Move Africa

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26

Now that we have moved beyond the curious to become the convinced and have committed our lives to Christ, He has commissioned us. He has given us the keys to the kingdom.

Let’s be honest though. We always approach commitment with caution. One of our first concerns is what it will cost us. What might I have to give up that I might not want to give up? How will that look? How will it feel? Will it be worth it?

Jesus gives us a new perspective in today’s verse: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” This is quite a paradox, but Jesus pushes the point even further: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

Words like “deny,” “lose,” “sacrifice,” and “follow me,” understandably make us nervous. Jesus encouraged us, though, to stop focusing on what we have to lose and to, instead, think about all we have to gain.

If Christ is not followed by the means of the Cross, He cannot be followed at all. No one can live life outside of Christ and the Cross, it can only be lived in Christ through the Cross. If anyone lose his life to Christ, which means to give his life to Christ, which can only be done through the Cross; he then finds “newness of life” So, nothing is more important than the soul, because it is eternal.

Like the young boy who gave Jesus his lunch to feed the five thousand, he did not obsess about what he might lose. He willingly surrendered his all. And when he gave it to Jesus, it was out of his hands. Jesus took it, blessed it, and used it to meet not just his needs, but the needs of many. And then He gave the boy twelve basketfuls of leftovers. That was quite a return on his investment!

Hold nothing back from Jesus. He came to give us abundant life. He will not withhold any good thing from us. When we give our lives and all we value to Him, He will pour out blessings that we cannot contain. In Christ, we can love and live and give like we have nothing to lose…because we don’t.

LET’S PRAY
Heavenly Father, help me to live with hands and heart wide open. Let me take up my cross to follow You, to suffer any sacrifice for the joy of knowing You. I lose my life to find it in You in the name of Jesus Christ! Amen Amen Amen. Fountain to your life.

“And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” Genesis 15:4-6

While Abraham was worrying about one son, in fact the Lord tells him, his seed shall be as the stars of heaven for multitude. And so it is! For the Lord can only accept that which He brings forth. Because the answer is from Heaven, and not otherwise.

What is it that Abraham believed? According to verse 6, “he believed in the LORD.” And what does that mean?

This is one of the single most important Scriptures in the entirety of the Word of God. In this simple term, “Abraham believed the LORD,” we find the meaning of Justification by Faith. Abraham was Saved by Grace through Faith, not by his good works.

There is no other way of Salvation anywhere in the Bible. God demands Righteousness; however it is Righteousness afforded strictly by Christ and Christ Alone. Anything else is self-righteousness, and totally unacceptable to God. Directly the sinner believes God’s Testimony about His Beloved Son, he is not only declared righteous, but he is made a son and an heir.

So regarding the dealings of the Lord with Abraham, this means that Abraham believed that God ultimately would send a Redeemer into this world and would do so through his offspring.

The Apostle Paul, in addressing this very thing said in Galatians 3:16 “Now to Abraham and his seed were the Promises made. He said not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of One, and to your Seed, which is Christ.”

So, the entire nation of Israel, which would come from the loins of Abraham and the womb of Sarah, was but for one reason, and that was to bring forth “One Seed, which is Christ”

That “Seed” was brought forth for one reason, and one reason only, and that was to go to the Cross, which was necessary, that is, if the terrible sin debt was to be paid, and man thereby redeemed.

In essence, “Christ and Him Crucified” presents the entirety of the story of the Bible. Consequently, that’s where my Faith and your Faith had better be anchored. “For what says the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

LET’S PRAY.
May the Lord give you Faith enough to believe and trust Him in every of His Word concerning you that He will do what His Word says about your situation in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen Amen Amen. Fountain to your life.

“And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” Joshua 3:3-5

The “Priests” who carried the Ark on their shoulders, and the Staves on each side of the Ark were for that very purpose, were Types of Christ, Who Alone has the Glory of God represented by the Ark. Jesus said to the prospective Disciples, “Follow Me.” He is still saying the same thing to millions of people. Regrettably, far too many are following other things.

Entrance into the Promised Land pictured the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. The wilderness experience proclaims life without this Baptism.

The Priests were to carry the Ark upon their shoulders. Both the Ark and the Priests were Types of Christ.

The people were to follow the Ark as it was carried by the Priests, yet there was to be a space of about a half mile between them and it. Due to the fact that the sin debt had not yet been paid, because the Cross was still in the future, mere mortals, except the designated Priests, could not come close to the Ark. Thank God, Calvary has changed all of that.

Since the Cross, we are invited to come boldly to the Throne of Grace, and to do so as often as we like. [Hebrews 4:16]

Before this journey, which would witness the miracle of the opening of the river Jordan, the people of Israel were to “sanctify themselves.” Under the Old Covenant, due to the fact that the Holy Spirit did not at that time reside within Believers. Because as stated the sin debt was not yet paid, Sanctification consisted mostly of externals. Now it is a Work of the Spirit, simply because the sin debt has been paid at Calvary.

The river Jordan did not open for the sake of the people, even as much as God loved them, but for the sake of the Ark, which was a Type of Christ.

In the Ark was Tablet on which the Ten Commandments was written representing God’s Word for every situation; Aaron’s rod that budded representing Authority over every situation; and Manna which they ate representing God’s Provision for every situation. The Ark of Covenant representing the very Presence of God.

Because of the Cross, now Christ lives in our hearts and lives, and does so through the Person of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 2:20). By virtue of me dying with Him on the Cross, and being raised with Him in Newness of Life. Consequently, we now have a much Better Covenant, based on Better Promises. The New Covenant, explicitly based on the cleansing and forgiveness of all sin, which the Old Covenant could not do. Because of the Cross, we are now able to come near. If the sinner comes by the Cross, the Holy Spirit opens the door, otherwise it is barred.

LET’S PRAY.
This morning, l pray, As you lay down your life and commit to follow Him, may He strengthen you for every good work. Beloved! If you really looked at your past, you will find that you have faced other moments more severe than the one you’re facing right now — and God never failed you or let you down. In fact, He delivered you and turned those situations around! Don’t ever forget what God has already done for you. Let those memories stir you up and encourage you to face your present dilemma with faith. God will fight your hidden battles and grant you victory in every areas of your life. He will stand by you and restore you in Jesus Mighty name. God shall empower you to overcome every challenges in your life in Jesus name. Amen Amen Amen! Fountain to your life.

And the men said unto her, “We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear. Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee” Joshua 2:17-18

Upon Rahab’s request, the way of Salvation was immediately made clear and plain to her, it was a very simple way, all she had to do was to hang a piece of scarlet cloth [thread] in the window, a child could do that, as well, Salvation presently from Wrath to come is equally simple; trusting the Lord Jesus Christ, and in His precious Blood, secures eternal Salvation.

Her Salvation was not necessarily based upon something she trusted within herself, but rather on outward evidence, that is, the scarlet cloth [thread].

In it was perfection because it symbolised the Shed Blood of Jesus, in herself, imperfection. Looking upon that true token and believing the testimony respecting it, she was assured of deliverance in the Day of Doom that was coming.

Thus, the outward token gave an inward peace.

The Believer in Jesus enjoys a similar peace. The preciousness of Jesus’ Blood and the testimony of the Holy Scriptures concerning it are the outward token which bring assurance of Salvation to the heart that trusts Christ.

It was in vain for Rahab to seek for Salvation upon the basis of personal worthiness; for she was vile indeed. She was a harlot. It is equally vain for the most moral, whoever that might be, to claim Salvation presently; for all have sinned, none are righteous, and all are under sentence of death (all are born in sin, because of Adam’s transgression) (Romans 5:12).

A Faith that is born of God always evidences itself by seeking Salvation of others. Rahab pleads for her father, her mother, her brothers, her sisters and all their belongings and they were all saved.

The moral effect of this Divine Faith evidenced in Rahab, who previously had been a harlot, now proclaims her joining the People of God, marrying one of its Princes, and her name shines in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 1:5). Thus, we see what the Gospel of Jesus Christ can do in the heart and life of one, anyone, even one such as Rahab

LET’S PRAY.
This morning, may your faith that is born cause you to seek the Salvation of others in your community, district, region and country in the name of Jesus Christ. May the root of your faith go deeper, stronger and be grounded the knowledge of Word of God in the name of Jesus Christ. May your testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ touch the hearts of every soul the Lord brings your way to receive Salvation in the name of Jesus Christ. May the Lord reward you mightily sharing the Salvation message to populate His Kingdom in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen Amen Amen. Fountain to your life.

“On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. “On that day, I will banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more,” declares the Lord Almighty. “I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land. Zechariah 13:1

“In that day,” occurs eighteen times from chapter 9:16 through 14:21. This shows how precious “that day” is to the Messiah’s Heart. In that day, His Victory over the enemies of His People will be great, but greater will be His Moral Victory over His People themselves.

The Christian’s true triumphs are God’s Triumphs over him and God’s Triumphs over His are their only victories.

This fountain of which Zechariah speaks was historically opened at Calvary, but will be consciously opened to repentant Judah in the future day of her repentance; but the fact and function of that fountain only become conscious to the awakened sinner.

A true sense of sin and guilt in relationship to God awakens the sense of the need of cleansing; so the shed and cleansing Blood of the Lamb of God becomes precious to convicted conscience. The fear of punishment does not come in here to impair the character and depth of Judah’s sorrow and repentance.

The Ever-Living efficacy of Christ’s atoning Work and its power to cleanse the conscience and the life is justly comparable to a fountain. The sense of the Hebrew Text is that this fountain shall be opened and shall remain open.

Of all sinners, the Jerusalem sinner may be accounted the greatest. It was Jerusalem that stoned the Prophets and that crucified the Messiah. Great sinners, therefore, may hope for pardon and cleansing in this fountain open for the House of David.

The entrance of Christ judges sin, unmasks its true character, and arouses a moral consciousness which approved that judgement. Israel must accept Christ and what He did at the Cross in order for sin to be judged, the same as any other believing sinner.

LET’S PRAY.
May the fountain filled with Blood drawn from Immanuel’s vein which possessed cleansing power flow over your life to bring total freedom and joy!
Grace speaks, Grace elevates, Grace distinguishes, Grace repositions, Grace makes great, Grace never suffers disgrace, Grace paves way, Grace gives strength. When there is a casting down, God’s Grace brings unbelievable lifting. You will enjoy the Abundance of God’s Grace in Jesus precious name. By the grace of God, those things that trouble you, powers, personalities you will not see them anymore in the mighty name of Jesus. Peace shall be with you today and forevermore because the fountain filled with Blood drawn from Immanuel’s vein has cleansing power in Jesus glorious name. Amen Amen Amen! Fountain to your life.

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!” Malachi 3:10

While this great Promise was given under the Law, still, tithing predates the Law by several hundreds of years. The first mention of tithing in the Bible is when Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:20). Some claim that while God blessed lsrael economically, at least when they did somewhat right, He will not do such to the Church, our blessings only being spiritual! Nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, whatever the Lord did for Israel of old, He will surely do for His People presently, and even greater. How could He do less now under a greater and better Covenant than He did for Israel with an inferior Covenant?

If any Believer will faithfully believe the Lord, will ask Him to meet his every need, irrespective if that need is financial, physical, domestic, or spiritual, to be sure, the Lord will answer that prayer. As stated we now have a better Covenant, based on better Promises (Hebrews 8:6) "We have not because we ask not"

And then, all too often our motives aren’t right. If that is the case, God cannot honour any request. “You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lust” (James 4:2-3

If under the Old Covenant, the Lord said that He would “open the windows of Heaven, and pour out a blessing, that there would not be room enough to receive it,” He definitely will do the same identical thing now for those who will believe Him.

LET’S PRAY.
Today, The transforming power of God’s grace in tithing will lift you to your higher place with ease. I decree and declare, Your mountain of struggle will disappear, the roadblock mounted to obstruct the flow of your life will also vanish in the name of Jesus Christ. The Lord will keep your mind at rest and lead you to the rock that is higher than you. You will find peace in His abiding shelter. You will sing the grace melody with boldness and joy in your heart for honouring the Lord with your tithes. God’s matchless Grace will divinely keep and separate you totally from the wickedness planted to derail the course of your life. God will shield and protect you like Abraham. This morning, the Saving Grace of God will deliver you from every trouble. He will scatter the bones of those who encamp against you. I prophesy you will not be discouraged, disappointed or frustrated in the name of Jesus Christ! The Efficacious Grace of God will make things work out and work things out for you in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen Amen Amen. Fountain to your life.

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.” Hebrews 7:25-27

The “intercession” made by Christ for us, which He does continually, is intercession for sin. Several things are said here. They are:

1. Sin is so far greater magnitude than most believers know or understand. Without intercession of Christ on our behalf and on a constant basis the best of us, whoever that might be, wouldn’t last one hour.
2. His “intercession” for us is not something that He does, it’s actually something He has already done. The very fact of His Presence at the Throne (Hebrews 1:3) proclaims the fact that God the Father has accepted what Christ has done for us regarding Atonement; therefore His Presence is all that is needed. Intercession is hereby guaranteed.
3. Every last Believer needs intercession and continually. If someone thinks they don’t, this means they do not really understand themselves, what sin actually is and what Christ actually done for us at the Cross.
4. Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest; as such, He intercedes for us on the basis of a Finished Work, which means there is no danger that the intercession will not be accepted.
5. The reason for total acceptance by God the Father of such intercession is because it is all in Christ and not at all in those for whom He is interceding. All of this means that we have a perfect High Priest, “Who is Holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens”

LET’S PRAY.
May our Heavenly Father meet you in the secret place and reveal the answers for which you pray. May He promote you and fill you with His wisdom and might! The word of God says, I will go before thee and make the crooked places Straight. I Will Break In Pieces The Gates Of Brass And Cut In Sunder The Bars Of Iron. May His Covenant Covering be your portion in Jesus’ glorious name. May His Finished Work on the Cross of Calvary answer for you and plead your case at the Throne of Grace in the name of Jesus Christ! Amen Amen Amen. Fountain to your life.

“And that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken like this: “I will give you the sure mercies of David.” Acts 13:34

Today’s verse proclaims the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead in greater form than when He went into the abode of death; He died with a regular, although Perfect, human Body, but was raised with a Glorified Body. “I will give You the sure mercies of David.” (actually refers to the Lord Jesus Christ, Who embodies all of these great “Mercies”)

We know, from this quotation made by the Apostle Paul in his address at Antioch, that he was alluding not only to David, but to the Lord Jesus also. “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, and was buried with his forefathers, and saw corruption: but he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.” There was a Covenant made with David, which was intended to be typical of another Covenant; and David himself is the special type of that great King with whom God has made a Covenant on behalf of his people. We will leave David somewhat in the background in our meditations this morning; we will only use him as the symbol of the great Christ in whom we rejoice, for God gives to us “the sure Mercies of David” in Jesus Christ, His well-beloved Son.

LET’S PRAY
Today, I pray your case is Settled. No evil judgment shall keep you down, By Mercy your Glory is restored. Your destiny is Healed. The Earnest Expectations of your Enemies shall be disappointed. Your broken hope is renewed. By Mercy you’re taken over your Enemies Territory. Those Good things you’ve stretched your Spiritual and Physical Muscles to get and you couldn’t, Mercy shall bring them to you without Struggles in Jesus mighty name.
By Mercy you’re recovering without Limitation in Jesus Mighty Name. Every mistake you made, God shall have mercy upon you and turn them to blessing in your life. Enemies like friends in your life shall see the judgment of God, their peace shall be taken away forever and ever in Jesus mighty name, Amen Amen Amen! Fountain to your life.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.” Psalm 24:1

Today’s verse explicitly tells us, God created the Earth, so it legally belongs to Him; sadly it is in rebellion against Him, being dominated more or less by Satan and evil spirit forces.

Looking for the real Owner? The answer is “..For the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 50:12) For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof. (1 Corinthians 10:26)

Oftentimes we get together and talk about things we would like to change in the world. When we see the conditions of morality in our nation and the direction our country is headed, it is easy to feel hopeless because we don’t feel as though we have the strength, the power, the ability or the know how to make a difference. The reality is that not much will change until we talk to Owner who can change things. I mean the Real Owner: – God Almighty, Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent. You cannot vote Him out. He is and has always been and will always be the Real Owner.

Regardless of how corrupt our world has become, the truth remains that this earth is the Lord’s and all its fullness. God is still on His throne, and He still governs the affairs of men. “For I am the Lord, I change not..” (Malachi 3:6)

So if we want to see change, we need to talk to the One who can change it. The only One who has the ability to change the direction of our nation is the Lord God Almighty. “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God” (Psalm 90:) The only One who has the ability to fix what is broken in your world is the One who created it. And the only way to speak to Him is when you pray. Don’t you think it’s time to pray?

LET’S PRAY.
Heavenly Father, receive all the glory, honour and praise, from Everlasting to Everlasting. This morning, may you walk knowing the faith that God has given you and the initiative that you take on that faith will lead you into success for tomorrow and in every adventure. Nothing is too difficult for the Lord that we serve. Put your hands in the nail-scarred hand of the Son of God and walk with Him to achieve your destiny. For great is the Lord God of heaven, who saves us all through His precious blood in Jesus’ glorious name! Amen Amen Amen! Fountain to your life.

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

Faith does not come simply by hearing just anything but rather by hearing God’s Word and believing that Word.

If you want to build your faith in God, the only way to do it is by hearing His Word. God’s Word has the power to go forth and accomplish His purposes in your life. It builds faith that gives life to your dreams, gives strength to your body, and builds a hedge of protection that brings you peace of mind.

God’s Word gives you faith that as you confront what look like mountains of impossibility, whether it’s a financial or spiritual or physical impossibility, you can say to that mountain, “Be removed and cast into the midst of the sea.” It gives you strength to take the next step when you think the hill is too hard to climb.

God’s Word builds the kind of faith that says,“I may be pressed on every side, but if God is for me, who can be against me?”

“The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed.” (Acts 14:9) Paul being drawn to this man by the Holy Spirit, because the man apparently believe what he heard Paul saying about Christ; evidently Paul referred to Christ in his Message, not only as the Saviour; but the Healer as well.

That kind of faith comes when you hear the Word of God and receive it into your heart. Hearing the Word of God gives you the kind of faith to look at the world, the flesh and the devil today and declare that you are more than a conqueror through Christ!

LET’S PRAY.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the victory of the Cross of Christ on Calvary. Thank You for faith that overcomes the world. Now Lord, bless us and keep us. Give Your angels charge over us. Go before us and behind us. Let Your goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives. Give us a special sense of Your abiding peace, love and joy this week to know that You will never leave us nor forsake us and that Your plans, O Lord, are to prosper us and give us good success in Jesus’ glorious name. Amen Amen Amen! Fountain to your life.