Yes!

by Jeanie | Jul 31, 2014 | Uncategorised

Background Music by Shekinah Glory Ministry – Yes

But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.  Matthew 5:37

I took a short walk at lunch time today during which I was reminded and impressed by the Holy Spirit to say something about YES!

Yes is an affirmative answer or decision. It is a consenting reply often used to express polite interest, attention, promise or covenant.  It’s only a 3 –lettered word but the implication is far weightier.

I came across the song ‘Yes’ by Shekinah Glory some years back and I remember staying up one particular night telling God yes. I had so many conversations with Him throughout the night – some of which I don’t remember but I do recall signing up for a whole lot of things.

Prior to this night, I had said yes lots of times but this one was different. I said yes to trusting and waiting like Abraham. Yes to unrestricted worship and continual intercession. Yes to giving, serving, forgiving and loving people. Yes to His way and will. I went as far as vowing to never dilute my praise even if I lost all like Job. I pleaded to always have a spot in the sanctuary so I could stand with uplifted hands and unrestrained lips. I dedicated my unborn children to the service of the sanctuary. Yes!

Like the psalmist in Psalm 63, I told God – I’d seen him do miraculous things in my life; that of my grandparents, parents, siblings, extended family, and friends and if  He still was in the business of signs and wonders,  and needed a vessel, I was willing and available!

Yes to being an Instrument of Praise and extension of his hand to bring healing and wholeness to the nations. Yes to going wherever He leads, saying whatever He impresses, and doing whatever He bids. Yes, like Mary “Be it unto me according to your word”. Yes,  like Jesus “Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Yes, like the disciples “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” I’m talking about a ‘total surrender’ yes. A ‘withholding nothing’ yes. A ‘no turning back’ yes!

Here are few truths about yes:

Yes is costly but rewarding
Zeal can coerce many into saying things they do not mean but commitment is a proven mark of distinction. A few men had applied to become disciples. Let’s review the interview case studies of these candidates:

57 As they were walking along someone said to Jesus, “I will always follow you no matter where you go.”58 But Jesus replied, “Remember, I don’t even own a place to lay my head. Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but I, the Messiah, have no earthly home at all.”59 Another time, when he invited a man to come with him and to be his disciple, the man agreed—but wanted to wait until his father’s death.60 Jesus replied, “Let those without eternal life concern themselves with things like that. Your duty is to come and preach the coming of the Kingdom of God to the entire world.” 61 Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will come, but first let me ask permission of those at home.” 62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:57-62)

And to the disciples who had been faithfully following him, He said:

23 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:23-26)

Note when you do not say yes, you are deliberately making a contrary decision which goes on record. On the other hand, there is a reward for saying yes but the price must be paid first. If it were you in any of these scenarios, would you still say yes?

Your yes will be tested, tried, confirmed and reconfirmed
Mary was a young virgin of 17. Waited all her life to get licensed and just when it was about to happen, God sends Gabriel to tell her: You are highly favoured and I know this because God has chosen you of all people as the vessel He’ll impregnate. You will give birth to the Messiah who will save the people. By Mary’s yes, she appeared to be a moron, disgrace, and worst of all, a Gypsy who ended up having her baby in a manger.  Her yes drove her from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and then to Egypt, and back to Nazareth. She took a round trip all because of her YES! What shall we say then about the 3 Hebrew young men and Daniel, who set themselves apart while in Babylon? They refused the king’s delicacies and settled for water and vegetables. Their yes’ were tested by fire and Daniel’s with the Lion’s Den. When the heat’s turned up and Den opened, will your answer still be yes?

Yes is a more personal than collective response
Overnight, Moses went from being a prince in the palace to a fugitive roaming the desert. He eventually got a job as a shepherd until God decided to light up the burning bush just to get his attention. After a long dialogue with God, he said yes. And because he said yes, Israel was able to say yes! Gideon was hiding from the Midianites and threshed wheat at a winepress. The angel of the Lord located and called him a mighty man of valour.

Then the LORD turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”(Judges 6:14)

He haggled with God after a few fleece tests but said yes in the end. With his yes and just 300 men, God delivered Israel and gave them victory over the Midianites. I may never know your calling but what’s your answer? Is it yes?

Your yes is your induction to God’s deeper and higher; simply put your promotion.
Samuel was first an answered prayer – miracle. He had been living in the sanctuary since he was weaned. One night he heard a voice constantly calling, he eventually yielded by saying “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”. From then onwards, he was known as a prophet, judge and a high priest also. Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord calling “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” When he said, “Here am I. Send me!” God enrolled and elevated him. John also heard a voice like a trumpet saying “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”. He said yes and because of his yes we have a vivid account of heaven, hell, and the things to come. There are ‘hereafters ‘ that God wants to enlighten you about, will you say yes to the call?

God wants your yes
Jesus showed John an imagery of how He stands and knocks at the door of everyone’s heart. John records His words” If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” (Revelation 3:20).

Paul harmonises with this revelation when he writes:

⁹ If you openly say, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from death, you will be saved. ¹⁰ Yes, we believe in Jesus deep in our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we openly say that we believe in him, and so we are saved. (Romans 10:9-10)

Jesus is standing, knocking and calling you, would you say yes?

Sabo!

by Jeanie | Jul 22, 2014 | Uncategorised

Now David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “LORD, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.” 2 Samuel 15:31

When I was much younger, there was an expression used to describe anyone known to be secretly at cross purposes with someone else or a mission. It was a very strong tag known as “Sabo”.

Sabo is an abbreviation of the English word saboteur which is one who engages in sabotage. Sabotage is a DELIBERATE act of destruction or disruption in which a person, property, or equipment is  DAMAGED. The primary goal of sabotage is to hinder, weaken, undermine, subvert and counteract NORMAL operations or GOOD reputations. Sabos are snitches, spies, betrayers, leakers, informants, conspirators, schemers, and plotters. They are witty, subtle, and cunning.

Sabos are poisonous, venomous, vicious, malicious, injurious, and above all suspicious. They are fickle, cheap, and cannot be trusted. Sabos appear to be for you when in actual fact they are against you. They are the ones who would cry out hosanna today and crucify tomorrow. A Sabo is ‘the devil in Prada’, ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and the enemy in disguise as an angel of light. A Sabo is a spirit – a camouflage spirit! Delilah is a Sabo. Ahitophel is a Sabo. Jezebel is a Sabo. Absalom is a Sabo. Potiphar’s Wife is a Sabo. Judas is a Sabo. Can you think of any more?

Note Sabos are not far from home – they are keen lovers, close relatives, and bosom friends. You have no clue who they really are but they have information about you at their fingertips. It takes divine revelation and intervention to expose and disconnect them.

To overturn Ahitophel’s counsel, David prayed. Similarly, you need to pray to override and overrule the plans of your conspirators. Now make these declarations:

Fulfillment Comes!

by Jeanie | Jul 14, 2014 | Uncategorised

With God, everything has a purpose – Nothing is wasted! My left hand does not negate the need for my right hand and just because I have my place does not mean I can’t visit friends, or go on holidays. There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Time and chance happen to them all. ‘It is not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty.

Herein is the comfort of the Holy Spirit:

For this is what has been written by the prophet. Matthew 2:5

Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled. Matthew 2:17

Now all this took place to fulfil what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet. Matthew 1:22

And remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Matthew 2:15

And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. Matthew 2:23

Friend, did you know that your salvation is nearer than when you first believed? Did you know you are much closer to your destiny today than you were yesterday? I know that because the written word concerning you has now become the living word. You can touch, feel, sense, hear and see the word become flesh right before your eyes! The pieces of the puzzle are coming together.

Fulfilment is:

• The achievement of something desired, promised, or predicted.
• The act of consummating a desire or promise.
• The act of something happening or being made to happen

The tests you are going through now were afore-written about you. And as you go through, you tick off the ones you have completed just as it was written. Step by step, day by day – you are nearing your destination. Persecuted but in fulfilment. Tired but in fulfilment. Shamed  but in fulfilment. In pain but in fulfilment.

All these (events, dramas) are taking place to fulfil (to bring into actuality or effect;  to execute or accomplish ; to measure up to, perfect, perform or satisfy; to bring to an end or complete) what has been spoken by the Lord. I understand the disappointment and discomfort of having to wake in the middle of the night just because someone somewhere (Herod) does not like you.

They hate on you or so they think not realizing they actually love on you by pushing you towards your destiny because it has long been written; “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Out of poverty I called … Out of divorce I called … Out of sickness I called … Out of pain I called … Out of death I called …Out of! Out of!! Out of!!!

Friend, it does not matter ‘where’ life has driven you, God has already called you out of it and the place where you presently dwell is in fulfilment of the written and spoken word – that He will be called a Nazarene. She will be called a worshipper. He will be called an intercessor. She would be called a successful entrepreneur. He would be called a mogul. You will be called…

You know that life, salvation and power is in, on and with you (Jesus) but you still have to run around, do a job and live life like everyone else. Mary! Joseph!! You have been full circle from Bethlehem to Egypt to Jerusalem to Nazareth and yet there remains a contention. Keep going friend, it’s all about fulfilment. It was written about you.

Praise God for the mess! Praise God in the test!! Praise God through the trial!!! Sooner, they’ll collectively become a message, testimony and triumph!

The word concerning you will be fulfilled!

If I were you, I’d get excited and give God a ‘Fulfilment’ praise! Have a great 7/14/14 – Your day of double perfection! Fulfilment comes!

Related journal:
Fulfillment Comes!

Restoration

by Jeanie | Jul 1, 2014 | Uncategorised

So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust. Joel 2:25a

I woke up this morning with a word – restoration. The book of Ezra is replete with the message and hope of restoration and restitution.

Firstly God stirs the heart of King Cyrus to release the exiles of Judah to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.

7 King Cyrus himself brought out the articles that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his own gods. 8 Cyrus directed Mithredath, the treasurer of Persia, to count these items and present them to Sheshbazzar, the leader of the exiles returning to Judah. Ezra 1:7-8

Friend, you are released and free to return to your vision to rebuild. Note these were articles Cyrus’ predecessors ceased. This shows that it does not matter how long the enemy has your stuff for; when it’s payday, he will repay in full.

King Cyrus ordered for all those items to be counted and restored! As if that were not enough, he further said

8 “Moreover, I hereby decree that you are to help these elders of the Jews as they rebuild this Temple of God. You must pay the full construction costs, without delay, from my taxes collected in the province west of the Euphrates River so that the work will not be interrupted.9 “Give the priests in Jerusalem whatever is needed in the way of young bulls, rams, and male lambs for the burnt offerings presented to the God of heaven. And without fail, provide them with as much wheat, salt, wine, and olive oil as they need each day. 10 Then they will be able to offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the welfare of the king and his sons. Ezra 6:8-10

Therein is the restitution. All their costs were paid in full without delay. Additionally, they were given whatever was required and without fail, they were provided with as many provisions as they needed.

All these were done for the restoration and perfection of that which for so long lay in ruins. Remember, the Jerusalem temple was situated in a mount, called Zion.

From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines in glorious radiance. Psalm 50:2

I prophesy over you and yours, may this 7^th month bring about perfection in every area of your life. Your life will be crowned with glory and beautiful ornaments. Whatever was ruined is now rebuilt, whatever was broken, mended, whatever void, filled. Whatever was ill, healed in Jesus’ name!

You are the perfection of beauty – the most beautiful of all places, housewives, businessmen, congresswomen, politicians, or ministers – anything God has called you to, from which God projects, radiates, and manifests.

God’s plan for your life will not be interrupted. As a matter of fact, Heaven has commissioned and dispatched helpers of destiny to help you fulfill your assignment. Without fail and delay receive that which you need for today, tomorrow, next week, next month, and the rest of the year … as much as you need!

Give God praise!