The Great Depression?

The Great Depression of God in the Bible the incident that constituted one of the emotional and heart breaking stories in the Bible, to me, is when the children of Israel vehemently asked for a king.

How to pray to Jesus

 I want you to tell a story. A handsome young man got married to a very pretty young woman. The prettiest in the whole community. They were not rich but they enjoyed whatever the daily labour could provide for them. Though they were not rich, they were the envy of their neighbourhood. They worked together, played together, ate together, sang together, did everything together. The woman took in and it was not easy for them. On the day of delivery, all the people in the community were present to see and rejoice with them. In the end, it was a pity the woman could not make it alive. But the baby boy was alive. It wasn’t an easy commotion in the community. The man could not be consoled. In his cry, he vowed not to marry another woman but to raise the child himself. The boy grew and also became the envy of all in the community. 

The father was his guide, his mentor, his everything. One day, he asked his father why he decided not to marry another woman. The father responded by telling him that he did not need any distraction in raising him up the way he wanted to. Things were moving smoothly until the boy graduated from college. He got a job and was doing well. He rented and moved alone into his new apartment. And all of a sudden, he sends a message to his father through a messenger he employed that he doesn’t want to see him anymore. In the message contained that seeing him is through that messenger. 

The father tearfully pleaded to get to meet with him so they could sort sort out whatever it was. His plea was adamantly turned down. How to pray with the Rosary step by step processes

The father was his guide, his mentor, his everything. One day, he asked his father why he decided not to marry another woman. The father responded by telling him that he did not need any distraction in raising him up the way he wanted to. Things were moving smoothly until the boy graduated from college. He got a job and was doing well. He rented and moved alone into his new apartment. And all of a sudden, he sends a message to his father through a messenger he employed that he doesn’t want to see him anymore. In the message contained that seeing him is through that messenger. 

The father tearfully pleaded to get to meet with him so they could sort out whatever it was. His plea was adamantly turned down.

What a heat breaking story! That is exactly what God suffered in the hands of the children of Israel. Let’s read.

Depression in our society turning the things of God in a mistery Series, a way to deploying the extral ordinary. 

1 Samuel 8:4-7. 4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thine ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. 7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. KJV. Emphasis mine.

If God could shed tears, that’s one of the moments He did. You can visibly and clearly feel what God felt from those verses. When you read further, all the pleas of God fell on deaf ears.

Jeremiah 2:1-5. 1 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD: I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. 3 Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD. 4 Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: 5 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

Micah 6:3-4. 3 O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied {wronged} thee? Testify against me. 4 For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. KJV. Emphasis mine.

God is heart-broken when ever we reject Him from being the Judge of our lives. He wants us to talk. He wants to care. He wants to support. He wants to help. But we’re not letting Him. That’s the sole reason He sent Jesus Christ to come and search us out and reconcile us back to Himself. He’s longing for a relationship with His. Would you let Him?

If you find yourself in this habit of shutting the door in God’s face, and you feel bad about it, there’s a very simple way to make an amend. Just say these few words sincerely from your heart:

My come to realize that I’ve been in the wrong

I’ve been shutting you out of my life

Thank You for loving me still

I’ve seen my wrong

And please I’m sorry for breaking Your heart

I ask that You renew my spirit to love and obey You

I welcome Jesus the Christ into my heart

And I ask that Your Holy Spirit guide my ways always

Amen.

If you made that prayer, study the Bible. You will hear Him speak to you. Pray and let Him know your concerns. He hears.

Redemption Through Jesus Christ

Christ hath redeemed us from the of law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is everything one that hangeth on a tree."

Once upon a Time, there was a poor man who owned much debt that he could not pay. Redemption through Jesus Christ, as a result, he became the lender's slave According to their law. 

Also Read: Victory Over The Bondage And Yoke of Sin in Your Christian Life

One day, somebody paid all his debt on his behalf, and he was set free. That story illustrates redemption. The death of Jesus was for our redemption. 

"For when he were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die".

But God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinner's. Christ died for us."(Romans 5:6-8)

Meaning of Redemption

" Redemption" is the translation of the Greek word apolutorsis (Pronounced Apo-ol-oo'-tro-sis) which means ransom in full. Redemption is the full price or ransom Jesus paid as the condition required for the freedom of sinner's (slayes) in order to reconcile mankind with God. 

Contacting Grace For Supernatural Exploits

In other words, God bought back sinner's through redemption. This is the same thing that happens today. Ransom is paid to secure the freedom of slaves, hostage's or those Kidnapped?

Meaning of Redemption

Unlike the human situation which necessitates payment or ransom to the captor or the master of a slave, the devil's is not entitled to received any payment for the redemption of sinner's whom he held captive.  God had a different means of redemption. 

The precious blood of Jesus paid (His Blood) satisfied all the conditions necessary to secure freedom from sinner's 1 Peter 1:17-19 states "..ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold...But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb Without blemished and Without spot." Jesus gave his life as a ransom for sinner's (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; 1 Timothy 2:3-6). However, only those who believe in Jesus and accept Him as lord and savior are redeemed.

Benefits of Redemption

1. Forgiveness of sin (Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14)

2. Freedom from condemnation under the law (Galatians 3:13). Note that the law makes everybody quilty because nobody could satisfy it's demands of requirements ( Roman's 3:19-20).

3. Justification by which God makes us righteous ( Romans 3:24)

4. Deliverance from the power of sin (1 Titus 2:14).

5. Legal right to the blessings of Abraham through faith in Jesus (Galatians 3:14)

Conclution:

God is the savior our redeemer and our protector he has the power over us and to saved guide us from all forms condemnations?

The Role of Fatherhood and Mentorship

The lack of fatherhood and mentorship in the Body of Christ has sponsored to a large degree the rate of imbalance, immaturity, and ignorance in the Body.

Because sound mentorship and fatherhood has left the Church the average believer is unaware of certain principles and precepts he should be intimate with.

Lack of mentorship and fatherhood has caused many upcoming believers to break certain spiritual laws without knowing and they suffer the consequences not withstanding.

Big organizations know that it is important to have an effective mentoring system to help thier young staff because with an effective mentoring system these youngsters can learn all they should learn and become excellent employees.

The role of mentorship and fatherhood can never be overly emphasized. It is because it is lacking in the Church that's why the young, vibrant youth do not know what is expected of him even though he's zealous for God.

So many have fallen off the Christian race because there was no one who played the role of fatherhood for them when they needed one.

Others have broken spiritual ordinances in their pursuit of God because they had no mentor to show them the path to follow.

You may say that the Holy Spirit is there to help anyone who desires to follow God but mind you the reason why God has taken you through some experiences and have dealt with you in the way He did is so that you'd use your experience and dealings to help someone else.

If all you care about is you and your pursuit of God and you do not regard or think highly of your neighbor then you are simply selfish and wicked.

You don't seem to care how the person follows God but you care how he falls into sin. This is how hypocritical the Body of Christ has become. Interested only in their pitfalls and downfalls and never willing to help them walk the way of righteousness.

In my introduction, I spoke about the various effects the lack of mentorship and fatherhood has brought on the Body of Christ.

Here's more;

1. Lack of mentorship is one of the leading causes of error in the Body of Christ. 

When people come into the Faith, they are practically left on their own allowing them to chart a course by themselves. This often results in the increased operation of error and falsehood in the Body of Christ.

2. Lack of mentorship and fatherhood brings about a shortchanging in ministerial call.

This is peculiar to persons who have got the call of God into ministry. Without adequate fatherhood and proper mentorship, the devil will succeed in perveting and shortchanging the ministry of the called.

Nothing is as painful as being abnormal or subnormal in the practice of your ministry and that's what the devil does in the absence of adequate fatherhood and proper mentorship.

It is just so obvious that, the role fatherhood and mentorship have to play in the Body of Christ can not be over-emphasized and its lack is a leading cause of the imbalance, immaturity, and ignorance that has beset the Body.

WHY DO WE NEED THE ROLE OF FATHERHOOD AND MENTORSHIP?

From the effects of the lack of fatherhood and mentorship in the Body we can deduce the reasons why we need it.

But I would outline some of the reasons why fatherhood and mentorship must be restored back to the Body of Christ.

1. To Assist "Baby Christians" Find Their Way and Steady Footing in Christ.

After Saul (Apostle Paul) met with Jesus and was converted, due to his past history as a persecutor of the Church, he was not received into the Body of Christ with open arms. He faced serious opposition as so many didn't believe he was genuinely saved.

But something happened.

"But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus." – Acts 9:27

A man called Barnabas took Apostle Paul and testified to the fact that truly Paul was now a believer before the apostles.

Apostle Paul's life and ministry would never have seen the light of the day if Barnabas didn't stand in the gap and played the role of a father and mentor.

Many new believers have fallen off the track not because the devil's temptation overwhelmed them but because there was no one acting as a father to them.

I personally would never have gone this far with God if I didn't align myself to a mentor. When I received the life of Christ in repentance, I was constantly falling into sin but from the time when I was joined to my mentor I started to become stable with my spiritual life.

If Paul who Jesus Himself encountered before he was saved needed Barnabas then what stops the new believer from having a mentor..??

2. To Help Young Minister Gain Spiritual Intelligence on Effective Ministerial Work

"Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee great roll, and write in it with  man's pen concerning Mahershalalhasbaz.

And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son  of Jeberechiah.

And I went unto the prophetess; and she she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhasbaz.

For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and My mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.

" – Isaiah 8:1-4

This was a child who was only some months old. He bore the template upon which God Almighty was to work by as regards an entire nation.

A boy of some months old was carrying on him the fate of the nation of Samaria yet he couldn't relate it. Isaiah standing in the position of fatherhood and playing the expected role of a mentor was able to relate the prophecy over the life of Mahershalalhasbaz.

Even in the Body of Christ there are "babies" who are carrying great spiritual presses yet there is no one who is acting as a father over them. By babies I do not refer to age, I am talking about spiritual maturity.

Mahershalalhasbaz had a prophecy on his life yet he didn't even know how to say "My father, talk more of knowing what prophecy he was carrying was about.

So many in Church have come under great spiritual knowledge but because no one is able to tell them how it came, why it came, and how to sustain the effect the devil comes in and steals what they've gotten.

Others still have got the call of the Spirit into ministry but are unaware because they are unable to interpret the various impulses the Spirit of God is relating to their spirit.

Psalms 8:2 says that "Out of the mouth of babes and suckling you have ordained strength..." but how would this babes communicate this strength when Fatherhood is not in place.

There's so much that God is doing with men but since the role of fatherhood and mentorship has being vacant we are experiencing very little.

3. To Provide Spiritual Covering 

The same way a father provides security, covering and protection for his children is the same way a mentor provides spiritual covering for the mentee.

Just as a child needs his father to shield him from danger so also a baby Christian needs a mentor to provide a covered for him.

Every man needs a spiritual covering over him. It becomes more needful when one comes into the Faith because the devil would always seek to pull such a one out of the Faith.

4. To Give Wise-Counsel And Sound Instruction.

"This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare" – 1 Timothy 1:18

The books of 1st and 2nd Timothy is a conpendium of wise counsel and instructions from a mentor and father (Apostle Paul) to a son and mentee (Timothy).

These instructions as Apostle Paul explains is so that Timothy can war a good warfare. The instruction Apostle Paul gave Timothy are deep and full of insights little wonder why the Bible never recorded any pitfalls in the ministry of Timothy.

You can't have access to wise counsel and instructions from someone who has gone ahead of you and fail.

Many times in my walk with God I had almost made a drastic decision which would have abruptly ended my walk with God but my mentors through wise counsel and instructions have helped me stand right.

It is only a fool that won't accept instructions from someone who hasn't gone ahead of him/her. 

Anyone who desires to grow and know God must be teachable and receptive to wisdom and instructions.

Mentors and fathers are in the best position to offer instructions and wise counsel for the growth and development of babes in Christ. Withholding wisdom and instructions from them is sheer wickedness and hatred for the Body of Christ.

5. To Be A Supportive Figure In All Ramifications

A father and mentor is supposed to provide support in all ramifications of the life of the son or mentee.

As a mentor, your mentee expects that if everyone turns their back on him/her they should have you to run to for cover and succor.

If anyone does not believe in them and their ministry, you as their mentor and father should be standing in the crowd cheering them on.

When they feel they've lost it, you should be there to reassure them they have not lost everything.

Personally, I do not outrightly become heartbroken when friends disapprove me. I just wait to hear from my mentors. If they disapprove me in the same manner then I could be heart-battered.

Why? I have placed them over me as sources of strength and support and if any seems to pull me down that can thoroughly be disheartening.

We can keep talking about the need for effective mentoring and the role of fatherhood in the Body of Christ.

Just as world-renowed organizations invest so much and channel resources for the implementation of an effective mentoring system, the Body of Christ must imbide the system of mentoring to.

Let's help build the "babes and sucklings" in Christ.

Let's help grow and develop youngsters.

Let's help bring about spiritual stability and maturity in the Body.

Let's play efficiently the role of fatherhood and effectively the ministry of mentorship!

The Dynamics of Prophecy and Prophetic Declarations

Believers get very excited at the declarations of prophecy and prophetic words. In Nigeria, for example, the most thriving of the five-fold ministry is the prophetic.

Prophetic ministries daily amass a great multitude of people because both believers and nonbelievers alike love prophesying. We want to be told we'd make it, we want to be told who is responsible for our predicament, we want to know if the future would be brighter and so on.

But I noticed a deficiency and an error as regards prophecy. As much as prophecy is sought for there is a little knowledge of what prophecy really is about both by believers and those working in the prophetic.

Consider this:

Why has the prophecies of that man of God that came to your church for revival not materialized years after?

The prophecy you received that God will change your story in two (2) months has not come to pass and it's being five (5) years since the prophecy was spoken. What went wrong?

Why is it that a good percentage of the prophetic declarations made to us never become palpable realities?

The answers to the above questions are revealed in the dynamics of prophecy and prophetic declarations which many of us do not know and have not considered even occupants of the prophetic office.

In this article, I am going to show you why despite your loud Amen's to prophetic declarations your life is a shadow of the words spoken.

You would find out what we have been doing wrong all this while in the name of prophesying!

If you work in the prophetic or you crave for the office of a prophet, then understanding these dynamics would go a long way in positioning you accurately for the call and office.

What are the dynamics for prophetic declarations?

#1. Prophetic Declarations Must First Be Established In The Place of Prayer

This is where many prophets, pastors, revivalists, and believers miss it.

They see prophetic declarations as a means of enticing the people or getting them to shout "I receive" and "amen" up and down.

Prophetic declarations are not for motivation. If the people need motivation hire a motivational speaker. A prophetic declaration is the communication of the mind of God over a particular thing, an issue or a person. 

Resorting to making prophetic declarations when you have not duly stamped anything in the realm of the Spirit is the foremost reason why your prophetic declarations often fall to the ground.

In 1Kings 17, we see Elijah arriving on the scene just out of nowhere and boldly prophesying that there would be no rain nor dew in Israel until he (Elijah) speaks again.

For a long time, when I read that scripture or I am reminded of it, I used to say that Prophet Elijah exhibited faith until I saw this;

"Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months." – James 5:17

James shows us what Elijah did before he boldly came out to prophetically declare that rain would not fall over the city of Israel. Elijah was not acting by faith but by virtue of the establishment of the prophetic declaration in the realm of the Spirit.

Every true prophet must understand how to navigate and entrench things in the realm of the Spirit through prayers.

A prophet who is not yielded to prayers is nothing for a necromancer and operates via witchcraft and satanic influences – Quote me anywhere!

Before anything can be established on the earth it must first be established in the spirit. Thus your prophetic declaration must have been established in the spirit through prayers before you can dispense them.

#2. Prophecy and Prophetic Declarations Must Be Inspired Words From God

This point is more like the 1st but with a slight difference in emphasis. 

Let me define prophecy;

Prophecy is defined as inspired declaration or description or representation of something future, beyond the power of human sagacity to foresee, discern, or conjecture.

We can also define prophecy as inspired words from God which lets people in on what God's will, purpose, and counsel is for a particular timeframe or dispensation.

In the two definitions above, there is no where prophecy is by human inspiration or will.

You do not prophecy because people asked you to neither do you prophecy because you want to. You prophecy only when God puts His words in your mouth.

Prophecy was not created for you to use in motivating people while you preach. God designed prophecy as a system through which chosen individuals (prophets) gain access to the heart of God and deliver His will, purposes and counsel to His people.

I am not so comfortable when I see prophets ask "can I prophecy?" and gullible believers scream back answering "prophecy man of God." I don't think this is scriptural.

True prophecy does not come from human inspiration, will or intellect. Words inspired by God is what prophecy is about.

Until you hear God speak over a particular issue don't say anything. Don't clamour for people to shout "Prophecy, man of God" before you relate God's mind to them.

#3. Prophetic Declarations Requires a Contention Before it Materializes.

The problem of prophecy and prophetic declarations not coming to pass is entirely not the fault of prophets. Sometimes the recipient of the prophetic word is to blame.

When a prophetic declaration goes forth, the devil would do anything and everything to make sure that prophecy never becomes a reality.

To this end after a prophetic word has gone out there is need for a contention to establish and turn the prophetic word into a reality.

The prophet may be accurate, the prophecy may be from God but if you, the recipient, fails to contend for the actualization of the prophecy then it may fall to the ground.

Prophecy and prophetic declarations are established by contention. You would need to travail so that the prophecy spoken over your life won't fail.

How then do you contend?

Through prayers. Yielding diligently to prayers.

Elijah was able to shut the heavens over the Israel and open it by fervent prayers. With prayers you can establish prophecy and turn prophetic declarations to palpable realities.

Ultimately, the prophetic is effectively operated by mastery of the art of prayers. You can establish whatsoever on the earth as long as you have  established it in the Spirit through prayers.

The prophetic is largely dependent on prayers. You can neither be a prophet or enjoy benefits from the prophetic ministry except you're yielded to prayers.

Prayers and prophesying are not separable. Keep prayers outside of prophecy and what you would have is necromancy and witchcraft.