Exaltation in the midst of enemies

“And now my head will be lifted up higher than my haters who are round me: because of this I will make offerings of joy in his tent; I will make a song, truly I will make a song of praise to the Lord.” Bible in Basic English- Psalm 27:6

“And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.” KJV- Psalm 27:6

God is a righteous God. He lifts up one person and puts down another. He enjoys raising His Children. When God decides to bless you or visit you, nobody can stop Him. God wants to showcase you in the midst of your foes. God can raise you up. It does not matter how long you have been despised or neglected, God will visit you. God will lift you up against all oppositions. No matter how deep you are in a pit or mess, no matter the position of that strong man hindering your promotion at your work place. God will change your status.

One key to enjoying God’s promotion in the midst of evil people is to carry His presence. When He is with you no amount of obstacle can withstand His presence. I have observed that you don’t have to do anything wrong before people hate you. You don’t have to be wrong before you are accused of wrongdoing. You can be hated for no reason. Joseph’s brothers hated him just because his father loved him and bought him a nice clothe (Gen 37:4). You can be hated for your beauty. You can be hated for looking nice. A colleague at work can hate you because of your diligence and begin to plan against you. Joseph had a dream and told his brothers and he was hated the more (Gen 37:5). You can be hated for your vision, comportment, attitude or lifestyle. He was just being himself but he was hated.

Most times if you are living right like Joseph, you will have enemies. However, the presence of enemies around you is an opportunity for your rising in life. No matter the conspiracy, God will set you apart for good. He lifted the head of David and Joseph in the midst of their enemies. He will lift you up. To receive more victories and deliverance in the midst of your enemies (within and without) learn to always be joyful, rejoice in your testimonies and sing praises to the lord. When you spend time with God, obey Him and live for Him, you will keep rising until you get to your place in destiny. Rejoice in the Spirit for God will anoint your head, He will refresh you in the midst of your enemies. Never be afraid of your enemies and wicked people only fear God. (Psalm 27:1, Luke 12:4-5)

Destiny Prayers

·        Lord, lift my head above all my enemies that surround me (Psalm 27:6).

·        Father, shatter every conspiracy against my life and destiny (Isaiah 7.7).

·        Lord, anoint me to stand out and be outstanding in whatsoever I do (Acts 10:38)

·        Lord, hide me under your pavilion, cover me with your glory and saturate my life with your favour.

HOW GOD CALLED ME TO BE A MISSIONARY

I was at a meeting on April 7, 2001 where I made a decision to release myself for missionary work after listening to an anointed message titled “Salt of the earth”. I got a definite call to serve God as a missionary on February 13, 2007. It was the day I had my first job interview after the one year mandatory service to the country (NYSC). I was planning for the future when God spoke to my heart that he has called me to be a missionary.

I struggled with this inspiration for a while until I had a dream. I saw myself going for an occasion with some people. On approaching the venue I saw a lot of invitees gorgeously dressed so I was eager to get my clothes and look good as well and join the gathering. By the time I got my clothes they were not my size, I just couldn’t put them on to join the party. They were undersized. While ruminating on the dream, the Holy Spirit told me that if I follow my personal desires and plans I will not be fulfilled at the end of my life but if I yield to him he will lead me to a place of rest and fulfillment. From the day I had the dream; I concurred to the call of God upon my life and started praying for His grace and direction.

On August 15, 2007 during an all night meeting, Burundi was laid in my heart as the place to start the missionary work. I began to research about the country. I resigned from my teaching job and went for missions training from September 2008 till August 2009. In the year 2011, I was in Burundi for one month for missionary work and survey. God made it possible for me and my wife to relocate to Burundi on September 17, 2012 before our first year of marriage. God has indeed been faithful to us as the missionary work is progressing.

In Christ,

Kunle Adenipekun.

ABIDING IN CHRIST

ABIDING IN CHRIST. John 15:1-12

1.       What does it mean to abide in Christ?

2.       The believers choice to abide or not

3.       Ways of abiding in Christ

4.       Purpose and blessings of abiding in Christ

5.       Consequences of not abiding in Christ.

Introduction.

God has a purpose for every human being on earth. When someone becomes a believer, he enters into a covenant relationship that puts him in a special position of authority in Christ. However, the believer must be responsible to submit to God’s authority over his life and also abide in Christ as much as he cultivates his personal fellowship and relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Many people are abiding in different things and such gives them happiness and contentment. Some are abiding in demonic cults and associations, some are abiding in human strength, some put their confidence in man while some even glory about their churches or pastors.

To succeed in life, make God happy and make it to heaven we must learn to abide in Christ every day of our lives.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ABIDE IN CHRIST?

The word “abide” as found in verse 4 of our text is from the Greek word “meno “which means to stay in a given place or state. Abide, continue, dwell, remain, stand can be used to mean the same thing.

Therefore abiding in Christ means remaining in Christ, dwelling in Christ, continuing in Christ.

THE BELIEVER’S CHOICE TO ABIDE OR NOT.

It is not how you begin the Christian journey that matters but how you will end. It is good to have a wonderful start in Christ but it is better to finish the Christian race strong and make it to heaven.

Matthew 19:30, Matthew 20:16, Matthew 10:22, 1 Corinthians 9:26-27.

There are many that you started together but today they have gone back to their vomit. How will you end?

John 15:4

Abide in me, and I in you-----------------KJV

Continue in me and let me continue in you-------------WNT

Be in me at all times as I am in you------------------------ BBE

Remain in me and I will remain in you--------------------NLT

Remain united to me and I will remain united to you----- GNB

You are the one that will determine how far you will go with God. You are the one that will determine to what extent you will enjoy God’s blessings. You are the one that will determine how far God will use you. James 4:8, Proverbs 8:14, Jeremiah 29:13.

HOW TO ABIDE IN CHRIST.

·         To receive Jesus Christ as one’s Savior and lord. (RELATIONSHIP). John 1:12; 1 John 3:1,23; 1 John 4:15.

·         Dwell on God’s word daily (READ, HEAR, STUDY, MEMORIZE and MEDITATE). John 15:3, John 17:17, Ephesians 5:26. HE IS THE WORD (John 1:1).

·         Doing God’s word and obeying his leading and commandments John 15:6,10; John 14:15; 1 John 3:24, James 1:22, Matt 7:21, Luke 6:46.

·         Living a life of Love- Love for God, Love for brethren and Love for your enemies John 15:9; 12

·         Spending quality time in communion, prayers, fellowship with God (DEPENDENCE ON CHRIST) Psalm 91:1-3, 14-16

·         Having a good relationship and fellowship with the Holy Spirit(THE EVIDENCE, THE SEAL). 1 John 4:13, 1 John 5:7, 1 John 3:24,John 15:26, John 14:16-18, John 16:7,13. Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

PURPOSE AND BLESSINGS OF ABIDING IN CHRIST

PURPOSE:

1.    FRUITFULNESS John 15:4

Fruitfulness however is in degrees or levels 30 fold,60 fold, 100 fold returns MARK 4:8,20. The Bible talks about FRUIT, MORE FRUIT AND MUCH FRUIT. The deeper you abide the greater and more bountiful the fruits. The branch bears fruit effortlessly as long as it is attached to the vine. You bear fruit automatically by the help of the Holy Spirit in you if you are actually abiding.

WHAT DOES THE FRUIT REPRESENT?

A.      Answered Prayers and personal prosperity. Psalm 1:1-3,  John 15:7,11,12

B.      Fruit of the Spirit (Measure of Spiritual Maturity and brokenness, No to carnality, pride and worldliness, Having good Christian Character and growing in it, Becoming more like Christ) Galatians 5:22-24; 2 Peter 1:5-8

C.      Winning Souls for Christ Proverbs 11:30, James 5:20, Daniel 12:3

2.       BEING A DISCIPLE INDEED, BECOMING A TRUE DISCIPLE   John 15:8, Matthew 5:14-16. Electricity represents GOD’S LIFE flowing through the believer, the bulb is the BELIEVER  and the light is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

3.       YOU BECOME A VESSEL UNTO HONOUR 2 Timothy 2:20-21) As a Christian, you are a vessel, a container, an instrument and as you abide in Christ His living water is able to flow through you.

BLESSINGS OF ABIDING IN CHRIST

A.      Sanctification John 15:3, John 17:17

B.      Overcome trials and tests from God and bear more fruits John 15:2

C.      Answered prayers John 15:7,11,12( The reason why many prayers are not answered is because they are not abiding in Christ.People want miracles but not relationship, they want blessings but not holiness)

D.      Unlimited Joy  John 15:11, John 17:13

CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ABIDING

John 15:2, 6. Luke 13:7-9. You can lose your initial connection and thereby lose the ability to bear fruits and this will lead to danger of eternal damnation or destruction. ONCE SAVED FOREVER SAVED IS ALIE FROM THE PIT OF HELL. WITHOUT HOLINESS NO MAN SHALL SEE GOD AND NO ONE CAN EVER BE HOLY WITHOUT ABIDING IN CHRIST.

Where are you in Christ? What is your eternal future? Have you backslidden? Are you living in secret sin and everybody thought that you are holy? If you die now, will you go to heaven? CHECK YOUR HEART, CHECK YOU LIFE. RESPOND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. ASK GOD FOR MERCY AND BEGIN TO MAKE CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO ABIDE IN HIM.

From Prison to Praise

Texts: Psalm 142:1-7, Genesis 39:20-23

Key Scripture: “Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me”- Psalm 142:7

Introduction

In life we go through different phases. God has ordained that His children live a life of perpetual victory and dominion on earth. However, we may find ourselves in one form of prison or the other (either in dungeon or a state of limitation or oppression). The truth is that we can always be full of praise and refuse to stay in the pit.

Prison and Praise

The word prison as seen in Genesis 39 is an Hebrew word “ beith sohar” which literally means the round house. Joseph was put in confinement. In Psalm 142 , David was in a desperate situation. He was in the cave at Adullam( 1 Samuel 22) running from King Saul. He prayed that his soul be brought out of the cave. He was troubled. Prison is a place where an individual is bound. It is to be in a state of bondage. It is a place where one is forced to do what is against his will. A prison is a place where people are fed with bread of affliction and water of affliction ( 1 kings 22:27, 2 Kings 25:29). A prison is a place where the inmates where common garment. To be in prison is to be in a pit instead of being in a palace. A prison is a place where destinies are cut off and dreams are aborted. In prison people are kept under watch. An individual is in prison if he’s under perpetual limitation, obstruction and hindrances against the expression of his freedom, rights and priviledges.

The word Praise in Psalm 142:7 is “yadah” (yaw-daw) in Hebrew which means to revere or to worship with extended hands. Praise is from an Hebrew primary root word “halal”( haw-lal) which means to shine, sing or worthy of praise, to celebrate, glory, to give light. Praise means to give thanks to God and show respect to Him. To have a joyful heart and to sing from a thankful heart. To be lost in God’s presence giving glory to Him.

Prison to Praise

·         Poverty- Prosperity                   Eccl4:14, Psalm 22:26, Joel 2:26, 2 Cor 8:9

·         Bareness to Fruitfulness           1 Samuel 2:5-8, Gen 29:35, Psalm 67:3-7

·         Confusion to Direction             Psalm 42:11

·         Ill health to divine health          Psalm 103:1-3, Matt 8:14-15, John 5: 1-9

·         Possession/Oppression to Deliverance  Jeremiah 20:13, Psalm 146:7

·         Loneliness to been sought for       Psalm 68:6

·         God’s visitation         Act 16:25-27, Psalm 52:9, Psalm 107: 8,15,21,31

The following people went to prison at one time or the other in their lives; John the Baptist, Joseph, Jeremiah, Peter, Paul, Silas, other Apostles, Barrabas. While Jesus took the place of Barrabas and John was beheaded others came out of prison to praise.

Transition from Prison to Praise:- Psalm 142:1-7, Psalm 69:33, Eccl 4:14,Acts 5:18-19, Acts 16:25-26,Gen 41:14-16,38-44, Gen 39:21- 23

God is interested in changing your location. He wants to bring you out of the miry clay and set you above your enemies. He wants your mouth to be full of praises and he wants you to shine and be an example of his goodness. Below are three things that will deliver you from any form of prison.

Ø  Prayers

Ø  God’s mercy

Ø  Be full of praises in the pit, be  grateful in the midst of your trouble ( Gal 4:27, Phil3:1, Phil 3:3, 1Thess 5:16, James 1:9).

You don’t have excuse to be sad and sorrowful. Fan to flame the joy in you. Live in context of the word of God. Focus on God and not your problem.

You are not alone. God is with you. Be grateful for what you have, be grateful for who you are. When there is life there’s hope. You have a future. When you are grateful to God, you will be thankful, when you are thankful, you will be joyful, when you are joyful you will be song-full, when you are song-full you will be God-full and when you are God-full mountains skip, chains are broken, difficult situations are turned around for good. Praise God day and night.( Isaiah 12:3)