by Jeanie | Feb 3, 2009 | Uncategorised
Last week, we studied the life of a young man, David who was able to overcome a challenge he was faced with because he was competent and also confident to say it even in the face of opposition. Today, we’ll look at the life of Caleb who at 85 was fervent and determined to fight for and obtain his inheritance. Have a good read.
In Joshua 14, we see the record of this man of God coming up to Joshua to remind him of the promises of God through his servant Moses to him. My first question for you today is do you still remember the promises of God concerning you? Chances are that Joshua remembered that promise but may not have given the land to Caleb until he came and asked for it. Friend, have you asked for your inheritance or are you folding your hands just waiting for something to happen? Caleb was bold and went to ask for it, in fact the scripture was meticulous in telling us that the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal; will you draw nigh today, and ask?
In verse 10, Caleb speaks of his belief that God kept him alive since the time he gave him that word to fulfil His promise; Friend, the very fact that you are still alive today is because the Lord will perform his word to you just as he promised.
…..for I am watching over my word to perform it.” Jeremiah 1:12b
40 years later, Caleb was still passionate about a promise. He waited 40 years and was still willing not weary to fight for his inheritance. How long has it been since that word was spoken to you? Are you still as passionate and strong in faith as then? Can I encourage you not to give up but hold on?
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
The inheritance was for those who were strong and had the courage to fight for it. I know you remember what God has told you, you’ve asked and keep on asking; you probably have demonstrated your ability to capture it but can I encourage to take that one step further and fight for it
He goes on to say in verse 12 “Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.” I want you to note that Caleb was not ignorant of the fact that there were giants there because the Anakites were giants not the standard ones; these people were rather long-necked and yet Caleb now 85 was not intimidated but he said “The Lord helping me, I will overcome, I will drive them out and possess the land. Friend, that’s the attitude you and I ought to have. It is only with the Lord’s help that we can overcome, we will never make it t by our might or power but by His Spirit, we can!
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.
Revelation 12: 11a
For the arms with which we are fighting are not those of the flesh, but are strong before God for the destruction of high places. 2 Corinthians 10:4
Verse 13 of Joshua 14 says that Joshua gave Caleb Hebron; God will give you your inheritance, that land of promise, that desire of yours, that very thing you have been believing him for. Receive it today in Jesus Name!
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You are able 1
You are able 3
by Jeanie | Jan 27, 2009 | Uncategorised
Recently, I made a comment on a social site; I said “Thank you Lord! I was able only because you enabled me”. After a few hours, I revisited the site and began to meditate on those words and this Journal is a product of that little exercise. Each time I come across the word “able”, I tend to think about competence or strength and these words portray the quality or state of being adequately or well qualified, strong; possessing the power to do, bear and resist – Able!
Friend, there is nothing that can defy you, absolutely nothing! There is nothing you have conceived IN YOUR MIND to do that you cannot, provided it’s the will of God ; I don’t know what it is you are going through, but I know you can bear it ! For the bible says:
There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; But will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I am able to do all things through him who gives me strength. I have strength for anything through Him who gives me power. Philippians 4:13
Friend, you’ve got the power and you’re able! Begin to declare it, I am able!
In 1 Samuel 17:23-54, we see the account of Saul and the Israelites facing the Philistines at Socoh in Judah and twice a day for forty days Goliath, the champion of the Philistines would come out and with his words defy not only the Israelites but equally the God of the armies of Israel; why did I say that ? Because whoever is an enemy of God’s people, is an enemy of God.
……for anyone touching you is touching what is most dear to him. Zechariah 2:8b
But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; Then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. Exodus 23:22
So, David arrived the scene, heard Goliath and wanted to represent his people by fighting him but in verse 33 Saul responded to David, “You can’t fight this Philistine. You’re just a boy, but he’s been a warrior since he was your age.”” I can almost hear David
say “Don’t be fooled by my age, my background, my disposition or even my appearance, I am able! King, let me tell you a story; One day, I was minding my business keeping my father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock. I went after it, struck it, and rescued the sheep from its mouth; it attacked me, but I took hold of its mane, struck it, and killed it.
The lesson here is that David was competent and well confident to say it. The issue with some of us is that we look outwards before looking inwards – we succumb easily by focusing on the opposition and the opponent and hence lose energy and the courage to fight even before the fight begins. Friend, I want you to right now think of those times you’ve been strong and courageous, think about the battles you have fought and those victories you won and encourage yourself, say I am able!
Friend, I prophesy that nothing shall be stolen from you and nothing will be impossible for you; you will not be killed neither will you be destroyed but you will pursue, attack and recover all. I declare that you will grab, strike and kill anything that is up against you. Come on, you have the strength, you can do it, you are able! Hallelujah!
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You are able 2
You are able 3
by Jeanie | Jan 14, 2009 | Uncategorised
Hello Friends,
I usually don’t do this but I know this is for someone, you’ll know if it’s you.
I have misplaced and lost some items that took me time …I mean a long time to find. Some I forgot where I originally kept them, others I removed and placed where I thought I’ll readily reach them but I still struggled to find them. Also, there have been times I went on errands. I love going on errands especially those with a promise – good deal! Now these errands to look for something and return it were my least enjoyable and most times I was able to reach and retrieve the items because of the description I was given ….yeah , the description; and whoever was sending me would say things like : don’t lose the paper , keep it safe do you understand? and they did that because they knew that my success in delivering what was required of me depended on my understanding and doing what was described.
Sometimes I lost the descriptions or didn’t remember; other times, I did but decided to take along some extra bits just in case I needed them and save myself the hassle of going back again. More than often, I ended up going back without obtaining the promise which I shouldn’t have had I searched, and followed the description.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
Friend, I don’t know what you’re seeking today and don’t want to guess but can I encourage you to seek God, His Kingdom, His righteousness, can I? it needs to be your topmost priority, your first and foremost, the prime…the main thing. You have the description!
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is WRITTEN therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:8
Did you read that? We need read the book of the law – The Bible – The word of God, speak it, meditate on it, observe to do all that is written…. and then we will make our way prosperous. You won’t have to do same journey twice or more …only then will you and I have good success….obtain the promise and enjoy all the benefits.
Friend, God is speaking to you and I, He’s saying “Seek Me First ”
What will you do?
by Jeanie | Jan 13, 2009 | Uncategorised
Dear Friend,
I hope you are well and have been blessed by this series. Hold onto your faith, God’s not finished with you yet, you have a promising future, your dry bones will become living beings, your change will come, in fact your change has come, things are coming together for you and those things you have been expecting will happen. Remember, it’s not over till God says it’s over, if He say’s you have a hope and a future, it is so!
Ezekiel 37:11 (NKJV)
Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’
This was the conclusion of those exiles after their habitation and temple was destroyed. In today’s terms, it will read “We have nobody; we are behind bars, living rough and have nothing to look forward to; who could possibly help or may be save us? We’re finished!” If you feel or have felt like this, God has a word for you.
Ezekiel 37:12-14 (NKJV)
Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,” says the LORD.’”
God said to them – before I begin to say anything – you are my people, you are mine, you have me, I will never leave you nor forsake you. Friend, you are the apple of God’s eye, he will never take his eyes off you. So be encouraged.
He goes on to say “I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves”. Graves speak of the end or destruction of something. This shouldn’t surprise you as you know this is where the dead are buried. But here, God is saying, no matter how sunk and trapped you feel, there’s hope for you because I’ll open the graves, I will dig you up and clean you up so you can go and fulfil your destiny.
The land of Israel was everything to these people; it was their inheritance, a dear possession – time was taken to allot the
portions, it meant everything to them, it made the difference in their lives. God is doing the same for you today; God will grant you that thing that you so desire, you will come up from under and cease from toiling because the Lord will meet your needs and take you into your land of rest. This could literally be a property, a child, a wife, a husband, a contract, a grant, a job, or some money or restored health, Amen! The Lord has turned your captivity, you have been set free; free to worship, free to flourish, He’s taking you into your own land, so you can plant your vineyard and I declare that your seeds will grow and multiply.
He continues by saying “I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,” says the LORD.” The sprit of the Lord is His essence; the spirit gives life and same Spirit will invigorate and empower you, you have a future, you will live, you will survive!
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
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by Jeanie | Jan 2, 2009 | Uncategorised
Dear Friend,
Happy New Year! I trust that you are prepared and have the capacity to receive all that the Lord has already made ready for you this year. It’s about to unravel; get ready, get ready, get ready! Now, let’s get to the Word.
It is my custom at the beginning of every year to start from the book of Genesis; and as I was doing that, God showed me something significant that I want to share with you.
Genesis 1:9 (NIV)
9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. (Emphasis Mine)
It is obvious from the above text that God wanted a particular thing to come together (the water under the sky) but He was also specific about what He wanted to appear (dry ground). You probably know the areas of your life that you need to come together but I want you to pause this moment and pray “Lord, in my life, this year show me what must come together and the results to expect – what must appear” …After the cancer is gone, what? Lord, now that I’m pregnant, what shall I expect? Now that I’ve found a woman I want to marry, what’s following? After my debts are cancelled, what next?
You see when the dry bones came together; an army emerged likewise, when the things you desire to come together in your life do, something should appear. The latter part of the text says “and it was so”; I declare the same over you, it is so! In your life, things will come together and something glorious will materialize as a result. Give God praise. Hallelujah!
Ezekiel 37:
Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” 10So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
God is here telling Ezekiel to Prophesy! In other words declare what my will is, pronounce my thoughts about this thing, speak my verdict over these bones, Right here, in this valley, Decree my will and let it be established. I want them to live! Yeah, these bones, these things that have just come together by my spirit, they shall also live by my Spirit.
The scripture’s mention of the wind here refers to the ruwach of God -The Hebrew word for Spirit which portrays the quickening power of God.
John 6:63
It is the Spirit who gives life…
2 Corinthians 3:6
…… but the Spirit quickens.
I don’t know what has left you cold and inert; I don’t even know how run down you are or feel but I know someone who can quicken. God can! If you’ll allow him, His spirit, his presence is coming into your situation to liven it – it will come together
God said “Come from the four winds”. You see, it doesn’t matter when and where, what happened and how, God said that His Spirit will reach and revive you. Right now, you may feel smitten but you are about to be quickened on every side. Every area of your life that needs to come together will, Amen!
In verse 10, we see the obedience factor reemphasized; Ezekiel prophesied, he commanded as he was commanded and as a result the breath came into the bones and they lived and not only did they live but they stood.
As the wind, the very life of God comes into you, I declare that you will live and stand! On your own feet, not leaning on anyone for support but on your own feet. Yes, I’m talking about balance, I declare that you will not be shaken neither will you be movable nor unstable; your posture will change and you will stand erect. Whatever was broken will be mended, that which was dysfunctional will become functional once again. Wait a minute; are will still talking about the disjoined bones that were once dry? Oh yes but they’re now together, alive, standing, great and operative – they’re now an army, strong, bold, and ready to do warfare, take territories, claim spoils and even live the abundant life. Friend, this is what God is doing for you. Bless His name!
Romans 8: 28 (NLT)
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose for them.
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by Jeanie | Dec 19, 2008 | Uncategorised
Dear Friend,
Over the weeks I have been sharing from the 37th Chapter of Ezekiel’s Book. In as much as some of the things I have shared are informative, it’s my desire that they also be restorative. By the end of this series, I want you to see everything that represents dry bones in your life become living beings, Amen?
Ezekiel 37:7c. …………………and the bones came together, bone to bone
What I love about this phrase is that it illustrates God’s heart or if you like passion for order and bond. These bones as described by Ezekiel were not in order and hence needed to be assembled, organized, basically, put in order; but they also needed to be joined one to another so they could be functional again.
I have not experienced this but I have been around some athletes who’ve had bone dislocations. One, I know it is painful and two, it leaves them inoperative. They cannot run, jump or engage in whatever sport they do until their bones have healed, until they come back together even though there’s flesh covering the area of injury. Hang with me, I’m going somewhere with this.
Sometimes I’ve asked myself – Jeanie, how come some areas of your life are all right but others look really bad? Most of these times were times that I would have loved to give to meet a need but couldn’t due to some circumstances- things weren’t together you see? I don’t know what area of your life you need to come together; is it your health, career, relationship or may be like me, you love to sow into missions, support the less privileged and/or give towards other charitable causes, but you currently find it challenging because things are not together for you, today, God sent me to tell you that “it will come together”. Your finances will come together in Jesus Name!
I’ve discovered that most times, we really don’t need new things as much as we desire for things to come together; that is, to
have everything in its place. Let’s take a married woman for instance. She has a handsome husband, beautiful home, loving family, great friends, well paid job and many more streams of income but strongly desires a child. No amount of joy or fulfilment she gets from her job and wealth or the love she receives from her husband and friends can compensate for the child she truly desires, things are not together. One more instance, a young man who is very brilliant at his academics, God fearing, has a Godly mentor, cool friends or mates as they call them, lives in a lovely neighbourhood and attends a world renowned church but because of ailing parents hardly eats 3 square meals a day let alone furthering his education. Can you see that things are really not together?
I have learnt that things don’t always come together immediately as we often want them to, maybe sometimes because we haven’t done what we are supposed to do. Paul said to Timothy “according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them might war a good warfare;” (1 Timothy 1:18). Just because God has sent his word, does not mean that you have no part to play; or maybe, you warred for a while and got tired , friend, you ought to be joyful in hope, patient in trouble, and persistent in prayer. (Rom 12:12)
What do you think would have happened if Ezekiel, after hearing all the things the Lord promised to do, refused or failed to prophesy? Selah! Think real deep on this. Every prophecy from the Lord is a word in His will; the bible, you need to rehearse it until it becomes a part of you. Study to show yourself approved…. (2 Timothy 2:15)
If you have not studied the word, you cannot rightly divide it, you will find it difficult to use it properly; in other words, you cannot war a good warfare with it and hence there would be no rattling and no coming together of the bones. Friend, this is not your portion!
If you believe the promises of the Lord to you, say it! That is faith – when you expect to see what you don’t yet have but continue to speak about it.”It” being the things you look forward to seeing, the things that are yet to manifest. If you are unconvinced of the word, you will not receive from the Lord.
James 1:7
A person who has doubts shouldn’t expect to receive anything from the Lord.
Declare this with me. I believe God and I declare that right now, for me, It (name that thing that you are believing God for) is coming together! Bone to bone. Declare it that thou may be justified. Hallelujah!
Ezekiel 37:
And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them.
God had previously spoken that He would breathe into, lay sinews and cover the bones with Skin but He did not do these until the bones came together. Have you heard a word from the Lord that seems overdue; I’m talking about something(s) that should have come to pass by now? Check yourself; is everything in its place or are the bones still disjoined?
I’m sure you’ve realized that the bones didn’t just come together randomly but they did, bone to bone -fitly fixed, every bone in its rightful place. Some bones may have been broken but they weren’t missing, they all came together. I prophesy that “it” will come together for you.
I hope you’ve heard God today. There’s more to come next week.
God Bless.
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