He was received as a friend; for he acted like one but inwardly raged like a voracious wolf looking for whom to devour; yet he was embraced with irrevocable love and entrusted with unique responsibility that was profitable for gain. Only to discover that the value he placed on friendship was nothing compared with his zeal for betraying the one who trusted him, his act of friendship was only pretence, he was very friendly when the going is good and there is something to gain from those who called him or made him their trusted friend. Befriending him is like lying in bed with a chameleon; you never could have reasoned him out, whether happy or sad. He was considered quite but possessed high powered reasoning, calculative and assuming, his exhibited smartness was only by despising what is good, he calls the act of good deeds done to his friends and those who trusted him wasteful, why? As long as an act of goodness is not done to him and he was not the main benefactor of the same, good deeds remained unacknowledged and uncelebrated, for it denied him another opportunity to enrich himself or become noticeable or applauded by all. He was always too sad to celebrate his friends and rejoice with those rejoicing. Joh 12:4-6

He was assigned to raise the purchase order but decided to get the goods by himself. A callous man, who claimed to know where the goods are cheap not for the benefits of his friends, family, colleagues, employer, partners or enterprise, but coming home with vases that seems full of roses and bags full of nice goods to prove wrong those who stood up to him; the goods were plenteous but were of a lower and less significant quality, having worthless value. The roses looked beautiful but faded away in a short while, so he took so much out of his victim in investment of time, money, in love and trust without a readiness to pay the price, so he returned with goods that did not match the price.

Giving him the bag of money to hold is like putting your money in the hole and never thought of coming back to meet any change. He claimed to love secretly, but kissed outwardly with a poisonous kiss, a deceptive man, an unfriendly friend, a cruel man whose confidence is in himself and his strength is in his plan of wickedness and cruelty, a lover of money whose appetite for wealth and riches led him to sell true friendship for mere thirty pieces of silver. A Judas who could not bear the moment of exposure to the world or handle the disgrace that his wicked act and betrayal had brought; he gave back what he has gained, returned the money only when his friend had become a captive in the hand of their captures. So that the damage done for the momentary gain almost became implausible, irreparable and irrecoverable. You wonder why he was on the lookout for the quickest way out, rather than fixing what was wrong and giving true friendship, true trust and true love a chance of blossoming again but headed in the determined end for a carnal nature. He became an enemy of God, for a carnal mind is an enmity with God and to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life forever more.

Judas became a victim of self-destruction, what he gave himself to, took him on a journey of no return, he ended up destroying his own life through suicidal death, he missed the true life that is available in Christ Jesus for a repentant heart like Peter; for the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. What a tragedy! Satan had entered into him. Luk 22:3 Rom 8:5-8, Joh 10:10, Mat 26: 14-35, 69-75

It’s time to call the question, does this look like me, who is that boy, that man, that friend, that lover or that father or husband, who has he intermingled with, what has entered into him that has changed him to another man. He was raised in the church but has become antagonistic to the Truth, what went wrong for the beginning was once good, the race started with joy and with promises of running to the end and winning the crown but suddenly the victims became depressed, distressed and hopeless because the motivation of the flesh can only go so far but never all the way. Its profit or proceeds is temporary and it’s never eternal, for the thought of suicide seems to be playing on its victim’s mind.

If this is you, it’s not over yet; you can navigate your way back to the altar of sacrifice like Peter, crucify the flesh and embrace the life of the spirit in Christ Jesus by the word of God. “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. A worker’s appetite works for him, for his hunger urges him on. A worthless man digs up evil, while his words are like scorching fire”. You don’t have to travel on the path of self-destruction, but if you are already on this pathway or laying with him or have his goods in your custody, wake up, give no room to the devil, he is an enemy, disengage from this enemy within and embrace the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life”. You can have a new start today. Prov 16:25-27, John 6:63.

Consider this:

• Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. [Luk 22:3]
• Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. [Mat 26: 14-16]
• When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, what is that to us? See thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, it is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, the field of blood, unto this day. [Mat 27:1-8]

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so[Rom 8: 5-8]

Her problems had persisted for a long while and did not seem to have a promising end, it was like being in between the rock and the hard place where no one has bothered to look at how she could be helped, even if they plan to, she perceived that the room is too tight for two, her issue seems peculiar. To her no one seems to understand, no one seems to care, it’s too distressing, very depressing, she is wasting away but yet she could not explained it away.  She has explored all available options and considered many alternatives but she is yet to locate the divine key for her way out of her issues and her trouble. She has been written off by many, who considered her case hopeless and thought her wound could not be healed, her flow of blood cannot end, her bondage seems to be getting stronger every day for her captors refuse to let her go.  Luke 8:43-48.

Her feet were chained, and her hands were not free either, she is confined in herself by herself, in a place that she least expected, her destiny seems to have lost opportunity for expression, she saw the doors opened but the chains prevented her journeying through the opened door.  Why? She may have been limited by lack of skill, no experience, no funds, family, friends, none can stand for her and none could recommend her.  Acts 16: 20-26

It looks like being in a dark place, going through the darkest season and the darkest night where she has lost the melodious song, but had only saturated her garment with tears that she did not plan to shed but that was flowing out of her painful past, her pain of the moment and no visibility of the future.  Indeed the darkness was thick for she reckoned that there is unlikely to be a dawning of a new day, she looks at herself and around her only to conclude, it’s a wasting place, a dangerous place, nothing seems to work and she has no idea of how to make it work for her affliction seems to be many, her trial seems to be plenty, but little did she know that the darkness may have been thick but it has an expiry date, for whatsoever has a beginning surely must have an end. Even when weeping seems to have continued throughout the darkness of the night, her joy of a new day is about to burst forth.   Psa 34-17-19, Psa 126:1-3, Psa 30:5

Beloved, if this is you, I have  good news for you today, stop the complaining, moaning and groaning, release yourself from trying to reason it out but rejoice in the Lord your God always; engaging the power of prayer and praise to usher in the ‘God of suddenly’ in to your darkest night and see it converted to a noon day as He gives you joy in the morning, destroy the yokes, break the chains and bring you out of every prison,  heal your wounds and terminate all your affliction.  You can praise your way out of the sudden oppression, sudden afflictions, sudden troubles and trials, sudden pain and problems, sudden lack and want, hopelessness and toiling, out of every prison, limitation and cages of life, into the suddenly of your God given liberty and wholeness  in Christ Jesus. “For the Lord whom you seek in Zion, will suddenly come into His temple, the messenger of the covenant you desire to see, He is coming, says the LORD of Host” Psa 22:3, Mal 3:1

Consider this:

• For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim, He will be stirred up as in the valley of Gibeon, to do His task, His unusual task, And to work His work, His extraordinary work. [Isa: 28:21]
• The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, “Thus says the LORD, ‘If you can break My covenant for the day and My covenant for the night, so that day and night will not be at their appointed time, then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant so that he will not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levitical priests, My ministers [Jer 33:19-21]
• See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord [is]. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; [Eph 5:15-19 KJV]
• But thou [art] holy, [O thou] that inhabitest the praises of Israel. [Psa 22:3 KJV]

But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were unfastened. [Acts 16:25-26]

The King of Judah (Jehoshaphat) received sudden news about the intended invasion of external enemies from Moab, Ammon and Mount Seir, with their vast armies’ plot to drive the king of Judah and his people out of the land given to them by God as an inheritance.  Even though he reckoned that the enemy’s armies were stronger and mightier than the armies of Judah, he was fearful but yet refused to engage the enemy until he sought the lord for direction and divine help against the vast armies that rose up against them through prayer, supplication, praise and thanksgiving.  Divine direction was given to him with divine strategy for winning the battle against the enemy through prophetic utterance.

King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah believed the word of the Lord and started to celebrate their expected untold victories before the war began as they offered high praises unto the LORD.  Their high praises ushered in the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, who caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting one another until they helped destroy one another.   Moreover, Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah obtained untold victories’ in a supernatural way as the Lord fought for them, only to get to the camp of the enemy and found them all dead. But King Jehoshaphat and all the armies of Judah gathered the spoils of war for three days as a result of engaging praise as a prevailing instrument for untold victories.  2 Chr20:1-29

Is your heart overwhelmed by un-resolved issues, challenges and circumstances that demand urgent intervention?  Are you anxious or terrified because of the rage of the enemy, the voice of the oppressor, the sound of war or satanic attack from powers or personalities that are stronger or mightier than you?

Beloved, do not be anxious or worried about the magnitude of the issue that confronts you, or the volume or pitch of the noise of the adversary, you can engage the right tools for supernatural intervention as you present your case through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving unto God.  Your praise will provoke Gods divine intervention that obtains for you untold victories without having to fight in the battle while you get ready to gather the spoil of war.  Phil 4:6

Consider This:

• Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds. May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron, to carry out the sentence written against them this is the glory of all his faithful people? Praise the Lord [Psa 149:1-9 NIV]
• As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another. When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. [2 Chr 20:22-25 NIV]

Gates are usually situated in an open place that is visible to all. Regardless of class, age, or frame, everyone can access the gates. The nobles, the famous, the kings and the subjects, the rich and the poor come in through the gate provided they have the right key. Whenever the right key is used, the gates open up to everyone and any one.  Similarly, the gates to the throne room of God, are accessible to all but the key to it, is thanksgiving from a thankful heart.  Nevertheless, it takes a grateful and joyful heart who remembers the faithfulness of God and his deeds to be thankful, for thanksgiving flows like a river from men that appreciate God for what he has done, what he is doing and what he is about to do, whether they are visible or invisible, tangible or intangible, physical or spiritual whether they are houses, jobs, wife or children.  We can all join David as he gave God thanks for His mercy and for His goodness; His deeds in the life of men, for producing proofs of His word in our life, for forgiving all our iniquities, healing all our diseases and provided all men an access through the gates with thanksgiving.  If you will stop complaining today and offer God thanksgiving from a grateful heart, your thankfulness would terminate sorrowfulness, mournfulness, and grumpiness from your heart and give you access to the throne room of God.   Psalm 100:3-5, Psa 103:3-5, 2Chr 6:1-11

However, only those who know and love God and believe in his spoken word celebrate, reference, honour and praise Him for whom he is and not just for what He has done.  Solomon was a whole king of Israel but yet he was not ashamed to kneel down and lift up his hands to God before his own people, demonstrating his profound act of unreserved reference, love, humility and submission to God, acknowledging God as the Highest Authority above the kings of the earth, confessing His continued Mercy to those who fear Him.  He praised God for His faithfulness and covenant keeping attribute, he acknowledged God through his action and posture of praise as the ultimate King and the king maker, the God of His fathers, the Mighty God, who is the possessor of heaven and earth.  2Chronicles 6:12-14

Through praise Solomon gained access to the throne room of God, he entered into the presence of the Most High and presented a request that received heaven’s attention and immediate response as fire descended from heaven and the glory of the Lord filled the temple, such that the priest could not enter but caused all knees to bow down and worship and give thanks to the Lord.   Let the praise of God arise from your heart that opens your heavens and draw all men to God as your life is filled and radiates the glory of God. 2Chr6:16-42, 2Chr 7:1-3

Consider this:

• Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he [is] God: [it is] he [that] hath made us, and not we ourselves; [we are] his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name. 5 For the LORD [is] good; his mercy [is] everlasting; and his truth [endureth] to all generations. [Psa 100:1-5 KJV]

When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. 3When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.”[2Chr 7:1-3 NIV]

In the world history, it is evident that no nation sends out their armies to war against another nation without adequate training and the right weapons of war.  Regardless of the scale or magnitude of the war whether, they are tribal war in the nation or external war between the boundaries of nations.  The weapon of war in the hand of well-trained men, if well utilized becomes instruments of defense in their favor and victories against their adversaries in the battle.  Similarly, the best weapon in the hand of untrained men in many nations’ tribal or civil war may be abused due to lack of understanding of its usage and may be wrongly used not only against their opponents but against their colleagues.

As we are conversant with natural laws that there is no peace without war, it is important to note the parallel in the spiritual realm, that there is invisible battle to fight in order to gain access to what has been secured for every believer by Christ Jesus.  Hence we need to contend against the adversary in order to gain access to what is rightfully ours and obtain the great and precious promises of God’s word which are only possible as we enforce the victory of Calvary that propel us to the fulfillment of every prophetic word of God.

So, it is good to know that prophetic utterances will remain a promise that is void of its fulfillment until someone does something about it, that is fight for it.   Why?  For our adversary the devil knows that his time is very short, and he has continued to mount up an aggression against the inhabitant of the earth.  This is why we were admonished to be sober, be vigilant; because our adversary the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  You and I must be shielded by the blood of Jesus in order not to be victims of the devourer. 1 Tim 1:18, Rev 12:12, 1 Pet 5:8.

How do I start engaging the Blood of Jesus as my instrument of victory?

Crucify the Enemy Within:

Christ our Passover Lamb had been sacrificed for us and we overcame the devil, by the blood of the lamb, the word of our testimony; and we do not love our life unto death. As our Saviour Jesus Christ demonstrated His love for the father and His commitment to him on the mount of Gethsemane, by submitting to the will of God above his own life, so must every believer commit to God in words and in our service.   It is time to engage the prevailing power of the blood of Jesus against the internal enemy of the flesh within us that is warring against the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus.  “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ”.  So we must submit ourselves to God completely and allow him to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, by the blood of Jesus before we can deal with the enemy without.   Rev 12:11, James 4:7-10, 2Cr 10:4-5

Overcome the Enemy Without:

To deal with the power that held the Israelites in bondage, hard labour and toiling with little or no reward for 430years in Egypt. God through His servant Moses wrought mighty miracles and demonstrated His power against their adversary (Pharaoh) in order to bring the Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt.   Pharaoh, contended with divine instruction delivered by Moses saying, “Let my people go, that they may serve Me”. God through the Rod of Aaron turned the water of Egypt into blood, smote the borders of Egypt with frogs (such that the rivers brought forth frogs that entered into the Kings palace, their bedrooms and in the house of all the servants of Pharaoh), the Egyptians were infested with lice, swarms and flies; their livestock were infected and deceased. Plague of boils broke out in their land, a heavy rain with thunder and hail stone such as they had never seen before, their crops were infested with locust and their land became engulfed with thick darkness as Moses stretched forth his hand to the heavens.  However, Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go, until the last plague that was executed after the Passover lamb was sacrificed by each family. And the blood of the sacrificed lamb poured in the basin was used to strike the lintel at the top and the two side posts of the house of the Israelites.  This represented the cross upon which Christ was sacrificed.  The blood of Passover became a token of protection, security, deliverance and preservation for the Israelites such that when the angel of destruction passed through Egypt and killed the first born of Pharaoh, his servants and their livestock, God preserved the Israelites and they overcame destruction by the blood of the lamb that was placed on the lintel of their houses. Exo 7:19, 8:2-4, 8:16, 8:21, 9:3, 9:8-9, 9:18, 10:4-5, 10:21, 11:4-5.

Likewise, Jesus shed his blood on the cross of cavalry, not just for the atonement of our sin but to provide us with a powerful weapon to fight and prevail against the adversary of our faith (the devil) who contends with the spoken word of God in our lives.  The Bible presents us with the process that Jesus went through prior to his death on Gethsemane where he prayed with such an agony that the sweat of his body was like drops of blood.  They presented him to Pilate requesting for him to be crucified.  “The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, Hail, king of the Jews! Again, and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spat on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and they put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him”.  Jesus endured the pain, the shame, and humiliation, distress and so much agony on the cross to secure our salvation, redemption and total freedom from the power of darkness as he brought us into the kingdom of light.  Mark 14:32-41 & 15:1-40

Beloved, our warfare is not against flesh and blood (one and another) but against operations of darkness.  For our wrestling is “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” that may have manifested or may be manifesting as spiritual serpents or spiritual scorpions, spirit spouse, consulters with necromancers (spirit of the dead), familiar spirits or wizards, and those who practice witchcraft and divination, enchantment, observers of times (Star gazers), that are oppressing, harassing and troubling our life and destiny.  Eph 6:10-18, Luke 10:19, Deut 30 18:10.

It is time to arise and engage our weapon of victory and deliverance by covering our habitation and pleading the blood of Jesus over our lives, our destinies, our family, children, businesses and our career.  This provides us with vindication, defense, protection, deliverance, restoration, healing, provision and access into what was secured for us in Christ Jesus.  At the same time the blood of Jesus serves as the believer’s weapon of judgement against our adversary as God vindicated the Israelites against the powers that held them bound under the yoke of hardship and tolling.   Having been redeemed by the blood of Jesus; we must engage our weapon rightly, ensuring that there is no residue of the enemy in our vessel and enforce the victory of Calvary against the enemy without rather than contracting our responsibility to others (Pastors, Bishops, prophets etc) to fight for us or on our behalf.  Are you ready?

Consider this:

• Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form or comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. [Isa 53:1-6 KJV]
• 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. Therefore rejoice, [ye] heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhibiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. [Rev 12:11-12 KJV]
• Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. [1Jo 4:4 KJV]

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith. [1Jo 5:4 KJV]

The package is soft and silky, shiny and shimmering like a star but it is still within reach, you do not need to travel a long distance to get it, it is cheap and it’s price is little and so does the prize, many are attracted to the feel and the look of it, its reach-ability and its cheapness for it needs little or no prize, many consider it as ‘ just right’ to have, to pursue, to achieve, to obtain and to keep. It is so convenient to have without any stress, it looks like the best investment anyone could have but bringing it home and unwrapping the wrapper, only to find out that it was only superficial, worthless, its only glittering but all that glitters are not gold. Because it feels and looks good and sound right does not make it right. It may be attainable but yet not beneficial, convenient but it is not the commanded, hence it is only superficial and not supernatural.  It has the form but lacks the power and the sustainability.

The commanded are not always convenient, but true obedience to the commanded is the enabler to do supernatural exploits.  To mention a few:

Isaac obedience to divine commandment to stay in the Gerar during a grievous economic crisis opened him up to enjoy divine revelation of investing in the right business to derive an unimaginable profit.  So when men were eating what they have left, he planted his remaining seed that yielded exceeding great harvest and made him great and moved him forward, until he became exceedingly great. His willingness to obey divine instruction gives him a voice among men and made him solution provider in the nation. Gen 26

In Cana of Galilee, Mary inform Jesus that the wine had ran out and at the same time instructed the disciples to do whatever Jesus says. Jesus commanded His disciples “Fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare [it]. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: [but] thou hast kept the good wine until now”.   The disciples experience the miraculous through obedience to the ridiculous, for they have had to lay aside tradition to follow divine instruction. Joh2:7-10

Peter a professional fisherman with many years of experience behind him but on an occasion of unproductive efforts that would have grounded his business, having toiled all night and caught nothing, obeyed the instruction of Jesus to launch his net into the deep, even though it was unprofessional, non-convenient and contrary to the rules of fishing but he recognize Jesus’ word as divine commandment to bring a turnaround to his failing fishing business.  His obedience led him from having a business downturn to experiencing a Business upturn, making his little fishery business, a sole trading business to become an enterprise business Luk5:4-8.

The man that was blind from birth obeyed divine instruction, to go and wash at the pool of Siloam, experience creative miracle and he came back seeing.  Joh9:1-10

It is time to call the question, am I following what is convenient or what is commanded?

If the answer is No, you can make a U-turn, and follow the path of true obedience to divine instruction of God’s Word that provides you the power to do supernatural exploits  with an outflow could not be blamed on man’s professionalism, intellect, calculation, efforts, tradition and cultural believes.  For it takes true obedience to the commanded word of God to experience the miraculous and do supernatural exploits.  Deu 28:1-13

Consider this:

• And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe [and] to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do [them]: [Deu 28:1, 13 KJV]
• If ye love me, keep my commandments. 21He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. [Joh 14:15, 21 KJV]

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: [Isa 1:19 KJV]

Most people or organizations start the year by defining visions, objectives, purpose and goals to be realised either in an informal way (stored in the repository of the mind of someone or articulated verbally)  or formalized by scribbling on a scratch paper, a white board or written with gold pen on tablet of gold.  But whether the goals are spoken or written, it does not just happen until every man ‘presses into their specific goals’. For it takes doing something about your vision to make it a visible reality, as a baby does not remain in the womb forever but birth in the season of life to become the miracle that is seen walking on two feet.

Hence the realisation of any vision or goal starts as little steps are taking towards the end goal, when man commences by planning towards their goal, identifying what must be done (Task) to achieve the set goal, when it should be done (Timeframe), what does it cost (Effort & Money) to realise the goal, what Method needs to be adopted or Process needs to be followed in realising the goal, who (Resource – Human or material) is needed to complete each task and finally how (Measurement) is it known when the goal has been achieved (Milestone).

Living life without a goal to achieve, a purpose to pursue or an objective to realise tends to make life meaningless and hopeless while her victim loses the zeal for living and become vulnerable to depression, distress, engaging in anti-social behavior, self-destructive habits and become prone to suicidal attempts because there is nothing to expect from life.  It does not have to be so.

It takes the pressing of the olives to derive the olive oil, the crushing of the grapes to produce the grape juice, without the crushing of grain out of the stalk there could have been no rice.  However hard the pressing process is, the end justifies the means and the output of the pressing season is in the product derived from it.

In Christ Jesus, all that we need for salvation, deliverance, healing, provision, protection, preservation, sustenance, direction, successes in life, realising purpose, having untold riches, walking in divine wisdom and revelation knowledge, having an understanding heart, creative ideas and divine enablement have been provided,  but not everyone locate it or enjoy all that is available to us in Christ Jesus.  In order to have or walk in the realisation of our allotted portion in Christ Jesus, we need to press into it. 2 Pet 1:3, Luk 16:16

Jesus showed us an example on the mount of Gethsemane, by pressing into the will of the Father through prayer. He died before the death on the cross, such that He prevailed over death such that death lost its power over him as He travailed in prayer.  Who through his blood, He made peace with God and reconciled all things to himself both the things on earth and in heaven, and therefore empowered you and I who believed in him and received him to become the sons of God.  Living us a pattern to follow that nothing just happens, unless we press into it. Mat 26:39-45, Col 1:19-22, John 1:12.

The woman with the issue of blood was hard pressed on every side, having exhausted all that she had, she spent all on the physician and was been spent, the daughter of Zion became physically weak and bent over, but she refused life to be pressed out of her or to be defeated by her sickness.  She pressed in to touch the helm of Jesus’s garment in her weak state, so she therefore experienced a miraculous healing.  Luk 8:43-48

Paul admonishes Timothy, to press in and fight a good warfare according to the prophetic utterance that has gone forth concerning him.  We saw Elijah, a man just like you and I who pressed in through prayer to stop the rain, his word withheld rain for three and half years and when he prayed again, the heaven opened, and the rain fell.  He showed us that nothing just happens unless we take responsibility and engage God and his word through prayer.   1Tim1:18, James 5:16-17.

Beloved, you can stop fretting or running around man or things today, take charge of your life by accepting the responsibility to ‘press between the porch and the altar’, it is our year of “Supernatural Exploit”, don’t miss out.  God is ready, are you ready?  Luk 2:17:32, Joe 2:17-32

Consider this:

• According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: [2Pe 1:3 KJV]
• The law and the prophets [were] until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. [Luk 16:16 KJV]
• This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: [1Ti 1:18-19 KJV]
• Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. [Phl 3:13-14 KJV]

Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, where [is] their God? 18 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land and pity his people. 19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: 20 But I will remove far off from you the northern [army], and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things. 21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. 22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. 23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first [month]. 24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. 26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. 27 And ye shall know that I [am] in the midst of Israel, and [that] I [am] the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. [Joe 2:17-27 KJV]

Life is a journey embarked on by all. Most of life journey begins when promises are made one unto another, so man embarks on sailing on the ocean of the promises given or covenant made with a hope of its delivery and fulfillment.  Whether they are employers promises to an employee of continued engagement and to pay his wages as and when due or employees-employers’ commitment to due diligence based on the contract of engagement assumed to be unfailing.

Employment tribunals in different nations kept statistics of employment cases raised based on varied reasons such as broken promises, racial discriminations, bullying and harassments, contractual disputes, mal-practices, mis-conducts or unfair dismissals, etc.  Even though both the employer and the employee might have started sailing on contractual rules of engagement without envisaging or expecting failures, when contrary wind blows, the contractual boat sinks. The Employee will possibly lose with immediate effect due to dismissal or what is considered a gain to the employer still ends up as a lost.

Man promises to a woman when entering into marital covenant of “I do, until death do us apart’, before the marriage registrar and witnesses, or before the church or any religious body is with a notion of making good their promise one unto another. The couple starts sailing on the promises given and the vow made without an expectation of failing or a desire to see each other defaulting or compromise in their commitment of love to each other.  According to the statistics on “nationmaster.com” to mention a few countries, USA records 4.95, UK 3.08, Canada 2.46, New Zealand 2.63, Russia 3.36, China 0.79 and Turkey records 0.37 per 1000 people marriages that end up in divorce for varied reason.

Nations select candidates into the offices of the prime minister, the parliament, the councils, etc.  With the hope of fulfilling the national agenda in order of priority. Sailing begins for such men after their coronation into the stated offices  to effect their promises according to their agreed sequence of execution but at each milestone of their tenure of office, it would be obvious that not all that were promised were delivered;  possibly due to financial limitation, sudden economic crises or sudden disasters such as earth tremor and flood; adverse situation that is unplanned, and risks that were identified and were mitigated though some risk could not be mitigated in spite of the available resources engaged to handle the risk and thus made sailing impossible and the boat may start to sink.

From all of the above scenarios, it is evident that man can make promises, agree on promises, finance promises or projects, and embark to sail on the promises with high expectation of delivering according to their rules of engagement. When unforeseen wind blows against them, the best of men could become limited in keeping the rules of engagement, contractual terms, ability to deliver on time or fulfilling expectation in their rightful order.  Man’s promises without God are like sailing on sinkable boats; for “there are many devices in a man’s heart, nevertheless the counsel of the LORD that shall stand” Prov19:21.

Wisdom is profitable to direct (Ecc 10:10b) but Pharaoh had no access to true wisdom from above; and therefore, embarked on a journey with his chariots and riders to catch up with the Israelites after leaving Egypt. He sank and died in the same red sea where the covenant people of God sailed through because they had “the word of God” in them and “where the word of the king is, there is power”.  Because, they had the power and the presence of God, they were able to sail across the red sea to the other side without sinking in the same sea that killed their stubborn pursuer (Pharaoh, his strong and skilled chariots men) and destroyed their chariots.

Jesus and his disciples while sailing enroute to the other side of the sea, “suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, Lord, save us! We’re going to drown! He replied, you of little faith, why are you so afraid? Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Mat 8:24-27.

As it is not possible to predetermine in what direction the wind of life will blow and how it would blow, or when it will blow; It is important to ensure that our trust is not in our self, in man or in any devices-be it contract, people, processes, technology, things, skill or professionalism. Wisdom instructs us to always place our trust in the Word of God which has power for producing proofs, uncovering mysteries, instructing in the way of godliness, providing divine guidance, prevailing over every adverse situation, stilling the storms of life, stopping the raging of the sea, guaranteeing our safety, ensuring delivery and preventing the boat of our lives, destiny, business, and career from sinking.

Wisdom shows the true way to live, think, reason and provide the know-how of sailing through to success in the journey of destiny from the home front to the market place, from the grassroots to the glass house.   Even if your boat is almost sinking or has already sank in the sea of life, you can still have it recovered and restored instead of quitting or giving up on yourself, partner, employer, children,  marriage, ministry or nation.  Why don’t you cry out to Jesus the only solid rock, to hold your hand by his word and stop your boat from sinking?  He is your Way to reaching His goal for your life and a guarantee of sailing to success in your life endeavours by His guidance. TAKE HIS CHARGE & REMAIN IN CHARGE UNDER HIS DIRECTION TO YOUR PREDETERMINED DESTINATION WITHOUT SINKING.

Consider this:

• For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever, and this is the word which was preached to you”1 Pet 1:24-25
• Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because [they are] many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD! Isa 31:1
• Some [trust] in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. Psa 20:7

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him; And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.  Prov 3:5-7

Men search for the nobles, the able and the intelligent but God calls the broken and the foolish, who by divine power He makes wise. Men look for orators, but His divine power is for oracles of God who are inspired, enabled and empowered as messengers and counselors who are to fulfil God’s divine agenda and express the heart of God in every generation.   Men look for achievers, but God is calling followers to fellowship with Him, who will be envisioned to build according to his pattern but are empowered and sent forth to do greater works for His Kingdom.

Men look for those whose confident is in themselves, their skills, professions, those who can boast in their attainment but God’s call is for those whose confidence is not in the flesh but in God, men who know their God and can be divinely enabled to do greater works, men who fear God and tremble at his word, those who are willing and obedient to do the mundane so that God can show forth his marvelous works.  Why?  “It seems foolish to the Jews because they want a sign from heaven as proof that what is preached is true; and it is foolish to the Gentiles because they believe only what agrees with their philosophy and seems wise to them.  So when we preach about Christ dying to save them, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.  But God has opened the eyes of those called to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, to see that Christ is the mighty power of God to save them; Christ himself is the center of God’s wise plan for their salvation. This so-called “foolish” plan of God is far wiser than the wisest plan of the wisest man, and God in his weakness—Christ dying on the cross—is far stronger than any man. Notice among yourselves, dear brothers, that few of you who follow Christ have big names or power or wealth. Instead, God has deliberately chosen to use ideas the world considers foolish and of little worth in order to shame those people considered by the world as wise and great.” [1 Cor 1:25-27TLB]

He is still in search today for the sinners that they might be converted to saints, for when we were yet sinners Christ died for the ungodly. He is in search for the sick that they may become the healed, because He was wounded for our transgression, He was bruised for our iniquities and the chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we were healed.   He is in search of the poor that they may become the rich, for He was made poor so that through his poverty we might become rich, He is looking for the weak who will be made strong for his strength is made perfect in our weaknesses.  So also, is He looking for the lame that they might walk for his power quickens the feet of the lame, and the blind that they might see? He is looking for the oppressed, afflicted or harassed and intimidated for in our affliction He was afflicted.

“We despised him and rejected him—a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we didn’t care. Yet it was our grief he bore, our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, for his own sins!”.  [Isa 53: 3-4 TLB].

Today, if you are dejected, rejected, neglected or abandoned, the call is extended to you.  You can come to “Christ, who is the living Foundation of Rock upon which God builds; though men have spurned him, he is very precious to God who has chosen him above all others. And now you have become living building-stones for God’s use in building his house. What’s more, you are his holy priests; so come to him—you who are acceptable to him because of Jesus Christ —and offer to God those things that please him.” [1 Pet 2:4-5 TLB].

Most men today desire to walk in some kind of authority and have power to achieve results, attain their goals, succeed in their endeavours or prevail over obstacles and become master of their circumstances. In their quest for authority and power they have sought after diviners, sorcerers, the occult, eastern religion, magicians, astrologers, palm readers, tarot card readers, necromancers, to mention a few.  A step in the wrong direction! had encaged the nobles, the rich, the poor, the influential and men of substance in our society to become victims of shrine, occult, and whoredoms. There consultants had become blind men leading the blind, men who were influenced by darkness, are working in hostility against God, who is the source of life and custodian of all power.

“God has said it many times, that power belongs to him (and also, O Lord, steadfast love belongs to you). He rewards each one of us according to what our works deserve” [Psalm 62:11-12 TLB].

“The heathen worship idols of gold and silver made by men—idols with speechless mouths, sightless eyes, and ears that cannot hear; they cannot even breathe. Those who make them become like them! And so, do all who trust in them!” [Psalm 135:15-18 TLB]

Why, because of lack of understanding that God created man for dominion (Psalm 8:3-9), and He has made his divine power available through His son Jesus Christ who is the epitome of divine power and wisdom of God to those who believe, irrespective of age, cultural background, gender, race or professional and employment status (1 Corinthian 1:24).

It is important to note that the divine power of God is for doing the good and greater works, i.e. solving problems, making positive impact in the lives of men, and in our society.  Every Believer has been assigned and commissioned to witness and proclaim the resurrected Christ to those who are yet to know him and experience the same unfeigned love that we have found in Christ.   Divine power of God is not for show, neither is it for promoting self, it is given to serve the purpose of God on earth, regardless of your platform of operation.

Jesus is our example: “And you no doubt know that Jesus of Nazareth was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and with power, and he went around doing good and healing all who were possessed by demons, for God was with him” [Acts 10:38 TLB].

Beloved, the wait is over; you can be free from the shackles of the seducing enemy under the disguise of gaining illegitimate power, because the price for your freedom has been paid, you can be empowered by God, such that the divine power of God might be demonstrated in and through you for Supernatural Exploits, provided you become a child of God

“The one who practices sin [separating himself from God, and offending Him by acts of disobedience, indifference, or rebellion] is of the devil [and takes his inner character and moral values from him, not God]; for the devil has sinned and violated God’s law from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil” [1 John 3:8 AMP].

Come as you are to Jesus and ‘embrace the open call’, it’s for everyone and anyone, receive God’s gift of Love through Christ, turn your back against sin, turn unto God and gain His divine power of sonship through Christ and be saved.

“But to all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them.  All those who believe this are reborn! —not a physical rebirth resulting from human passion or plan—but from the will of God.  And Christ became a human being and lived here on earth among us and was full of loving forgiveness* and truth. And some of us have seen his glory*—the glory of the only Son of the heavenly Father!” [John 1:12-14 TLB]

Consider this:

• “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.  [John 3:16-18 MSG].
• 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, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love, He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved [Ephesians 1:3-6 KJV]

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” [Acts 1:8 KJV]

Having resolved the formlessness and voidness created by darkness as God by divine power overturned darkness and created light, who called the light “day” and the darkness he called “night” and there was evening and there was morning – the first day.  So as much as both day and night have no speech and do not use words, neither is any sound heard from them, yet their voice goes out to the earth and their words to the ends of the earth.   Invariably, every man on the face of the earth, whether small or great, educated or illiterate, hear and responds to the voice of the day and that of the night as we journey through life. Gen 1:1-4, Psa 19:1-5

The night is not a friend of anyone but, yet all men go through the night season at a point in time in their lifetime, regardless of age, tribe, race, sex. The kings go through the night, so also are the princes, the layman and the clergy. Darkness is felt in the palace, in the glass house and those considered being at the grass root, even though no one likes it but, yet all men experience it.  It is the moment of passing in between the rock and the hard place, it’s a painful and a lonely place, even though others see you in it but the impact of the dark moment is only felt by the one that is going through the night season.  Professionals go through it and the army of nations goes through it as well as the king.   In most seasons the night is longer than the day, but however long your night has been or may be, it has a definitive end, and it is never scheduled to last forever, hence weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning Psa 30:5.

When the darkness is dark, it makes the wise look foolish, the noble loses face and men in armor, helmet of brass and coat of mail tremble for fear, only those who know their God are strong in the face of the battle of life and are capable of doing exploit.  The armor of men will fail, but only those who put on God’s divine armor travels light and are capable of engaging the divine power of God in the darkness of the night and win the battle of life Dan 11:32b.

The reigning king of Israel (Saul) who is the desire of the people and his well-trained army, while in their best armor could not face the battle of the night against Goliath but an untrained soldier, a shepherd boy David, showed up with confidence that was not in the flesh but in God to confront Goliath.  He travelled light to the battle front refusing to use the unproven armor of the king but rather engaged Gods armor of divine power (with the five smooth stones from the brook), using an unconventional method that became the profound, powerful instrument of untold victory that brought down the head of Goliath.  I Sam 17:38-54.

Consider this:

• But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called [thee] by thy name; thou [art] mine. When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I [am] the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt [for] thy ransom, Ethiopia and Sheba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore, will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I [am] with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; [Isa 43:1-5 KJV]
• “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” 2 Cor 10:3-6
• For the “king is not saved by a mighty army; A warrior is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a false hope for victory; Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His loving-kindness” Psa 33:16-18

“By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action” Dan 11:32