Kigoye Eriya

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. Old testament believers like Jabez prayed for the hand of God to be with them. When they did so, they implied that let God's presence go with them everywhere. It's different for us in the New testament. We have God's presence over us for God shall never leave us nor forsake us. But an unbeliever can be right to pray that God's presence should be with them. God will never do what He has already done in His Word. Some scriptures are already truth not to be prayed for but as facts to be believed and acted on. God will never leave us nor forsake us, that's comforting. We...

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. We don't get the details of how Jabez's past but I make a theological guess that it wasn't good. There are three categories of people, those who live in the past, those who live in the present and those who live in the future.  Those who live in the past are ever conscious of their history of failures and successes. They cry foul of the way they were raised, the missed opportunities and always dream about the good old days. They used to pray, have money, have this or that but they nolonger have those. Those who live in the present don't have a care of the past or the fu...

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. People pray in every way and in all styles. There's nothing as universal as prayer. In fact many use it as an evangelism tool to get inroads to hard hearted. You knock on someone's door and instead of asking to preach to them, you ask to pray for them, they will willingly allow you to go ahead. But the moment they allow you, you give them a brief sermon, lead them to Christ and then pray.  You need to take off time to pray. Many things are at stake and it takes prayer to change them. The Bible speaks of men that prayed and got results, Jabez is one of them. Out of only two verse...

Ecclesiastes 9:7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. There's a lot of encouragement nowadays to look like everyone else if you identify that they are better off in one way or the other. The irony with that is that people lose the gratitude and contentment of where they are at the moment if they aren't careful. The theme scripture encourages us to enjoy your bread, drink with a merry heart. My focus is the "your" in that statement and not the neighbours.  It is always said that grass looks greener on the other side, but the day you get there, you won't want what you find there or it may not be a rosy as it was made or appeared to be. My pastor admonishes us through those lines whenever he hears so and so left the ministry for a "new" one in town which seems to be rocking the boat. The day you know the details of things is the day you realise every person, ministry, business has issues...

Ecclesiastes 2:24 "There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God." There's always something to worry about if you are alive in this world from the news of war, to hearing a neighbour fighting with the wife or a death happening or someone losing their job etc. In fact one preacher said if you are not depressed then perhaps you are not paying attention.  But the wise preacher Solomon tells us not to complicate life, nor complicate joyful living by simply enjoying your meal. As ordinary as that sounds, but it can yield tremendous results when you do. Must you first accumulate millions on your bank account, all the cars you need or all the vacations in nice places to enjoy life? No the posho and beans, the glass of water from your sweat can actually satisfy you.  Speaking about labour, do you know that the most tired people are not those who wor...

Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Paul teaches us that in whatever state he found himself in, he learnt to be content. The number one reason why many people are not content with what they have is because they are ever comparing themselves with others and lose sight of their identity in Christ. By comparing ourselves to others we will realise we don’t have it all.  Being content does not mean that believing God for material things is evil. The blessing of God brings with it material blessings. We have to be content with what the Lord has blessed us with being confident that the same God is able to get us more of our hearts desires.  Content people are very generous with their gifts, talents and posessions. On the other hand a discontent person feels that they do not have enough. They go out of their way to beg and become burdensome to others, some end up stealing and being unfaithful w...

1Samuel 23:4 "Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand." We spoke at length in the previous blogs how God led apostle Paul to a door of ministry that turned out to be one of the best in his life. That ministry journey ended up ministering to the Philippian church who ended up being his partners in the ministry wherever he went. The Macedonians were in dire poverty and yet were his supporters. He experienced so much persecution while there but it worked for his good. There he led the Jailor to the Lord and Lydia a seller of purple. Later when he was in prison in Rome, as he wrote to them, he was in so much joy everytime he remembered them. The Journey yield fruit because he heard from God before he went. In the old testament we see another victorious man of God called David who is also a great example to us all in terms of following God's will. The Bible says ...

Act 16:10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel unto them.     It is important to know how God operates and how the world operates. God's ways are unique from the world's ways. For instance, the way Paul received a door for ministry was not how many would have approached it. First he received it by a vision. That was not much of self effort.  There are alot of motivation speakers these days who tell you all that you are to do to succeed. They have framed success in a few principles one must do like "locate yourself strategically, do some networking," etc. On the outside they look okay but God may not need those to fulfil his will.  Am certain God give you a marriage partner, connect you to a great opportunity that will change your life without any of your efforts. Some say you need to "kwetega" literally translated positioning yourself. We have r...

Act 16:7-9 "After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us." It is until Paul got a vision in the night to go to Macedonia that he knew that God answered his prayer. A rare answer which was not expected at all. To give you context, Mysia where Paul wanted to go is in the East present day Turkey in Asia while Macedonia where the Lord wanted him to go is in the West, present day Greece in Europe totally opposite from where he expected but that what God's will for him. But the point is that Paul waited and God’s plan and will came through in a process of waiting. Ever waited upon an opportunity that was within reach but you had to wait some more? Someone promises you money but all of a sudden they change their mind on the day he promised you. ...

Act 16:6-8 "Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, after they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas." What is God's will for you and how do you know you are walking in it? How do you even discover it?  Take for instance Paul. When Paul was seeking for the next place to minister there are places the Lord never permitted him to go to. What we see him do is something that will cause you and I great success, when the Lord forbad him, he had to wait. We don't know how long, I think it took him a while of waiting but he waited.  The secret to succes is simple, "love Jesus, listen to Him, follow Him, obey Him, and wait on Him." Once you love God, and your heart will be set to obey Him and He will lead you to green pastures because He is your good shepherd. You will enjoy the gre...

1 Timothy 3:1 This [is] a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. How can we become good disciples of our Lord? Principal thing is one must have a strong desire for ministry.  There are some many God loving people but I feel so sorry for them for they have no desire of any sort for ministry. Whether you serve God or not, you will go to heaven since what takes you to heaven is the blood of Jesus. But more to that, there is a great blessing in serving God. It's such a privilege to be a coworker with God. In fact men who have had visions of heaven say there are many men of God in heaven who regret for not having served Him well.  Friends, serving God gives you fulfilment that no money will ever give you. Desire to serve God, desire to become a disciple who disciples others, desire to have huge impact in the kingdom, desire to become a pastor, desire to plant a church or among those that pioneer to plant one someday etc. All those are go...

1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men; One of the core principle of becoming a good and effective disciple is prayer. A true disciple must be a prayerful person.  Become a man or woman of prayer. Make sure you have a prayer life, incorporate prayer in your life, be consistent at it.    Like a tool in a mechanics toolbox, so is prayer to the discipler, you cannot do without it. Further scriptures   Ephesians 6:18 "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"

(Php 2:22)NKJV But ye know his proven character, that as a son with [his] father, he hath served with me in the gospel.  What makes a true son is character. Character gives people longevity in ministry is character, not your gift. You are nothing without character. So many people are gifted but have zero character. They lack the character of a true disciple.  The church has not been short of winning souls through evangelism and crusades, but we donot have many disciples or sons. The great commission is about making disciples. Souls always come and go but sons stay and serve. As you serve more in the church, you stop praying that God adds you more church members but sons or disciples. You encounter a first timer who comes and tells you, "pastor, wherever you go I will go and wherever you fall I will fall," yet after three months, you don’t see them. But like apostle Paul, may God give us sons and daughters, not just people to give us lip service.  Stand out and don’t just ...

Philippians 2:19-22 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.  Paul testifies about his son Timothy in a powerful way in our theme scripture. I wonder how Timothy felt when he read it. Did he develop any pride as a result? Some do when they are exalted like that but we don't see it in Timothy atleast. Can your mentor boast openly about you like that and it doesn't in any way puff you? "One who is to you likeminded, who naturally cares for the state of his church members, who does seek their own but the things which are Jesus Christ's," what a CV? Am certain Paul could say all these about him because he himself had the same traits for it is said yo...

Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.    Moses in the old testament read a number of blessings to the Israelites in the book of Deuteronomy 28. At the same time He also read to them curses. Blessings were dependent on their obedience to God's law while curses were dependent on their disobedience.  In the New testament it is quite different.  For example in our theme scripture we discover that Jesus's obedience grants us righteousness, which is a spiritual blessing from God. By His stripes too we are healed.  When you ask a Christian will you go to heaven? Their answer will depend on the righteousness they rest on, whether theirs or Christ's. Out of fear or uncertainty, men hinge their going to heaven on what they have done or not done. Now if Christ has not qualified you for heaven and made you perfect, giving your a spotless free righteousness, I don't think your trying to p...

  (Psa 34:1-5)  A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. Are you ardently going after God? You need to learn from David in the Psalm above.  We learn that those who go after God are consistent in seeking Him. They do not wait for perfect moments; they choose Him daily through praise, prayer, and His Word. To pursue God is to place Him above everything else. It is to find your identity in Him and not in the things of this world. Our theme scripture reminds us that when we seek the Lord, He hears us and delivers us from fear.  Those who...

Jeremiah 32:17-18 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, [and] there is nothing too hard for thee: Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, [is] his name, El Gibbor means Mighty God or Warrior God.  Many scriptures refer to His mighty hand as the display of His tremendous power. In war times, God helped Israelites overcome their enemies and was victorious at all fronts. He is a champion in all storms which may arise.  He was victorious over Pharoah while rescuing the Israelites from Egypt, He fought David's battles, He also sent His Son who overcame the war of sin and death and bring us salvation. Jesus too is also called by this name in the book of Isaiah because of what He accomplished on our behalf in His death, burial and resurrection. Simply put He is mighty to save. In ou...

Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me; Qanna means Jealous or zealous. El Qanna means Jealous God.  First mentioned at the giving of the ten commandments where God desired devotion to worship Him alone. Failure to have one divine being to worship leads to spiritual idolatry and spiritual fornication which displease God. Some believers commit adultery even without knowing. There are some rituals which they observe knowingly or unknowingly which show that God is not the only one they worship but even other gods too they pay homage to them.  You have heard those who stop the rain, pour drinks to the ground to honour ancestors, pour blood of animals in a foundation of a new house during construction, twin rituals, umbilical chord rituals for a new child, many funeral rituals during and after bur...

Genesis 4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where [is] Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: [Am] I my brother's keeper? Adonai simply means Lord or master. When one is Lord over you, it means they have some kind of authority over you. It's first usage was in Genesis 4 when God spoke to Cain after He had killed his brother Abel. God is Lord over all that He created. Some preachers have coined words in those lines to refer to Jesus by saying that  "if Jesus is not Lord over your life, then He is not Lord at all." He is either Lord or Lord, nothing less and nothing more.  We have many who call themselves or called lords on earth, such as landlords, in school especially primary, we used to refer to our teachers as "master"; you have also heard of kung fu masters if you are a film fan, in courts of law the judge is referred to as "my lord", in former British colonies the mayor of the capital city  is called Lord Mayor, some lower leaders are called L...

Mark 14:36 And He said, "Abba, Father, all things [are] possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You [will.]" Abba is an Aramaic word which means Daddy. The first mention of the word Abba was by Jesus in the garden of Gethsamane when He prayed to God for comfort because he was about to be arrested and crucified.  I love it when my children call me daddy. It signifies the affection and intimate relationship they have between me and them. I may be having various titles I hold in society in varied places I may be involved in but to them they don't address me as such. I am that close person they run to when in fear or in need.  Calling your heavenly Father ABBA or daddy likens us to children and their earthly fathers. You are expressing a deep affection and closeness you have with Him which you cannot get elsewhere.  Our earthly fathers can never be as perfect as our heavenly Father. It also doesn't matter whether you had a bro...

Genesis 21:33 Then [Abraham] planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God. El Olam means God is everlasting or Eternal God. This revelation was made by Abraham after planting a tamarisk tree in Beersheba. He called God eternal or everlasting.  Everlasting or eternal simply means never ending. God cannot be given a specific number of years to Him. He is not....years old like human beings. Human time is linear, God's time is not for He is in the past, present and in the future all at once.  How do you feel when you know God is eternal? You will always feel a certain sense of Trust in His unchangeable character. 

Genesis 14:18-22 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed [be] Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, El Elyon means God The Most High. The first mention of this title for God was in Genesis 14 when Abram had rescued his nephew Lot in the battle of the Kings by Melchizedek. He offered tithes to Melchizedek, who was the priest of the most High God. There are many gods in this world and idols that men have put up for themselves but God is the Most High of them all. Men have reached a point of idolising their families, wealth, or great a...

Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I [am] the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. El Shaddai means the Almighty God. Almighty simply means He is all powerful.  This revelation was made in Genesis 17:1 by God Himself to Abram. There's no power above God. He is over all and above all. God displayed His power by miracles He performed in Egypt while rescuing the Israelites from the hands of Pharoah. He is still displaying his power by miracles, signs and wonders. El Shaddai can also mean the all sufficient God derived from a Hebrew word Shad meaning breast or chest. Some refer to Him as the many breasted God. Like a mother's milk which contains all the nutrients to nourish her suckling baby, God is all sufficient in meeting our needs. Kenneth Hagin once preached a message called El Shaddai, the God of more than enough. He is more than enough when it comes to meeting our needs. He will provide exce...

1 Samuel 1:11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. Jehovah Sabaoth means the LORD of hosts. This was revealed by Hannah as she was praying to the LORD for a child.  Hosts refer to either an army, angels or stars in the Bible. God is LORD over all those. Armies in this world symbolise the strength of a nation and protection. All the three references for host show greatness and might. Armies are believed to be the strongest and most powerful institution of any state. If there are forces within the army more mightier than the army, then people can nolonger rely on the army for its weak. Angels are also powerful beings and very gigantic. This is well illustrated in the book of Revelation. Stars too are very great in ...

Ezekiel 48:35  It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The  Lord  is there. Jehovah Shammah means the LORD is there. It was a revelation that Ezekiel received about the city from heaven that John also saw in the book of Revelation 21.  Sometimes we get caught up in the today and now, and we don't pause to ponder on the future that we have with God in the new heavens and the new earth. Life is not all about what we experience in the five senses. There is more. Sometimes circumstances of life cloud our imagination, we tend to focus on the current, immediate, the urgent but we need to slow down sometimes and ponder on the glories of heaven.  What a day that will be when we shall be with our king, God and the bishop of our souls whom we shall see face to face. If you are enjoying Him now when you cannot see Him, how much more then when we shall see Him, we cannot wait. This brings encouragement to us to hold on...

Genesis 16:13 And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? El Roi means the God who sees. This revelation of God’s name was revealed by Hagar who got an encounter with God at a well as she was running away from her mistress Sarai. The angel who met her prophesied about the son she shall bear and how great he will be. From then on she acknowledged that surely God is seeing her or rather sees her. This encourages us to believe in the God who is aware of our current situation. He sees our every step. Nothing catches Him by surprise. He is not like the gods of wood, stone, trees or idols of men that cannot even feel after the troubles we are facing. Our God sees us. When you understand that God sees you not only in the trying times you face, but also in the good times, you settle a certain way. You look at people nowadays struggling to be seen of men especially the great of this world yet they can...

Psalms 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want. Jehovah Rohi or Jehovah Raah means the LORD is my shepherd. David popularised this name in psalm 23. The Lord Jesus too calls Himself the good shepherd. Believers are called sheep in the Bible by no accident. Sheep are very dependant upon the shepherd for provision, care, direction and protection. Without a shepherd, they cannot do much on their own. Sheep are also obedient to their shepherd and have a unique ability to different their Shepherds voice among the many.   God wants to be everything to us but we limit Him because we want to be "independent, self made, self taught, self sustaining, self esteemed etc," yet when we submit to His guidance, He will lead us well.  Child of God accept to be lead by the good shepherd.  Further scriptures   John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Exodus 15:26 and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I [am] the LORD who heals you." Jehovah Rapha means the LORD our Healer. This revelation of God's name first appeared in Exodus 15:26 where the LORD instructed Moses to cast a tree in the waters of Marah which were bitter and they turned sweet for the children of Israel to drink.  God used a physical object as a point of contact but the healing came from Him. This is where some Christians lose it, they think that using medicine is against their faith yet God is not against medicine. It is the same God who created herbs from which the medicines are got in the beginning. So God is for healing and not against it. Putting faith in the medicine in and of itself makes it and idol before your eyes for it eliminates trust in God. Fai...

Leviticus 20:7-8 Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. And you shall keep My statutes, and perform them: I am the Lord who sanctifies you.  Jehovah M'kaddesh means the LORD who sanctifies us.  To be sanctified is to be made Holy or set apart. Holy or sanctified, or set apart, means one is uncommon, special, unique, and different from others. Throughout the Bible, there are various ways God sanctified His people. For instance, in the Old Testament, God called Abraham to separate Himself from idol and sun worship unto Himself. God covenanted with the Jews, and the covenant involved giving several commandments that set them apart from other nations. The keeping of the Sabbath, for example, was not common in that day, but God instituted it through the law. In the New Testament, we see that God sanctifies us by faith in Jesus and the truth of His Word.   Although God calls us to sanctify ourselves, it is God who ultimately sanctifi...

Jeremiah 23:5-6  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.  In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Tsidkenu means righteousness. Jehovah Tsidkenu thus means the LORD our Righteousness.  Jeremiah 23 is usually used to admonish pastors in their shepherdorial work, but to take it in context, it is a messianic chapter where Jeremiah was prophesying a day when men would no longer judge themselves righteous because of what they have done or not done, but because Christ has been made their righteousness.  Somehow, people think those who preach the grace of God and the righteousness of God are only basing their teachings on the New Testament, yet these truths were also prophesied, implied or foreshadowed in the O...

Exodus 17:15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: Nissi means my banner or standard. Jehovah Nissi thus means the Lord my or our banner. This was a revelation that Moses got after defeating the Amalekites at Rephidim. After the victory, he pronounced that "The LORD is my banner." Whenever armies would march towards battle, they would raise a banner at the front. This banner or a flag would identify them uniquely from the enemy and show where they truly belonged. A flag of one country cannot be the same as the flag of any other. No army can have two flags at the same time to avoid confusion among the troops. This teaches us that when the battle is raging, one should never be neutral; they will be misunderstood or thought of as an accomplice. You should have a side and demonstrate it by siding with the banner where your army assembles. The disciples knew about this when they saw one cast out devils in the name of Jesus, yet he was not walking amongs...

Judges 6:24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it [is] yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. Shalom means peace. Jehovah Shalom means the Lord is peace.  It was Gideon who first acknowledged that He is peace at a time when Israel was at war with the Midianites. Given that He was very afraid of leading them in the war, this was a very comforting revelation He got about God that empowered him to carry on that task. When the disciples called upon the Lord Jesus when they were afraid of drowning on board a ship being hit by waves, He spoke against the storm by saying, "peace be still." And the storm ceased immediately. The Prince of peace spoke peace into being. Now that you are saved, God's peace is yours by faith. You can declare it in all your troublesome situations. May you also be assured of the peace of God in all troubles that surround you, may you take comfort in Him daily, even when the waves are raging, His presence...

Genesis 22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said [to] this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. Jireh means God will see to it or will provide. Abraham when asked by Isaac what was to be offered as a sacrifice as they were journeying to mount Moriah, Abraham answered and said the Lord will provide. And indeed He provided a lamb as a sacrifice. After seeing the lamb, as he was about to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham named the place Jehovah Jireh.    The non God believing nations then would offer sacrifice of their sons to their gods. God because He cares for people He created redeemed people by the sacrifice of animals instead of people. This shows God's care and faithfulness in providing for His people. Whenever I am tempted to doubt this truth, I always recount a story in the autobiography of Oral Roberts. When they were still young in the care of their mother and their father who were very poor, one night they were about to go hungry. ...

Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. God first called Himself as I AM to Moses from which the name Yahweh or Jehovah was derived by scholars. Yahweh too was derived from a Hebrew four letter word YHWH or YHVH. Yahweh unlike other names like EL, Elohim, Almighty etc which are kind of title like, this is a personal name of God. For example the president of any nation has a personal name. The title president is not their personal name but you can refer to them as such anyway.  Yahweh, a personal name of God means that God is self existent, eternal and creator. He was never created. He is not dependent on anything to exist. But all things depend on Him to exist.  Why is it important to know about a God who is self existent? It helps those who believe in Him to have a firm reliance on Him. If I am reliant on God, I can depend on Him fully for He can never be corrupted by anythi...

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. EL simply means God. The Word Elohim is derived from the word EL. Elohim is the plural name of God whose root word EL signifying power and strength. It is the name that was used in Genesis 1:1 which showed that all creation came from God as the source. God is the reason for the creation. He is apart from what He created. Some have come up with all kinds of theories to downplay God's role in creation but the truth is God is the creator of all we see and do not see. If we do not put God in His place, all other things will fall out of place. God is the foundation of everything and that qualifies Him to be worshipped. We accord all our worship to Him alone because He truly deserves it for He is the source of everything.  Child of God, recognise God as creator and put Him in His rightful place. Everything else will fall in its right place. 

Psalms 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. God has many names and all of them carry unique meanings and reveal a facet of His character and personality.  In the Bible, many people's names had meanings. Adam for example means red earth because he was created from the ground. Eve means mother of all living, Jacob means cheat, Peter means little rock, David means beloved etc. This also should tell you something about your own name. What does your name mean, under what circumstances were it given to you? Whenever you are called so, it reinforces what that name stands for. Whenever I get to know a name of someone, my relationship with such a one is much better than if I didn't. It is further strengthened when I know what their name means. Names are the foundation of closeness in relationships. Likewise, our relationship with God is greatly enhanced and becomes much closer once we know His names and wha...

1Timothy_3:1  This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.      Serving God is accompanied by numerous benefits both now and in the life to come. That is why  I always convince people to become pastors and do something for God.        You can desire a car, have twins, or live in one of the most developed nations in the world; all these are good things in the eyes of men, but there is what the Bible calls a good thing: to desire to be a pastor.   You become God's delight when you serve Him. What you should know from today is that God does not look at us the same way. Some bring Him delight by their service and are separate from those who do not serve.         Your mouth becomes as good as God’s mouth, which is why many can fast and pray for long, but come to the pastor who simply mentions the Lord bless you, and it is over.  Y our labour in the Lord will translate in...

1 Corinthians 9:17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation [of the gospel] is committed unto me. Church needs many hands involved in ministry for it to grow. Not all those people will be paid directly by the church neither can they be compelled to do what they are supposed to do. This means they have to volunteer to do it. As much as volunteers are good, having a mindset of "I act like this after all am not being paid" is not good.  Church cannot grow where there are such kind of volunteers who think that way. As far as I know, God rewards far better than any earthly employer you may ever know. God's rewards and blessings for serving Him come in many forms. Some may not be in hard cash but you wouldn't live a comfortable life if they were lacking. In previous blogs we talked of the negative things which accompany those who are not loaded with ministry burden. Those who are in the ministry enjoy the blessings of good he...