Test All Spirits

Good morning people. How are you doing?
I remember a comment I read where someone said that she doesn't even read what a particular writer has written before liking it. That sounds like sycophancy to me but what can I say?
I also remember when the ‪#‎ChildNotBride‬ hashtag was trending. I jumped on the wagon and I was still sharing on it as I had my daughter. I later learnt from one of the people that was so vocal about it that the "activists" hadn't taken enough time to pro...perly digest what was been proposed before mobilizing the movement. Time will fail me to talk about the ‪#‎BringBackOurGirls‬ or Fuel Subsidy Removal saga. I learnt to use my data sensibly when the folly of sharing anything without asking my dear Google was exposed by the Ebola salt bath saga. I hope government agencies that need to send information to rural areas will study how such a lie was effectively distributed to the 'rural dwellers' who were actually the ones informing the city dwellers about a lie that was sent out by a city dweller...

Peter just had a "Rhema" moment when he answered Jesus' "Who do you say I am" question. Jesus told him that flesh and blood did not reveal that to him but it was His Father in heaven that told him. Jesus confirmed that Peter heard directly from God...
Then Jesus began to speak of his trial, crucifixion, death and resurrection. Then Peter, who had heard directly from God, took Him aside and began to rebuke Him and was probably trying to teach Him about "positive confession".
" Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”" (Matthew 16:23)
Hello! This dude just heard from God and now Jesus was telling him this?
There are 2 sets of people I'll like to address. The first set are the ministers that hear from God and feed His flock. Be aware that you need to take heed to your doctrine and ensure that what you're teaching (as God's word) is sound. Use God's Word to test every one of your thoughts (not your personal ideology). Whenever you're passing on your personal thoughts/preferences, please be honest enough to let people know that you're speaking for yourself, not the Lord. And if you're like Paul, you can add "I think I have the Spirit of God".
The second set of people are the hearers. After listening to a sermon, go back and search the scriptures yourself to confirm if what you've heard matches up with the Word of God. Thankfully, you can access the Bible easily these days. Read for yourself. If you find a difference between what you were taught and what the Word of God says. What you were taught is the one that needs to line up with the Word...I have a lot more to write on this matter but I'll let the Holy Spirit complete His work in you.
Have a blessed and productive day.
*You can read Matthew 16: 13-27 for the full story*

Don't Let Your Past Define You

Good morning friends. How are you doing?
First of all, I'm still having the same WhatsApp problems as I had yesterday. Yesterday was just that day - left home late, wasted a few more precious minutes on the BRT queue. Just as I left the queue, 2 buses arrived but I already gave up my place on the queue.
I quickly got a bus going to Obalende and we found ourselves in the wicked traffic jam. Just as we came out of the traffic jam and got to Adeniji, the bus had a flat tyre and... we were supposedly stranded. I quickly prayed about the matter on ground. About two minutes later, a bus appeared that had space for those going to Obalende and I joined the bus. I think it occurred to some of those waiting for the driver to fix the tyre that they could join another bus after I boarded the bus. One of them also joined the bus.

It was a 'smooth' journey to the office, though I had a flashback while I was at Obalende. For some reason, I remembered the day I saw "ebo" (pagan sacrifice) at Obalende. I filed a mental reminder not to take anyone/anything at face value and to do all I can to keep the fire on my prayer altar burning.
I got to the office (late of course) and discovered that my emails were not delivering. I tried every 'work-around' I know but no story...So, I've decided to wait for the "blessings of emails". It makes me think of delayed blessings and how they apparently don't stop once the bottleneck (whatever was restricting the flow) has been addressed.
I learnt that deleting the pictures on my phone may help me resolve my WhatsApp issues. I'm wondering if archiving my emails will also help. Sometimes, we need to let go of the past - successes, hurts, pains- so we can make room for the future. When we hold on to the anger and pain, we miss opportunities for happiness and gain. When we are too focused on past successes, we become set in our ways and it's harder to adapt when the parameters change.
Don't let your past define you; your best is yet to come. There are better days ahead.
Have a blessed and productive day.

HURT BY CHURCH FOLKS? READ THIS

A fellow shopper offended me in the shopping mall so I'm going to give up shopping...

A fellow customer offended me when I went to the salon so I'm going to stop visiting the salon...

A fellow passenger offended me in the bus so I'm going to stop taking buses...

A fellow patient offended me in the hospital so I'll stop going to the hospital when I'm not feeling well...

If you think my conclusions in any of the scenarios above are faulty, why is it okay to stop going to church because a church member hurt you?

‪#‎SomethingToThinkAbout
‬
If necessary, please change churches. As painful as it may be when a trusted church member/leader hurts you, it isn't a good enough reason to abandon the faith.

Put whatever measures you need to put in place to avoid being hurt over and over again but it's best not to lose your faith because of that.

I'm looking forward to the weekend o. What about you? Any plans you'll like to share?

ARE YOU THE BOTTLENECK?

Good morning.

Yesterday, we were talking about the fact that one of the equipment involved in the process could not handle the anticipated future production. One of the recommendations was to cut back the flow to what this equipment could handle. Thankfully, there were other recommendations.

 

As I reviewed the conversation this morning, I realised that the same situation applies in many lives. God has to cut back on the flow of His blessings because we don't have enough capacity to take all He has for us. We're too busy crying over spilt milk, too busy minding other people's business, keeping up with everyone "keep-upable".

 

We need to spend time with the Holy Spirit so He can prune us and help us increase our capacity. Some of us are too full of ourselves. We have plans upon plans (none of which came from the Holy Spirit but hey!). We believe we've got it all figured out. There are many "roadmaps" that lead NOWHERE! The solutions to the challenges you are dealing with are found in Christ.

 

Then there's the group that spend all the time praying and then they don't add corresponding action. Faith without works is dead. You can't eat the bread of idleness and expect to be prosperous. Anyone that told you that being a believer gives you the liberty to laze around and expect 'manna' to fall did not tell you the whole truth.

 

Then there's the other group that have allowed circumstances keep them in one spot. It's sad that your parents didn't show you the love they should have; it's sad that life hasn't turned out the way you thought it should. However, your situation shouldn't be the last that is heard of you. The challenges you're facing are life's way of asking you what/Who you believe. What's your answer to the question(s)? If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength (capacity) is small. Let God help you improve your capacity. Many times, after you've gone through, you'll be required to go back to that same challenge and pass the test in flying colours. Peter and his colleagues had toiled all night and caught nothing. After teaching them, Jesus asked them to return to the same activity that had been successful. When you're returning in the power of the Spirit to the same 'hopeless' situation, you'll be returning with power to turn the situation around (Psalms 16:11)

 

Today, I bring you a message from the Lord. Enlarge your tents, strengthen your cords...It's #HarvestTime. Have a blessed and productive day.