Month: February 2018

Petition & Praise: Self-sacrifice and Surrender

Deliver me from every deception O LORD, my Father!

You desire truth in the inward parts.

You are the only one who cleanses my soul.

I offer myself to you once again as a living sacrifice.

I give you my heart in exchange for your truth, never to be re-sold.

All within me bows before you. My entrails hail you as LORD!

My knees bend on their own accord. Freely my mouth utters praises and my body willingly follows your leading.

Fastened by your Word, I abide in your presence forevermore.

Scriptural inspiration:

“Buy the truth, and do not sell it” Prov. 23:23

“Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts” (Psa.51:6)

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2 KJV)

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📸Snapshots of Glory – Word Focus 2 Day: The Battle is the LORD’s – True Worshippers are guaranteed Victory in Life’s battles Parts 1 & 2

Scriptural focus 2 Chronicles 20

Part 1 Summary of the qualities expected of a true worshipper or a committed child of God.

A true worshipper has the following nature and lifestyle:

1.Seek and waits on God for guidance or direction.

2.Prayer and fasting is a lifestyle with expectation to hear God speak.

3.Even if they experience the emotion of fear, a true worshipper remembers their authority in Christ and that they are empowered by God because the Holy Spirit is within them and is guiding them.

Therefore as Jehoshaphat, rather than accept defeat when faced with danger in times of fear when they feel weak and helpless they take refuge in Him (God) who gives them strength and strategies to overcome.

4.A true worshipper accepts that they are called to be relational with fellow brethren for God and Christ are relational. Cihrist prayed to God for his disciples

“I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one–as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” (John 17:21 NLT).

While Jehoshaphat must have trusted God to answer his prayers, he also knew that unity in prayer and fasting pleased God and so called the nation of Judah to fast and pray.

Therefore when faced with issues that concern or affect them collectively either as a church or nation, a true worshipper is not one to isolate themselves but rather join in with the brethren to engage with one another in intercession and worship before God.

Part 2 The Battle is The LORD’s:

Prayer & listening to God, the keys to receiving God’s wise strategies for victory.

PRAYER GATHERINGS, THE KEY TO BEING AN OVERCOMER FROM YOUR GATHERED ENEMIES

A consolidated army of surrounding nations advance to attack Judah – A call to fast and pray

Armies from surrounding nations had gathered together stationed to begin to attack Judah. King Jehoshaphat of Judah was terrified but he knew that the only way to overcome this fear is to seek He who is able to deliver and so He sought the LORD for guidance as to what to do. He ordered all the people of Judah to fast, they gathered in Jerusalem to seek the LORD’s help.

Jehoshaphat prayed

“5 Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the Lord. 6 He prayed, “O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! 7 O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham?

8 Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. 9 They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war,[d] plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’

10 “And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them.

11 Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance. 12 O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”

ARE YOU AVAILABLE TO BE USED BY GOD IF AND WHEN HE NEEDS YOU?

ARE YOU RAISING YOUR FAMILY THAT WAY?

Prophetic Word of encouragement was given.

It is worthy to note that the prophecy was given when the Spirit of God came upon one of the men gathered whose name was Jahaziel, a descendant of Asaph. He was not a well known prophet yet Jehoshaphat did not reject the Word, He humbly received it.

God speaks through anyone He chooses, and we can only know it is God and therefore not miss His blessing if we have a heart like Jehoshaphat; humble and close to God, dependant on Him as a true “sheep” for His sheep know his voice, they recognise it is Him speaking regardless of what His voice sounds like or the vessel through whom He speaks.

Jahaziel came from a musical family, as a descendant of Asaph. He was from a household of musicians or worshippers and God chose the Spirit of prophecy to manifest through him at such a crucial time when the nation was assembled waiting on God.

This ought to speak to us; our lives should be lived in such a way that we practice what we profess to be, true worshippers of God through Christ Jesus at all times. In doing so, we open ourselves up to hear from God not just for ourselves but also other people and even nations.

We and our descendants can be trusted by God to be His vessels to fulfil as well as convey His plans, some of which could bring great deliverance to nations as in the case of Asaph’s descendant Jahaziel. God said through Jahaziel, before Jehoshaphat and the crowd

“15 Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lordsays: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel.

17 But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!””

PRAYER AND LISTENING TO GOD’S WORD RESULTS IN RECEIVING GOD’S WISE STRATEGIES FOR A VICTORIOUS OUTCOME

When Jehoshaphat having prayed accepted the prophetic Word of God, God gave Him the strategy of how to advance, he followed the instructions and Judah was victorious in the warfare against the great Army:

“18 Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the Lord. 19 Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout.

20 Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.”

21 After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang:

“Give thanks to the Lord;

his faithful love endures forever!”

22 At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lordcaused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.

23 The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other.

24 So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.

25 King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing,[e] and other valuables—more than they could carry. There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all!26 On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing,[f] which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today.

27 Then all the men returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, overjoyed that the Lord had given them victory over their enemies. 28 They marched into Jerusalem to the music of harps, lyres, and trumpets, and they proceeded to the Temple of the Lord.

29 When all the surrounding kingdoms heard that the Lordhimself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them. 30 So Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.

©April2016 DENyamekye

🎤🎼🎸A Song of Praise: The Battle is the LORD’s !

The Battle is the LORD’s

I shall declare it,

far and near

and shall not fear.

The Battle is the LORD’s

yet He arms me with strength.

I march in awe.

Boosted and bonded with

soldiers, we march in awe.

Our strength is in

weapons from above,

mighty to pull down every

stronghold, and cast down

all powers binding

people of God.

The Battle is the LORD’s

I shall declare it,

far and near

and shall not fear.

The Battle is the LORD’s

yet He gives

me strategies.

I march to war.

Skilled and schooled with

generals, we march to war.

Our strategies are wisdom

from God above,

Mighty to pull down every

high thing,

and cast down all exalted

against the knowledge of God.

We are one,

from every nation,

regardless of race

association,

Rich or poor

and life’s station

He calls us, we are one,

and arms us as one.

The Battle is the LORD’s

We shall declare it,

far and near

and shall not fear.

We shall not fear

for the Battle is the LORD’s !

Scriptures inspiring Song:

John 17:21, 2 Corinth. 10:5, 2 Corinth. 10:4, 2 Chronicles 20

(©160416-DENyamekye)

The above is a chapter in the book: Wielding the Sword of the Spirit by Deborah Esther Nyamekye sold on amazon online,The Good News bookshop, Leyton London & Manna Christian centre, Streatham London

📸Snapshots of Glory -Word Focus 2 Day: An Excellent You!

“Potential to excel is essential to un-tap God’s intentions for you among the nations” (1)

God has given you and I potential to excel. The reality is that it is possible to attain that height of excellence in God, mount up to that place where we are fruitful in a manner that only God can cause us to be for the sake of multitudes among the nations. How? If we abide in God and allow His word to sanctify and therefore transform us.

Friends you may not feel qualified according to man’s standards, but remember that God qualifies and vindicates the called according to His purposes or set standards.

In the bible Gideon (Judges 6-8) and Saul (1 Samuel 9) did not feel they qualified at the time of their calling to leadership by God.

David did not look like a likely king of Israel in Samuel the prophet’s eyes, but he, and not his brother (Samuel’s choice), was the one God chose (1 Samuel 16). God told Samuel that unlike man, He does not look at the appearance but the heart of the person.

Indeed this speaks volumes; when you feel you are overlooked or cast aside, rest assured the only one who is in absolute control of your life has a plan predestined for your life that no one can prevent, not even a prophet of God!

God does not look at your outward appearance (i.e height, features, weight etc..) and base His decision as to whether to endow you with the potential to excel for His glory on it.

In fact God is known to choose the most unlikely ones in people’s eyes for exploits.

“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinth.1:27 ESV).

Jesus chose a group of men as his disciples who included those considered in his day to be at the bottom scale of society (i.e fishermen) and in undesirable (i.e a tax collection) employment. If Jesus said to them, not allowing their status to be a hinderance to their predestined call, “You will be my witnesses … to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8) then he is saying the same to his disciples today.

While Jesus came initially to the Israelites, his ministry evolved to reveal that he came for the world (John 3:16) or “as many as received him (John 1:12) in other words anyone from anywhere who receives him; Jew, gentile, male, female, slave or free (1 Corinth. 12:13/ Gal. 3:28). This was revealed in his ministerial encounters with people of different cultures, social status and genders such as the Roman Centurion whose servant Jesus healed, the Samaritan woman and Mary of Bethany.

In addition the great commission of believers of all nationalities, whether male or female is to spread the gospel in nations of the world (Matt.28:18-20).

“For potential to excel that’s ripe, tap into Christ to un-tag from a world that’s stagnant in strife, where offence is rife”(2)

Living a life in Him (God) so as to fulfil your destiny or purpose requires a no nonsense approach. When the ungodly world says “No you can’t” because it looks at you through the lenses of what the status-quo

dictates, and stereotypical norms assume about “people like you”, such as your social or economic class, nationality, race or culture, you must rise up and say “In Christ, yes I can!”.

Such an approach is only possible if you do not see yourself as others define you, but rather as God defines you according to His word.

The scripture “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” (Romans 12:2 NLT).

This aforementioned scripture is apt in that it encourages us to be transformed by renewing our minds. The most effective way in which our minds can be renewed is by meditating on scriptures about our Christian identity among others. Such scriptures remind us daily of who God says we are in a world that is constantly attempting to conform us to its diabolical ways in our thoughts and deeds. From the standpoint of an identity well grounded in Christ, we can then be bold in the pursuit of our predestined purpose on earth.

You are a treasure in an earthen vessel as a believer in Christ (xxx) therefore be reminded that someone, somewhere needs the treasure of God that is YOU! You have so much to offer the world because of the excellent power of God within YOU! so seize those opportunities to excel that God presents to you daily.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (2 Corinth. 4:7 KJV).

©17-02-2018 DENyamekye

Quotes from Poem “Potential to Excel”: paragraph (1) and (2) by DENyamekye

Snapshots of weekly devotional delights captured from God’s Word of truth: The Snapshots of Glory series are posted in “Manna from on High” Blog of Ready Writer Prophetic Scribe Ministry, an Inspirational writing an publishing ministry, subsidiary of Bearwitness-Forerunner Ministries International founded by Minister Deborah Esther Nyamekye

Subscribe to blog to receive these weekly devotionals or join the mailing list by sending your email address to readywriterps451@gmail.com

https://readywriterps451.org/2018/02/17/%f0%9f%93%b8snapshots-of-glory-word-focus-2-day-the-excellent-you/

📸Snapshots of Glory – Word Focus 2 Day: At The Altar of Sacrifice

As believers in Jesus Christ, we have been called to not only bring ourselves to the altar of sacrifice as covenanted children of God, but also to bring all that belongs to us and all who we love to the altar of sacrifice. The term altar of sacrifice simply means committing ourselves, what is ours, people and things we love sacrificially to the LORD.

The use of the word “altar” here is in reference to Abraham and how he obeyed God by preparing to sacrifice his son Isaac at the altar as he would do a ram or a goat. It was when he was about to kill his son Isaac that God stopped him and provided a ram as a substitute.

God then said “16..Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that 17 I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants[a] beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies.18 And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.” (Gen. 22:16-17NLT).

As in Abraham’s case, it is evident that it is not enough being covenanted or surrendered to God as Abraham was, He requires us to covenant or surrender all that we cherish to him.

God also led me to think further about what else constitutes a sacrificial life unto God. What came to mind is the fact that our calling is to not only love God but others sacrificially.

As much as we love God unreservedly or sacrificially and we love ourselves as a result, we are also called to love others, believers and non believers, unconditionally.

“Jesus replied, “..,You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’””Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” (John 10:26-28 NLT). One’s “neighbour” is either a Christian or a non Christian.

Sadly many hold back from expressing love and therefore care for others because of past experiences of being hurt or rejected when they had done so. Some leaders have also developed the erroneous mindset that the mark of a good leader is one who ensures they show their authority by not being too familiar with their subordinates.

Jesus ate at table with his disciples, washed their feet and allowed one of them John to rest on his bosom. Jesus did these things and more to demonstrate that in the Kingdom of God the mark of a great and true leader is one who is not afraid to demonstrate humility and love to those they lead.

One can give all one’s goods to the poor and manifest diligence in Godly service and have gifts of prophecy among others, but if one is not demonstrating the sacrificial God kind of love them one is actually not pleasing God. The Apostle Paul expressed it in this manner to the biblical book of Corinthians:

“If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.” (1 Corinth. 13:2 NLT).

Jesus who died a sacrificial death for mankind said “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13NLT).

Jesus taught as follows “…I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” (Matthew 5:44 NLT)

It is worthy to note Jesus used the word “friend” in John 15:13 NLT. Indeed it is sacrificial to “lay down one’s life” for someone who is not even blood related to us and also for our enemies. It means we are willing to go the extra mile in terms of demonstrating unconditional love and kindness towards them.

Jesus was criticised by the Jewish religious leaders for keeping company with “many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners…” (Mark 2:15-16 NLT).

If we are able to love sacrificially despite being at the risk of making ourselves vulnerable and therefore open to criticism and rejection, then we are truly manifesting sacrificial behaviour for the sake of God as Christ did, hence affirming our love for God.

The Apostle John said “If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?” (1 John 4:20 NLT).

Let us always remember brethren that what constitutes genuine sacrificial living before God “at the altar of sacrifice” includes but goes beyond what we normally think of as sacrifice which is the giving of ourselves, all that belongs to us i.e. those we love, to God.

In fact the affirmation of whether we are true Children of God who please God is determined by how we relate to our fellow human beings.

Therefore Brethren, when we are committed to doing all that we desire to do as living sacrifices unto God, let us remember that God places great significance on how we conduct our interpersonal relationships on a day to day basis. May He help us in our weakness.

Poem – Altar of Sacrifice

At the altar of sacrifice

I arise from the fall,

surrendering before God,

I give Him my all.

My all is giving of my heart

and that is where I start.

My all is offering what’s so dear

’cause of reverential fear of God.

At the altar of sacrifice,

I give my all

to stand tall before the LORD.

My all is loving mankind

as I am loved by God

who is one of a kind.

My all is giving up my life for

friends and praying for my foes.

Always ready to pay a price,

I surrender all

at the Altar of Sacrifice.

©2016 Deborah E.Nyamekye

Weekly Snapshots of Glory series

Subscribe to this blog to receive it weekly or email me at readywriterps451@gmail.com

A Petition

When troubled waters rock my life boat, I ask that you keep me afloat and plead for courage to walk on the turbulent waters of life.

I seek peace in your streams of love and ask that you be the anchor of my weather-beaten soul and the one who stills my storm-tossed mind.

Clear my fog-blinded eyes with divine salve that I may see the way to that place where it is

never night, only day…

neither sorrow nor fright,

only everlasting joy.

©9-02-2018DENyamekye

📸Snapshots of Glory – Word Focus 2 Day: Fully Committed? Receive life in its fullness

Life in fullness is the life God offers to all who are His. We lack nothing because all that God has for us is available to us. According to His Word, we have all that pertains to life and Godliness because of God’s divine power (1 Peter 1:3)which gives us the strength we need to live life to the full.

As we know our Christian life is at the same time an instant reality as it is a progressive journey. We receive the free gift of salvation; Our justification as children of God is as a result of Christ’s righteousness credited (or imputed) to us because of faith in him not because of our works (2 Corinth. 5:21/ Eph. 2:8-9).

We also undergo the sanctification process. However for the truth of our justification and therefore righteousness to manifest as a daily reality, we must exercise our freewill (yes it was never taken away when we believed in Christ!), by choosing to partner with Elohim God in the sanctification process.

Some people choose to attain a higher godlike self or super humanity by depending on meditation techniques of eastern religions’ gurus or repetition human induced mantras of modern day life coaches who do not have the God of our Lord Jesus Christ as their source. The aforementioned is not for us who are children of Elohim God; God through Christ, His Word and in the power of the Holy Spirit is our source of salvation and sanctification; our goal is to be holy as God is and commanded us to be ( 1 Peter 1:16) after all we are created in His image (Gen.1:26-28).

I’M I FULLY COMMITTED?

Becoming holy or manifesting as consecrated and sanctified depends on the degree at which we are willing to surrender to God and to be fully committed to Him in every area of our lives. We reap what we sow (Gal.6:7). God’s presence, power and glory are made manifest or at work in and through us only when we obey and keep His commands as expressed by Jesus (John 14:21,23).

THE REWARDS OF THE FULLY COMMITTED: STRENGTHENED TO DO ALL THINGS

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness. (John 10:10 Berean Study Bible)”. While this scripture is for all believers in Christ to take hold of, it becomes a reality only in the lives of those who obey God’s commands, the fully committed that is. They receive life in its fullness or abundant life. What does this mean?

-A life that is void of condemnation; one is set free from the law of sin and death by the law of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1-3)

-A life full of assurance that God is in control of the world and every area of one’s life.

-by God the person produces lasting fruit (John 15:16).

-by God the person is able to fulfil their predestined potential or purpose.

“The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him”. (Chronicles 16:9NLT)

These were the words of the Prophet Hanani to King Asa of Judah when he depended on Ben Hadad, King of Aram to help him in his warfare against Israel.

Friends, who do you depend on as your source of strength or power,

is it yourself, others or God? If like King Asa we seek human help rather than God’s then it means we are not fully committed to God.

As verse 9 of 2 Chronicles 16 affirms, it is to the fully committed, those who depend and rely on God that His searching eyes rests upon to strengthen or empower so that they will be productive for His sake. They are a picture of the faithful church (Rev.3:7-13) as opposed to the lukewarm or compromising church (Rev. 3:12-17/14-22).

The fully committed “…dwell in the secret place of the Most High” and “Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psa.91:1). They receive God’s promises and blessings (verses 9-16):

“9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,

Even the Most High, your dwelling place, 10 No evil shall befall you,

Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you in all your ways.

12 In their hands they shall bear you up,Lest you dash your foot against a stone.13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. 14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

The Apostle Paul’s life as one fully committed to God and His purposes is evidence of a life lived in its fullness.

The Apostle Paul knew that it was only by Elohim God’s strength or empowerment at work within him that he was able to do all the great and many things that he did. He said

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”(Phil 4:13 NKJV).

Jesus said “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 NLT).

Many of us quote the Apostle Paul’s words frequently “I can do all things through Christ who strengths me” that is all well and good, but friends, may our confession be true prophetic declarations as opposed to hollow utterances! Meaning?

If we are fully committed in our relationship with God, totally dependent on Him through Christ, His Word in the power of the Holy Spirit, then we are exercising our free will in accordance with what and in whom we believe.

The result is that God’s written and spoken word works for us; In the breath of God is the life of God with which He created the world including us and is working daily to make us manifest as His workmanship created for good works (Eph. 2:10).

God therefore responds to our fully committed lifestyles by ensuring that scriptures and prophetic words fulfil their intended purpose, His will in heaven being done for us on earth.

To God be the glory!

Scriptural reading & meditation:

2 Chronicles 16:1-9, Psalm 91, John 14:21,23.

©31-01-2018 DENyamekye

Snapshots of Glory will be posted once a week (towards or on the weekend)

I Surrender

My life is yours,

your glory to impart.

I surrender my life

withholding nothing.

Even in the midst of

turmoil & strife,

I surrender everything.

My hands are yours,

your works to perform.

My feet are yours,

your strides to take.

I give myself away

withholding nothing.

Even in the midst of storms

without delay,

I surrender everything.

My life is yours,

your glory to impart.

©31-01-2018 DENyamekye