Kigoye Eriya

John 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. The church has been blessed by a special endowment called the Holy Spirit. He teaches us and guides us in all things.  Someone taught of God is unique from one that isn't. And the promise is to teach us and guide us in all things. Before you get someone to teach you on prayer, healing, love, and work, the Holy Spirit will do it and help you stay on the right course. Whatever another man will be teaching, you will only confirm what the Holy Spirit has already taught you with in you.  You don't need to be thrown into panic for having not attended course this or course that, there's a knowing and a teaching the best teacher is already taking you through. Walk in such confidence because of who you have and the ministry He is up to in your life, the teaching ministry of the blesse...

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. How are genuine disciples made? Are they made through giving them handouts? By giving them clothes or by giving them an education in a secular university? Or a job?  One may get a follower through the above but not a disciple at heart. If you notice all those I have listed are done by most organisations and governments of this world, but still there are lots of disloyalty through the ranks. Case in point,  the government does a lot of things humanitarian as possible but nevertheless that has not stopped some people from overthrowing them through military coups, vote them out of power or even destroy property through strikes. We have also had instances where people change loyalties from one political group to another when the political they have been following is no longer in power. After switching sides, they talk ill about the previous gove...

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. You will only reach and minister to a certain class of people if you are among them. That is why Jesus became a man in order that He can be like us so that we can be like Him. To us who believed in Him, we were sinners, and He made us righteous. He became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  Whichever trade you're in, reconcile all that are in it to God. Become like them in trade matters so that they can become like you in faith matters.

1 Corinthians 9:19 For though I be free from all [men], yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.  Having your money-making ventures that meet your needs as a minister is good. It makes you free of all men. You do not become subject to another man. Whether they send in their gift or not, it helps you to be self-sustaining.   There are some people (mostly alumni), we used to call while at the university, when we were under a certain mission team, and whenever they would answer the call, the first thing they ask is, "what is the program again that has led you to call? It must be related to money." Now that was not a good comment, but we had to bear with it because we needed the money to run the ministry programs.  When the pastor or the ministry is dependent on the biggest givers in the church, that alone becomes a problem of its own. If such believers aren't humble,  they may be puffed with pride. At one point, unless they are touched b...

Acts 20:32-35 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. There are examples of almost every facet of life in the Bible.  That's why it's a great book. Speaking of people who served God mightily as well as doing secular work,  Paul was one of them. A tent maker during the week and a preacher over the weekend during synagogue meetings.  Being a tent maker did not lessen his anointing.  He was able to demonstrate to idle believers that even believers could work and support themselves without being a burde...

Exodus 5:1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. There's a myth that goes around that church planters, evangelists, or anyone to serve in ministry in power cannot do it while employed full-time somewhere else. It's the same logic given to students at whatever level they may be. The devil and even the world have sold them a lie that they should first finish school and then be involved in the ministry. So they wait, and when they get employed, they still wait until retirement, when they get married, they further wait until forever for their marriage to stabilise, then they get children and the wait continues until the children first grow and leave the house. So when will they really serve God? They won't if they don't change their mindset.  Am forever thankful for my mentors who helped me realise that I can do all these things while planting chu...

Acts 18:1-3 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.  The volunteering ministry is a very powerful way of supporting the church you belong to. What does that mean to be a volunteer minister? It's what some people call doing part-time ministry yet with a full-time job on the side. Being in the ministry full-time is when someone is fully supported by the church they serve under.  On the other hand, volunteer ministers work jobs which are able to support their needs financially and yet continue to be involved in the ministry of church planting, soul winning as well internal ministries in the local church. The number one hindrance any minister will hon...

Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. A believer has been called into the priestly and kingly office. And an anointing the accompanies each of those offices we have. But what is the priestly ministry in particular? What is the ministry of the priest in the New Testament? To offer prayers and intercessions. The devil attacks us by way of accusations. Sound ministers are accused everyday in media houses about many things they never did. The ministry of intercession blocks the power of accusations. When intercessions are done, ministries blossom, churches are planted, and the work of God thrives. But when we neglect this very important office, many things cannot be done even when they should.  When God is about to do something, he calls us to a place of prayer. Prayer prepares us to contain God's instructions and for the flesh not to get in our way.  Priests of old ensured that incens...

1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness [is as] iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from [being] king. A disobedient person to a simple command of God is no different from one doing witchcraft. Why? Because both are in rebellion to God.  Many times, we point to those in the world as being rebellious, (true unsaved people are rebellious by nature, yet for believers are righteous by nature) but we walk in similar footsteps when we do not obey God. Walking in disobedience is subjecting yourself to the rule and authority of the first rebellious and disobedient being called the devil. And you give leeway for his tormenting demons to oppress you. Jesus said that when such demons find such a man's house (soul) empty and garnished, they invite seven more deadly ones. And the man's state before theirs getting saved becomes worse than that time. That's why it's not good to play ar...

1 Samuel 15:18-22 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD? And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams. When Saul was commanded to destroy the Amalekites completely,  he instead destroyed all but left the king alive and the best of the sheep...

1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams. The Bible says to obey is greater than to sacrifice. This scriptures was said by prophet Samuel to king Saul who did not fully destroy the Amalekites and their property but partially obeyed, leaving the king alive and allowing the people to spare sheep and oxen to sacrifice them to the Lord which was not what God told them. To Saul, it seemed quite illogical to leave behind the best of sheep which could make a good sacrifice unto God. And that is what it is in the real sense. Sacrificing an animal that actually costs money seems logical and easier than subjecting your entire body in obedience by doing what God says. Money can be replaced, but God desires more than money, your whole self, which includes the body, heart, and soul. For that reason Jesus didn't buy us ...

Isaiah 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:  Obedience means to hear an instruction with the intention to do. It also means to do what has been instructed. Sacrifice is to give up something of value for the sake of another.  You can have all the knowledge, but if one is not willing to obey and sacrifice, knowledge will not be of any help. Heroes are not made in the comfort of things. They do lay down their lives for a good cause that no one else is willing to do. It also describes a thing which has been offered as a sacrifice.  Christ is calling each of us to live sacrificial lives and also offer ourselves as living sacrifices. He told us to carry our crosses daily, which symbolises the greatest display of obedience, sacrifice and victory. Christ didn't only live sacrificially, but He became the sacrifice. Christianity is void of power without the vital aspects of obedience and sacrifice.  Further scriptures  Romans 12:1 I bes...

James 5:17 Elias 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. The Bible is full of many examples of people who prayed earnestly and bore tremendous results. The results they had we cannot attribute them to anything else except prayer. Peradventure you have a relative or a connection which will help you in your time of need. To some of us, we look to God entirely for answers.  You need to reach a point when if it's not God, then you will be dead. Otherwise many play it safe. They have options in the natural. Come to a point of saying,  its either God or nothing else. This means God will touch people to meet your needs and the things He has told you to do. Elijah was one such person who was faced with opposition from the prophets of Baal. If God did not come through for him to consume the sacrifice he had done by fire, he would be killed. At that point pray...

Hebrews 5:7   Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Many believers pray, but their prayers lack some important component of earnestness. Earnest means prayers are very sincere and intense. They do not come from one who is praying but maybe their heart and mind are on something else. The vibrancy by which they are said is also high.  I have never prayed more earnestly than I do whenever I pray in other tongues. They are also usually loud and engage your whole being. Earnest people will shout, clap, jump, pace around. Even when one is lying down, sitting on a chair, it does not matter the posture, earnestness is required to bear good results. On the other hand some are fond of whispering while praying and end up dosing off!  Whenever I am about to make a key decision, the prayers I say in such times are very earnest. Earnest p...

Matthew 17:20-21 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. Whenever things are not going well, as children of God, we need to pray.  Life has many tests and trials it presents, but the only way out for is pray. The greatest moves of God this world has seen have been because of prayer. Prayer makes one sensitive to the things of God and contend for them to happen. It causes one to laser focus on the things of God and less on the things of the world. It causes one to see value in spiritual things over natural things. It causes one to spend and be spent for what matters most, the things of God.  Prayer is for us a mountain mover. Things that shouldn't have been an issue usually become issues in our lives because of th...

Genesis 9:22-23 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid [it] upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces [were] backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness. The Bible says a prophet is not without honour except in his home area. It's the very people who are close to an anointed man of God that usually get so familiar and miss out on receiving from him. These are usually his family members, neighbours, workmates, or friends. Truth be told, men and women of God experience life just like anyone else. They encounter successes and failures and have weaknesses, but regardless of those, God still uses them powerfully.   Many marriages of men of God are under attack, their finances, their children, experience accusations of every kind, their health is challenged, etc. Sometimes, you may wonder that if he has been ...

Psalms 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up [his] heel against me. Familiar sons and daughters tend cause damage to ministries they belong to. Judas Iscariot is one of the many examples in the Bible who betrayed Jesus.  Because they know the ministry well,  they know the strengths and weakness and can cause damage and hurt. They rebel in times when they should are needed the most.  They don't give their best when they should. They demoralise others who are doing their best or those who have just joined the ministry. They boss around in the ministry, they move out when the service is going on. They simply do not care. They have a know it all kind of attitude because they have been around for a while, yet they don't at all.  Beware of familiar believers.

Psalms 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up [his] heel against me. There are some unhealthy mannerisms which affect believers from soul winning and one of them is familiarity. Familiarity is closeness one enjoys for knowing a person for long. However, if one is not careful, such closeness may cause one to lose their admiration for the very person they are close with. The one who used to show up early for service stops doing so after all, "pastor is now my friend" they say. When that happens, you cannot receive anymore from the very person who used to bless you in the first place.  Do not let yourself to get used to the sermons, jokes and ministration of your man of God so that you continue receiving from Him and flow in the anointing.

2 Chronicles 20:20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. There's something about believing God that will enhance the ministry of a soul winner. Child of God, I have come to realise that God's word is true and never fails. Believing God is like leaning on a wall for your support.  There are prophesies that God has given you through His men. Strongly believe in them, and you will prosper in your soul winning efforts. With faith, you cannot go wrong. Ministry is not mechanically done by our own efforts or willpower. God will help you if you lean on Him entirely and allow Him to support you and your efforts. God will do it as He has told you. A man in faith is far greater than one doing things by his strength.  Further scriptures  Ac...

Genesis 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest [to be] with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.  We live in a time where people desire fruit but no responsibility. Men love it when all goes well but when all runs south, all run away.  So it is with soul winning, if God can get some men who can assume that the salvation of man depends on them, many things will they accomplish for Him. But we are in a generation which ascribes soul winning to that popular televangelist, or some mega church planter out there.  But this is not the genesis of it, the first people who lived set the precedent. They shifted blame on something else except themselves. Years later when our mother Sarah had to give birth to the promised Isaac, she asked the husband to go into Hagar. We don't have to delegate the responsibility for soul winning to anyone else. Leaders sometimes are fond of doing that so that they blame the failure of the church to grow on someone else yet all leader...

Genesis 15:2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house [is] this Eliezer of Damascus? There's a common malady Christians face, that is childlessness. Childlessness means they have no fruit of their Christianity. Now no one is where they are supposed to be but at least some are somewhere while others are really not yet there are not anywhere at all.  There are a number of believers who have all the potential to give birth to spiritual children but aren't. They may have all the sermons, audio bibles, physical bibles but they are of no use in the kingdom. Others simply cross their hands and watch from the sidelines, some are just lazy to do anything for God and yet they are lively in other pursuits. When they go for games, movies they are very audible but call a prayer meeting or bible study, they don't have anything to say or contribute.  Something must change about you after years of listening to God's word for a...

 Genesis 1:11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, [and] the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed [is] in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. It is said that you can not minister to someone properly if you haven't been in their situation before. A common background with someone makes such a person of your world and kind. In  someway you have a similar world view.  For instance, if you have ever been in school and know how school works, you can easily minister to those who are in school at the moment.  The person who hasn't been there may fail to find common ground with them because they have no examples to illustrate his points while preaching,  examples which are school based. But to some extent, they can use examples they have heard other people talk about.  Are you a parent? Fellow parents need the gospel, and you can easily challenge them to make a commitment to receive salvation as well as overcome e...

Romans 10:8-10 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, [even] in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. What is good about the good news. It's that Jesus died in our place and took all our sins, and through Him, we are saved and are made righteous, hallelujah. This is too good to be true news.  This is what we ought to preach. There's nothing much better than hearing that I am a child of God, am a new creation, old sinful nature is passed away and behold am a new man in Him. Getting a new gadget, the property is good but not good enough. The good is is the gospel of our Lord, what He accomplished through his death, burial and resurrection.

Matthew 25:16-18 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made [them] other five talents. And likewise he that [had received] two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. If you are keen, there's exchange happening everywhere around us. The world rotates on the principle of trading - buying and selling. You have to give something inorder to receive something. It's not only entrepreneurs who are into buying and selling. Employees too sell their services to their employers who buy them. In exchange of their service and time, they are given money as a salary or wage. As an individual, what are you giving to the world? What are you offering? Whose agenda are you for? Whose message are you propagating? You are either propagating the message of the Lord, or of the devil. There are others who believe in neither God nor the devil and are naturalists. They advance the message ...

Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few [are] chosen. I once interacted with a friend of mine who had a complaint about a certain church he used to attend at that time. His concern was that the leaders were treated as though they had nothing else to do. Implying that they were treated as though they were in full-time ministry. They were called upon at odd hours during the day and stay back until late doing church related activities, given to read 3-4 books at ago in a week, were made to attend conferences often, overnights, give big, travel to foreign countries to attend meetings of other men of God etc. Now this used to bother me at one point until I understood by revelation some truths about the ministry which never left me the same.  First of all, ministry is our main work, the rest are side gigs. Secondly ministry is a calling and not a job one does. Thirdly to be in fulltime ministry does not guarantee that you will have more results than someone who is a lay minister or th...

Colossians 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: I love to read church history because it's a constant reminder of where we have come from as the church. Once it stops being pen and ink and it becomes reality to you, you can't remain normal again.   The pain experienced by the apostles in establishing the gospel in far lands, the missionaries that came to Africa, an unknown land to them, leaving the comfort of their jobs, family and usual environments because they did not think about themselves but thought about the salvation of us all.  There is a common saying, salvation was free, but it came to us at a high cost. Someone had to pay a price. Leave alone the negative things some Europeans brought along with them. The best we have ever received was the gospel from genuine God loving people. I don't think I would risk my life to die in a foreign land because some greedy...

Luke 16:23-25 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. There are a number of professionals in this world who are skilled in doing what they do. There are business men too, and the masses who work for each of those. But if you take close notice, most of what they do is earthly. For example I design structures but my designs will last a few years here on earth. The design life of a building is estimated at 50-100 years. If I do the maths, those years are not so many. The entrepreneurs set up businesses which meet people's needs here. Their impact can be greater when they channel s...

Matthew 9:37  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Any good farmer knows where good land is located for his crops. Any good shepherd too knows where good and plenty of pastures are for his sheep. Likewise, any good soul winner knows where harvest fields are and desires to go for them. Don't you sometimes sit down and wonder whether all the huge crowds which gather around politicians in campaigns are saved or not? Musicians too gather large crowds of people. Are they all really saved? There are many school going children, many people flock the markets on market days, sports events gather many people, are they all saved? When one goes to the taxi and bus parks, in the peak hours you see many fighting to enter the few taxis available. Are all those saved? The universities gather thousands and thousands of students. Have all of them been reached out to? I thank God that whenever we go to some hostels around campus, the testimony w...

Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? When one grows and gets deep down into the details of everything,  you get to realise that there are many things vying for your time and attention.  From the endless social gatherings, political campaigns,  entertainment industry, etc, everything wants a piece of your life. Then there's career, family, the list is endless. It's a fight to stay focused on what you ought to do as a believer.   In the midst of all this, the world is desperately crying out for a preacher, an evangelist, to share with it the good news. People cannot get saved unless someone reaches out to them and opens their mouth to tell them about the eternal state of their souls.   Who is that anointed Preacher the world has been waiting for? It is you. You have a great message that can change the eternal ...

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. When Jesus met his first disciples, the first thing he told them is that they should follow Him and He will make them fishers of men. Since their trade was fishing, they could easily relate to what they were saying.  God met Moses in the burning bush, and Moses was tending to the sheep of his father in law Jethro. That's when He called him to go and rescue his people in Egypt.   Elijah met Elisha, ploughing oxen, and cast a mantle on him. Apart from some whom God called in a dream like Solomon, these ones God met them in their everyday activities. It means that if they took those encounters lightly, they would have missed God.   If you are sensitive enough, you will realise that in fact all things are working together for the good. Many good and negative things are all working for your good. For instance, God has enabled...

Mark 5:18-20 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all [men] did marvel. Dear minister, how does your fellowship, missional family or church intend to grow or reach the uttermost parts of the world? Do you have a plan laid out? In five years to come, how many people will you have reached out to? How many branches will you have set up? These are hard questions which are always ignored because they expose either our laziness or our unseriousness. But the day you get an answer for them, and start making baby steps to achieve them, is the day you will experience great victory. Thank God we are not in the dark about it.  According to our theme scrip...