Month: December 2015

Words of Encouragement for 2016

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GOD SHUTS/OPENS DOORS & YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO EXCEL

Be reminded that it is The LORD God who alone closes and opens seasonal spiritual “doors” before you. This is because of His authority as a Royal High Priest from the House of David.
“I will place on His shoulder the key to the house of David, what he opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open” (Is.22:22 KJV)

His Kingdom from the House of David extends to the whole world as an everlasting kingdom for whom He is governor (Is 9: 6-7). The whole world is under the control and dominion of Christ by whom the world was created (Col 1:16). You and I are in the palm of God’s hand.

Therefore as ones who love the LORD, we must be encouraged and assured that all things are working for our good (Romans 8:28) and will continue to do so in 2016 and beyond.

What has afflicted you this year? you have delegated authority (Luke 10:18-19) from Jesus Christ to declare by pronunciation and change of attitude, mindset and actions (Romans 12:1-3) that it will not follow you into the new “door” of the new year in Jesus’ mighty name.

As a believer in Jesus Christ you have the Holy Spirit indwelling you and therefore the powerful life of God within (Romans 8:10-11). Your words are powerful because your meditation is on the living and powerful Word of God that transforms (Heb. 4:12). You are therefore able to do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Phil 4:13).

God’s abundant blessings are available for your taking in 2016!

Therefore arise and exercise your authority and speak the words of faith to every situation and activate your faith in Jesus’ name!

YOU WILL BE BLESSED AND RECOMPENSED
I sense that the Lord is saying that this new year of 2016 is His open door or new season through which, as long as you abide in Him and trust Him consistently through His Word and fellowship in the Holy Spirit:

1.You will remain empowered by the Holy Spirit and led by Him along God’s pathway for the fulfilment of His divine plans and purposes in your life.

2.God will make a way out of difficult and seemingly impossible situations for you.

3.You will be among those who will be blessed and receive recompense for your travail, efforts, actions, time and money sown for the sake of the advancement of the Gospel and in the ministry of helps inside and outside the church.
A life led for the fulfilment of God’s plans and purposes has at times involved suffering, rejection or contention, but always remember that whatever you do for God as a true believer in Jesus Christ is never in vain.

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed in 2016!

Deborah Esther

©Deborah E. Nyamekye 31/12/2015

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Live in the fullness of your inheritance as a Friend of God in 2016 & beyond

imageIntroduction:
As we enter into the New Year 2016, I would like to present this teaching as a reminder to us, as to what it means to be a friend of God. Did you know that by virtue of being a believer in Jesus Christ you are a friend of God in the same way Abraham and his descendants were and still are ?

There are house of Israel inheritances therein, being a friend of God that is, which are attainable from Christ. These enable us to sustain intimacy with God and be His holy priesthood.
Many Christians are not taking hold of these inheritances which are part of their covenant relationship with God that allows them to exercise their authority in Christ. The inheritances are the kingly and priestly anointing and the right of access to the revelatory realm of God (portals of heaven) among other blessings.

Live in the fullness of your inheritance as a friend of God in 2016 & beyond:

God Almighty is always calling us higher, to places of greater intimacy and depth in Him (Rev 4:1) and has told us to call on Him (Jer 33:3). Our being called by Him and being asked to call on Him is so that our God of communication and love will show us mysteries, or hidden things we do not know for He wants us to know the signs of the times and things that He plans to do.

Abraham had faith in God and was obedient to Him many times, a sign that he walked in agreement with God. For these reasons, He was called righteous and a friend of God (James 2:23 KJV).
“Can two walk together except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3 KJV)

“16And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.17And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;18Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” (Gen. 18:16-19 KJV).
We can see from Genesis 18:16-19, that the type of friendship God had with Abraham was one of trust which meant that God did not want to hide anything from Abraham which was why He told Abraham in advance about His plan to destroy Sodom & Gomorrah.

The 18th and 19th verses of Genesis 18, reveal clearly what God requires from those He calls friends. It is not enough being in covenant with God as Abraham was (verse 18). What seals friendship with God resulting in God trusting the person to the point that He reveals His secrets or what He plans to do is when that person does what God foreknew Abraham would do (verse 19) which is to position him or herself as a leader and tutor in their household to ensure that everyone is living in obedience to the righteous and just ways of God. The aforementioned is a condition for covenant promises of God to come to pass. This is such an important point that needs underlining and remembering daily.

This point highlighted in verse 19, ought to revive or reinforce the reverential fear of God in our hearts and to remind us that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ is indeed the same God of the ancient Israelites.

It is important to question and reflect as we enter the new year and while we live our lives through it, as follows: could the measure of revelation and insight into specific things and what God wants to do, be withheld from many by God because they are not relating to Him beyond just believing in Him as Christians under the new covenant? Are people leaving things undone such as teaching their children or other family members the ways of God regardless of the cost?

Being ready to suffer mockery or affliction momentarily by teaching or preaching the gospel and living a lifestyle as Christ’s witness is a price to pay for at least one member of one’s household eventually coming to the Lord. Are we paying such a price? Do we care enough to do so?

It is just as well God told Abraham that He was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because Abraham was able to intercede for his nephew Lot. This shows the importance of cultivating a lifestyle as a true friend of God as Abraham did; You become God’s trustworthy ordained intercessor for the sake of others, communities and nations because you are privy to His secrets, thoughts and will. You are therefore a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinth. 6:19/Romans 8:26) to pray the will of God and to partner with Him for His plans and purposes to come to pass.

God speaking through Isaiah calls Jacob (Israel) “the seed of Abraham, my friend” (Is.41:8 KJV). The type of friendship that Jacob had with God was inherited from Abraham. God also foreknew that Jacob will have the same nature as Abraham (One jwho activated his covenant relationship with God, not for his own sake but ensured his household lived according to God’s righteous and just ways as well) thus meriting the ability to communicate with God closely, trusted enough to gain insight into God’s mind and be His instrument to bless multitudes.

What evidence is there of this in Jacob’s life?
12And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.13And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I [am] the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;14And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 28:12-14 KJV).

The LORD at the time of affirming Jacob’s Abrahamic covenant inheritance gave Jacob a dream of angels ascending and descending on a ladder at the top of which stood God. This speaks of the following being part of or the product of the covenant of Abraham passed down to Jacob:
1.Right of access to the revelatory realm of God or “portals of heaven” to hear from God and therefore know His will as well as to fellowship with Him so as to have His perpetual peace, joy and righteousness.
2. The prophetic (receiving revelation from God on behalf of the people) and intercessory/ priestly (presenting people & their needs before God)
gifts or anointings upon the house of Israel, called by God as His “kingdom of priests and holy nation” (Ex.19:6KJV).

This prophetic and priestly anointing is Israel’s supernatural inheritance which makes it possible for their natural perpetual service to God in their life path so that the prophetic will of God for the world is made manifest through them (Israelites) collectively as a people as it did specifically through Jesus Christ, sent into the world through Israel.

It is therefore not surprising that Jesus said the following
to his disciples (which we are today)
“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” (John 15:15 KJV). Thus as a friend of Jesus Christ, we do not only have the righteousness of God through him (Romans 3:22) but are affirmed friends of God of the calibre of Abraham and his descendants, for as Abraham, we are ones who do not

-take our covenant with God for granted but apply it in our lives as well as teach our households to live according to it as God foreknew Abraham would under covenant (Gen 18:18-19).
-strive to hear from God about His will, plans and purposes for us but rather we cultivate a relationship with him daily so as to receive the knowledge of all things from God through Jesus Christ.

Expressed in another way, we are in actual fact, Jesus’ disciples or friends

1) communing with Jesus, the “Son of Man” (John 1:51)

The picture of open heavens and the Angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man (John 1:47-51) Jesus said Nathaniel his disciple will have is a revelation of the portals of God’s heavenly realm (same as Jacob, the friend of God saw in Genesis 28) open to anyone who is a disciple of Jesus Christ, and therefore a friend of God.

Jesus Christ is one who personifies the gateway (he is indeed the only Way John 14:6) or portal to God’s heavenly throne room. May we abide in Christ daily so that we stay completely connected to God spiritually for an enriched natural life fulfilling His will on earth, not just for ourselves but multitudes in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
Or
2) attaining from the house of Israel through Jesus Christ (in the manner of point 1) our inheritance which are
-Right of access to the portals of heaven or revelatory realm of God.
-prophetic and priestly (intercessory) anointing.

This is because Jesus is the seed of Abraham (Gal. 3:16) through his descent from Abraham’s lineage (The line of Jacob’s son Judah) and believers in Jesus Christ are spiritual seeds of Abraham (Gen. 3:29) as partakers of the new covenant (Jer 31:31-34) through acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

Be reminded of your priesthood nature as an anointed believer in Christ Jesus according to the Word of God:
-Christ has made you “a kingdom of priests for God His Father” (Rev 1:6).
-“But you are a chosen people, a Royal Priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9)
-You are built up as a spiritual house made a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God through Christ Jesus (1 Peter 2:5)

As long as you have the Holy Spirit abiding in you, you are prophetic, in other words through the Spirit of God you are able to hear from God so as to know His mind and will.

In addition to the prophetic and intercessory (priestly) spiritual anointings and access to God’s revelatory realm we receive as our heritage from the Abrahamic covenant through Christ, we are given insight into other blessings we partake of as friends of God which were pronounced on Jacob (Israel) the “seed of Abraham, my friend” (Is.41:8), Abraham’s grandson by his son Isaac (Isaiah 41:8-13). These are God’s assurance that we are chosen by Him, and should therefore be fearless. We are guaranteed God’s help, protect and defence against our enemies.

Brethren, there are only two days left of 2015 before the year 2016 commences, it is therefore the right time for you, a friend of God to

1. Thank Him for what He has done in 2015 and past years and is about to do.

2.Seek Him in prayer for revelation and wisdom concerning 2016;

Are your plans in alignment with His for you?

As a friend of God, He wants to share with you what is on His heart concerning yourself, family, individuals, the world etc.. as well as insight into the enemies’ strategies.

The next couple of days are therefore a time to take stock of this year 2015 and set quality time aside in prayer and fasting. Having quiet times to tune one’s spiritual ears to hear what God is saying is also as important as praying and fasting are. While the LORD God can do all things without you, He chooses to partner with you because He is a God of relationship.

As you take delight in the Lord and take hold of the fullness of your inheritance in Him, I pray that God would grant you, his friend, all your heart’s desires according to His perfect will in 2016 and beyond.

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed!

Deborah Esther
©Deborah E.Nyamekye 30/12/2015

Prayers for now, 2016 and beyond

psalm-1392324_🙏🏾Prayers to pray for yourself family and others now through to 2016 and beyond.🙏🏾

I. MORNING PRAYER & DECLARATION BASED ON JOB 38:12-25 (KJV)
5-6am (or as early in the morning as possible)

COMMANDING THE MORNING & DAY SPRING (DAWN)

Every day is established by you LORD God Almighty ! and therefore as your will for Job (chapter 38:12-15) was that he command the morning and the dawn to “know its place” (Ps. 38:12), I accept this as my calling because of the authority that I have in Christ Jesus (Luke 10:18-19).

I therefore command the morning and dawn from henceforth to know their place and be as (verse 14) “clay under the seal” (suppressed) and “hang as a garment” (immovable) when provoked into action as channels of Satan directly and through sorcerers in the mighty name of Jesus.

As concerns my destiny and that of my family and other loved ones and ………………(insert names of people, ministry, business etc…)

you (morning and dawn) shall only be responsive to Creator/Most High and Sovereign God for the earth, humanity and everything in it are under His control and dominion.

With the authority invested in me through Christ Jesus, I command you (morning & dawn) to obey the voice of the LORD and to “take hold of the ends of the earth and shake out the wicked” (verse 13) deeds and words that has been programmed and spoken against me, my family and other loved ones and ………….(insert names of people, ministry, business etc…).

I command the wicked to be (verse 15) blinded to that which concerns me, my family and loved ones and ………… (insert names of people, ministry, business etc…)
and that their “high arm be broken” in the mighty name of Jesus Amen

II.PRAYER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD BY BEING DIFFERENT (A TRUE WITNESS)

“If you desire to make a difference in the world you must be different from the world.”

Dear Father,
Hallowed be thy mighty Name, the Name above all names.

At the end of this year and as we prepare to enter the New Year, I pray for myself and on behalf of my Brethren in Christ that you would help us take stock of our lives so that we would humbly come to you in repentance if there are any areas in our lives where we exhibit worldly attitudes and mindsets.

I ask that you would forgive us where we have partnered with the world in any way or formed unholy alliances. Give us insight as to where we have failed you so that we would repent and be cleansed from all unrighteousness.

Merciful Father, as we give you preeminence in every area of our lives, I entrust our spirits, souls and bodies to you that you would examine, convict, sanctify and restore us in areas where we need restoration.

Our desire is to be different from the world and so LORD, I humbly ask that you would teach, strengthen and empower us to remain separated from the world and unto you daily so that we will be your holy vessels and true witnesses that make a difference in the world as is our inheritance” in Jesus’ mighty Name. Amen

10Ye [are] my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I [am] he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. (Is. 43:10 KJV)

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed!

Deborah Esther

©Deborah E. Nyamekye 29/12/2015

 

Taking Stock: What kind of disciple are You?

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In Luke 9:57-62 we read about three potential disciples of Jesus. Brethren as we enter into the New Year, it is important to take stock of this year and the previous years that we have walked with the LORD.

This account of three potential disciples is one of many biblical accounts which will help us. It will enable us to think things through, confess our sins and repent and decide to be more vigilant if we need to, as well as give God thanks for what He has done and is about to do.

I. Potential disciple no. 1

“And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain [man] said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.58And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air [have] nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay [his] head.” (Luke 9:57-58 KJV).

This man decided to follow Jesus by himself. Jesus’ reply implies that he was asking the man whether he had considered the cost of following him. Jesus at the time did not have his own accommodation. It is noteworthy that Jesus did not tell him what to do but gave his own life as an example of the type of life the man would have if he follows Jesus.
If you have chosen to follow God, you must know that you have Covenanted to be Christlike and so should be ready to pay the price.

Jesus was saying “Have you counted the cost?”, “can you pay the price of homelessness or going from place to place and so not being guaranteed accommodation or a comfortable life?”

What has your Christian life been like until this point? Are you aware of the costs or do you count the cost of following Jesus Christ?

Morris Cerullo in the devotional “Journey into the promised Land” lists some of the costs of following Christ as follows
1. Sacrifice as well as service (1 John 3:16)
2. Loneliness (2 Timothy 1:15)
3.Rejection and criticism (John 1:11)
4. Persecution (2 Corinthians 11:23-27).

It is only those who live in the reality that there are indeed costs and have made a conscious decision to not only consider them daily but are willing to go through them, who are able to live victorious Christian lives.

II.Potential Disciple no. 2

” 59And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.60Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:59-60 KJV).

When Jesus called this man, the man felt he could still continue making his own decisions and so prioritise his own desires I.e burying his father, as he had done before he was called. However Jesus’ response is clear; the calling of God requires one to prioritise the kingdom of God or whatever God has called one to do as opposed to what one wants to do.

Please know that Jesus was not saying one’s parents or family are not important or that we should not attend to them. Nothing must be placed before the call of God. Jesus loved his family a sign being when on the cross of crucifixion, he spoke in a manner to both his mother and John that gave John the Apostle the understanding that Jesus wanted him to take care for his mother, so John took her into his home after Jesus died (John 19:25-27).

This was also revealed when Jesus spoke to the people and someone told him is mother and brethren wanted to speak to him. He replied
“48… Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
“49And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matt.12:48-50 KJV)

As we can see, as with the first potential disciple, Jesus was teaching his “do as I do” principle for despite his love for his family, Jesus prioritised the work of the ministry over and above them which was the will of God.

Brethren, do you prioritise your will over and above that of the will of God?

Your response maybe “well I often don’t know God’s will so I just get on with what I want to do and hope it is”.
If this is the case, my prayer is that you would spend time in fasting and prayer even as you enter into 2016 asking the Lord to reveal His will for your life to you and also that you would refrain from making hasty decisions and learn to wait on the Lord.

III.Potential Disciple no. 3

“61And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.62And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:61-62 KJV).
This man wanted to follow the Lord, however he wanted to take time to do something first, or wanted to follow God but on his own terms. Jesus’ reply affirms the motives of the man’s heart; He was holding onto his past life, torn between committing to God wholeheartedly and living in the world.
Brethren, as you may know, when God calls us, he requires us to respond immediately and not to start thinking of what we have left undone and need to do first, or put off obeying God until it suits us. At times we may decide to do something first which we convince ourselves is part of or compliments the calling of God or what He is asking us to do. Partial obedience is not obedience.

I pray to God that everyone reading this will be from henceforth even more sensitive to God’s leading in your lives so that you will not hesitate to know what He is calling you to do. Also that God would grant you an increased measure of His gift of discerning of spirits and the ability to stay in the place of praise, prayer, bible reading and meditation. This is so that as you abide in this realm consistently, you will be able to hear God’s voice in whichever way He chooses to speak to you. In Jesus name Amen.

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed!

Deborah Esther
©Deborah E.Nyamekye 28/12/2015

Territorial Exaltation of the Messiah

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Bethlehem,

you are not the least of the princes of Judah, out of you came Jesus Christ, the Governor, ruler of the people of Israel.

Nazareth,

of whom it was asked “can anything good come out of her?” your elevation came as a city of refuge and upbringing of the Messiah, called a Nazarene.

Oh! lands of Zebulun & Naphtali “by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations”,

in the former times contempt was upon you, but your day of glorious visitation came in the latter time.

For your “people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who lived in the land of the shadow of death, on them the light has shined.”

The Light of the World has “broken the rod of the oppressor, the yoke of their burden.” They did not fear for his Rod and Staff comforted them.

“For the armor of the armed man in the noisy battle, and the garments rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
For unto us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting, Father, Prince of peace.

Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on the throne of David, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of armies has performed it”

Bozrah of Edom, 

from you the LORD’s enemies were judged by him clothed in red “marching in his great strength”.
“The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying],
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.”

Who are you King of Zion and one robed in red of Bozrah ?

“It is I, the Lord, announcing your salvation! It is I, the Lord, who had the power to save”

I am the LORD of the Heavenly Armies”…In my anger I have trampled my enemies as if they were grapes… their blood has stained my clothes.

For the time has come for me to avenge my people to ransom them from their oppressors…I myself stepped in by my strong arm and my wrath sustained me.

I crushed the nations in my anger and made them stagger and fall to the ground and spilling their blood upon the earth”.

“The earth is the LORD and everything in it.The world and all it’s people belong to Him”

The LORD has sent forth His Counsel in all the territories of the earth:

“Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little.

Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him.”

(Is 9:1-7, Is 63:1-6, Matt. 2:4-6,Ps. 2, Ps.24:1)

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed!
Deborah Esther
©Deborah E.Nyamekye 27/12/2015

Tell the Story of the Gift of God

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A POEM: GOD’S GIFT UNWRAPPED

Tell the Story of how God gave His Gift to be unwrapped for His glory.

The Gift of the Son of God born unto us, Son of man given unto us so that

Every day is Christmas for
Some man, woman and child who unwraps the gift of God.

Men who unwrap
to be un-trapped
to become re-wrapped
in God’s glory.

Thank you God for the story of Jesus who gave gifts to men.

The gifts of callings, the Holy Spirit so that

Every day is Christmas for
Some man, woman and child who unwraps the gift of God

We praise God for
men who are sorry,
And released from worry
to become His Glorious Story.

GOD”S GIFT : KING OF THE JEWS

1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him….

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. (Matt.2:1,2,10-11 KJV)

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed!

Deborah Esther

©Deborah E.Nyamekye 26/12/2015

 

In the humble & lowly Son we see Father

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Born again Christians who are truly committed to living a life in God have embraced this season of Christmas as a time to meditate on the great love God bestowed upon us when He came in the person of Jesus Christ to save us from sin.

Jesus’ humble and lowly background and nature was a deliberate plan of God and from it we are able to know and understand the nature and attributes of God, some of which are:

HE IS EXALTED BUT HUMBLE (NOT PROUD).
“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil. 2:6-8 KJV)

The creator, God almighty came into the world as Jesus born to humble parents who could not afford to rent a house when he was born but rather sought accommodation in an inn. The inn was full. For the time that his parents stayed in Bethlehem, baby Jesus (God as man) was placed in a manger which is a feeding trough for livestock. No doubt his parents slept close by in the humble and inconspicuous abode where this manger was which is likely to have been a place where animals resided.

What is God saying to us? The fact that God in the person of Jesus came to identify with humanity is clear, but the emphasis is on the fact that he was one of those that people pass by on the streets without giving a second glance; He was through his parentage of a low status or ranked insignificant in society.

Brethren, God could have chosen a well to do family even from among the descendants of David or Aaron as Jesus’ parents rather than Joseph (David’s line) and Mary (Aaron’s line), however God did not. If Jesus’ parents were well off or rich they would never have taken refuge in an abode where animals were kept especially not with their baby!

Even Mary as she sang unto the Lord, expressed herself as one of “low estate” being blessed of the Lord and therefore “from henceforth generations shall” call her blessed (Luke 1:47-48 KJV).

2. HE RESISTS THE PROUD BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE (James 4:6 KJV).

As Jesus grew up, he trained to be a carpenter (a humble, manual job) not a Rabbi educated by sitting at the feet of a Rabbi of his day. However he had God’s wisdom from a very young age and is said to have taught as a boy who had authority not as the scribes (Matt. 7:29 KJV).

Brethren, there is nothing wrong with being educated to degree or even doctorate level, as long as you do not think that because you are well learned what you know grants you enough wisdom so that you do not need to seek the wisdom of God.

The greatness of God’s wisdom is incomparable to man’s because “This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans,…” (1 Corinth.1:25 KJV)

Jesus is the personification of God’s wisdom. If we have Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, abide in him and he in us, we have access to God so as to know his ways (wisdom) as we gain knowledge of Him through His word and by supernatural revelation. He is also well able to give us understanding of His wisdom and knowledge as we abide in Him.

3.GOD LOVES HIS CREATION, REGARDLESS OF GENDER, RACE, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CLASS.

Jesus grew up among the poor and lowly, therefore he was used to being surrounded by such people who included prostitutes and drunkards or those regarded as insignificant.

Therefore in his public ministry he did not shun such people and had the reputation of being among them.

Jesus came for the LOST: His notable disciples and followers were

1. fishermen. This profession was a manual “lowly” one.

2.females who were ranked as second class citizens in relation to men and could not be educated. A group of women were with Jesus when he travelled from town to town.

3.Samaritans, who were of Assyrian and Israelite ancestry were despised by Jews – the first being the Samaritan woman Jesus deliberately met at the well. She received Jesus as Lord and Saviour, evangelised and many accepted Christ. She is mentioned in history as haven been a travelling missionary.

The aforementioned are examples of the lost of any gender, race and social status Jesus came to seek and save (Luke 19:10).

Jesus came for the MEEK: The woman of the Alabaster jar of oil (Matt.26:7) who anointed Jesus’ feet exemplifies the meek (humble) who will inherit the kingdom of heaven. She loved much because she had been forgiven much. Humility before God is expressed in our actions towards Him because we acknowledge and give thanks to Him for being the source of our changed lives to the glory of God.

God is in Christ reconciling the back to Himself and He has committed unto you and I the ministry of reconciliation (John 3:16/2 Corinth. 5:19).

Brethren, this means whatever our gender, race, social or economic class background God has chosen us to be instruments of reconciliation of mankind with God. Knowing God and His attributes through Christ is the means through which we excell in the calling as ministers of reconciliation. My prayer is that our spiritual eyes will open daily to the truths in God’s Word so that our walk with God and each other will reflect the peace and love of God.

Out of the abode of poverty, lowliness and humility our Messiah was born and arose, so that

Out of the abyss of oppression, depression and lack we are reborn and arise, to receive

Withheld gifts of God,

“beauty for ashes,

the oil of joy for mourning,

the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness”

that we “might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.” (Quotes Isaiah 61:3 KJV)

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed.

Deborah Esther

©Deborah E.Nyamekye 25/12/2015

 

“Shepherds..keeping watch..” Father, we pray for our Shepherds today

imageThe Shepherds receive an angelic visitation: announcement about the birth of Jesus.

7And she brought forth her firstborn son [Jesus] and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.12And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”(Luke 2:7-14 KJV).

Our Shepherds Today…Our Prayer for them.

As I read the above verses, my mind went to the Shepherds of today. By “Shepherds of today” I mean the pastors and their leadership team in the churches across the world. Many have been busy organising nativity plays, Christmas carol services and other church events and ministry activities during the festive season.

One would think that among Christians it would be expected of us to stay focused on Christ because after all Christmas is about Christ! but we are all aware that there are many temptations and distractions in this season (more so in some nations, communities and families than others) and often times we have to humble ourselves before God and ask for His strength in keeping Christ as our central focus in this season of Christmas. We often need to make that extra effort to ensure we are spending quality time with God, so that we do not get “swallowed up” by the many distractions such as many TV programmes (i.e films, Christmas shows), several parties or gatherings or being the host to numerous family members and visitors in our homes. Some of these are pleasurable no doubt, but caution is still required.

May God abundantly bless all our Shepherds for their efforts to ensure that we all stay focused on Christ who is of course the reason for this Christmas season.

At this time, I also believe we must spend time praying and giving thanks to God for our Shepherds (Pastors and church leadership team), who have been used by Him to serve us throughout the year and will continue to do so.

I ask you to join me in praying for our Shepherds:

Dear Father

We give you glory and praise for sending Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the World. We thank you that Christ exemplified and taught us the characteristics of the Good Shepherd over his flock, the people of God.

Our prayer is that as the Angel announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds watching over their flock, in this season your voice will resonate loud and clear in the hearts of all the Shepherds of our churches to whom, through the “Good Shepherd” you have entrusted your flock with regards to the pressing concerns and matters on your heart. Such as the need for restoration or sustained centrality/focus (whichever the case might be) of Jesus Christ in their churches and sermons and for all shepherds to have the characteristics and true heart of a shepherd as taught and exemplified by Christ in his public ministry.

May this be an era when your Holy Spirit is sent forth mightily to convict and bring a shaking where it is needed, among our shepherds as never before. In this way there will be examination of hearts and many will, if need be, come to repentance so that holiness, truth and the fear of the LORD becomes the order of the day as we near the time of the return of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Father, we also ask for a special visitation of your Holy Spirit as guide, comforter, counsellor and teacher to the Shepherds in our churches in this season and into the new year as they contemplate and seek direction for the ministry and their personal lives.

As ministers, they have given of themselves all year round and our prayer is that you would send a great outpouring of your Spirit to refreshen, strengthen and empower them now and for the task ahead. We ask that you will compel them to take time to rest and seek your face even in the hustle and bustle of busyness.

Father we ask that you heal and encourage those who have been wounded or discouraged during the course of the year; revive and restore them, LORD!

We pray for an abundance of your supernatural peace and joy as a river flowing in their hearts as they minister day to day.

LORD, the heart’s desire of every true Shepherd is to have a ministry that exudes the words “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14) or one that glorifies you and is an instrument of your peace and goodness on earth. Our prayer is that you would grant these Shepherds their hearts desire by surrounding them with co-ministers after your own heart, exposing and taking away those who are insincere or false shepherds.

We also ask that you would impart to them a greater measure of the fruit of the Spirit and spiritual gifts required for sustenance and advancement in ministry. May their love for you and the saints abound as well as the gift of wisdom, knowledge and discerning of spirits among other gifts so that your Name is glorified in their lives and ministries.

In Jesus’ name we pray Amen.

“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace” (Numbers 6:24-26 KJV).

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed!

Deborah Esther

©Deborah E.Nyamekye 24/12/2015

A child of God? Say “..from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed (Luke 1:48)

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Mary had been offered the chance to be the most blessed woman on earth when the Angel Gabriel appeared to her and told her that she will be the mother of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

In fact the angel’s salutation confirmed Mary’s predestined call of God “Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” (Luke 1:28 KJV)

This was a miracle of God because Mary had not slept with Joseph as yet. The angel said she will conceive in this manner “the Holy Ghost shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God”(Luke 1:35 KJV).

Soon after Mary went to see her cousin Elisabeth who had also become pregnant in her old age, six months previously. The angel had also told Mary about this pregnancy of Elisabeth’s which was also a miracle because she was advanced in years although Elisabeth’s child was fathered by Zacharias (Luke 1:36,37 KJV) whilst Mary’s was by the Holy Spirit.

One of God’s principles is that
“In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2 Corinth. 13:1 KJV).

It is therefore not surprising that Mary’s blessed and elevated status by God was also confirmed a second time by Elisabeth
“And it come to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb: and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: and she spake out with a loud voice and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb…” (Luke 1:41,42 KJV).

Elizabeth also expressed under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, that she deemed herself lowly in comparison to Mary and therefore privileged to have been visited by her “And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me”.
This is because her spirit had received the Word of God imparted by the Holy Spirit within her that Mary’s child was her Lord, the Messiah of Israel.

Mary accepted her predestined call of God to be the mother of Jesus by saying “…behold the handmaid of the LORD; be it unto me according to thy word, And the angel departed from her” (Luke 1:38).

“My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy [is] his name”(Luke 1:46-49).

Elisabeth under the anointing of God said to Mary “blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.”(Luke 1:45).

It is evident that the Holy Spirit was mightily at work in bringing to pass the prophetic will of the almighty God in the lives of these two women. Elisabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist prophecied in times of old (Is.40:3/Mal 3:1) to come before the Messiah so as to prepare the way for him and Mary was to become the Mother of the Messiah, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ awaited by Israel and prophesied numerous of times in the Old Testament (Is. 7:14, Is. 9:6, Micah 5:2, Zech. 9:9).

Brethren this should encourage us to continue in daily fellowship in the Spirit and be full of the Holy Spirit.(1 Corinth 2/Eph 5:18). This is because by the anointing of the Holy Spirit within and upon us we know and accept readily the will and purposes of God as Mary and Elisabeth did.

When we are full of the Holy Spirit we are able to overcome every temptation of Satan as Jesus Christ when “full of the Holy Spirit” following his baptism he overcame Satan’s temptation while in the wilderness for 40 days and nights (Luke 4:1-2).

In addition, when we are full of the Holy Spirit, like Stephen (Acts 7:55-56)  we are able to connect with God or access Him and gain understanding of His will through revelation which may come in the form of visions or dreams.

In relation to the birth and ministry of Jesus, God indeed chose the royal line of David as a lineage through which Jesus would come as the King of the Jews and the world wide “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” by choosing Joseph from the line of David as Jesus’ earthly father.

God also wanted to affirm Jesus from the onset through his ancestral lineage as not only royalty but priestly as well. This will confirm or prophetically correlate with his supernatural calling as the High Priest who will make a once and for all atonement for the sins of the world through his sacrificial death (also being at the same time the once and for all sacrificial lamb). God decided to do this by choosing a young woman, Mary from the lineage of Aaron the priest. She was the cousin of Elizabeth who is said to have been of the “daughters of Aaron” (Luke 1:5) and I discern this means Mary was also from that lineage.

Despite the priestly lineage in times of old being accorded generationally only to men, lo and behold the LORD had taken two women Elizabeth (John the Baptist’s mother, John prepared the way for Jesus) and her cousin Mary (mother of Jesus) from among the “daughters of Aaron” (vs 5) or female descendants of Aaron (priestly lineage) to be a sign and a wonder in Israel and among the nations for generations to come. They were used as vessels of God’s supernatural miraculous plan for world redemption.

Therefore if you are a woman, or even a man with a wife, daughters and sisters, let this remind you and be an encouragement to you that promotion does indeed come from the LORD regardless of gender. For God does not allow established norms that dictate a man and woman’s place in society to prevent Him from bringing to pass his predestined plans and purposes. He can choose to overrule, sidestep or supernaturally intervene in matters which appear set in concrete by humanity such as what a man or a woman cannot or should not do, so as to bring to pass His divine will. He will do this in a way only He as God can do.

While the male Aaronic priestly natural office came to an end as did its significance, Mary’s supernatural office as a divinely chosen ‘priestess’ (a natural descendant of Aaron) in service to God for bringing forth Jesus Christ has been and will be remembered significantly and from generation to generation; she is the all time blessed and highly favoured of all women.

Mary sang a song of praise (Luke 1:46-55) to the Lord at Elisabeth’s house in which among other things she said she considered herself of “low estate” (vs 48 KJV) and yet chosen by God so that all generations will call her blessed.

What did Mary mean by “low estate” ? Perhaps she thought of her status as a woman in those times and also her families’ economic and social background and even as one betrothed to Joseph who although of the Royal line of David is not shown in scripture to have had any prestige or elevated status in society.

Has society made you feel stereotyped and therefore of “low estate” because of your race, social and economic status/background, nationality and gender? At times it is so subtle and can make one feel caged and having to conform to what one feels society has labelled one. One may also feel confined to doing somethings and prohibited from doing other things. It is time to break free from the lies of Satan in Jesus’ name!

Jesus came to set the captives free and when we abide in him there is no limitations as to how and for what purpose He can use you regardless of who you are as a person (race, gender, culture, nationality) or what job you do.

We can therefore gain encouragement from the fact that if we as Mary consider ourselves to be of “low estate” whether make or female, it will not stop God from using us for His divine purposes. On the contrary, it may be the very thing that would compel Him to choose us so that we manifest as His favoured ones, blessed before multitudes for generations to come as in the case of Mary.

We can all, who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, do all things through Christ who strengthens us!
My prayer is that we would always make ourselves available to God by allowing Him to transform us daily preparing us to be as Mary and Elisabeth, priests in service unto God, birthing righteousness for the sake of world redemption from now through to 2016 and beyond.

We give thanks and praise to God that He chose us to be among the people of God who are from every race, culture, social and economic status/ background and nationality called out of darkness into His light as heirs with Christ, endowed with his kingly and priestly anointing;

“.. Ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light..” (1 Peter 2:9 KJV).

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed.

Deborah Esther
©Deborah E. Nyamekye 23/12/2015

A Return to the “Garden” through Christ

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“A wrought-iron bench entwined with morning glories.. a rose-covered trellis… Whatever your garden is, or wherever it grows, it is yours. It is your place of solitude… It is your place of prayer and reflection…it is your place to share your time and yourself with no one but the Lord.”
Gena Rutherford

When I think of why Jesus came I not only get the Gospel account brought to memory but the imagery of him being the Way (encompassing his nature as the “truth and life”) back to an intimate relationship with God our Creator and loving Father according to John 14:6.

Just imagine without the birth of Jesus Christ we would have absolutely no access to Father!

Jesus is the gate or Way that is narrow and unattractive, (Matthew 7:13-14) but when chosen leads to abundant and eternal life because it results in the reconciliation of mankind’s relationship with Father which was lost generationally due to Adam and Eve’s disobedience (Genesis 2-3)

I get the image of this process of being in Christ, walking with him The Way” daily as being back to that place of intimacy with Abba Father, I call the “Garden”. Eden was the garden in which God put Adam and Eve, He created in His image (Genesis 2).

Eden was originally a Garden where God intended to fellowship or tabernacle with His creation, Adam and Eve and their offspring. It was therefore meant to be a place where His creation had all they needed and a place of abundance and joy as they lived in obedience to God.

The purpose for this Garden was replicated as the purpose for the tent of meeting God instructed the Israelites to build according to his specifications and the temple Solomon employed gifted craftsmen and builders to build for the Lord during his reign. Temples, Synagogues and churches thereafter have been build for this fundamental purpose.

As I contemplate the abounding mercy of God which compelled Him to send Jesus as a baby born to Mary & Joseph into the World, I am reminded of the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36) where Jesus prayed awaiting his captors who took him to be judged, humiliated and crucified. This Garden was where we get the affirmation that Jesus Christ as the Son of Man, the last Adam was completely committed to his purpose as a life-giving spirit (1 Corinth. 15:45NIV) through his death burial and resurrection. When Jesus said “…not my will but thine be done” (Luke 22:42 KJV), we can also read into this that He was saying “indeed I am the seed of the woman (Mary) who will crush the head of the serpent (Satan) once and for all to redeem mankind from sin and reconcile them back to God.” This was the promise of God to Adam (Genesis 3:15) following their sin and God’s pronunciation of their suffering as a consequence of disobedience.

It is clear that God had and still has the last word in the life of mankind for while Satan thought that he had caused mankind to reject God as LORD and so master over their lives forever, God had planned even before the foundations of the earth His plan of redemption through the blood of the Lamb (Jesus), with which the angel Michael and heavenly hosts overcame Lucifer and his hordes during the warfare in heaven (Rev. 12).

Those who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, sent to the world “when the time had fully come” (Gal 4:4) receive the new birth. Their earthly bloodline connection to the first Adam which is death inducing (because the “thief” Satan is master) has been exchanged for the spiritual bloodline to Jesus Christ which is life-giving (John 10:10). They are heirs with Christ for the promises of God.

There are many scriptures that remind us of our intimacy with God, abiding or tabernacling with him through the “Way”, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. These scriptures give us a picture of us being in a Garden. At times the earth is made to appear as one big garden with budding seeds. Our righteousness, God’s doctrine, other godly ways and even God and Christ are likened to nature in some way.

In the Garden of fellowship with Abba Father,
-as in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus told his disciples not to sleep but to watch and pray with him, so too we will be his prayerful watch men, alert when the enemy comes, but because of our consistent prayer life, we are able to surrender to the will of God sacrificially as Jesus Christ did; dying with him daily we also resurrect with him in newness for the purposes of God to be fulfilled in our lives.

-We are as the branches on the true vine (Jesus) who are pruned by the “gardener” (John 15:1 NIV) so that we would bear more fruit.
This is how fruitful or productive we are said by God to be
“The godly shall flourish like palm trees and shall grow tall as the cedars of Lebanon.For they are transplanted into the Lord’s own garden and are under his personal care.
Even in old age they will still produce fruit and be vital and green” (Ps.92:12-14 TLB)

Why? He is our shelter or rock and there is no unrighteousness in Him (Ps.92:15 KJV)

-God promises that “as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden cause the things that are down in it to spring forth; so the Lord will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations”

We who are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus are the fruitful ones who will “Spring forth before all the nations” to the glory of God.

In the Garden,
-the LORD is faithful to perform His Word:
“For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.” (Is.55:10-11 KJV)

-“…When we obey Him [His Word] every path He guides us on is fragrant with His loving-Kindness and His truth” (Ps. 25:10 TLB)

While we stay in that place of intimacy, abiding with Father through Christ, our hearts are to Him as a garden a place where He tabernacles.

At times, we may feel malnourished or dry, but as there are seasons of life and a time for everything (Ecc.3:1-2) so too in our lives there is the same. “He has made everything beautiful in its time… ” (Ecc.3:11 NIV) to manifest in His appointed.

People are God’s vessels to nurture us in our Christian faith. They plant and water the Word of God in our hearts “the Garden” through discipleship, however as the Apostle Paul said on this subject to the Corinthian believers “…it was God, not we [himself & fellow minister] who made the garden grow in your hearts” (1 Corinth.3:6 TLB).

Indeed this is God’s promise to us

“The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy you with all good things…and you will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring” (Is. 58:11 TLB).

Dear Father, I love you, I appreciate you, I rever you! You are all I have and all I desire.
Father, thank you for setting me apart unto holiness and purity.
I am your holy habitation, or should I say I have become so, as you the Potter re-made me, the clay when I was born again so that I changed masters.
Exodus 25:8 “Let them make me a Sanctuary that I may dwell among them”.
Father as you dwelt in the sanctuary of old, so I daily offer my spirit, soul and body as your tabernacle, your sanctuary so that you may dwell in me LORD.
As you showed Moses the design of the Tabernacle while he was with you for 40 days on Mount Sinai (Ex.24:18) and you repetitively told Israel to build it to your specification (Ex. 39:42), so too I offer up my spiritual ears and eyes to you that I may daily hear your instructions and see the “designs” concerning my life so that I will live my life according to your precise specifications. In this way I will remain a mature and resourceful instrument of righteousness or be “like a well watered Garden, like an ever flowing spring” (Is. 58:11) for your use.
Thank you Father for instructing me to separate from all uncleanliness (deception) by your leading (Is.52:10-12). Help me to live in obedience as it is my desire to abide in your presence. I also acknowledge that I can only depend on you in the power of the Holy Spirit to sustain me in the Garden of intimacy as I journey through life.
I pray in the mighty name of Jesus who made this journey possible Amen.

Click for the Poem “The Return” about our return to a Life with God through Christ.

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed!

Deborah Esther
©Deborah E. Nyamekye 22/12/2015