www.livingsword.org http://livingsword.org Living Sword Ministries International Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:32:59 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 HELP LAID UP http://livingsword.org/2012/02/help-laid-up/ http://livingsword.org/2012/02/help-laid-up/#comments Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:22:31 +0000 RevAdmin http://livingsword.org/?p=350 HELP LAID UP
By Olufunso Joseph Omidiran www.livingsword.org
“They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed” (Psalm 34:5).
Looking up to God is the only legitimate way to receive His help. We cannot hope for God’s help by looking elsewhere. God is indeed willing to help all His children who will dare to believe, trust and depend on Him. Faith walk is the right walk in the kingdom. Thus, we’ve got to look up:
“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up” (Psalm 5:3).
Let’s learn to seek the Lord in the morning! Unless helped by the Spirit and God’s Word an average individual will want to look for help by looking around, looking inward or looking outside; but what God requires is to look up to God. Another problem is that at times, we actually look up, but not to God! We kind of place something up to look at, an object that we see as big or massive enough to put our trust in. But this is an error which the Psalmist had also made at a point in time:
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1, 2 ESV).
The Psalmist needed help and so looked up to the hills! That doesn’t make sense, does it? Looking up to the hills is one of the silly things we do and we get nowhere! Bless God, the man quickly realises his error and quickly recovers by affirming that his help comes from the Lord who made the heaven and earth, not from aimless, non-precise, non-specific hills. What do we place as hills? Anything apart from God Himself, that we may consider good enough, big enough, sufficient enough or available enough to meet our needs. God often allows us to fail when we put our trust in men or women. Besides, many of us, like this Psalmist only realise and go to God after other alternatives have failed. Why should we first waste our time turning to the wrong direction, only to get back on track afterwards? Stop looking out for help from mortal fellows. Stop seeking the face and hands of men.
“Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom? Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies? Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies” (Psalm 60:9-12).
HELP IS LAID UP FOR YOU NOW!
“Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people” (Psalm 89:19). As God did for David, He’s determined to do for you too, if you will believe.
Do you know that God is able? Do you indeed know that He is willing to help you? Do you know that if you look up to Him, He will arise for you? Why not go ahead and join the company of those who please Him, walking by faith? Our God does not fail; He who made the heaven and earth cannot lie. He has laid up a miraculous help for you at this time― you only have to make sure that you look up to Him alone. There is a testimony waiting for you. Shalom!

]]> http://livingsword.org/2012/02/help-laid-up/feed/ 0 Sow unto good ground http://livingsword.org/2012/01/sow-unto-good-ground/ http://livingsword.org/2012/01/sow-unto-good-ground/#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:57:39 +0000 RevAdmin http://livingsword.org/?p=329 Dearly Beloved in Christ,

Calvary Greetings to you in Jesus’ mighty name. You are welcome to the year 2012― our year of Supernatural Accomplishment. We want to thank you for all your encouragement and support for us in the work of ministry all these years. May the Lord continually count you worthy in His presence.

 

We felt led of God to share with you our budget for the First Quarter of the year 2012. We have before us the great task of taking the gospel of Christ, the mystery of the kingdom and the love of God to the nations. As it were, we need an urgent response from all willing children of God to our Macedonian Call at this time. Remember that our God loves a cheerful giver and it is more blessed to give than to receive. If you consider us faithful and committed to the course of Christ in the nations why not consider lending us a hand of support at this crucial time? Faithful is He that called.

BUDGET FOR THE FIRST QUARTER (Jan-Mar) 2012

Church/Office Rent ― N150, 000
Crusade/ School of Ministry at Onueke Ebonyi State, Nigeria― N250, 000
Missions’ ― N500, 000
Equipment/Logistics ― N150, 000
Staff Welfare (3) ―N195, 000
Miscellaneous ―N5, 000
Total = N1.25M ≡ £5000 (GBP) ≡ $7,813 (USD)

How can you give?

You may give through any of these accounts

  • Domiciliary a/c# 0109771640 for USD donations.
  • Domiciliary a/c# 0101771664 for GBP (£) donations.
  •  Account # 0109771547 for Naira (N) donations.

All a/c are at GTBank Bodija, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Thanks very much. Shalom.
God’s servant
IN HIS HOUSE,

Olufunso Joseph Omidiran
www.livingsword.org

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]]> http://livingsword.org/2012/01/278/feed/ 0 Christianity may be eradicated in Iraq and Afganistan http://livingsword.org/2011/12/christianity-may-be-eradicated-in-iraq-afganistan/ http://livingsword.org/2011/12/christianity-may-be-eradicated-in-iraq-afganistan/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:51:51 +0000 RevAdmin http://livingsword.org/?p=270 http://cnsnews.com/news/article/christianity-may-be-eradicated-iraq-and-afghanistan-says-chair-us-religious-freedom

]]> http://livingsword.org/2011/12/christianity-may-be-eradicated-in-iraq-afganistan/feed/ 0 The Size and Distribution of the World’s Christian Population http://livingsword.org/2011/12/the-size-and-distribution-of-the-worlds-christian-population/ http://livingsword.org/2011/12/the-size-and-distribution-of-the-worlds-christian-population/#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:49:34 +0000 RevAdmin http://livingsword.org/?p=261  

A comprehensive demographic study of more than 200 countries finds that there are 2.18 billion Christians of all ages around the world, representing nearly a third of the estimated 2010 global population of 6.9 billion. Christians are also geographically widespread – so far-flung, in fact, that no single continent or region can indisputably claim to be the center of global Christianity.

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http://www.pewforum.org/Christian/Global-Christianity-worlds-christian-population.aspx

]]> http://livingsword.org/2011/12/the-size-and-distribution-of-the-worlds-christian-population/feed/ 0 Can God Trust You http://livingsword.org/2011/12/can-god-trust-you/ http://livingsword.org/2011/12/can-god-trust-you/#comments Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:45:06 +0000 RevAdmin http://livingsword.org/?p=246

“And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation and all nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? FOR I KNOW HIM, that he will command his children after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgement; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him” (Gen.18: 17-19―note my emphasis). 

Our message for this week is in form of a question. God Himself is the best Judge. But our attitude before the Almighty will determine our answer. God places every child of His upon an open/plain platform of test. If He does not test you, He cannot bless you. If He hasn’t tested you, He does not KNOW you! Unless He trusts you, He cannot entrust eternal treasures in your care.

God indeed is mighty in wisdom and glorious in deeds but yet delights in having fellowship with men and women whom He will also be able to trust and entrust with divine treasures. However, it takes time before God finds a sure man or woman. You see, He will first give you opportunity to prove and express your true colour as He keeps watching you quietly (silently). You cannot bribe Him into influencing His opinion about you. He is extremely faithful. He can neither lie or nor be partial. Hallelujah!

 GOD TRUSTING A MERE MAN… DOESN’T THAT SOUND AWKWARD?

Well, it is not so! God chose to create man in His own responsible image and likeness so that man might be enabled to fully represent His purpose and desire. In fact man (i.e. mankind) is a creature of purpose and trust. With God in charge, man is expected to be accountable. When Adam was put in the Garden of Eden, he was given charge of everything therein and he was shown his limit. God trusted him to do all things and be mindful of this limit. But man became irresponsible by reason of disobedience.

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the list is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?” (Luke 16:10-12).

Can He trust you with the revelation of His will, plan and purpose for this generation and the one to come? Can He entrust the destinies of individuals, families, cities or nations to you? (Read Genesis18: 17; Psalm 25:14).

Are you a man or woman of great promise, great future? Are you cognisant of His future plans and mandate for your life? Do you know your place in His eternal plan for the ages? (Genesis18: 18).

 

Doe He know you too, sir?

“For I know him…”(Genesis 18:19). Does He know you? You can only know somebody by reason of closeness, intimacy or experience. How intimate with God are you? Have you been with Jesus? (Acts 4:13).

Can God vouch for you concerning your children and entire household, like He did for Abraham our father? Everyone and everything God places around you is by trust e.g. your husband, your wife, your children, your job, your education, your position, your opportunities, your wealth and possessions. All are upon trust and you will surely give account one day.

Can God entrust men’s souls to your care? Will He not be so much ashamed of you because of those souls that you have misled or likely to mislead whose destinies are attached to you? How do you serve before men, is it as unto the Lord?

Can He trust you with earthly resources? Unfortunately, many of God’s people have missed it in the aspect of money handling. Time and again, they have shown themselves unfaithful and unreliable.

We have been admonished in the Scriptures to make our calling and election sure (established), so that God may grant us abundant entrance into His supernatural resources (2Peter 1: 10, 11). Hence, we have to first prove ourselves before we are approved, able to be trusted and then entrusted with God’s beautiful riches. Who says you too cannot fit into this glorious possibility? You sure can!

Conclusion

God keeps seeking for those He can trust, not just for crowds in the church. Choose to be one of such today. (Consider 2 Chronicles 16:9; John 4:23, 24).

Prayer Points

-O Lord, make me a dependable and trustworthy son or daughter before You.

-O Lord, deliver me from all my crooked ways and all subtle tendencies to fail your test: destroy all untrustworthiness in my heart today.

-O Lord, make me whole and take me to my land of fulfillment.

…In JESUS’ MIGHTY NAME. Amen.

We love you so much. Shalom.

 By Rev Olufunso Joseph Omidiran 

 

]]> http://livingsword.org/2011/12/can-god-trust-you/feed/ 0 Christian Leaders to Meet Biennially on World Evangelism http://livingsword.org/2011/11/christian-leaders-to-meet-biennially-on-world-evangelism/ http://livingsword.org/2011/11/christian-leaders-to-meet-biennially-on-world-evangelism/#comments Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:58:16 +0000 RevAdmin http://livingsword.org/?p=1 Christian Leaders from around the world are expected to meet in Lausanne, Switzerland, biennially beginning in 2013 to track the progress of world evangelism. It is estimated that about 500 Christian leaders will attend the congress, first convened by Dr. Billy Graham 45 years ago…… Click here for the rest of the story

]]> http://livingsword.org/2011/11/christian-leaders-to-meet-biennially-on-world-evangelism/feed/ 0 The Rhetoric of Chastity: Making Abstinence Sexy http://livingsword.org/2011/11/the-rhetoric-of-chastity-making-abstinence-sexy/ http://livingsword.org/2011/11/the-rhetoric-of-chastity-making-abstinence-sexy/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:39:49 +0000 RevAdmin http://livingsword.org/?p=100 Evangelical abstinence campaigns have shifted their emphasis from “just say no” to sex before marriage to “just say yes”—within marriage, that is, says Christine Gardner. In Making Chastity Sexy (University of California Press), the Wheaton College communications professor examines the rhetoric of three evangelical abstinence organizations, comparing them with an abstinence campaign in sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV/AIDS is a common threat. Christianity Today online editor Sarah Pulliam Bailey spoke with Gardner about the larger ideas communicated to young people in the campaign.

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]]> http://livingsword.org/2011/11/the-rhetoric-of-chastity-making-abstinence-sexy/feed/ 0 The changing face of the Middle East and Coming of the Messiah http://livingsword.org/2011/11/the-changing-face-of-the-middle-east-and-coming-of-the-messiah/ http://livingsword.org/2011/11/the-changing-face-of-the-middle-east-and-coming-of-the-messiah/#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:11:54 +0000 RevAdmin http://livingsword.org/?p=83 The current situation in the Middle East is a tense and fascinating one. Momentous changes are taking place. The situation in regards to Iran’s nuclear program could explode at any moment. This week on Bible in the News, we want to examine the situation described in Israel by the prophet Ezekiel, in chapter 38.

Please keep in mind that Ezekiel 38 is a chapter that describes the situation when Gog invades and is destroyed by the Messiah and not necessarily the situation that will be, when the Lord Jesus Christ comes to raise the dead and judge the believers. Both of these events will take some time, especially the latter. The situation could mature considerably during that period. As far as believers are concerned, the Lord Jesus Christ could return at any time.

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