Tag: discipleship

Today’s Verse: Galatians 6:7 & Exhortation

Brethren let us always remember that we reap what we sow and while stopping to think about the consequences of our actions is not often easy or should I say automatic, it is necessary. Necessary, because it can save as so much pain or turmoil.

It will also save us unnecessary time wastage.I have had my struggles in this area and learnt from many mistakes and some of you can relate. God is faithful and knows our hearts are often in the right place, desiring to reap for Him what He has sown in and through us.

I can testify that when I have been obedient to God’s Word such as forgiven and prayed for those who hurt or afflict me and put others first I have reaped natural and spiritual blessings.I can also testify that He has come through for me many times and outworked all things for my good (Romans 8:38), when things could have gone from bad to worse. Think about your past and present state, what can you testify about the goodness of God especially when you have sown what pleases Him?

I agree that we don’t always know what blessings are rewards for what we have done, but sometimes we can discern outcomes that are tied to our acts of kindness or obedience to God’s Word.

We have a God who is patient with us and will help us in our weakness when we call on Him. Praise Him!! Blessings to you & yours

Deborah x

©️DENyamekye

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“Truth in the inward parts”, the highway to God of Truth’s Conditional Promises

Key scriptures: Romans 8:31-32, Psalm 51:6, John 14:21,23

Joshua said to the Israelites

“Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the LORD your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!”(Joshua 23:14 NLT).

Joshua’s words affirm what is true, we serve a God who does not lie period!

“he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!”(Isa.15:29 NLT).

He is a God of Truth, this is why His Spirit is also named by Christ as the Spirit of Truth.

“He is the Spirit of Truth who leads into all truth…” (John 14:17 NLT).

The fact that He is a God of Truth is a delight to the ears of the believer in Christ as myself and a spring in our step when we focus on scriptures that speak of His blessed promises to us. These includes His faithfulness to provide for and protect us.

“Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” (James 1:17 NLT).

Caution! His truth is not only demonstrated when He fulfils His blessed promises as Joshua articulated so well when he said to the Israelites:

“But as surely as the LORD your God has given you the good things he promised, he will also bring disaster on you if you disobey him. He will completely destroy you from this good land he has given you. (Joshua 23:15 NLT).

There are those among believers in Christ who subconsciously as well as consciously do not serve the God of Truth wholeheartedly.

Consciously, some profess to be God’s children but pick and choose which of His scriptures to obey or disobey. In addition, they would interpret certain scriptures to suit their carnal longings and desires deceiving themselves and others but certainly not God.

Despite the aforementioned, such people require God to serve them wholeheartedly and in fact demand it! They pray and quote scriptures back at Him expecting Him to fulfil their every wish and command! If they do not receive answers to their prayers and in their timing, they become angry with God and often times people around them become victims of their wrath.

As a believer in Christ, I confess to haven been among the subconscious category of people who did not serve God wholeheartedly. I use the past tense because I hope I have overcome that tendency, if not, may God continue to help me do so.

I recall I would be recurrently engaging in sinful acts whether large or small based on my mindset and decisions (I later realised that some were rooted in not only personal sins but generational iniquities) I would take unaware that despite a consciously fervent life in Christ, such acts were contrary to God’s will and were therefore the reasons why blockages to sustained peace and answers to prayers were taking place.

In fact I blamed the devil, but while evil was certainly involved, evil can only have its way in the life of a Christian if they become self reliant and collude with Satan by disobeying God. Satan and his demonic army cannot have a foothold or an “entry pass” in our lives without our assistance.

“Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.” (Prov. 26:2 NLT).

Yes, some sins are glaringly obvious to us but from experience I know that there are some that we commit on a recurring basis that if but for living a life in fellowship with the Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin and reveals hidden sins and iniquities, exposes God’s truth contrasting it with our self deception and Satan’s lies, they would remain hidden. I thank God for His powerful Holy Spirit in my life.

Satan and the flesh nature under satanic control majors in hiddenness, meaning they scheme to ensure people, including Christians stay in darkness and are never enlightened to Elohim’s truth.

This is how the kingdom of darkness (Satan’s) founded and built on lies about humanity and the world advances.

“God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.” (John 3:19 NLT).

David, the son of Jesse who become king of Israel knew about his own personal fragility and valued his relationship with God to the point that he did not want his sinful ways, pretensions and presumptions that would be exposed as lies to serve as obstacles to his intimate relationship with God. Therefore He prayed in this manner which certainly appeals to me:

“How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.

Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me.

Then I will be free of guilt

and innocent of great sin.

May the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

(Ps. 19:12-14 NLT)

And also

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (Ps. 139:23-24 NLT).

I state that this manner of praying appeals to me because I feel led to pray in the same way as it gets the job done! In other words as long as it is from a sincere heart, the Holy Spirit who abides in the heart of every believer in Christ is activated to answer by convicting the one who prayed if need be and enlightening them to the sinful acts, thoughts or decisions they are making.

I can testify that as one who is eager to make peace and so sustain intimacy with God by refusing to bow to my flesh and Satan through denial, pretence and presumption, I have noticed many times that the Holy Spirit has unveil to me my erroneous thought patterns, decisions and actions which I would not have otherwise been enlightened to.

This has caused me to exclaim in horror and feel the conviction and sorrow necessary to bring me to repentance and a resolve to change my ways with God’s help.

As God desires His truth in the inward parts of humanity, anyone who desires the same opens their hearts to receive revelation of His wisdom or the knowledge of his ways required to live a victorious Christian life (Ps. 51:6).

The Apostle Paul writes about God’s Spirit as follows:

“For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit..” (1 Corinth. 2:10-11 NLT).

Indeed we serve a God who reveals His thoughts or will by His Spirit so as to redeem us. His love is everlasting and He is dedicated to rebuilding our lives. As He said to the ancient Israelites so He says to us;

“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. I will rebuild you, my virgin Israel. You will again be happy and dance merrily with your tambourines.” (Jeremiah 31: 3-4 NLT).

It pleases God that we His children would want to sustain our relationship with Him by desiring to know whether we are in sin and if so to confess our sins and ask God to cleans us from all unrighteousness; This is indeed what we are commanded to do according to His Word of truth (1 John 1:9).

God’s promises are true, however their manifestation is only possible within an intimate relationship with Him where we revere Him to the point of receiving His Word of truth as well as demonstrating it in every area of our lives.

“All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.” (John 14:23 NLT).

When obedience to God’s Word of truth results in God’s glorious presence in one’s life, it also means that all that God has predestined for the person is available to them. God’s promises are therefore conditional to our obedience.

Satan is crafty and will never leave the children of God alone, if it is not one scheme to blindfold us so as to deceive us, it is another; Satan will use every opportunity in this materialistic world to attempt to make us self-reliant or self-sufficient and think that we do not need to rely or depend on God.

This is why as believers in Christ fellowship with the Holy Spirit is absolutely crucial to us living Victorious Christian lives. By the enabling of the Holy Spirit, the disciples of Christ, who is the light (John 8:12) in a dark world, are able to have the “light of life” or know the truth of Elohim God and be set free by it (John 8:31-32).

Those who truly abide in God are therefore unable to live in denial or pretence because the Spirit of Truth has the liberty to teach them and remind them of the teachings of Jesus (John 14:26/15:26).

They have a choice either to obey or disobey the Word of Truth. If they decide to disobey, then the status of their relationship with God changes to their detriment. The Israelites knew this as they suffered punishment when they disobeyed God. Even an individual’s disobedience (Achan’s) resulted in the entire nation of Israel suffering defeat in the battle at Ai because of God’s anger (Joshua 7).

In Joshua’s final message (Joshua 24) to the Israelites before he died, he reminded them of their ancestral inheritance starting from Abraham and how God had delivered them from Egypt and given them victory over their enemies and the land of Canaan, then he implored them to throw away the gods of their forefathers and not to forsake the LORD their God. If they forsook Him, they would suffer the consequences:

“If you abandon the LORD and serve other gods, he will turn against you and destroy you, even though he has been so good to you.” (Joshua 24:20 NLT). Again we note that God is truthful in his plan to punish as He is in his plan to bless.

The Israelites then assured Joshua repetitively that they will not forsake the LORD, but would serve Him (Josh. 24:21-24). Joshua put a large stone under an oak tree near the holy place of the LORD and said that the stone “It will be a witness to testify against you if you go back on your word to God.”(Joshua 24:27 NLT)

As God will not tolerate compromise in worship because “…he is a holy and jealous God” (Josh. 24:19 NLT) so too He will not tolerate a lying people. This is because God desires: “truth in the inward parts” (Ps. 51:6 KJV).

In the New Living Translation version Psalm 51:6 a) is expressed as follows “But you desire honesty from the womb..”.

Honesty before God and men is synonymous with being a Christian and can be expressed as a cloak of honesty that is supposed to be a permanent attire of a believer in Christ because it is woven from God’s Word of truth and reflects the nature of God.

In human terms it does not mean one is perfect because no one but Elohim God is perfect, it means one has integrity of the highest order borne out of a heart that is constantly quick to confess and acknowledge Satan’s lies, self-deception and also quick to repent and embrace God’s truth according to His unadulterated Word.

©️7-Oct.2018 DENyamekye

In the Lowly & Humble Son we see Father

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:

1. 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

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

b) 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.

c) 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

Eruption!

EruptionIn John 8:32, disciples of Jesus are told by him that they shall know the truth and the truth shall set them free! May we receive the eruption of truth (and therefore its transforming power) that comes to us from the indwelling Holy Spirit!

 

Taking Stock: What Kind of a Disciple are you? 


In Luke 9:57-62 we read about three potential disciples of Jesus. Brethren as we enter into the closing of this year (the last quarter), 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 from henceforth be 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

Living a Purpose Driven Life Unto God

living-life-with-a-true-purpose-quotes

Introduction
An encouraging message which explores what it means to live a purpose driven life unto God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Such a life starts with cultivating intimacy with God through Jesus Christ which results in the opening of the portals of Heaven or the revelatory realm of God to us. In this place we inevitably know God, find favour and receive His revelatory gifts and become empowered to do exploits for Him.

Daniel is revealed to be one of our role models in this regard. I end with two contrasting prophetic poems I wrote some weeks apart, their contrast conveys the clear message of two lifestyles that are completely different; a life that seeks first the Kingdom of God and His purposes (“Intimacy with Purpose”) and a life that does not (“Significant unto Self”).

Living a Purpose Driven Life Unto God

In the Bible, Daniel did not only receive visions and dreams from God and had the gift of interpretation of dreams, he was also a man of purpose.

These were his achievements as a young man; He
-rose to pre-eminence in his own nation Israel (Daniel 1:3-6)
-rose to pre-eminence in Babylon,
a) among the wise men (Daniel  1:17-20),
b) gained power over all of Babylon (Daniel 2:48-49;5:29)
and
-obtained power over the Medo-Persian empire (Daniel 6:1-3,28).

How did Daniel, an Israelite attain so much power and authority in the heathen empires? It was because he was a man of purpose. Daniel did not wake up one day as a child of God and say “I want to have power over nations and to be famous, I am going to do all I can to attain that goal!”

We get an insight into Daniel’s no nonsense and bold “I purpose to live for God at all cost!” attitude when we read Daniel 1:8 (KJV) among other verses:

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”

From a very young age Daniel purposed in his heart to be a sincere and committed worshipper of the God of Israel. He allowed God to set his goals and priorities all the time. He was not hasty in his actions, but took time to be in the “Secret place” with God and to hear from Him. This is why Daniel was a man who knew his God, was bold and had favour with God and man, a foundation to build on and do exploits for God. When we develop the habit of pursuing God with all that is in us, we inevitably become His visionaries because our lifestyles scream out “Lord, I am available! Speak to me! I want to hear or see what you have to say or show me”.

God is graciously raising people like Daniel today. Are we counted as one of these people?

purposeIn the biblical book of Revelations, Jesus was speaking to those who are his when he said “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20 WEB).

These words of Jesus reveals that in addition to  confessing that one is his or God’s, one needs to advance in one’s Christian walk to the “secret place” of his presence  or intimacy with God where one receives revelation or insight into God’s mind, will and purposes. He “knocks” by offering himself to those who are his in many ways especially through the Holy Spirit that testifies of him and indwells the believer and through the Word of God which he personifies (John 1).

Those who qualify to be Jesus’ disciples, he calls friends (John 15:15), for unlike servants they have access to revelation of Father’s words and therefore his secrets and will through Jesus, they are the ones who accept to open the door of their lives to a knocking Jesus. They accept the invitation of Jesus to “come up here” (Rev. 4:1) to abide with him closely, so that through intimacy they know God, receive His power, favour and revelatory gifts as Daniel did.

Jesus Christ also makes it clear that obedience to his will which demonstrates love for him is the key (John 14:21-26) to entering his and Father God’s presence or glory. This produces a life that is purposeful unto God.

Brethren, God has not changed since the days of Daniel and as long as we are willing and completely surrendered to Him, God’s plans and purposes will be fulfilled in our lives. If per chance you feel you have made too many mistakes and think it is too late or you are too old to get back on track, I have a message for you today,  it does not matter how old we are for we can start afresh with God at any age or stage. Determine today to begin or to continue at all costs to live a purpose driven life founded on the Word of God in total surrender so as to fulfill God’s destiny for your life.

When you do this, it means you are living in obedience to God’s precious Word; key scriptures such as

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33 KJV)

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” (Proverbs 5:3-8 KJV).

God is willing to do whatever it takes to help us live a purpose driven life so that we are stay on course fulfilling our God given destinies. He forgives us again and again or endless times and He is a God of second, third, fourth or multiple chances. The only condition is that we acknowledge our sins and repent before him (1 John 1:9), surrendering our lives totally to Him so as to exchange our purposes for His.

PROPHETIC POEMS

  1. Significant unto Self
    Introduction:
    I felt led to contemplate on the futility and consequences of life without God. The ultimate purposeless life is one lived without God. Self worth attained by placing one’s significance in things and achievements instead of God is meaningless as is life without God of our Lord Jesus Christ in general. “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” (Ecc. 1:2).

Significant unto Self

“I am significant”
repeat this in a trance,
believe it at a glance
at your achievements
and accolades.

What is the purpose
if you have no repose
only tension with no solution?

What is the purpose
if you see the broad way of death
but are blind to the narrow way of life?

What is the purpose
if your hands are tied
and you ride on the waves
of hell and cannot tell
when Jesus calms the tide so you can walk by
faith and not by sight and be set alight to do what is right?

There is no purpose!
©Deborah E.Nyamekye 14/01/2016

2. Intimacy with Purpose

Introduction:
The intimate relationship a Christian has with Abba Father through Christ Jesus automatically results in them having a purpose in life beyond this relationship because through it they become like Daniel as they “purpose” in their heart that they “would not defile” themselves but rather live sanctified or consecrated lives unto God.

This means through obedience and surrender as Daniel they are able to know their God, receive His strength and arise in His power to do exploits.

This poem is about a person who not only wants to live a worshipful life unto God “cradled” in his arms (fat with His blessed presence and glory) but desires more than just merely warming church pews… so to speak! He or she desires to be of use to Him for the sake of the world as a “City set on a hill”, or a light that cannot be hidden.
Basket_Light

Intimacy with Purpose

Almighty God,
dwelling in thy Secret Place I see thy face
and I am love struck  and stricken by thy grace.
I have nothing in my palms to give thee as a
holy offering of alms, so I give myself to
thee as a babe cradled in thy arms.

I abide under the shadow of the Almighty,
not so that I can sleep, oblivious to the trillions
of issues in the deep, but so that I can learn to
discern thy will, be strong in the power of thy
might and emit thy light as a city set on a hill.

For Jesus said to me “You are the light of the world like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father(1)”.

((1)Matthew 5:14-16 NLT, Psalm 91:1, Eph.6:10) ©Deborah E.Nyamekye 26/01/2016

©Deborah E.Nyamekye 29/01/2016

Poems are part of Poetry in new Books:  Our God Reigns: Inspirational Prophetic Christian Poetry  Part 1 & 2 for sale here: www.amazon.com/author/nyamekyede

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Trending for 5 weeks 5 Part Series – Plain Speaking & Counsel Articles

Plain-Speaking-1Plain Speaking & Counsel Series:
Articles to challenge, inspire and encourage you in your Christian walk.

Every Sunday for 5 weeks starting 21st August 2016.
I post on Online Magazine: My Trending Stories at https://mytrendingstories.com/profile/deborah-esther/

My 5 Part articles themed as PLAIN SPEAKING & COUNSEL.

(Plain Speaking in writing ? It’s a style or manner of writing as in speech: direct, outspoken, bold, frank and blunt)

PLAIN SPEAKING & COUNSEL I : The question of failures/affliction – is it always the fault of the devil, me or both?

PLAIN SPEAKING & COUNSEL II: The question of friendships; Acquaintance, close/inner circle friend or none of the above!

PLAIN SPEAKING & COUNSEL III: Gotcha! Traits of the Enemy within; Self Idolater, Idolater & Self-Dependence.

PlAIN SPEAKING & COUNSEL IV:
Seeking sustained “Apple of God’s eye” victorious Christian living?Use the Primary Davidic Key.

PlAIN SPEAKING & COUNSEL V:
Close Friends by Divine Appointment.

God bless Deborah ✝

 

NOTE STARTING 5 Part Series – Jesus’ Identity, Purpose & Oneness with the Father on My Trending Stories click to follow https://mytrendingstories.com/profile/deborah-esther/

Dear all,

In honour of Jesus the Messiah, for our meditation and reflection, over the next 5 weeks on a Wednesday starting today, I will be posting teachings/devotionals entitled “Jesus’ identity, Purpose & Oneness with Father” in My Trending Stories, an online magazine whose team of writers I joined (having been asked) a couple of weeks ago.

If you are new to my blog, you would have missed this series of March 2016 on this blog (still available, check March posts).
You won’t want to miss these teachings, often styled as inspirationals or devotionals to give further insight or revelation into

who Christ is, his relationship with God and us.

Please check my blog here or follow me on My Trending Stories (in fact I invite you to follow me there! as I may be posting new articles there not on this blog)

https://mytrendingstories.com/profile/deborah-esther/

Let us Confess & Declare God’s Word daily

Need empowerment to fulfil your destiny? Yes we must pray, but there is also power in declaration and confession of God’s Word over our lives.
 
Jesus is the Word who become flesh and dwelt among men (John 1). He said “The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (John 6:63 NLT).
 
The writer of Hebrews said “12For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12 KJV).
 
Saints/Prayer Warriors, God’s Word in your mouth is powerful! Everything that is dead in your life must come to life and must resurrect in newness or must be realigned to the will and plan of God. Jesus came to give you and I abundant life! (John 10:10).
 
Declare and Confess scriptures upon yourself and your loves ones daily. God’s word is His prophetic word for humanity especially those who have accepted to be in covenant with him for they have entitlement to His promises.
 
Before we make declarations and confessions in the manner of receiving what is ours in God’s word, it is important for us to first examine our hearts and come into repentance if we need to, asking God to forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us.
 
We can confess and declare any aspect of God’s Word (i.e His promises) according to our need or desire, but join me in these specific confessions and declarations:
 
Confession:
My head shall be lifted up above my enemies round about me, according to the Word of the LORD.
 
I am anointed with the oil of gladness.
 
Sun of righteousness, rise on me, with healing in your wings,according to the Word of the LORD.
 
All yokes in my life are broken according to the Word of the LORD. Amen (Isa. 27:10)
 
Declarations/Confessions:
I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me.
 
All things are under my feet in my position as one seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus.
 
I am a King and Priest unto God and unstoppable for His sake.
 
I therefore declare all demonic plans against my life and that of my family nullified and thwarted in Jesus’ mighty name! Amen (Psalm 33:10-12/Col.2:14-15)
 
I am a covenanted child of God, an heir with Christ and receive my God given inheritance through him.
 
I therefore reject, revoke and renounce every unknown allegiance to Satan and any ungodly alliance or covenant I entered into blindly.
 
In Jesus’ mighty name! Amen.
(c) Deborah Nyamekye 19/07/2016

“One thing”, to keep the main thing, the main thing

The main thing

I have had in mind author Stephen Covey’s quote “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing” because I have a pastor who quotes it quite often in the Christian context. In the Christian context, I would say that we must know that the main thing is to keep the central focus or “the main thing” of our Christian faith the main thing.

What is this “main thing” or central focus of our Christian faith? Our relationship with God and upon this foundation, our relationship with other Christians as well as non Christians and our God given commission to evangelise to that men would be saved.

As many know, David is one of my heroes and I will quote him when I say that keeping the “main thing” the main thing is only possible or comes naturally to us when we begin to desire the ONE THING. It is the state of our heart condition that determines whether we will activate or seek after God or keep the “main thing”, the main thing.

“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 theLord, and to enquire in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4 KJV)

As I quote the above, I get this sense that in fact David was stating in his own words set to music the fact that we must seek first God’s kingdom; abide in Him (make Him the central focus of our lives), behold His beauty (the goodness of God in its entirety) and inquire of Him (ask Him things, to gain His wisdom, knowledge and understanding).

Living such a lifestyle we become like David, able to have God’s supernatural strength to overcome afflictions day after day. There is therefore an outflow of generosity, love and ability to forgive and embrace people regardless of their background or what they do to us easily and see things from God’s perspective.

Indeed David was someone whose life exemplified one who could do all things through God who strengthened him, likewise if we have the same conviction as David, through Christ, we are empowered or strengthened to be able to do all things (Phil 4:13).

You cannot give what you do not have, and as we are in the worst of times in terms of the works of the powers of darkness, may we stay in the place of pursuing God with more zeal as never before so that we are transformed and strengthened through His word and fellowship in the Spirit daily. Let us keep in mind that it is not only for our sake that we do this, but so that the fountain of living waters (Holy Spirit) within us will overflow into the lives of our families, friends, neighbourhood and even on national levels.

“The zeal of your house has consumed me” (Ps.69:9 NIV/John 2:17)

Without your zeal for God at whatever cost someone may never know God or receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, just think about that!

“And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14 NIV)

Brethren, may we take stock of our personal lives and honestly search our hearts asking “Have I made “the main thing, the main thing” this year and past years? It is not too late for us to repent if we need to and tell the Lord that we will change our ways, seek after him first, not what we want from him.

My Desire for His Things

To have all things
The Kingdom I first seek,
To do all things
Christ’s strength I entreat.

One Thing I desire
Is what I do seek
To abide in God
His beauty to behold
To enquire in His abode
His Word to savor
And rest in His favour.

One main thing I desire is
What I do seek
To heal the sick and
Strengthen the weak
To feed the hungry the Word of Truth
For the way of Father to take solid root.

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed

Deborah Esther
©Deborah E. Nyamekye 9/12/2015

Posted on 9th Dec 2016/29th May 2016