LIVING A GODLY LIFE IS POSSIBLE

2 Peter 1:3
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.


Living a godly life is possible because of the knowledge we have of God. This knowledge is acquired, daily, as we read the bible and seek after building a personal relationship with God. As we study God’s word, and spend time in prayer, we will obtain the knowledge we need to be victorious in our lives. Everyday requires new spiritual truths for the new situations and trials we will be faced with. What we learned yesterday, may not be what we need for today. Today, I will not be a quitter, because the bible says that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. This verse brings comfort and peace within me today, so I will cling to it. What the Lord has for me tomorrow may be completely different, however my focus is on what He has for me today!


VERSE FOR MEDITATION:
The Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.-- John 14:17-23

2011 By Enyonam Gbekle. All rights reserved. 

THE POWER OF A PROMISE

 Acts 5:42
Every day in the temple courtyard and from house to house, they refused to stop teaching and telling the Good News that Jesus is the Messiah.
 

Have you considered making a promise today to the Lord to tell someone about Him? We often make and keep our promises to a friend to go to the movies, the theathre, shopping or spend time doing just about anything that they or we want us to do with them. Today, why don't you and I make our promise to Jesus to introduce Him to someone and then do our best to follow through with our promise to share what He has done for us with them.

VERSE FOR MEDITATION:
Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.--ROMANS 1:5

2011 By Enyonam Gbekle. All rights reserved.

BEING RENEWED

Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

I don't know about you but for me as summer is nearly coming to an end, I am eagerly looking forward to Autumn one of my favourite seasons. For me autumn is a season of change and of new beginnings. The air is fresh with cool breezes and clear skies where nature is at it's best. One the flip side this also happens to be the time when most of us start re accessing our goals for the year and this comes with lots of anxiety, sleepless nights and with lots of surprises.  However, none of these things are a surprise to God. Why? Because He is aware of all the changes taking place in the natural realm and so is He is aware of the ones in our personal lives too. Just as nature yields itself to God's wisdom I want to encourage you and I to yield ourselves to God's perfect plan and timing for our lives especially in this season we are about to enter  no matter what or where we might find yourself.

I call this time  "the meantime" season and I am encouraged by today's scripture that says, "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." As we are about to enter into this new season lets be in expectant as God renews our strength by ushering us into our new beginnings and giving us a fresh start in our careers, relationships, jobs, ministries as new gifting are birthed to His glory. Don't let yourself be pressurised by others or the circumstances you find yourself in. Instead be encouraged to enjoy the process of waiting on the Lord and watch Him transform your life as He works on you and through you for His glory.

The Bible says in Isaiah 41:13, "For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." This is a promise I choose to hold dear in my heart as I look forward to greater and new things in Him. Yesterday is history, but today is a treasure to cherish because with God all things are possible and He is not man that He will lie neither can the scriptures be broken. Today is the beginning of new and better things to come!

VERSE FOR MEDITATION:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,  neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways   and my thoughts than your  thoughts.  As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."---Isaiah 55:8-11

2011 by enyonam gbekle. all rights reserved.

SERCET STORES

John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

For me, each day is a day of new beginnings and a gift to cherish no matter what might be going on around me or the world we live in as a whole. Today's scripture tells us the thief only comes to steal, kill and to destroy however Jesus came so that we might have life and live to in abundance. This clearly implies, we have the choice to choose either to allow the enemy to steal this precious gift called life been freely given to us by Jesus or to life it in abundance to His glory.

The Bible also says in Colossians 2:3, "In whom are all the secret stores of wisdom and knowledge." For you and I to access the secret stores of God's wisdom and knowledge, we will have to diligently seek after Him with all our heart, soul and mind through our faith in Christ Jesus. Look at today as an adventure and remember God knows the plans He has for you even before you were formed in your mothers womb.

Today, lets challenge ourselves by going on this exciting expedition to experience and discover some of the wonderful and beautiful secrets He has in store for us. I know He desires for us to, so lets keep our eyes, ears and heart open in expectant. Each new day is a journey of discovery and of new beginnings but most importantly lets remember to bring someone along with us to share the many secrets and wonders of God with them.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Life is a gift so cherish each moment of it. Because, Jesus purposefully died on the cross so through His death you might have and live it life in abundance!

VERSE FOR MEDITATION:
I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.---Isaiah 45:2-3

2011 By Enyonam Gbekle. All rights reserved.

WALKING IN LIGHT

1 John 1:6-7
If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Today lets choose to walk in the light of God, the revealed knowledge of His word. Walking with God is always a matter of choice. Making a choice to follow God’s way or our own way. Deuteronomy 30:19, "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!"  Walk in the light that God has prepared for you to walk in so your descendants can live a blessed and a fulfilled life in Christ.


WORD FOR THE DAY:
But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.--1 John 2:11


2011 By Enyonam Gbekle. All rights reserved.

POWER OF CHRIST

Ephesians 4:1-2
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.


This is just enough for you and I to focus on for today!! Only by the power of Christ in us are we able to live this way.

VERSE FOR MEDITATION:
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love. --Ephesians 1:4

2011 By Enyonam Gbekle. All rights reserved.

WHAT MASK ARE YOU WEARING?

 Mark 9:24b
With tears flowing, the child's father at once cried out, "I do believe! Help my unbelief!" 


One of the lessons I am continuing learning is humility. Like a lot of us Believers we there are times when we think we are humble until we face a challenging situation that threatens our strength and confidence in who we are, what we do, what we think we are good at or are expects in. A few weeks ago, I suddenly starting felt a sense of sadness griping into my heart and for the life of me didn't have a clue what brought it on and why. As usual, I just brushed it off and ignored it rather than going to God in prayer and asking for help as to how to get the root cause of this sudden slow sadness. You see, when one has suffered in silence as for many years as I have during most of my adult life, one becomes good at wearing a mask.  And even when we come to the knowledge of who God really is we still wear mask. Except this time, we wear what I call "the Holy mask" or "the good Christian mask".

What today's scripture has taught me is, I don't have to wear any kind of mask; instead it's okay to ask God for help when I am having difficulty with unbelief and lacking in my faith. Because Faith is an attitude of trust and confidence of things we hope for and an assurance of what we have not seen but believe. So then it implies it isn't something we can obtain without help because the Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." To earnestly seek God means sincere, or with serious intent to obtain wisdom, knowledge and understanding of God not only that but to live by them in our daily lives as Believers.

No matter how much faith we may think we have, we can never reach the point of self-sufficient because faith is a constant process of a daily renewing of our trust and confidence in Jesus by reading our Bible and asking Him for guidance and understanding through prayer. I am learning each day to humble myself before my heavenly Father for help to increase my faith and unbelief when I find myself in challenging situations. This type of prayer for me is a way of surrendering to God all of our weaknesses so He can then become strong. That's faith in action.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Ask it shall be given unto you!


2011 by Enyonam Gbekle. All rights reserved.

JUST WAIT!

Revelation 3:8
'I know what you've been doing. Look! I have put in front of you an open door that no one can shut. You have only a little strength, but you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name.

Sometimes the door of opportunities may seems to be shut, but God is telling you and I today that He has put in front of us a door that is open and no one can shut it. Not only that, our obedience and service has not gone unnoticed. Wow, Hallelujah! For as long as we don't stagger at His word but rather keep holding on fast to it through our faith, we will live to see and live our breakthroughs for His will and  His word to accomplished in our lives.

Living in the meantime is that simple neither is it that easy, however I am still leanring and have come to the understanding that the grass may seem greener else where but it is actually only greener when it is watered with His word and nurtured with our faith.  When that door opens, everything about it will be made clear by God without anything standing in our way. He has promised never to leave us. And His presence that comforts us is the hope that strengthens us to endure the waiting.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Waiting on God is about trust and perseverance holding firm unto His revealed word without a doubt in our heart. It's also called the test of our faith!

VERSES FOR MEDITATION:
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.--Hebrews 11:6

but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.--Isaiah 40:31

2011 by Enyonam Gbekle. all rights reserved.

WHAT TYPE OF FRUIT IS YOUR LIFE BEARING?

 2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves to see whether you are still in the Christian faith. Test yourselves! Don't you recognize that you are people in whom Jesus Christ lives? Could it be that you're failing the test?

Many of us call ourselves Christians; lets examine ourselves to see if we are still in the faith. Jesus said that we are known by the fruit we bear as His children.  “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35) That’s the very best of the good fruit. Sexual immorality, drunkenness, greed, hatred, and unforgiveness, just to name a few, are considered to be bad fruit. What type of fruit is your life producing? Calling ourselves a Christian and bearing the fruits of a Christian is very different. Many of us will say to the Lord when we die, I did this and that in your name and He will say depart from me, I never knew you.

Please don't examine others actions and how they live their lives but look into your own today! Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For God wants your life to resemble a healthy fruit tree. Remain blessed!

VERSES FOR MEDITATION:
We can't allow ourselves to get tired of living the right way. Certainly, each of us will receive everlasting life at the proper time, if we don't give up.--Galatians 6:9

Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.--1 Thessalonians 4:1

2011 By Enyonam Gbekle. All rights reserved.

WHAT SEEDS ARE PLANTING?

John 4:37-38
'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."

One of the ways to have a beautiful garden of pretty flourishing flowers is to prepare the soil, plant the seeds, water them tenderly and lovingly care for them. Believers, we are responsible for the planting of the seeds of God's love into the lives of unbelievers so that there will be a harvest of souls to reap.  The reason is, in order for there to be a continuing harvest; there must be a continual planting. Some people are easy to witness to; this can be compared to moist prepared soil and others are more difficult, which would compare to the harder ground that requires more effort to plant the seed into.

My prayer is that throughout our nations, there will be a great sowing of good seeds. My intention is to let it begin with me today. Think about the many types of seeds there are in your hands and how they can be sown into the lives of the unbelievers we come cross. Here are some hints; make use of Gospel tracts, music and messages Cd's and serving others. Remember too, that there are false teachers sowing weeds, we must do our part to sow the truth of God’s word.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Ask your self, where will I be if someone hadn't sow the seed of God's love in your life?

VERSES FOR MEDITATION:
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.--John 3:17

For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.--John 17:8

2011 By Enyonam Gbekle. All rights reserved.

DON'T PANIC

John16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Life sometimes is and most times very difficult, that is just the way life is. However today, God wants you and I to know He will give us joy through and after the difficult times that we experience (Psalm 126:5,"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy."). I know you are probably saying, what I am suppose to do in the meant time? He wants you to just relax and be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God the conqueror of the world and the universe (Philippians 4:6 with emphasis added).

All Jesus is trying to say to you, yes I mean you is that He knows exactly everything your going through and the effect its having on you and your frustration of not being able to do anything right this minute. He says it's okay, I am with you, I am your protector, I have a winning plan, trust me, just relax, smile and be cheerful because I have already taken care of what is happening even before it started - its all under control1. Don't panic, just relax! For all those of us who live in England, I want to encourage us all not to panic but instead with thanksgiving lets make our request known to God through our prayers. The Bible says in James 5:16b, "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." So join me as we stand together in faith to pray for England especially the youth - our future leaders in the making. God is faithful!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
If we keep putting our trust in the Lord, God promises songs of joy will come when we least expect it.

VERSES FOR MEDITATION:
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.--Romans 8:37

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 2 Corinthians 2:14

2011 By Enyonam Gbekle. All rights reserved.

FRUSTRATED AND EXHAUSTED?

Psalm 32:5a

I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"

Are you frustrated, exhausted and living an unfufilled Christian life? This was the picture of my life for many many years even though I confessed Jesus as my Lord and personal saviour. Why? Because I didn't leave behind my old life of sinfulness neither did I completely put my hope and total trust in Him. The honest truth is, God intends our life to be lived to the fullest, where He alone can make our joy complete. And the only way to live this life -  is to put our trust and hope in Him alone by turning our hearts completely towards Him, leaving our sin behind. Paul teaches us in  2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Today, Jesus is calling us to a repentant heart by turning 180 degrees from our sins instead of 360 going back and forth in the circle of repentance. I want to encourage you and I not to live a cheap Christian life by flirting with sin and calls on God when things become too exhausting causing us to be frustrated and unfilled. Join me and let us escape the revolving circle of repentance together by asking God's help to change our heart of the issues that we struggle with repeatedly.Remember, His grace is sufficient for us and His power is made perfect in our weaknesses.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
 True repentance is turning 180 degrees away from sin..... Don't allow sin to rob of you your blessings!


VERSE FOR MEDITATION:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.-- 1 John 1:9

If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.-- Job 36:11

2011 By Enyonam Gbekle. All rights reseved.

THE MARK OF A CHANGED PERSON

Based on Mark 5:1-20, this explosive Word of deliverance is a clarion call to the Body of Christ designed to challenge, educate and empower the believer in their understanding of the supernatural. Receive your authority to walk in liberty, victory and transformation through the Lord Jesus Christ!

EXAMINE YOUR SPOKEN WORDS

James 3:9
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.

Have you ever tried so hard from saying the wrong thing but you just couldn't, and some how to your surprise the wrong thing just pops out of your mouth even before you could think? Well I have on so many occasions and if you are honest with yourself, you will admit you have too. The Bible calls the tongue "an unruly evil and full of deadly poison."  I am so horrified just the thought of knowing that with this same tongue, I offer my praises unto the Lord and in the same breathe I curse others who are made not in any others likeness but the Lord Almighty. Hmmmm, Lord have mercy on me!

I know from my own experience that when I became born-again; I automatically expected an instant change in my action, spoken words, attitude and judgements of others. However,  this is possible "but only" through complete dependence and reliance on the Holy Spirit through our total surrender - our free will. Why? Because the Bible teaches us in Philippians 2:13, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."  So it doesn't matter how hard we try, it's got to be on God's terms not ours. James clearly outlines into detail the harm, evil and damage this very tinny part of our of our body called the tongue can cause to our entire body - James 3:6, "The tongue is a fire, a world of evil. Placed among the parts of our bodies, the tongue contaminates the whole body and sets on fire the course of life, and is itself set on fire by hell."

Today I want to remind us all that before we open our mouths to say anything to anyone, lets examine the thoughts of our minds and hearts before allowing the words to flow from our mouth. Because an abusive conversation can undermine the power of ours prayers and our sacrifice of praise to the Lord. I am learning daily not to beat myself up too much about certain things because I know I can't always control what I hear, but I can control what I hold dear in my heart and what I say to others. It's time for you and I to learn to daily submit our total will to God for He is the only one who can cause us to do will and do His good pleasure by knowing when to say what and when not to.

Food for thought:
Before you pass along any information that could hurt someone today, ask yourself; Does this need to be said, or do I just want to say it? Would more harm come by saying it or not saying it? If it needs to be said, am I saying it with the right intentions?

Verses for meditation:
"for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."-- Matthew 12:34b

Don't say anything that would hurt [another person]. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you.--Ephesians 4:29

2011 By Enyonam Gbekle. All rights reserved.

STARTING AFRESH

 Hebrews 10:22
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.


Today God is extending an invitation to you and I His children to draw new to Him with a true heart of praise, prayer and worship with every confidence without the filling of guilt for what we have or not done. My Pastor (David Antwi) consistently says our worship and service to God is a heart thing. A sincerer heart is all He requires that is why the enemy tries so hard to keep our hearts contaminated with unforgiveness, guilt, bitterness, strife and all sorts of junk so we will not feel worthy of God's unconditional and unfailing love towards us.

The text went on to say and with "full assurance" this means with all confidence of our faith not staggering at His word but knowing that if He lay down His life which was without sin in exchanged for our filthy rags ("But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."--Isaiah 64:6) for His righteousness so we can have an intimate and personal relationship with God.  wow, what are we waiting for? He has done too much for you and I for us to feel intimidated or doubt Him in any way. Any doubt or fear is not of Him but of the enemy who is constantly looking for someone to devour.

I came to tell you God has sent you a VIP invitation to draw near to Him with a sincerer true heart and be cleansed because He does not want you to remain separated from Him for what you have or not done Don't keep Him waiting, as He awaits patiently with love to touch and purify our lives. And as you do, just remember the key is to be sincere in heart by turning from sin and choosing to get back on the righteous path.

Food for thought:
All it takes is that first step of faith with a sincerer heart of repentance.............

Verses for meditation:
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.--Ephesians 3:12

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,--1 Peter 1:3

God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.--Hebrews 6:18

2011 Enyonam Gbekle. All rights reserved.

LIFE OF PRAISE

Psalms 145:2
Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

Yesterday in our service during a time of praise, I had an experience and an encounter with the Lord that even as this morning haven't still recovered from. wow, what was all that about? Something definitely happens when we spend time just worshipping and praising God. Because it doesn't only pleases Him, our heart is filled with His spirit and delivers us from anything that isn't of Him bringing us total freedom and peace in Him. I have heard my Pastor said on numerous occasions of how King David praised God so much that even till today heaven hasn't recovered from it. As we read and study the life and account of  King David,  it's no secret that he was one of the most successful and highly favoured Kings that ever lived and not only that leaving a legacy that has outlast many generations. No wonder he was called the man after God's own heart. Because he lived a life dedicated to praising God in all circumstances and situations whether good or bad.


Being dedicated to living a life filled with praise towards God is what we should be practicing as Believers and disciples of Christ. From the moment we arise in the morning, praises should be continually on our lips throughout our day. Whether life is going well or not, we should be lifting up the name of Jesus. After all the end of our earthly destination is secure; we will spend eternity in Heaven., Isn't that enough reason for us to continually praise Him? When we make a conscious effort to focus on the goodness of God, our problems will fade into the brilliant light of all that He has done for us. Every time l begin to tell someone of the many ways that God has revealed to me, I get excited. Take a moment to just focus on God's goodness and give Him praise for another day of life. Today, praise God by sharing with someone the great things that God has done.

Food for thought:
Remember the more we find reasons and things to praise Him for the easier we will praise our way out of whatever seems impossible in our lives. the Bible says in Psalm 35:27b, "The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant." Isn't this enough reason to praise Him today?

Verses to meditate on:
My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.--Psalm 145:21

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.--Psalm 111:10


The LORD within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame.-- Zephaniah 3:5

2011 By Enyonam Gbekle. All rights reserved.