MORE THAN JUST A TOUCH!

“…Let the children come to me! Don’t try to stop them. People who are like these little children belong to the kingdom of God…Then Jesus took the children in his arms and blessed them by placing his hands on them” (Mark 10:14, 16 CEV).

One time, little children were brought to Jesus that He should touch them. His disciples tried to stop them from coming to Him, but the Bible says “…when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14). When Matthew reported the same story, he only said Jesus touched the children (Matthew 19:15), but Mark’s account says Jesus “…took the children in his arms and blessed them by placing his hands on them.” What Jesus did was more than just a touch; He imparted a blessing to them.

Some people don’t understand this, so they miss out from taking advantage of the blessing. When they have the opportunity of being touched by an anointed minister of God, they think it’s just an ordinary touch. I would to God they realized what that blessed touch could do in their lives! When anointed hands are placed on you, they direct the forces of life toward you and invoke spiritual powers in your favour; the favour of God is awakened on your behalf. That impartation of blessing distinguishes you from everyone else, and causes you to prosper.

Also, as one who’s born again, you’re anointed, thus every single thing you touch is blessed! You have supernatural power in you, and when you touch someone or something, divine power is released. Be a blessing to others today. You have more than a touch. It’s an impartation.

Further Study:
Matthew 8:15;
Luke 7:12-15

EMPOWERED FOR THE MIRACULOUS

“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high”(Luke 24:49).

Before His crucifixion, the Lord Jesus promised the disciples and others who would believe in Him that not only will they do the works He did, they would do even greater works (John 14:12). Jesus made this promise because on His request, the Father was sending the Holy Spirit to reside in us—to empower us for the miraculous.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit living in you, there’s absolutely no height of success or victory you can’t achieve. 2 Corinthians 4:7 says, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” You have inside you the supernatural elixir for victory; you can do all things through the Holy Ghost that lives within you. He brings into your life the enablement to blaze new trails and cause new things to happen.

From the Master’s emphasis in our opening scripture, He knew we wouldn’t be able to fulfil the divine call without the divine enablement that the Holy Spirit brings. But blessed be God; we’ve been endued with power from on high for the miraculous: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit has enabled you to produce proofs of Christ’s resurrection and the reality of God’s Kingdom. He’s all you need to live supernaturally in this life.

The Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus made Him “the Christ” and enabled Him to do the mighty works He did. That same Spirit lives in you today; He has anointed you, and made it possible for you to do the impossible. Never again say you’re helpless or ordinary, for the “enabler”—the Holy Spirit—has taken up residence in you.

Further Study:
Acts 1:8 AMP;
2 Corinthians 3:5-6

TODAY’S MIRACLES!

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father”(John 14:12).

Some people have asked how come we don’t see in our day the manifestations of mighty works and miracles as witnessed in the Old Testament. “How come we don’t see such acts as the Red Sea splitting open, and the sun standing still?” they ask. First of all, these things still happen, but they happen only when they are necessary. Splitting the Red Sea had to do with God bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt into the Promised Land. After Moses performed this mighty miracle, Joshua, Elijah, and Elisha also did at different times.

Comparing yesterday’s miracles with today’s miracles is like comparing yesterday’s cars with today’s cars; the difference is very clear. The Bible tells us how Jesus healed certain people without necessarily meeting them. He healed the centurion’s servant who wasn’t within proximity. Today, we transmit some of our outreach meetings live via satellite and the internet, and it’s glorious to see how in a single meeting, people in different parts of the world receive miracles simultaneously. These are today’s miracles.

Understand that we’re the ones at the last lap of the relay; the generation that will see the rapture of the Church. Therefore, we should expect to experience a greater move of the Spirit like never before in our day. We’re going to thoroughly shake this world for Christ, and after then, the rapture will take place. So expect greater miracles in our day!

Further Study:
Ecclesiastes 7:10;
Haggai 2:9

INVIGORATED WITH MIRACLE-WORKING ABILITY!

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his S (Ephesians 3:14-16).

Here, the Spirit of God, through the Apostle Paul, prays that God’s people be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. The actual rendering from the original text says that they may be invigorated with miracle-working ability; that’s what it means to be strengthened with might. This is so important because there’re people who are weak inside, they’re unable to make serious decisions in life because of fear and timidity. Some are concerned about what others think about them; they’re afraid to do what they ought to do; not bold enough to be themselves! Such folks need to be invigorated with miracle-working ability in their inner man.

Some others experience another kind of weakness; they just are never able to be well. I want you to notice my construction; I didn’t say “they are just never well,” but that “they are never able to be well.” In other words, they never from within themselves take a hold of health; they’re weak inside. They’re always listening to their senses, and therefore dominated by the circumstances of this life. What such folks need is to be invigorated from within with miracle-working ability. This is God’s desire for you; that you be toughened inside.

It doesn’t matter how you look on the outside, you may look weak but don’t be weak! You may look feeble but don’t be feeble. Someone may look at you and wonder, “What can you do? Say “I can do all things; I am bold inside; I am strong inside.” It’s God’s desire for you to be energized from within with “dunamis”; divine energy. Therefore, everyday, declare by faith, “I’m invigorated with might by the Holy Ghost in my inner man, in the Name of Jesus!”

Further Study:
Acts 1:8 AMP;
Ephesians 5:18-19

THE SUPERNATURAL LIFE;

…I labor [unto weariness], striving with all the superhuman energy which He so mightily enkindles {and} works within me” (Colossians 1:29 AMP).

God’s purpose is for you to experience an unending flow of the supernatural every day of your life until it becomes the norm. For example, as human beings, we live the human life unconsciously; we go about our normal human activities without taking special notice that we’re acting like human beings. You’ve never had to doubt whether or not you’re human nor did you wake up one morning expecting to start barking like a dog or wagging your tail like some other animal. .

In the same way, you must live the inherent God-life in you from inside out, naturally! That’s the Christian life; it’s an endless flow of the supernatural. But for this to happen, you must inundate your mind with God’s Word and thoughts from the Spirit of God! You must consciously practice the God-life by practicing the Word, until it becomes an unconscious lifestyle. This is God’s dream for His children.

The reason many of God’s children live as ordinary men, instead of living the supernatural life God has called us to is their ignorance of the Word: “They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness…” (Psalm 82:5). It’s important that you fill your mind with God’s Word continually, and realize that you’re not ordinary.

That way, you’d be able to appropriate the blessings of the supernatural life in Christ and experience an unending flow of the miraculous—EVERYDAY!

Mark 1:14-15;
Matthew 9:35 Psalm 82:5-7

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM;

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”(Mark 16:15).

In the verse above Jesus didn’t say, “And the gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world.” Rather, He says “This Gospel of the Kingdom”; using the demonstrative adjective “this,” He refers to a particular Gospel, and a particular kingdom—the Kingdom of God. Jesus came preaching not just any gospel, but “this Gospel of the Kingdom.” That means there’s a definite Gospel for us to preach as Christians.

The prophets came with their own gospels. John the Baptist came with a gospel; a gospel of repentance to the Jews. But when Jesus came, He preached a different message: “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God” (Mark 1:14). This lets you know that the gospel you’re to embrace and preach, is the Gospel of the Kingdom. But then what is the Kingdom of God?

The Kingdom of God isn’t a place; it’s the reign of God where He exercises His Lordship and expresses His glory and goodness. It’s not a physical Kingdom but a spiritual one, and this is why the Lord Jesus told the people not to look for it anywhere: “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21).

God’s plan is to set up His Kingdom in men’s hearts. The Gospel of the Kingdom therefore is the announcement that it’s now possible for all men to have God’s Kingdom set up in their hearts. This wasn’t possible in the days of Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and David. But now, in Christ Jesus, it’s possible for anyone who believes on His Name to receive the life, presence, beauty and glory of God in his heart. It’s now possible for God to be at home in your heart and set up His headquarters in you! What a great blessing this is!

BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE GOSPEL;

“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe unto me if I preach not the gospel!”(1 Corinthians 9:16).

Every child of God ought to bear the same testimony about the Gospel as Paul in the Scripture above. You ought to be compelled by God’s love and by the Cross to preach the Gospel, for necessity is laid upon you to do so. When I think about what God did for me at the Cross of Calvary, I cannot but preach the Gospel. There’s a depth in God that no man will ever know until he starts winning souls for Jesus.

Wealth, fame, reputation and all the world’s symbols of success are meaningless compared to the depth of satisfaction, true joy, and fulfilment you’ll derive from making your life count for the Gospel. Besides giving financially for the spread of the Gospel around the world, you ought to personally seek avenues to preach the Gospel to those in your sphere of contact.

Be motivated to go all out and do all it takes for the Gospel to spread around the world and prevail in the hearts of men. Intercede for the spread of the Gospel in the earth. “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19).

Be concerned about the Gospel; and let your motivation for the Gospel effuse from your genuine love for others and your understanding that it’s God’s only saving power (Romans 1:16). Realize that your primary work on earth is to fulfil God’s Word in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” This is the Great Commission; and it’s the Lord’s charge to every Christian. Nothing in the world should matter more to you than this noble endeavour.

Further Study:
Romans 1:16;
1 Corinthians 16:22 AMP

BE COMMITTED TO THE GOSPEL;

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”(Mark 16:15).

Agentleman once asked me if Christians who never won souls to Christ would go to heaven. His question was based on what the Lord said in Ezekiel 33:6 “But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand”.

To answer his question, I highlighted three major reasons why we must preach the Gospel and win souls. First is our faith in the Lord Jesus and His glorious gospel; second is our love for Him and hope of His soon return, and then third is His instruction for us to win souls. These three reasons should compel anyone who believes in Jesus Christ to win souls. If you don’t win souls, then your love for the Master is questionable. Then also, your hope of heaven is also called to question, as well as your obedience to the Master’s instruction. So if you’re not a soul winner, it means you really don’t believe, and heaven is a place for believers.

God has determined that souls be won into His Kingdom every day, and He’s given us the responsibility to locate the lost in our world and share the Gospel with them. As His representatives, we must reach the unreached and bring them to Christ; it’s our primary responsibility as Christians. We must tell the untold about the love of God manifested in Christ Jesus. The Apostle Paul, recognizing this, cried out: “…necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16).

Observe his choice of words! Let us therefore be truly committed to the Gospel and see to it’s furtherance around the world.

Further Study:
John 14:15;
Daniel 12:3

YOU’RE ON A MISSION!

“Send us around the world with the news of your saving power and your eternal plan for all mankind” (Psalm 67:1 TLB).

What an inspiring prayer offered here by David! He prays to God to send us around the world with His Gospel—the news of His saving power, and His eternal plan for all mankind. God has a plan for all mankind but not everybody knows about it, and that’s why he prayed to God to send us around the world to tell them. Has it dawned on you that this is your mission in this world? How important it is for us to realize this as our true purpose on earth.

You have a job here on earth; it’s called soul winning. You don’t ask “can I do it”? You do it, for that’s why you’re here. That’s why you’re growing in Christ; that’s why you’re learning the Word; it’s so you can become effective in life as a soul winner. Nothing could be more honorable and worthy of eternal reward than a lifestyle that’s dedicated to soul winning. You’re responsible for those in your sphere of contact; they’re your field of operation! You’re to reach them and touch them with the news of God’s saving power, and unveil to them His eternal purpose for their lives.

It’s God’s eternal purpose to save, heal and deliver all men into their inheritance in Christ. As His Children, we’re His missionaries commissioned to take this message of His saving power to the ends of the earth. This is not optional; it’s your compulsory Christian service. If you’re not in on it, it means something is wrong. The prayer of David in our opening verse was consummated when Jesus ascended to heaven and sent us the Holy Spirit to be with us and live in us. Consequently, you’ve been empowered by the Spirit to fulfill your missionary assignment of taking the news of God’s saving power to the ends of the earth.

Further Study:
2 Corinthians 5:18;
Mark 16:15