ARE YOU A COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIAN ?

Are you desiring to enrich, empower and encourage others to emulate your example in your walk with Jesus Christ, or are people calling you a hypocrite?

Curry R. Blake said: “If your Gospel isn’t touching others, it hasn’t touched you!” Is your time, treasures and talents being used to populate heaven? God has enabled you to discover your talent, has taught you how to develop it and now that you have been deployed to profit from that talent- we have to help others to never give up on their dormant dreams and talents.

2^nd Corinthians 13:5(Amplified) says “Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing proper fruits of it. Test and prove your selves [not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you-unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?" 

Even during Bible times, so many people did not “get” the Gospel.  In Acts 8:27-31, Even an Ethiopian eunuch of great authority under Candance the Queen of Ethiopian in charge of all her treasure was reading the  book of Prophet Isaiah when the holy spirit sent Philip to ask him “Do you really understand what you are reading?”  The man of great authority then says “ How is it possible for me to do unless someone explains it to me and guides me [in the right way]?”  Then he requested inertly for Phillip to come and sit beside him.

Millions of people go to church and just do not understand the Gospel.

There are people who have died and are asking God to send people like us to warn their relations and friends who are in church or in the world to have a relationship with God. Lets start serving and saving the lost in and outside of the church with what the Gospel is in works. Ask God to make your life daily proof of the millions of examples of his greatness in the Bible. The daily works of Jesus Christ not only showed proof of the faith he professed-but that God is real.
 We must use our time and treasures that we gain to be used to populate heaven. We can demonstrate heaven on earth when we stir up God’s gift in us and give it to propagate the Gospel/ Good News of Jesus Christ.

Hairdressers….. Is God A Partner In Your Business?

When we decided to follow Jesus Christ, we asked God to come into every aspect of our lives and take control. So therefore everything we do impinges on the kingdom of God.

Great partnerships flourish when each partner does their part. God will always do his part, but we have to do our part to see real results and testimonies.

In Philippians 1:5 (Amplified) Paul writes “[I thank my God] for your fellowship(your sympathetic cooperation and contributions and partnership) in advancing the good news(the Gospel) from the first day [you heard it] until now.”


Romans 8:28 (Amplified) says that “ We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

Most people wish for the Midas Touch as it were-that everything we touch turns to Gold. Well throughout Deuteronomy, God tells us that he wants to bless the works of our hands so that in everything we do- we prosper abundantly.

However most people want these blessings, but they want to cut their major partner out of the deal. How you ask? Are you paying your tithes consistently? Or are you waiting for consistent clients in order to pay your tithes?

Deuteronomy 28:12(Amplified) says “The Lord shall open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands……” Deut 15:10 says “……because of this the Lord will bless you in all your work and in all you undertake.”

Why would you want to "cheat your partner," when he is the source of your wealth. You thank him for your job/business everyday in your prayers anyway!

Having The Faith That Takes & Not the Faith That Waits!

I was watching the American Pastor Bill Winston preach this message at Winners Chapel -Shiloh Program (Pastor David Oyedepo) in Nigeria, West Africa and I was flabbergasted. Is that really possible? He gave example testimonies and elaborated that God loves to put us in situations that we don’t know how we will get out of.

Well it is possible- if we use our faith to take the word of God and make it ours. In John 7:6 (Amplified) it says “ Whereupon Jesus said to them My time (opportunity) has not come yet; but any time is suitable for you and your opportunity is ready any time [is always here].”

Taking the word and making it yours means to tell God that what he did for Joshua-he can do for you also.  So what ever situation your are experiencing, find it in the Bible. By faith replace every ones name with your name and circumstances. And watch God work.

Having the faith that takes the word of God- fixes and makes it flesh(human) in their situations will not have to wait.

I Don’t Feel Like Reading My Bible Today!

Because Christians will have days like this we must read our Bibles daily so that there will be enough of the word of God already stored within us to counteract these emotions.

Many Christians who read their Bibles daily have felt like this or even feel like this right now. We get so overwhelmed with situations that have surrounded our lives that our numb feelings begin to flaw our faith. Even Jesus had distressful circumstances at times. (Luke 22:44-Amplified) “ And being in an agony [of mind],…” Angels were sent to strengthen him in stressful situations. (Luke 22:43-Amplified) “ And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him in spirit.

From time to time we are incapable of gathering up the strength to read the word of God, whether we are angry at God, ourselves or our situations. Nevertheless if you have the word of God stored within you can battle every thought that does not align with God’s plan to give you the expected end you desire.

Walking by faith ain’t always easy. We sometimes have stronger faith for certain things and less faith for others. Which doesn’t make sense-but that’s why human beings have to renew their minds with the word daily. There will be days like this in your Christian journey.
Worship and praise songs heal the soul and help connect the spirit man with the holy spirit of God. Television or radio ministries also help to charge our faith as well.

If you are reading this article and don’t feel like reading your Bible today-its okay. Just praise God, thank God for sending Jesus Christ for your life. Use the prayer of Reinhold Niebuhr “ God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

God said that he will never fail you four times in Hebrews 13:5(Amplified) “…….; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will ] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax my hold on you)! [Assuredly not!].”

Please be assured today that without a doubt- you have been called to virtue, predestined to live the good life . You are a wonderful creation of God and no matter what your present situation will enrich, empower, and encourage others to emulate your example when you demonstrate your sincere dependency on God.

Don’t let the tradition of your feelings flaw your faith and make the work of God void in your present circumstances( Mark 7:13-Amplified). Ask God to strengthen your faith as he said he can do in Romans 16:25(Amplified) “ Now to him Who is able to strengthen you in the faith which is in accordance with my Gospel and the preaching of (concerning)Jesus Christ (the Messiah),…”

God will give you a ray of hope to get through the days you don’t feel like reading your Bible-so you can wait on his plan for you to manifest. Then you will be strengthened in faith to read your Bible the next day.

On these days, take the word you know and make it yours. Give it back to God as David did in 2^nd Samuel 7:25-29(Amplified) “ Now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word You have given as to Your servant and his house; and do as You have said,…………..for You, O Lord God, have spoken it,…….”

Tell God that just as you need assistance in your present situation, that enable you will be of assistance to someone else with their circumstances-while you wait for someone to help you. The American Pastor Mike Murdoch has a book of 7 spiritual principles for success of which one of them states that “ Because I help make things happen for others-God makes things happen for me.” 

 Also go to a near by church-not necessarily your place of worship and volunteer for that day. This will take your mind off your own issue, which will ultimately remind you of how big and great your God is.

Jesus was an Apostle, Prophet, High Priest,Slave & Servant of God- The Bible Says So!

What is a Prophet? By definition- according to Oxford Dictionary- is a person sent by God to teach people about his intentions. A person who predicts the future.

 Jesus tells us specifically in John 5 that he only does what he is taught by God and as he gets Gods orders. He even elaborates by adamantly saying that he has no desire to do what is pleasing to himself-his only aim is the will of the Father who sent him.

Muslim and Christians should really stop disputing over this issue. Lets focus on serving God and transforming our lives daily to represent that we are of Gods goodness and righteousness. Which is what Jesus Christ was sent with the Good News for.  Abraham had two sons Isaac and Ishmael. It was God who provided both children. And both Islam and Christianity can not deny that both religions are byproducts of Abraham.

This way we can begin to prove that God does answer prayers and he is real. Jesus even had to depend on God’s angels at times for strength in this wicked world. Matthew 4 :11 (Amplified) says “ Then the devil departed from Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.” Also Luke 22:43 says “ And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him in the spirit.”

In Philippians 2:7(Amplified) states that Jesus in all humility was even a slave for God. “But stripped himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant(Slave), in that he became like men and was born a human being.” 

For those who want to argue this point, please open your bible and read Hebrews 3:1-2 (Amplified) says “ So then, brethren, consecrated and set apart for God, who share in the heavenly calling, [thoughtfully and attentively] consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest Whom we confessed [as ours when we embraced the Christian faith]. [See how] faithful He was to Him Who appointed Him [Apostle and High Priest],…….”

Romans 15:8 (Amplified)says “ For I tell you that Christ (the Messiah) became a Servant and a minister to the circumcised (the Jews) in order to show God’s truthfulness and honesty by confirming (verifying) the promises [given] to our fathers. 
 
Luke 24:19 (Amplified) says “ And he said to them, What [kind of] things? And they said to Him, About Jesus of Nazareth, Who was a Prophet might in work and word before God and all the people.” Also in both the KJV and Amplified versions of the bible, in Mathew 21:11KJV- says “ And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.” The Amplified version says “And the crowds replied, This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Don’t Be A Victim Of Spiritual Identity Theft

 Identity Theft is an issue that doesn’t just happen in the secular world, but very much so in the spiritual.  It seems quite questionable that the worldly idea of an individuals identity being stolen can happen without out a  tangible theft of ones property as in a drivers license or an identification card.

Well the American Pastor Dr. Leroy Thompson, (Ever Increasing Word Ministries) preached on the issue of spiritual identity theft among Christians on their television broadcast on 11/29/10.  Once a Christian becomes saved or born again, they have received a new identity-they belong to CHRIST. “For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new real] life is hidden with Christ in God. (Cols 3:3-Amplified).

 Many more scriptures in the Bible substantiate this fact.  For instance,  Ephesians 2:10(Amplified) says that ‘For we are God’s [own] handiwork (his workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined….”   According to Mark 9:41(Amplified)-” For I tell you truly, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to and bear the name of Christ will by no means fail to get his reward.”

So as a result of this this new identity in Christ, if  a Christian experiences poverty, sickness, lack of faith, evil attacks,  deficiencies in business or family fertility- their identity in Christ  has been stolen.. In fact the Bible requests that Christians should test and prove by ever-increasing experiences that Jesus Christ is in them, unless they are counterfeits.(  2^nd Corinthians 13:5).

If a Christian is  the victim of  evil attacks-their identity in Christ has been stolen because according to the Bible the Lord  will fight for his believers- greater is the power of God that is in every Christian than the powers of the world.  Deut 28:7 says that the Lord will cause enemies that rise up against Christians to be defeated before their faces-those enemies will come against them one way and flee from before them seven ways.  Isaiah 54:14 -17 tells every Christian that they shall be far from even the thought of oppression or destruction, that whoever stirs up strife against them shall fall and surrender to them, and lastly any weapon formed against them shall not prosper.

If a Christian is experiencing sickness-their identity in Christ has been stolen because according  James 5:15(Amplified) “ And the prayer [that is] of faith will save him who is sick and the Lord will restore him; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.  Deut 7:15, says  that the Lord will take away from you all the sickness.  Exodus 23:25 says “ You shall serve the Lord your God; He shall bless your bread and water, and I will take sickness from your midst.”

If a Christian is experiencing lack of faith-their identity in Christ has been stolen because according to the Bible is it impossible for any Christian to please God without faith.  Hosea 14:4(Amplified) God says “ I will heal their faithlessness; I will love them freely,…..” As a result Romans 16:25 (Amplified) says -”Now to him Who is able to strengthen you in the faith which is in accordance with my Gospel and the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ (the Messiah)…”  There are also angels available to strengthen Christians.  In Luke 22:43 an angel from heaven strengthened  Jesus in spirit. Even in the Holy Quran (Translation by A. Yusuf Ali)Surah 2:253,Surah 5:113;  states that  Jesus was strengthened with the holy spirit.

If a Christian is experiencing poverty-their identity in Christ has been stolen because according to the Bible, God takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servants and his desire is to give them the  kingdom.  Psalms 33:10, says that those who seek the lord on the authority of his word-none of them shall lack any beneficial thing.    But most importantly, a Christian that is obedient to God’s word concerning tithes, offering and sowing experiences the reward of God  opening up the windows of heaven with overflow of blessings and they also  receive 30, 60, or 100 fold harvest from their seeds sown. 

Poverty is not the portion of  a Christian unless they are encountering  identity theft.

If a Christian is experiencing deficiencies in business-their identity in Christ has been stolen because according to the book of Joshua 1:8, if  Christians  meditate, observe and do according to the word of  God then they shall make their way prosperous and shall deal wisely and have good success.  This is also emphasized throughout Deuteronomy 28 :1-13.  Christians that diligently heed to the voice of God and his commandments are blessed in their movements, their storehouses are blessed, their land is blessed, all the work of their hands is blessed, they even have a surplus of prosperity through their stock.

If a Christian is experiencing fruitless family fertility-their identity in Christ has been stolen because according to Genesis 17:6(amplified) “I will make you exceedingly fruitful and I will make nations of you and kings will come from you.”  Genesis 22:17(Amplified) says “In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your  Seed(Heir) will possess the gate of his enemies.” 

In conclusion, this is not a  far-fetched belief for those that have surrendered all that they have and are to God.  For the Bible tells us so!