These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulations: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

Many people assume turbulent times are not for Christians and that anyone experiencing trying times might have offended God: especially when the situation is prolonged. This is far from the truth. Your road to accomplishing success could have trials and challenges. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:1 2 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” However, the good news is, it doesn't matter the challenges you face, or the strength of your persecutors, you've already overcome them all. Jesus knew we would encounter problems in this world, but He confirmed that as we remain in Him, we would live a life of peace even in the face of adversity. That's why He said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulations: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). These words of the Master must re-echo in your heart if you must enjoy a victorious life. Those words give us the assurance that we're not alone, and that our victory is a settled fact.
You may wonder why God left us in this world of trials and temptations, or want to know why He allows trials to come our way in life. Well, the truth is God doesn't mind trials or temptations coming your way since He knows He's already made you an overcomer: “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). You need to know that God has made His power available to you and lifted you over principalities and powers. You've already overcome the world and its systems; and as for the devil, you're superior to him. Therefore, cheer up, chin out, and square your shoulders for you're a victor in Christ Jesus. Your faith in Him is the victory that has overcome the world: “For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).
 

Pastor Anita

Faith translates trials to challenges not impossibilities. Many things happen to us in life, but the way we interpret them determines our response to them. The full knowledge of our identity is therefore important. When the Bible says that you're more than a conqueror, it infers an assurance of victory. No force can throw you off balance. Thus when trials come your way, translate them to challenges. That's the mindset of victors. Only victors translate problems into challenges.

Pastor Anita

One time, Smith Wigglesworth was called upon to pray for a woman who had died. “It’s no use,” some folks said, trying to discourage him, but he wouldn’t be discouraged. Rather, he started praying, and as he prayed, it seemed as though the heavens were locked up with bronze gates, thus, preventing his prayers from going through. The more he prayed, the more it seemed God was saying, “No, she is already dead; forget about

it!” Instead of allowing his senses dictate to him, he continued earnestly in prayer till he got the note of victory in his spirit. Suddenly he shouted, “Yes! Yes! Yes! She’s alive!” Then he stood her straight against the wall and said, “In the Name of Jesus, I command you to walk!” Instantly, the woman began to walk. Hallelujah!

God never says no. I’ve heard some people say, “God always answers every prayer either by saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’! He says “yes” if He honors your request, and “no” if He doesn’t! This sounds logical, but it sure doesn’t measure up with the Character of God and what the Bible says. The Bible shows that all the promises of God in Christ are all “yes” (2 Corinthians 1:20); not “yes sometimes,” and “no some other times.” In other words, if you ask according to His will, which means you ask in faith and in the Name of Jesus, His answer will definitely be a “yes.”

But if you ask with a heart full of doubt and unbelief, you’ve pushed the wrong codes, and that way, He won’t hear you. It’s like wanting to reach a friend on phone and dialing a wrong number. You’ll never be able to get through to him that way because even though you made a call, it was to the wrong number. So when you pray and don’t receive an answer it’s not because God said “no” to your request; He didn’t hear you because you were praying amiss. You weren’t praying in accordance to His will—His Word: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us” (1 John 5:14).

Understand that God never refuses His kids any good thing; He never says “no”; it’s not in His nature to withhold any blessing from His children. Therefore when you face challenges and it seems the world is against you, just laugh, for your heavenly Father is more than willing to answer you speedily when you make your requests known to Him.

By Pastor Chris

Agape was what moved the Father to send His Son to die for the sins of the world (John 3:16). This is absolutely different from human love, which to say the least is possessive, fickle and selfish. It doesn’t stand the test of time. It lasts only as long as the object of that love conforms to its expectations, and that’s because it’s based on natural emotions and desires. But the love of God, on the contrary, never fails! It doesn’t change even if the behavior of the one to whom it is directed changes.

This is the reason God could love a world of wicked sinners, for He looked beyond their sins to see what they could be if they trusted in Him. And the good news is if you’re born again, you can love others the way God loves them; you no longer have to rely on your own willpower or human emotions to love them!

So, make sure you operate in the love of God and not in ordinary human love, judge your love-standard from the description in 1 Corinthians 13, and you’ll always be on the right track in your love-walk.

By natural laws, Isaac shouldn’t have gotten the harvest he did when he sowed in the land of Gerar. There was a terrible famine, meaning that the economic factors were adverse to his prosperity. Everyone else who ventured into agriculture turned up with nothing. But there was something about Isaac that made his case different—he was Abraham’s seed.

God had said to Abraham, “...l will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2). God invoked in the man the empowerment to prosper. It didn’t matter where Abraham or his descendants found themselves—they functioned by a different set of rules! They weren’t affected by the economy of the nation where they lived, for they functioned by divine principles. Isaac smartly keyed into this, and his prosperity was mind- blowing. He prospered so much that the Philistines envied him (Genesis 26:14); the same thing happened in the lives of his own children.

Abraham’s physical descendant didn’t need to look for the ‘lucrative business” of the day for they were themselves the symbols of prosperity! They functioned by heaven’s economy. They weren’t dominated by market forces, economic downturns or inflation; they grew bigger and faster than inflation. It ought to be the same with you, for the Bible says, “if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29).

The same blessings God pronounced on Abraham are yours! The divine enablement to prosper and succeed has been invoked upon your life! Others may lament the inflation and prevalent economic crunch in the world today, but you have a different song! Why? You’re Abraham’s seed; you operate heaven’s economy! You’re the icon of supernatural prosperity.

By Pastor Chris

I’ve had the opportunity to observe people over the years and I made a remarkable discovery: people who don’t laugh easily get sick, whereas laughing people hardly ever get sick. I discovered that laughter is more spiritual than many realize. There’s more to it than a mere response to a joke or hilarious event. In the Kingdom of God, laughter is medicine: A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones” (Proverbs 17:22).

Laughter is generally found in the atmosphere that’s full of joy. The anointing of the Holy Spirit is most effective in such an environment. When the anointing is present in an environment, everything that’s not of God, including poverty, discouragement, sicknesses and diseases are dispelled. Thus it’s no wonder that the sick are easily healed in an atmosphere that’s saturated with joy.

Moreover, joy inspires success and prosperity. The joy I’m talking about isn’t of the world but of God. You received it the moment the Holy Spirit came to live in you. The Lord Jesus already told us in John 16:22, “...I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” This joy isn’t subject to circumstances of life. Paul the apostle reiterated this when he said, “As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing...” (2 Corinthians 6:10).

Let the joy of the Lord spring up from within your heart in spite of prevailing situations. Learn to laugh your way to victory! Remember, the Bible says “...with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation,” (Isaiah 12:3). So learn to be joyful always! Let nothing take the laughter of the Spirit away from your mouth.

By Pastor Anita

The gifts mentioned above are spiritual gifts which the Holy Spirit imparts to His kids. God wants us to be desirous of these gifts; He wants us to walk in the supernatural by manifesting the gifts of the spirit. However, in 1 Corinthians 12:3 1, He charges us to “covet earnestly the best gifts...” So the question is which gifts of the Spirit are the best gifts?

Now, the term “best gifts” doesn’t imply that some spiritual gifts are “better” than others. The best gifts are the gifts that you require at a particular point in time for the need that you have. In your Christian walk, you require the operation of the gifts of the Spirit at different times and for different purposes. For example, if you spoke in tongues and needed the interpretation of what you said in other tongues, the “best gift” or most beneficial spiritual gift to you at that time would be the gift of the interpretation of tongues. If you were faced with a trying situation and needed a miracle, the “best gift” at that time would be the gift of the working of miracles.

What you must always remember is that the Holy Spirit is the giver of these spiritual gifts and He resides in you. So all you need do is ask in faith. You say, “Father, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, I ask for this gift and I receive it now.” This is exciting; the fact that you can operate at the realm of the supernatural! This is why you ought never to be disadvantaged for you have the keys you need to unlock any door in your life.

Take advantage of the presence of the blessed Holy Spirit and the gifts He freely imparts to His kids who ask of Him. Ask Him today for the manifestation of that gift of the Spirit that you require right now.

By Pastor Chris

If you’re born again, the love of God has been shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). That means you have the inherent capacity to love as God does. But the fact that this love is in your heart doesn’t mean it’ll automatically flow out to everyone. I’ve heard people say, “I prayed to God to help me love so-and-so but I just can’t.” Well, that’s putting your own responsibility on the Lord and it won’t work that way. You have to make the choice to walk in love, for love is a choice—you choose to love!

God’s not the one to make you love someone; He’s already put His love in your spirit and now it’s up to you to let it out. I’ve often said that I’ve never met someone I didn’t like and some folks wonder how this is possible. I chose to be that way. Through the Word of God, I decided to relate with people from God’s perspective. I see people the way God sees them, and that’s the right way to live. When you imbibe this mindset, you’d respond to people on the basis of the love of the Father.

This simple but powerful thought could change your life forever. It’s the solution to the many broken marriages, friendships and relationships, where each party feels they can’t love the other anymore. I would to God they’d learn to walk in love! Choose to love! Even when others rebuff as you try to reach out to them in love, refuse to be discouraged. Love is the greatest power in the universe, and eventually it will melt the hardest heart.

The Bible lets us know that Boaz redeemed all that belonged to Elimelech and his sons, Mahlon and Chilion because of his love for Ruth. It was the custom in Israel for the nearest kinsman to a deceased Israelite to redeem his estate, including his widow and that was what Boaz did. However, he wasn’t really interested in the land and property of Elimelech and his sons for he was already a wealthy man. He knew he had to buy up everything to get Ruth, for he loved her and she was very important to him.

If a man could go this length to redeem a humble lady, how much more God! The Bible says He didn’t spare His Son but delivered Him up for us (Romans 8:32). He didn’t decide to give bulls, sheep and goats for our salvation; neither did He send the highest ranking angel! He gave His only Son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for you and me because we’re important to Him. We’re as valuable to Him as Jesus is. That’s why He spared no cost for our salvation.

This ought to let you know that you’re priceless and important to the Father. In His eyes, you’re number one! You’re most precious to Him. When you’re conscious of this truth all the time, it will add springs to your steps and put a smile on your face—it will kindle joy in your heart every day.

By Pastor Anita

The Bible records that a certain man by the name Haman masterminded a conspiracy against the Jews while they were in captivity. Being the Prime Minister1; he was able to convince the King that it was necessary to annihilate the Jewish people. But by this time, a young Jewish girl by the name Esther had been chosen as queen of the reigning king, Ahaseurus.

When her uncle, Mordecai heard about it, he sent her this message: “who can say but that God has brought you into the palace for just such a time as this?” In other words, he was letting Queen Esther know that she came into Ahaseurus palace at the right time—for the purpose of saving God’s people. At the risk of her life, Esther took up the challenge and ensured Haman’s plan was foiled. She proved that her being in the palace at such a time in the history of the Jews was a product of divine destiny; it was to save the Jewish race from being annihilated by Haman.

Years ago, as a teenager I would say over and over again, “The world needs me! I was born as the answer to the cry of millions!” I knew that I came at the right time to impact this generation, and my life has been programmed in that direction ever since. There’s a reason you weren’t born a century ago or a century from now; God purposed and planned that you would come in this generation, to be the answer to the cry of many in your world.

Just like Esther, you were born for such a time as this—you came at the right time. You came as the answer to the cry of many. You’re God’s agent of salvation in a hurting world. When you have this kind of mentality, you’ll live as a helper and lifter of others. Remember, your life is for the salvation of souls!

By Pastor Chris

A young lady had been sick for several years and had been given up to die. In that state, sick and in pains, she was carried to a crusade. During the time of worship, she joined in and had a wonderful time, ignoring her pains. She looked away from her pains and sickness unto God. Suddenly, she noticed her hands that hadn’t moved for years were lifted up. Then it dawned on her that she’d been healed of her disease. Overwhelmed with joy, she gave her testimony in tears. Hallelujah!

If you desire a miracle in your situation, then you have to take your attention away from the challenge you’re facing and worship the Lord. The Bible says Jonah prayed to the Lord out of the fish’s belly (Jonah 2:1). Right in the midst of trouble Jonah still prayed unto the Lord. He forgot about his situation and prayed. When you study the content of his prayer you’ll discover it was all of worship and thanksgiving (Jonah 2:9). As he worshipped and thanked the Lord from the fish’s belly “the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land” (Jonah 2:10). What a mighty deliverance!

Solutions come when you worship the Lord in the midst of your trouble. The Lord Jesus didn’t respond to the woman whose daughter was vexed with an evil spirit until she worshipped Him (Matthew 1 5:22-28).

Someone has rightly said, “Those who look at the sun don’t see the shadows.” How true! So learn to subdue your pains, disease or financial condition and worship the Lord instead. Love Him with all your heart for He’s good and real; more real than whatever situation you’re going through.

I‘m often amazed at how some Christians easily give up and succumb to life’s challenges. You’ve got to understand that if you’re a child of God, you aren’t a victim! In the scripture above the prophet described a dire situation, yet chose to rejoice in the Lord all the same: “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places....” In other words, although there was a problem, the prophet wasn’t moved by what he saw, felt, or perceived.

This should be your attitude as well. The story isn’t complete until you’ve won! Things may not be going the way you expect at the moment, but don’t despair. Reiterate your trust in God by giving Him praise for doing all things well. Tell yourself, “I’m not giving up” and begin to rejoice in the Lord God of your salvation.

Remember Paul and Silas? Things couldn’t have looked more hopeless for them as they huddled in chains in the dark dungeon of that maximum-security Roman prison. But instead of cringing in fear and hopelessness, they decided to praise God, and you know the rest of the story (Acts 16:23-36).

It’s time for you to praise God like you’ve never done before. You may not feel like it, but praise Him anyway, because that’s where the victory lies! It’s not over yet. Put your trust in God. Worship Him in spirit and in truth and Hell inhabit your praise and bring His power to bear on your situation.

The Lord Jesus charged His disciples in Mark 16:15 to “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Preaching the gospel to the entire world goes beyond reaching people one by one; it involves organizing and holding outreach crusades, having Christian teaching programmes on TV, printing and distributing of evangelical materials, and so on. All these cost a lot of money, thus the reason we ought to get big financially—so we can sponsor the gospel around the world big-time.

One important thing you can give to God is your praise and thanksgiving. In Luke 17:17, Jesus asked the leper who returned to give thanks, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine.” In Mathew 26:2 7 Jesus gave thanks to God for the cup—His own blood that would be shed! David wanted to show kindness to anyone who was left of the house of Saul, because of his gratitude to his friend Jonathan (2 Samuel 9:7). Elisha prayed for the woman who provided him with food and shelter to have a child—that was his expression of gratitude for the love she had shown to him (2 Kings 4:12-1 7).

Maybe you’re thinking to yourself that there’s particularly nothing to be thankful for; you’re thinking, “After all, I’m sick” “I’m unhappy”; “I have bills to pay.” Well, if you’re a Christian, your life ought to be radiant and full of thanksgiving. Ephesians 5:20 says, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Your prayers must be filled with gratitude, irrespective of what you feel or what you’re going through. Do not only acknowledge what you can see, rather acknowledge what God has done, because that is what keeps you living a life of gratitude.

Give God your praise and thanksgiving today as a demonstration of your gratitude for all He’s done for you. He deserves all your praise and adoration. Maintain an attitude of praise and thanksgiving always.

By Pastor Anita

The acknowledgement and confession of the Lordship of Jesus Christ is the God-ordained way to receive salvation. Certain evangelists and preachers believe that for a sinner to be saved, he must confess all his sins to God. No! That wouldn’t work because it’s not scriptural. You don’t receive salvation by confessing your sins. The Bible doesn’t say “If you confess or repent of your sins you will be saved”; instead it says “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.”

The moment a sinner declares the Lordship of Jesus over his life; he becomes a new man. All his sins are remitted. He is passed from death to life. That’s the beauty of what Christ did for us on the cross. That’s why the Bible says, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them...” (2 Corinthians 5:19).

God is not holding any sin against any sinner. That’s why it’s wrong to tell the sinner to confess his sins for God has no record of them. When a sinner tries to confess his sins to God, He doesn’t see them because they were nailed to the cross; thus they cease to exist.

What the sinner needs is to confess with his mouth, not all his sins, but the Lord Jesus, and believe in his heart that God has raised Him from the dead, and he would be saved! That’s what qualifies him to be recreated! After he has become a Christian, he can receive forgiveness if he ever does something wrong.

By Pastor Chris

It doesn’t matter how grave the situation you’re in today is, or how dire your needs are, the Lord is strong enough to cause a change. He’s your refuge and strength, your very present help in times of need (Proverbs 18:10).

By Pastor Anita

I love to define the “fight of faith” as “the unleashing of your faith on the rebellious circumstances of time, to compel changes to correspond with your stubborn faith proclamations.” I chose to use the word “unleash” to communicate the strength of the definition. To “unleash” means to “release or vent”; it means to “turn loose or free from restraint”; “to release from a leash” much in the same way as a guard dog is released from its leash to pursue a criminal.

So, the way and manner to apply your faith to the contrary situations you face isn’t passive or mild; it connotes some form of divine aggression! The fight of faith is when you vent or turn your faith loose to run rampage against the negative situations of life! When sickness attacks your body, for example, you unleash your faith to the maximum! That’s the time to maintain your confessions of health and healing, irrespective of the symptoms you may be feeling. That’s the time to tell that tumor, “You’re dead from your roots in the Name of Jesus!”

If it’s poverty that tries to attack you, do the same thing—unleash your faith without restraints! Refuse to accept thoughts of lack. Keep declaring, “The Lord is my shepherd, therefore I’ll never lack! He supplies all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Learn to vocalize your faith, irrespective and independent of obvious contrary circumstances.

No matter how rebellious the circumstances are, they can never withstand the unleashing of your stubborn faith! This is why you must study and meditate on the Word of God consciously for that’s the way your faith is increased. When your faith reservoir is high, it’ll be easy to pull out the necessary confessions that’ll force rebellious circumstances to comply with your faith’s proclamations.

By Pastor Chris

The Bible admonishes us not to think like ordinary men, who spend all their lives chasing after uncertain riches. The Word of God shows us that a man’s life doesn’t consist in the abundance of his possessions. Life isn’t about material things, or the money you possess; it’s more about the victory inside you! It’s about your response to circumstances, and your ability to control the forces of nature, while maintaining a relationship with your heavenly Father and walking in the glory of His presence.

Jesus understood this, which was why He lived a victorious, joyous, and successful life twenty-four hours a day. When He walked the earth, He lived as a master over everything. Though He didn’t live in a palace like Caesar, or extravagantly arrayed himself like Herod, He definitely wasn’t a pauper and never behaved like one. He was princely in every way.

Don’t allow life’s circumstances pressurize you to the point where you worry and fret over your life. Learn to cast all your cares upon the Lord and live in absolute rest. Refuse to worry about what to eat, what to wear, how to get the money you need for that business or the kid’s school fees! Trust the Lord to make His Word good in your life, for He has said ‘…seek hot ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Luke 12:29-31).

The Spirit of God, through the Apostle Paul also reiterated this in Philippians 4:6: “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto Cod. Learning to live above the cares of this life will place you on a platform of perpetual victory, prosperity, and joy.

By Pastor Anita