God chastens those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). He can allow affliction to happen in our lives for a period of time for the purpose of chastening us. God knows how much we can handle and will not allow us to suffer beyond what we can bear (1 Corinth. 10:13).

Is there anything preventing you from commencing or continuing God’s calling on your life, whether on a church, community or national level?

If it is fear, be reminded that your heavenly Father has not given you a spirit of fear but you have His Holy Spirit of love, power and a sound mind. The Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you and empowers you to do all that God has planned for you to do.

Also be reminded that in the Old Testament

-Daniel was fearless before the King of Babylon refusing to eat food offered to idols, nor bow before an idol, but God protected him and his equally bold friends from death in a fiery furnace.

-David was fearless and so boldly confronted and killed the giant Goliath of the Philistines’ army. He went on to lead Israel in many wars which they won with God’s help.

Being young and inexperienced is not an excuse as these two men were young and neither is being too old for David continued to go to war as an aging adult.

In the book of Acts in the New Testament, be reminded of apostles such as Paul, Silas and Peter who were full of the Holy Spirit, preaching the gospel, healing the sick and delivering the demon possessed at the risk of their lives.

Also be reminded of the following some centuries ago
– William Wilberforce was a member of parliament from Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire who in 1785 became an evangelical Christian which changed his life considerably and set him on a lifelong mission of reform.
He headed the parliamentary campaign against the British slave trade for twenty years until the passage of the Slave Trade Act of 1807 and supported the campaign that led to the Slavery Abolition Act 1833, which abolished slavery in most of the British Empire; Wilberforce died just three days after hearing of the passage of the Act. He was buried with honour in Westminster Abbey, London.
There are other causes and campaigns he championed such as the Society for the Suppression of Vice, British missionary work in India, the creation of a free colony in Sierra Leone, the foundation of the Church Mission Society, and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

-Thomas Barnardos was an evangelical Christian who in the 1800s pioneered a Ragged school in the east end of London where poor children could have a basic education. He also gave up his vision of being a medical missionary in China to set up a children’s homes. A group of homes for girls called the “village” also had a hospital and missions church.

These are all demonstrations of God’s might at work through His people whether in the Old Testament, New Testament or modern times.

“But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” (Daniel 11:32 NIV)

“Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father” (John 14:12 KJV)

These men knew their God and were therefore bold enough to defy and overcome the enemies of God and overcome discouraging voices if there were any as there certainly was in the case of David, so as to accomplish great things for God.

They were ordinary people who had in common with you and I the fact that they worshipped and served an extraordinary God, so if they could do great works for Him so can we.

Today there are many believers in Jesus doing great works for God in the church, community and nation as a whole. When I use the word ‘great’ I refer to all genuine works for God in a Christian context because they are all, whether they are defined as small or big by man, great in God’s eyes. He is looking for those who are fully committed and so faithful to Him. Giving food to the hungry and offering a kind word of encouragement to someone who needs it glorifies God as much as praying for the sick and preaching the Gospel to masses.

As Wilberforce and Barnardos who affected society for God, you may have ideas for community or national projects, general or for a specific group of people such as the youth or the aged. Even the fact that the idea popped into your mind, results in the joyful praise of the Angels of God and the commendation by Father “you good and faithful servant…” Hence rewards due you are ready for the taking, if only you will activate that idea or project to the glory of God. Imagine those who will lose out if you do not fulfill that project or see it through to the end.

As believers, when we do all things as unto the LORD, it pleases Him, we are rewarded and considered His “sheep” theough Christ, worthy of eternal life (Matt. 25 Col. 3:23)

If someone is in doubt as to whether they are called at all, I have a message for you which I know is true because I am living proof that it is and I know of several others as myself. The message is this:

I am a firm believer in the fact that as long as we are saved we not only have the general commission to preach, evangelise and disciple (Matt. 28:18-20), but specific or unique commissions in our pathway of life which interlink with those of others in the Body of Christ to the glory of God.

God forbid that we come to the end of our lives not having known or fulfilled our specific or unique commission or calling.

These scriptures will encourage you regarding your identity and destiny:

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10 KJV)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)
As someone said, “it is only when we understand our identity that we can exercise our authority”

Dear Father
I pray for my brothers and sisters today that they will always remember that they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them.

My prayer is that you would reveal specific callings whether on a church, community or national level to those who do not know and remind them that as the sender you guarantee success in their mission as you have done in the past.

I also ask that you would strengthen and refresh those who already labour for you daily with your Holy Spirit so that they can do more for you in the joy of the Lord. In Jesus name Amen.

This is a prose poem I wrote, it is a discourse between an angel of the Lord who proclaims a message and a child of God:

Time to Sow & Reap

The End Time Harvest trumpet call was resounded by the angel of the Lord and I heard his voice saying:

“There is a season for everything, and a time for every event under heaven,

A time to sow

in obedience to Him who called you out of darkness into His light.

Jesus said “If a man love me, he will keep my words” (John 14:23 KJV)

Do you LOVE the LORD?

A time to sow

in kindness by giving to the needy as unto him who gave his life for you.

Jesus said “…I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.” (Matt. 25:35 NLT)

Do you GIVE to the LORD?

A time to sow

in outreach to draw the unsaved to him who came to seek and to save the lost.

Jesus said “…The harvest truly [is] plenteous, but the labourers [are] few;…” (Matt. 9:37 KJV)

Do you LABOUR for the LORD?

I replied “I love the Lord, giving and labouring for him, not counting the costs of the seeds I planted.”

The angel replied “The Lord has seen your faithfulness and says in this season of harvest, it is your time to reap from your

OBEDIENCE: You have God’s abiding presence.

KINDNESS: You have a place among God’s remnants “sheep”.

OUTREACH: God says “Thou good and faithful servant …” and a double portion anointing for greater service is yours.

Keep on sowing, do not grow weary, nor count the costs for in due course, you shall reap again if you do not give up.”

©Deborah Nyamekye 10/11/2015

(Other scriptures: Gal. 6:9, Matt. 25:21/23, Ecc. 3:1)

For more poems click http://www.poetrieprose.wordpress.com

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed.

Deborah Esther

©Deborah E. Nyamekye 29/11/2015

When your heart is fully committed to God, every step you take will inevitably be guided and guarded by Him.

“The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him…” (2 Chronicles 16:9 KJV)

These are two points to remind you of God’s faithfulness to the fully committed, not just by their words but their deeds as well:

1. “Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it. Narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it.” (Matt. 7:13-14 KJV).

The LORD will make sure that you are steered back onto his “narrow” pathway if you should stray away from it at any point due to affliction.

The Lord will be your help in times of trouble to make this possible.
The Psalmist (46:1-3) says “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas; though its waters roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with their swelling. Selah”

As one who is in fellowship with His Holy Spirit, He will also give you the ability to discern what is of Him and what is not so that you know when you are on a path He has not led you on.

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.” (Gal. 5:16-17 NLT)

God’s will is that you live and walk guided by the Holy Spirit not by your own carnal longings and desires which is under the control of Satan who entices the flesh to take the “wide gate” or “broad way”. This pathway is pleasing to the flesh or carnal nature because they offer what appear to be easy and quick benefits, in the long term however one realises that the so called benefits were short lived, resulted in affliction or heartache and discouragement.

2. The Lord will ensure that you part with those you are in alliance with who
a)do not have the same call of God as you do.
b)are likely to be a hindrance to you one way or another. This is because they could be agents of conflict or contention directly or through others associated with them.

Abraham (then called Abram) had left Haran (Gen 12) with his nephew Lot, travelled with him to Egypt where Abraham’s riches including livestock had increased. Together Abraham and Lot had a large amount of livestock and there came a time that living together and grazing their animals proved difficult as the land was crowded other communities lived there as well. In addition their herdsmen had began to quarrel among themselves. Abraham took the wise decision to separate from Lot saying
“..Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if [thou wilt take] the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if [thou depart] to the right hand, then I will go to the left…” (Gen. 13:9 KJV)

When we study scriptures closely, it is evident that Abraham’s call by God out of his country, Haran (Gen. 12) did not include his relatives. He was married at the time so his wife was included. It was therefore not surprising that a time came for him and Lot to part and what better time than when the land they occupied could not hold their combined possessions.

Today let us pray, asking the LORD to reveal to us if we are aligned to the wrong person, people or group and the wise steps we should take to dissociate ourselves from those He exposes. We need to take care that when God tells us to do something or go a particular way we are not involving anyone He has not told us to partner with.

Brothers and sisters, when we are fully committed to the LORD, we must partner with Him as He guides and guards our lives and this means we are to walk in obedience and refused to compromise with evil. As long as we know what the truth is according to God’s Word, we should refuse at all costs to live by half truths and lies.
” said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed; ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32 KJV)

Today, let us resolve to continue living as dedicated soldiers of Christ marching on fully committed to our commander in chief, the Lord Jesus Christ, helping others to stay in line or line up with us as is the will of God.

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed.
Deborah Esther

©Deborah Nyamekye 28/11/2015

¹³ When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.¹⁴ And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.¹⁵ And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
¹⁶ But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.¹⁷ And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.¹⁸ He said, Bring them hither to me.¹⁹ And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.²⁰ And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.²¹ And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. (Matt. 14:13-21 KJV)

This morning I was led to think about the miracle of multiplication of five loaves and two fishes. I praised the LORD that He is in the business of working miracles for those who accept him to be their Lord and Savior. Some people are drawn to him because they heard the Gospel preached or because they had a need and this is going on every day. God has His supernatural ways and means of calling us to himself, so in actual fact we may think we sought Him out, but He planned the scenario which drew us to Him. Salvation is the greatest miracle that can happen to anyone. We give praise and honour to you, LORD God Almighty!

In my personal life I can think of several times God has performed miracles.  As we mature in the faith because we are closer to God, we see things we took for granted or were not aware of spiritually, in a different light. We see God’s hand on everything we do and define them as His miracles. Have you looked for something for such a long time in your home, prayed and then not long after you either remembered were it was or you just found it laying somewhere you thought you had already looked? It has happened to me and even in one case I had this sensation that I was just about to find that vital thing just moment before I actually did as I rampaged through a box packing to move home.

Our God performs miracles every day! Some which seem small and some big, they are all miracles from a “big” God!

From this account of multiplication of five loaves and two fishes (Matt, 14:13-21), I am also reminded of the God of provision, Jehovah Yireh, always ready to provide for us, our basic needs and more. Another name of God which speaks to us in this regard is El Shaddai, Our Sufficiency or “More than enough God”. After the crowd had eaten and were full there were twelve baskets full of fragments of loaves and fishes left over. Twelve is God’s prophetic number meaning either God’s people, God’s house/dwelling or God’s government; There were twelve apostles, twelve tribes of Israel and 24 (12×2) elders worshipping God before His throne (Rev. 4:10) and the measurement of the square Holy City was “…12,000 furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal…” (Rev 21:16).

This is a decree of the LORD: He will always give His people provision and there will always be left over or surplus provision available for those who are going to enter the sheepfold at a later date.

Will we be among those He can trust to receive and then distribute the leftovers or surplus to those who are in need, thus extending God’s kingdom (government) through our lives? Brethren, they will know us by our fruit and some will make a decision to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour by the kindness we show them.

The LORD’s heart is for the poor and needy and Jesus Christ made this clear by explaining that when we feed the poor, give drink to the thirsty and take in those who need shelter, we are doing so as unto him (Matt. 25:34-36).

I don’t know what your needs are today brothers and sisters but I encourage you that out of your riches, give to those who lack and out of your poverty, if you consider yourself poor, share with those who lack. This is because our God looks at your heart condition before Him and rewards you accordingly. He has not only promised to provide for you as Jehovah Yireh, but He is also El Shaddai, your sufficiency and more than enough God. He has promised to “do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us” (Eph. 3:20 KJV), with this in mind, you know that when you give to those in need you will never lack.

Being blessed (this includes provision) “more abundantly beyond…” means that you have more than enough and therefore able to give to others. Your question is “but I don’t see with my natural eyes the abundance you are speaking of?” I say “not to worry, see with your “spiritual eyes” your “eyes of faith” that is! Believe God’s word and it will work for you!”

Sometimes the LORD will test us even with the little we have as in the case of the widow of Zarephath who God sent Elijah to when he was hungry. I would like to have been there to see her facial expression or reaction when the prophet blessed her with these words: “For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth” (1 Kings 17:14 KJV).

The widow of Zarephath selflessly shared all that she had left for herself and her son with Elijah when he asked her to “and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.” (1 King 17:15-16 KJV).

Jesus said “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.^[a]” (Luke 6:38 NLT)

Also, the LORD inspired the Apostles Paul to say the following: ⁷ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.⁹ And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Gal. 6:7-9 KJV)

As long as we know and obey God’s principle about reaping and sowing or giving and receiving our Christian life will always be marked with not only miraculous provision and surplus but also include other miracles such as healings, deliverances and spiritual blessings.

This way we are not only declared righteousness as new covenant believers, but instruments of God to bless multitudes through our giving, testimonies of His glorious works in our lives and ministries in service to Him.

Dear Father
We love you and thank you for being our provider and also promising to give us even more than we need. Help us to live in the reality of these truths so that we will reap the rewards of obedience not just for ourselves but for the sake of your kingdom.

I ask that you would open our eyes daily to see beyond our own lives, needs and concerns so that our mission in life is as ones broken for the sake of multitudes who are hungry naturally but also hunger spiritually for you and may not even know it. In Jesus’ name Amen.

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed.

Deborah Esther
©Deborah E. Nyamekye 27/11/2015

There is a saying that goes like this “If at first you don’t succeed try, try again!” Not many popular secular  idioms or proverbs can be expressed  in a Christian context but this one certainly can because rather than feel condemned and give up when we appear to fail, God’s will is that we should trust him by depending on and partnering with him. This is what His “try again” means.

What we did not succeed in may not have been God’s will in the first place anyway or the timing was not right and we were just trying to help God along to accelerate something we really wanted. As this was in our own strength it did not work out.

God is a God of second chances. When we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). This is because our God is in the business of rebuilding damaged lives. Through the Prophet Jeremiah after telling Israel how much He loved her as a nation he went on to say “will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful” (Jer.31:4).

Likewise God took us, new covenant believers from the kingdom of darkness to His kingdom through Jesus for the purpose of restoring to us once and for all the fellowship with God that humanity lost when Adam and Eve sinned.

Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene’s expression of love to Jesus testifies to us that she had come to understand the depth of “everlasting (Jer. 31:3) love God had for her to the point of casting out seven demons from her (Luke 8:2/Mark 16:9) through Christ.

Mary Magdalene had been given a second chance in life, her sins had been blotted out to be remembered no more and she knew that she was no longer condemned because she lived for God through Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1-3).

Mary Magdalene expressed her heartfelt gratitude for her salvation by living for God through Christ Jesus. It was effortless because she loved Jesus and had made a conscious decision to live abiding in Him. Here are some of the examples of how she did so:

1.She was among the women who travelled to different towns or villages with Jesus and his disciples tending to their upkeep or financial needs (Luke 8:1-3). I would say that although she and the other women who were often with Jesus were not classed as “disciples of Jesus” as the twelve men were, they were also Jesus’ disciples if we understand the definition of the word “disciple”.

2.Mary Magdalene (see “note” at the end) is specified by name to have been a witness to three key events, the
a.Crucifixion: Mark 15:40, John 19:25, Matt. 27:56.
b.Burial: Mark 15:47, Matthew 27:61
Also brought spices with two other women to anoint Jesus’ body (Mark 16:1).
c.Resurrection – discovering the tomb was empty:

Mark, Matthew and Luke indicate that Mary Magdalene was among the women who saw the empty tomb. John (20:1) mentions her as being the first to discover the tomb empty. The longer ending of the last chapter of Mark’s gospel (sometimes left out) mentions that Jesus appeared to her first on her own following his resurrection.

Mary of Bethany
Mary of Bethany (see “note” at the end) is another woman who with Mary Magdalene and other women were often with Jesus and met his needs. Her utter devotion to Jesus was expressed in the Gospels as follows:

1.She chose the best thing to do as stated by Jesus when she preferred to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to his discourse instead of help her sister make preparations, presumably food.(Luke 10:38-42).

2.Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus with expensive perfumed oil and wiped his feet with her hair. John is the only account that identifies this Mary as the one who is sister to Martha and Lazarus (John 12:3 & John 11:1-2 are connected and the mention of Martha, suggest this Mary is the one of Luke 10:38-42).

Mary of Bethany had reason to devote her life to Jesus the way she did, savouring his every word and providing for him with the other women and using expensive oil on his feet. This is because she had been saved from a sinful life and was well known as such. This is evident in the Apostle Luke’s account of the anointing of Jesus in which he says that she was a sinner (7: 36-37)

Her actions were touching: ^“And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment”. (Luke 7:38 KJV)

Jesus describes that the reason why she loved so much was because she had been forgiven many sins. He added that her demonstration of faith had saved her (Luke 7:47). In the accounts of the Apostles Matthew (26:6-13) and Mark (14:3-9) regarding the anointing of Jesus’ feet,  the following was said by Jesus to show the immense blessings Mary of Bethany would receive for what she had done “I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her”.  This is a principle of God;  He honours those who honour Him (1 Sam 2:30 NIV).

It is highlighted in Luke 8:1-3 that the women who travelled with Jesus and his “recognized” disciples who were all male from place to place were ones “…who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out—and many others..” Society at the time did not consider women as disciples or ones to be instructed in the way men were. Their place of subordination in society was accepted.

Yet God considered women and particularly women who had infirmed and ungodly backgrounds prior to abiding in Christ, worthy to sit at his feet or follow him as disciples and be the first to see the empty tomb or receive the angelic visitation and announcement that Jesus had risen.  Jesus often went against the status quo to make the point that God’s ways are higher than that of man (Is 55:8-9) as well as only spiritually discerned by those who abide in Him through the Spirit  (1 Corinthians 2).

God will always make a way for us to find God, abide in Him and serve Him and reap of the fruits for doing so regardless of our past lifestyle or our gender, race and social/economic class status.

In Jesus’ time, being possessed by seven demons would have make one wonder of Mary Magdalene “what on earth was she involved in to have been in such a state!” and Mary of Bethany’s past life of prostitution would have also  caused eye brows to have been raised. However their testimony of deliverance should have highlighted to onlookers then as it should to us the kind of God we serve. He will not be more favourable with the one whose sin is defined as less serious in the eyes of man. To God sin is sin.

Having understood this, we ought to desire to each have the immense heart of gratitude Mary Magdalene (delivered from demon possession) and Mary of Bethany (delivered from a well known reputation as sinful, possibly prostitution) had regardless of how we or society have rated our sins. In other words, we are to see every type of sin as a great obstacle between us and God and so being forgiven our sins (whatever they may be and how many) is a major act of deliverance by God’s mighty “hand” through Jesus’ death burial and resurrection. This transition from the kingdom of darkness or Satan to that of God should be seen as the greatest escape of our lives and this is no exaggeration!

Thus in viewing our sins and deliverance in this manner inevitably puts us on a par with Mary Magdalene and Mary of Bethany for as they did, we instantly see the immense privilege we have as chosen to be children of God living under His grace and mercy while enjoying His provision, guidance and protection. We are therefore more likely to respond in total devotion as these women did.

A totally surrendered life is one that is greatly aware and impacted by the depth of love God has for us to the point that He sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ to suffer death for us. Let us examine ourselves today, brothers and sisters;  Does our confession equate our devotion? By our fruits people will know whether we are truly His.

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,¹⁵ Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,¹⁶ That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;¹⁷ That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,¹⁸ May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;¹⁹ And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.²⁰ Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,²¹ Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.(Eph 3:14-21 KJV)

Cece Winans  Alabaster Box (You-Tube Worship)

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed,
Deborah Esther
©Deborah E. Nyamekye 26/11/2015

Note: There is no scriptural evidence to support the fact that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute or the same person as Mary of Bethany although this was a popular belief in medieval western Christianity and some denominations or church groups today. From researching scriptures, confirmed by discernment, I conclude that they are two different women. I don’t believe in facts that are not founded on scriptural accounts.

God’s Word to you today, you who pray and praise him ceaselessly, is that before you asked Him anything in prayer He knew you would because He knows you and all your desires. This maybe stating the obvious but we often tend to forget.

Therefore do not be discouraged if your prayers do not get answered immediately as in the case of Hannah when she prayed and sobbed continuously before the Lord for a child. It took a while, but she persevered and did not give up. So don’t give up on the Lord as He never gives up on you. What you are seeking from the Lord could actually be His divine will such as in the case of Hannah.  Even before Hannah travailed in prayer, the Lord had planned to give her a child. Her son was not only given to her for her pleasure but also for the sake of God’s people, Israel.  This is because at the time the Word of the LORD was scarce, in other words, God could hardly find anyone through whom He could speak. Also the priests were corrupt. Samuel, Hannah’s son was predestined to be the prophet and priest Israel needed at the time.

Even before Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to Him while in prison (Acts 16) and the church prayed ceaselessly for Peter (Acts 12) while he was in prison, God had declared these men would be freed. The miracle of breakage of chains and release of Paul and Silas as well as other prisoners was heard by many and involved the salvation of the prison guard, so their prayers and praise resulted in testimonies and salvation to the glory of God.

Do not underestimate the power of your prayers and praise to affect individuals, families, communities and nations. Do not stop! Someone’s healing or their salvation and a nations’ restoration could depend on your praise and prayers as the Lord may have commissioned you alone or you among others to be His instrument.

This is why the apostle Paul encouraged the church to “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thess.5: 16-18)

If you are praying for something that may not be God’s will for you, He is merciful and gracious and will honour you because you sought Him in the first instance. He will instead outwork what He has predestined for you although it was not exactly what you prayed for. The fact is that He created you so as your Heavenly Father He knows even better than you what is good for you.

There may be several reasons why your prayers may appear to be taking forever to get answers, but here are two

1. God is molding you into the type of person who would be ready for what you are praying for. Perhaps you are praying for marriage or your church or ministry to grow. The question is are you ready spiritually, emotionally or with the necessary skills and knowledge? You may think you know, but only He knows the reality of whether you are ready or not.
2. God has planned an appointed time for you to have what you have been praying for in the way in which he knows is best for you. This is because certain things have to happen in the wider scheme of things before your specific prayer is answered or answering your prayer is part of a chain of events that must happen at the same time.

God is sovereign and can choose to do things this way.

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8 KJV).

What may appear as delay to you is actually God’s perfect timing. The manifestation is likely to come when you least expect it.

Meanwhile as you wait for God to answer your prayer, pray not just for what you want on a superficial level, rather tell the Lord how you will be committed to Him through whatever you are asking Him for or how it would help you glorify Him more. Hannah for instance made a vow that she would offer her child to the Lord and she fulfilled her vow (1 Samuel 1:11/22). Even if it is a prayer for someone else, promise God that the testimony of that person’s breakthrough is something you will share on their behalf to the glory of God. If you are praying for healing present God’s Word before Him by quoting what He says about His will to heal all sicknesses and diseases.

Pray for your future spouse in detail if you are praying for marriage, God knows who they are and when they will be ready for marriage.  As we pray, it is important to be aware of the power of the Holy Spirit in prayer, for He intercedes for us according to the will of Father as we often do not know what or how to pray.

Therefore brothers and sisters let us rejoice, be thankful in everything as we wait in prayer for all that God has planned for us because our Heavenly Father wants what is best for us and will bring it to pass according to His perfect will in His perfect time.

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed!

Deborah Esther X

For more on prayer, 3 part series: Prayer is Petition, Devotion and Intercession see Posts on (click) www.bearwitness-forerunner.org

©Deborah E. Nyamekye 25/11/2015

If you think you are from humble beginnings and therefore because of that God cannot use you for anything let alone great things, then think again!

From the Gospels we see that Jesus Christ is our greatest example of one who came from a humble background and trained to be a carpenter in his youth, yet he had great wisdom and was able to debate in the synagogue with religious leaders. God brought Jesus into the world in a way that the Jewish leaders were not expecting for they expected a Messiah to appear as a notable figure who would help them defeat Roman Empire dominion.
Instead he came into the world as a “nobody” in the eyes of the unbelieving Jews. Yes he was from the Royal line of David as we read of Joseph’s genealogy but his parents were not conspicuous figures and he was born in a manger! In fact he chose to live in Nazareth for a while which appeared not to have had a good reputation, for it was said of it “can anything good come out of Nazareth?” as spoken by Nathanael (John 1:46). Perhaps people have said that about your family, locality or nation but have you thought that you were chosen to be from among them because God wants to use you and so surprise the world that indeed someone worthy can come out of such a place?

Jean Francois Champollion had such a passion for ancient languages, he eventually solved a mystery that none of the world’s great scholars had been able to solve which was deciphering the hieroglyphs of ancient Egypt. Where was this man from? A small inconspicuous town called Figeac in south west France.

God is not a respector of persons. He will not decide to choose someone to anoint or use for great works based on what nation, race, social or economic class status they are a part of which are deemed respectable or preferable in the eyes of man.

Who can instruct God? He chooses who He chooses, for instance in Old Testament scriptures we read how God chose Jacob over Esau his brother and Ephraim over Manasseh his brother to impart the blessings of the first born child although Esau and Manasseh were the oldest sons. It may not make sense but He is God and does as He pleases, His ways are higher than those of man although they may be foolish to man.

If you are a believer who has a habit of putting yourself down which includes your God given abilities, I say it is time for change!

The size of your talents, gifts, anointing or capabilities may be small in your own eyes but God does not rate them the way you do. If Jesus says a mustard seed sized faith can move mountains, likewise a mustard seed anointing or gift so to speak can do the same. Is the faith in God and anointing or capability for service not from the same source?

Be reminded that how we see things are not as He sees them, so it is time we took stock so as to enter into a new season of life where we see as God does. The question we should be asking ourselves is, whose spiritual “lenses” or “hearing aid” do we have on? By “lenses” or “hearing aid” I mean perception which is defined as “the ability to see, hear or become aware of something through the senses” however in this context the question is who has control over our senses ? Is it God ourselves and/or the devil? The sanctification process involves our senses coming under God’s control so that what we see, hear and become aware of are understood from God’s perspective or outlook because our senses are sanctified.

The spiritual “lenses” or “hearing aid” (perception) with the tagline “I can achieve great things” are from God of course, and enables you to see yourself as a mighty man or woman of valor as Gideon (see Judges 6) was. Gideon also had to come to the place where he saw himself as God saw him before he could be used mightily by God.

Often times even as born again believers, we still have the “I am small in my own eyes” perception. This can be a constant attitude or when something major happens to bring discouragement.
Some of the reasons why such debasing self perception takes place and affects our Christian walk are :
1. How we were made to see ourselves as children by family members or peers.
2. The result of a particularly traumatic experience which affected us to the point that we lost our confidence in one or more areas.
3. The habit of looking at other people and allowing the enemy to cause us to think that who they are in terms of their appearance, social standing, popularity riches etc…means they are more worthy or better than who we are.

The bible says we are heirs of the kingdom of God which Jesus (Matthew 13:45-46) compared to a pearl of great price found in a field by a merchant who so wanted it that he sold all he had and bought the whole field! Goodness ! Just reflect on the magnitude of your preciousness to God through Jesus Christ as a member of the “pearl of great price” kingdom of God!

God values us as he does Jerusalem and will not relent until your “brightness” or who you are predefined to be, by him comes forth (Is. 62:1) and you are as a crown of glory and a royal diadem in His hand (Is. 62:3). The Lord can impress such scriptures on our hearts when he wants to comfort or encourage us as is my personal testimony.

As a believer in Jesus, you are His workmanship through Jesus Christ and therefore anointed for service. If you don’t know already seek God in prayer as to what exactly he has called you to partake of in church and the community for His glory. Everyone who is God’s through Christ Jesus has a part to play in the Body of Christ, without your active service something vital and therefore important to God will not get done.

Dear Father
we ask for forgive if we have placed limitations on what you can do in and through us.
As we abide in you LORD, our desire is to do your will and so to fulfill your calling on our lives. We therefore ask today that you would do a deep work in us daily so that our spiritual “lenses” and “hearing aid” are cleansed. In this way we are able to see, hear and become aware of things from your standpoint especially how we perceive ourselves. We thank you for the Holy Spirit who indwells us and reminds us daily of Jesus’ teachings and communicates your will to us. Help us to live a life in the Spirit so that we partner with you for the fulfillment of all that you are doing in our lives.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed.
Deborah Esther X
©Deborah Nyamekye 24/11/2015

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name. the LORD [is] good; his mercy [is] everlasting; and his truth [endureth] to all generations.” (Ps. 100:4-5 KJV)

This morning I was reading about people who have been through great afflictions, trials and sicknesses. One man was told he would not live very long because of cancer but after chemotherapy he has lived on for seven years and each day lived is not taken for granted. Each day is special to him. A woman had lost five babies, two of the children she had have serious disabilities and she was in an abusive marriage for twenty years which she escaped and the list goes on. The common factor
between all these people telling their life experiences is that they all find life worth living. What an encouraging, refreshing read it was and none of them even mentioned their faith and I felt many were not Christians. Most people whatever faith they are, value life more after they have been through extreme difficulties and overcomes.

I and I am sure several people have been greatly saddened by the fact that assisted suicide (right to die) has been legalized or is being promoted not only in Switzerland where it was made famous but now in other western nations. In fact in one country I read about you don’t even have to be terminally ill, as one woman said that she had never wanted to live and so requested that her decision to die be granted and it was.

Sisters and brothers, this is clearly one of the several marks of the final hour before the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The abuse, disrespect of self and then life itself knows no bounds! A great affront to our Creator and life giver God if ever there was one!

This is a time when we as a church should be reaching out more than ever before to the lost, for while there are some who value life having been through tragedies and gained the emotional strength or healing to overcome, there are those who never overcome or they give up on life and become bitter and angry at times expressing how they feel by abusing or making life difficult for others.

Even as believers in our Lord Jesus, life can deal us with extreme blows which may cause us to doubt God and want to give up. I have been given a remedy to counteract discouragement prescribed by our great physician Jesus Christ. In fact it is one that is not uniquely mine, it is just that I have taken great doses daily for sometime out of obedience and I feel compelled to remind and encourage others to do the same. There is no limit as to how much of it one should take daily.

I have seen how much it has made a way for me to be more open to God by focusing on who He is to me and who I am to Him through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour. Want to take a guess what this “remedy” against discouragement  is?

It is thankfulness! Being thankful every day to God for my life, that I have overcome difficulties and I am still standing.

The key to contentment and peace is developing the habit of always being thankful to The LORD in every circumstance.

Brothers and sisters, if unbelievers in Jesus, people of other faiths or none are able to find life worth living how much more us Christians who believe in him who died to give us abundant and eternal life?

Jesus said
“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:…” (John 11:25 KJV).

“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12 KJV).

Jesus further spoke of his words being “Spirit and life”(John 6:63).

The first Adam brought death through disobedience but Christ is referred to by the apostle Paul as “the second Adam ” and “life-giving Spirit” (1 Corinth 15:45).

The Spirit that rose Jesus from the dead is in every true believer in Jesus and Paul says that as a result we have the life of God in our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11 KJV).

All this affirmation of having the life of God in us, as new covenant believers ought to excite us and encourage us to be thankful that this is our inheritance as a result of our new life or birth in Him:

1.We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (Phil 4.13 KJV)

2.No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue [that] shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This [is] the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness [is] of me, saith the LORD.” (Is.54:17 KJV)

We are more than conquerors through him (Jesus) who loves us (Romans 8:37)

3.When we go through trials, “fire” He is with us (Isaiah 43:2/James 1:2-3) and molding our character as well as teaching us to be solely dependent on Him.

Life is truly worth living!

Let us be thankful daily for the fact that we are alive at such a time as this belonging to and serving God who says

“…giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me, if you keep to my path I will reveal to you the salvation of God”(Ps. 50:23 NLT)

Dear Father
We thank you for your immense love for us and taking us out of darkness into your kingdom of light. Forgive us when we have taken our lives for granted and even complained rather than give thanks.
Help us to remember that thanksgiving should be the order of the day in our lives and how much it glorifies you when we are thankful to you.
Father we cry out on behalf of the brethren who are ill, weak emotionally and are struggling in many ways that you will miraculously heal and deliver them and give them hope for the future in a way only you can.
We also lift up the unsaved including those who have a new zeal for life having overcome many tragedies that you would in this time create a thirst in their hearts, unquenchable until they find you, the only source of redemptive life.
In Jesus Name, Amen

“You are blessed, determine to stay blessed”

Deborah Esther x
©Deborah E. Nyamekye 23/11/2015

When we hear sermons about David the son of Jesse being preached it is often his pathway of suffering since he was anointed King by Samuel that we often hear about. This includes his near death experiences at the hands of Saul and also being pursued by his own son Absalom among many battles he had to fight.

We often don’t hear sermons or teachings about the time before David was anointed King of Israel by Samuel. Although there are not many scriptures referring to this time, what we have are enough for us to see that the spirit of rejection or abandonment was suffered even in David’s formative years when he lived at home with his parents and set a foundation to other struggles. The two that come to mind in this context are

1.In 1 Samuel 16, when Samuel asked Jesse to bring out all his sons in a gathering so that he would choose the one God had told him to anoint out of all of them, Jesse brought seven of his sons apart from David. David was the one who tended the sheep and at such a great event before the prophet of God, David was not deemed worthy among his sons to meet the man of God. In fact Jesse was in disobedience, for the instruction was that all of his sons should be present. The “who would be interested in a young shepherd boy” reference to David was also thought of by Jesse as how God saw David.

However God expressed his nature when he told Jesse not to judge which of the sons qualified for the kingly anointing by their appearance. God said
“…for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7 KJV)

This should be a lesson to us that how God sees each of us often differs from how we might not only see ourselves but other people, be they family members, acquaintances, friends or even peoples groups of different cultures to ours.

Our prayer is that God would continue to change us so that we see ourselves and others as He does according to His word if we do not already.
If He was partial, then so would His redemptive plan through Jesus Christ. It would only have been for a few. However scripture says “God so loved the world that he sent His only begotten son…” (John 3:16).

This includes everyone however insignificant in appearance or in other ways they may appear. Our misjudgments in relation to people could have diverse eternal consequences. I make this statement thinking of how if but for God’s intervention to cause Jesse to own up to the fact that he had another son tending to sheep, Samuel would never have known ! David would not have had his inheritance as King of Israel nor his descendants, including Jesus Christ who inherited the Kingly anointing. This is just a thought of course. Praise the LORD that He foreknew as He always does how the situation would unfold so He outworked it for His and David’s good.

As in the case of David, whatever situation is working against us, God has a plan to counteract and thwart it for our sake. All things work together for the good of them that love the LORD. (Romans 8:28)

2.David said the following in his Psalm (chapter 27) referring to God’s acceptance of him even when his mother and father had rejected him:

“Hide not thy face [far] from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.” (Ps 27:9-10 KJV)

Some have said it was in reference to being left out when Samuel called for Jesse’s sons. I personally decern that there was more than that one incident to merit him mentioning his parents’ rejection of him the way he did.

It is evident that although Satan does not know everything, he knows those who are marked for greatness before God which means in simple terms that he knows that everyone who belongs to God is a danger to his kingdom, he being the Prince of the evil world system.

Paul encouraged the believers in Ephesus:
“we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:10 KJV)

As with David, there was an assignment, a spiritual death decree as it were, on our lives from the moment we were conceived, therefore well before we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and as David anointed for service. But God foreknew us and predestined that we would conform to the image of His Son Christ Jesus.

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren…What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?” (Romans 8:29,31 KJV).

David also understood that he was not only created by God but predestined for God’s purposes as he expressed through Psalm 139 exclaiming that he was fearfully and wonderfully made and also
“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! [If] I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” (Psalm 139:17-18)

David suffered from the spirit of rejection and abandonment recurrently since his childhood but rather than allow his constant misfortunes to depress him to the point of no return, instead he strengthened or encouraged himself in the Lord through prayer and praise to His God to whom he committed his life totally.

He said “One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” (Ps 27:4)

Brothers and sisters, be reminded that our lives are under the control of he who has power over death and came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).

Jesus Christ took the keys from Satan “Hades and Hell” (Rev 1:8) when he died and on ascended to Father, he took captivity captive… and gave gifts to men”(Eph 4:8). In other words he unlocked us (this truth is appropriated in the lives of those who accept it as truth) from the “prison cell” of demonic bondage and restored unto us our predestined “gifts” or inheritance from God.

As long as we stay in the place of intimacy with God as true worshippers as exemplified by David, we will gain restoration and restitution of our inheritance and complete the course set before us to achieve all that God planned for us as David did and took his position as king of Israel after many years of travail.

David was anointed as King of Israel to replace King Saul and that was a decree in heaven which neither Satan nor anyone could put a stop to. Likewise my word to you today is this: whatever the LORD has planned for you is established through Jesus Christ. You may not have the same beauty or gifts someone you admire has, but you equally have beauty and gifts they don’t have. As much as theirs is unique so are yours.

“…hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Num.23:19KJV)

Your part is to stay in agreement and say daily “Your kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven” LORD!

If as David had for many years you have brokenness in your heart, let it break forth in song for David’s victorious end in all his natural and spiritual battles, marked by praise as his greatest weapon, is always guaranteed for you.

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed.

Deborah Esther x

©Deborah E. Nyamekye 22/11/2015

As you wait on our precious LORD remember this:
Those that wait upon The LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not be weary and walk and not grow faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

The LORD is saying to you that He will respond when you wait upon Him and you will be

1.Energises by His Holy Spirit able to soar into greater heights and deeper depths in God!
I saw written somewhere the following “an eagle uses the storms to reach unimaginable heights..Let us also use the storms of our lives to reach greater heights spiritually”

Therefore whether we are in a time of peace and just needing some encouragement or refreshing (i.e from tiredness) or in serious problems “storms”, as long as we wait on the LORD or remain abiding in Him, our inner man will be strengthened and uplifted. Waiting on the LORD is therefore abiding in Him.

This means that we do not focus on the greatness of the problem or how low we might be feel, but on God who can change the situation and how we feel. We abide by engaging in bible study and praise to encourage ourselves in the Lord.
Personally I deliberately listen to testimonies of how God has changed people’s lives or circumstances. This has gone a long way to taking my eyes of my worries or problems and fixed them on Jesus.

When King David was going through all his struggles, one thing noteworthy is that he was his own great encourager in the LORD and that is what I say to myself “I have to be my own greatest encourager in the LORD”

2.Blessed exceedingly abundantly more than you can ever ask or think! Blessed in your personal lives and even more blessed because you are a source of blessing for others.

As you wait upon Him through bible meditation and worship what you receive from Him will cause you to be as a permanently TURNED ON TAP with an unending flow of the river of His anointing “life” blessing and healing individuals, communities and nations.

This is because, sisters and brothers, the power of the Word of God and praise within you, which served to encourage and so uplift you cannot be contained!

Jesus said “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38 KJV)

Many people say they believe in Jesus and some might well do and so be filled with the Holy Spirit but they are still in a spiritual desert, why ? Because that belief is not being exercised to the point of transforming them by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit only responds when we call on God through Jesus Christ or when we seek hIm for fellowship. If Christians are not in fellowship with the Holy Spirit and so not “soaring” for their own sakes, how can they be God’s lifeline for others?

I say:
1Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.2For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
3And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.4Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at [thy] side.
5Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.(Isaiah 60:1-5)

“Arise & Shine, Blessed one”!

“Then spake Jesus ..saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”(John 8:12)

As you wait upon the LORD also be reminded the powers of darkness tremble and flee because they cannot withstand the Light of God within and around you.

Therefore soar to greater heights and deeper depths in Him. You are blessed, determine to stay blessed!

Deborah Esther

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©Deborah E. Nyamekye 21/11/2015