GospelBoy

Personally when I hear "You need Jesus!" I tend to think of someone who is on their metaphorical high horse looking down on someone shaking their head in disbelief as to how sinful that person is. In recent times I have also looked at a number of people and thought "You need Jesus!" too but not in the context that I have described. I've thought it looking friends and colleagues who I see have a void in their life so I would try to introduce them to Jesus but they would often try to fill it with toxic relationships. I've thought it when I see people wishing and trying to gain a large following online because they're looking for acceptance from strangers. I've thought it after seeing an athlete win a championship but suffering from depression soon after. I've thought it when I've seen people relentlessly chase after money, whether by legal, illegal or immoral means because some of them believe money will make them happy.

But Jesus teaches: - You already belong. You are welcome to come home to him any time. - Safe in belonging, you can grow in trust to learn to believe him and everything he has said. - As you internalize that belief, your behavior WILL change.

by Chris Oyakhilome

Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen (Romans 15:33).

In the Old Testament, God was often called the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, in the New Testament, particularly in the epistles, God is known, more than anything else, as the God of peace. He’s called the God of peace more than He’s called the God of love or the God of righteousness. We see this referenced in Philippians 4:9: “…the God of peace shall be with you,” and in 1 Thessalonians 5:23: “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly….”

The word “peace” is from the Greek “Eirene”, which is akin to “Shalom” in Hebrew; it’s peace with prosperity. This is God’s desire for all men. No wonder the angels declared in Luke 2:14: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” Think about it! He brought peace between us and Him: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

The chaos experienced in some parts of the world today didn’t happen by chance. They were inspired by demons of chaos who thrive in chaos. They use chaos as a tool for perpetrating their nefarious schemes through their human hosts and keep at it until people bow to their wishes. But God wants peace and tells us to proclaim peace to the nations.

In the prayer He tells us to pray for all men, His intent is that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life (1 Timothy 2:1-2). That’s what He wants us to have. He’s always about peace. Even now, command peace for your city and your country. Declare in the mighty Name of the Lord Jesus that godly peace that brings liberty, grace, strength, health, and prosperity will hold sway in your nation.

PRAYER

Righteous Father, you’re the God of peace, and I proclaim your peace upon my nation. Your peace, which passes all understanding and brings liberty, grace, strength, health, and prosperity holds sway in all nations, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:

by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course (Psalm 82:5).

What a lamentation! It’s so striking that the Psalmist says, “…all the foundations of the earth are out of course.” This means things are out of direction; they’re in a state of confusion. It’s like what he says in Psalm 11:3: “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” In the world today, a lot of foundations are out of course. Some people have tried to destroy the economic foundations of different nations. They’ve also tried to crush the foundations of godliness in our societies. Same for health, education, family and more.

As Christians, we shouldn’t fold our hands and watch the devil wreak havoc in different nations and in the lives of men. God expects us to do something about it. He says, “Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:3-4). Don’t be ignorant of this. Don’t be content with only meeting your personal needs and chasing your own dreams. You have what it takes to change the course of your world.

Hebrews 11:3 says, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God….” The word “framed” is “katartizo¯” (Greek), and it means to repair or adjust, to restore, mend or make perfect. This means that with faith, you can repair the foundations of the earth that are out of place and put them back on course. You can fix those circumstances and situations in your world that are inconsistent with the will of God.

By declaring faith-filled words, you give shape, structure and beauty to your world. It makes no difference how bad the current situation is, you can mend what needs mending, you can restore what needs restoration, and you can fix anything that’s been ruined. What you need is to use the Word to keep the adversary in defeat. Use it to frame the course of your world to line up with God’s plan and purpose. Hallelujah!

PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for giving me dominion over all things. The course of my life is consistent with your perfect will, plans, and purposes. I refuse to be a victim. Rather, I live victoriously over the adversary and the adversities of life. With the Word of God on my lips, I reign in dominion over circumstances, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:

Romans 8:19-21 - For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

Obadiah 1:21 - Deliverers will go up on Mount Zion to govern the mountains of Esau. And the kingdom will be the Lord’s.