the problem. I invite you to become believers of what God has said. 

Romans 10:10-12

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.

Believing has to be through your heart, not through your mind/ head. Sometimes we are where we are because we use our minds so much. This is why it is important to renew your mind, through the word of God. It has to start with the heart. What you believe in your heart does not have to agree with what you see. What God has said is a testimony in its own. 

Noah and Mary believed in their hearts, and that is why God used them to do impossibilities, in the human eye. When God told Noah to build an ark in a time that rain hadn't been seen on earth yet, he did it, for 120 years. People jeered at him and mocked him, but he still believed with his heart and patiently waited on God's word to come to pass as he built the ark. Mary also believed in her heart, that as a virgin she could conceive and this is how Jesus was born. It seemed impossible in the eyes of men, but she did not believe with her mind but rather with her heart and said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38. 

Proverbs 20:27

The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the inner depths of his heart.

Whatever will illuminate in your life will have to come from your spirit, since the human spirit is the Lord's lamp. 

Going back to our text in Romans 10:10, we see the word says that it's with the mouth that confession is made unto salvation. 

Confession comes from the Greek word 'homologeo', that translates to speaking the same thing over and over. Salvation comes from 'sozo', that translates to deliverance, preservation, healing, protection and soundness. 

Translating our above text, we see that it is with the mouth that speaking the same thing over and over is made unto deliverance, preservation, healing, protection and soundness. 

For you to be delivered, preserved, healed, protected and have soundness in all aspects, you have to believe with your heart and confess with your mouth. 

2 Corinthinans 4:13

And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak

What we speak is a manifestation of what we believe. Once you believe something, do not stop there; start confessing it. Once you say it, it is a law that cannot be opposed by anyone. 

Whatever you believe has to be spoken, to be manifested. You have to change what is in your heart, for you to change what you speak. You will never go beyond what you believe in your heart. 

If you want to know what is in someone's heart, listen to what they say. 

Luke 6:45

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Romans 10:17

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

You become a product of what you hear every day. You become a believer of what you hear. If you want to change what you speak, change what you believe in, by changing what you hear. 

Isaiah 60:1

Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. 

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.

You do not have to sing their song. The economy may be bad for everyone else, but He who brings forth springs in the wilderness is your God and will rise over you. 

If you believe in God, there can be light for you, while it is dark every where else. 

Whatever you believe and don't speak will never benefit you. 

As we see in Mark 11:23 and Romans 10:12b, God does not show favorism; He is the same God to all who believe. 

Romans 10:12b

for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.

Mark 11:23

For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

Jesus says "whoever", meaning that anyone and everyone can speak to a mountain and it moves, if they believe in their heart. There is no partiality. 

According to the same verse, He talks about "believes" and "says", meaning it is not a one time thing. 

God's work is to ensure that whatever you keep believing and saying is done for you. 

Psalm 103:20

Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.

The angels are on standby to do/ implement what you say. Nothing can deny you what you believe. 

If you want God to keep delivering you from all your afflictions according to Psalm 34:10,m you have to believe it and say it!

Many people are walking in shame because they do not believe: 

Romans 10:11

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

2 Corinthians 4:13

And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak

Faith is a spirit, and we have it. 

What you need to change is what you believe. Believing is not a formula, it is a principle. You can change what is happening in your life, and you can change your status by changing what you believe. It may take time, but keep saying it. It shall surely come to pass!

The word of God is able to do it, but you have to speak it. Once you speak it, it is already established in the spiritual realm. Keep saying it. Yo do not need a pastor; with the Bible, you can even live and survive in the desert. 

If you want to see it, believe it!!!

-- Apostle Dr. David Karanja. 

(05/5/13 Sunday Service Sermon, Africa Transformation Mission. At Pramukh Plaza, 6th Floor)

Apostle Dr. David Karanja is the Senior Pastor at Africa Transformation Mission, a ministry under Christ Harvesters Ministries.