THE KNOWLEDGE IS IN OUR SPIRITS – PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together (Romans 8:16-17).

Being born again, we have the witness in our spirits that we’re the children of God. Having received eternal life from Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God bears witness with your spirit; there’s a knowledge way down deep inside you that God is your Father. This isn’t an assumption! We have inside information, knowledge produced in us by the Holy Spirit that we’re born of God.

LOOKING AWAY FROM THE CHALLENGE, FOCUS ON JESUS.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

Matthew 15:21-28 tells the story of the Canaanite woman whose daughter was grievously vexed with a devil. At first, all her attention was on the problem, as she desperately need a miracle for her daughter who was vexed with a devil. Consequently, she sought the Master’s attention. But the Master didn’t respond, until she consciously turned away from the “distraction”-her present predicament, and shifted her gaze to the Master and worshiped Him.

HOW CAN I TAKE CONTROL OF MY THOUGHTS?

Many Christians struggle with this issue, especially in our highly technological world, but taking control of our thoughts is essential. Proverbs 4:23 states, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” The “heart” includes the mind and all that proceeds from it. Someone said that every sin we commit, we commit twice, once in our thoughts and again when we act upon those thoughts. It is easier to rid our lives of sin if we attack it at this fundamental thought level rather than waiting for it to become rooted in our lives by our actions and then try to pull it out.

There is also a difference between being tempted (a thought entering into the mind) and sinning (dwelling upon an evil thought and wallowing in it). It is important to understand that when a thought enters our mind, we examine it based upon God’s Word and determine if we should continue down that path or reject the thought and replace it with another thought. If we have already allowed a habit to form in our thought lives, it becomes more difficult to change the path of our thoughts, even as it is hard to get a car out of a deep rut and onto a new track. Here are some biblical suggestions for taking control of our thoughts and getting rid of wrong thoughts:

1. BE IN GOD’S WORD so that when a sinful thought enters our mind (a temptation), we will be able to recognize it for what it is and know what course to take. Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4) responded to each of Satan’s temptations with Scripture that applied to the direction He knew His mind should take instead of beginning down the path of the sinful thought. When tempted to meet His physical need (turn stone into bread), He recited the passage about the importance of relying upon God. When tempted to serve Satan in order to obtain the glory of the world, He brought up the passage that says we are to serve and worship God alone and speak of the glory that belongs to Him and those who are His. When tempted to test God (to see if God was really there and would keep His promises), Jesus responded with passages that stress the importance of believing God without having to see Him demonstrate His presence.

Quoting Scripture in a time of temptation is not a talisman, but rather serves the purpose of getting our minds onto a biblical track, but we need to know the Word of God AHEAD of time in order to accomplish this. Thus, a daily habit of being in the Word in a meaningful way is essential. If we are aware of a certain area of constant temptation (worry, lust, anger, etc.), we need to study and memorize key passages that deal with those issues. Looking for both what we are to avoid (negative) and how we are to properly respond (positive) to tempting thoughts and situations—before they are upon us—will go a long way to giving us victory over them.

2. LIVE IN DEPENDENCE UPON THE HOLY SPIRIT, chiefly through seeking His strength through prayer (Matthew 26:41). If we rely upon our own strength, we will fail (Proverbs 28:26;Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 26:33).

3. WE ARE NOT TO FEED OUR MINDS WITH THAT WHICH WILL PROMOTE SINFUL THOUGHTS. This is the idea of Proverbs 4:23. We are to guard our hearts—what we allow into them and what we allow them to dwell on. Job 31:1 states, “I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman” (NKJV). Romans 13:14 states, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Thus, we are to avoid periodicals, videos, websites, conversations and situations that will set us up for a fall. We should also avoid spending time with those who would encourage us down these wrong paths.

4. WE ARE TO PURSUE HARD AFTER GOD, substituting godly pursuits and mindsets for sinful thoughts. This is the principle of replacement. When tempted to hate someone, we replace those hateful thoughts with godly actions: we do good to them, speak well of them, and pray for them (Matthew 5:44). Instead of stealing, we should work hard to earn money so we can look for opportunities to give to others in need (Ephesians 4:28). When tempted to lust after a woman, we turn our gaze, praise God for the way He has made us—male and female—and pray for the woman (for example: “Lord, help this young woman to come to know you if she does not, and to know the joy of walking with you”), then think of her as a sister (1 Timothy 5:2). The Bible often speaks of “putting off” wrong actions and thoughts but then “putting on” godly actions and thoughts (Ephesians 4:22-32). Merely seeking to put off sinful thoughts without replacing those thoughts with godly ones leaves an empty field for Satan to come along and sow his weeds (Matthew 12:43-45).

5. WE CAN USE FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS THE WAY GOD INTENDED. Hebrews 10:24-25 states, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Fellow Christians who will encourage us in the changes we desire (best if of the same gender), who will pray for and with us, who will ask us in love how we are doing, and who will hold us accountable in avoiding the old ways, are valuable friends indeed.

LAST AND MOST IMPORTANT, THESE METHODS WILL BE OF NO VALUE UNLESS WE HAVE PLACED OUR FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS AS SAVIOR FROM OUR SIN, THIS IS WHERE WE ABSOLUTELY MUST START! Without this, there can be no victory over sinful thoughts and temptations, and God’s promises for His children are not for us, nor is the Holy Spirit’s power available to us!

God will bless those who seek to honor Him with what matters most to Him: who we are inside and not just what we appear to be to others. May God make Jesus’ description of Nathanael true also of us—a man [or woman] in whom there is no guile (John 1:47).

GO DEEPER IN THE WORD. THE WORD OF GOD IS THE WISDOM OF GOD. THE WORD IS GOD.

Be a burning and a shinning light kind of Christian.

If every Christian will learn to burn and shine, Satan will be out of business very soon. Become too hot for the devil to handle.
Increase your fire through your fellowship with the Holy Spirit and speaking in other tongues continually. Spend more time praying in other tongues than in your understanding. You can’t pray in other tongues at least one hour every day and not burn and shine.

THE 5 SOLID FACTS OF THE GOSPEL BY PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME & PASTOR BENNY HINN

1. THE NEW BIRTH AND ETERNAL LIFE.

The greatest miracles are performed with words. You must understand the importance of words.

1 Peter 5:11 This is the testimony that God HAS GIVEN (watch the tenses- he already did it) us eternal life. Eternal life is a fact. It’s a fact.

Understand this life and train people in living it. You have to learn it. All things are under your control. The only things you have no control over are other people’s lives.
You have to believe the Word.

2. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.

You know what is righteousness by looking at God. Righteousness is the unveiling of the father’s love. It is divinity manifested in humanity. It’s the rightness of God. Walking in the light of his word. You know him, he knows you. Ephesians 5:25

Pastor teaches how to get rid of the devil from your body! Don’t stop talking. Talk some more! Of it doesn’t work, you didn’t talk enough. Remember, you can sink in his presence. Many Christians have sunk in the presence of Jesus.

Healing is for babies. It is the children’s bread. There is a natural process for the restoration of the body. Divine healing is for the babies. Until you know who you are it will be theory. It has to be taught. Children of God have to learn it. You have to consume the word of God.

Righteousness is a fact. 2 Corinthians 5:21 – I am the outworking of God’s righteousness. When I come into a matter, I bring forth the righteousness of God. I know who I am. I all the unveiling of God’s glory.

What do you use the Word for? I have to respond to God. Example of Samuel. Sometimes God talks to you with the voice of the minister you know. The voice is a human. Eli had to teach Samuel to respond. Your response is where the blessing is.

3. THE DOMINION OF CHRIST.
He reigns in me. He has dominion. Satan is nor moved by you casting or demons. He just changes his approach. There are more demons than humans on earth.

The dominion of Christ is a fact. We have dominion over all things. Philippians 2:5 The church has to learn to use the name of Jesus. They have to.

He is real. He is a loving God.

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT.
Relate to him like a person. Talk to him like a person. He is more than a power.
You have to talk to him all the time. Always be in communion him. You will never miss your way. You will never be on darkness about anything.

Follow the Holy Ghost as he knows. Speak in tomgues.

Speak in tongues frequently. You will never have a dryness in your life. The purpose of prayer is not to ask for things.

You will never see wealth like what the church is about to have. Stop asking for what you already have. Live in super-abundance. God’s children have to live advice the world limits.

There is no lack for us. That’s why we gonna shake this world. The world doesn’t know it. But we will tell them.

There is a time many of you need to pray to cause a change. Then the more you know the less people you need. Then you come to a place where you some can get the work done.

5. ASCENSION OF CHRIST AND PROMISE OF HIS RETURN

Acts 1:8-9 as a Christian you must believe in the resurrection of Christ. If you don’t believe, you are not a Christian. Christianity stated at the resurrection not in the cross.

The siblings of Jesus did not believe he was from above. They heard he resurrected. Remember one day, the last service will be peaches. The last singer would have come in. My eyes are on the return of Christ.

REMAIN FERVENT FOR THE LORD

Therefore, my beloved Brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).

These are the last days. There’s a lot of distraction in the world today, enough to take your attention away from the Lord and His Kingdom. There’re those who are fervent in serving the Lord, only when everything is calm: Their business is thriving, they’re getting promotions at work, etc. At such times, they’re full of testimonies of God’s goodness, loving the Lord and demonstrating His love to their world. But once trouble strikes, they get discouraged. They change their confessions and their commitment to the Lord begins to wane. Don’t be that way; be on fire for the Lord all the time. Be instant in season, and out of season.
Some others only serve God when they have problems. They only want to “use” God to get out of their trouble. They remember the Lord only when they have challenges. But as soon as the Lord helps in their situation, they disappear! You even have to look for them to testify. Now, they don’t have time for the Lord anymore; they’re too busy. How sad.

No matter what happens in your life, never allow anything distract you or dampen your zeal and commitment to the Master. If you allow anything take your attention away from serving God, then you’re not steadfast; you’ve become moveable, but the scripture says, “Be ye steadfast, and unmovable.” As you remain steadfast in serving the Lord, the enemy will throw darts at you; refuse to be moved.

The Bible says, “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small” (Proverbs 24:10). When everything is going smoothly, be steadfast; and when it’s a period of adversity, don’t change from being who you are, because no matter what happens to you, you’ve been destined to win: “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).