One of God’s  Great Generals has Gone;

Departed to his rest and eternal home.

Now  in bliss in His Saviour’s loving Arms

Though Absent in the Body, present with Him.

He fought the Good Fight of Faith.

He ran the  Good Race of Grace.

He led many millions to the faith-

Ushered them into God’s presence;

Instrumental to their seeing His face.

He Left a legacy that will ever speak-

A voice that cried in the wilderness:

“Prepared Ye the way of the Lord.”

He furnished and finished with fineness 

His ministry, his calling and purpose.

Without a doubt, Billy Graham will be greeted

With “Well done good and faithful servant.

Enter into the eternal rest I have prepared

Truly you have been one of my Gospel Giants.”

 

What about you?

Have you made your reservation?

Do you have your ticket-Jesus?

Do you have your passport-salvation?

Heaven is a place for prepared people. 

No one dies and accidentally finds himself there.

You need to get your ticket and passport here on earth and make your reservation consciously, here on earth. 

The state of man: Separation, alienation, spiritual death

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Ro3:23

All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned, every one, to his own way; Isa53:6a

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.Ro6:23

What God did: Reconciliation, provision for salvation

And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all Isa53:6b

 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.John3:16

What man must do: accept the provision, confess Jesus as Lord, invite Him into your heart

 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John3:3

37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. John6:37

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matt11:28-30

if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Ro10:9-10

This was what Billy Graham’s son wrote recently when his dad went home to be with Jesus:

“My father Billy Graham was once asked, “Where is Heaven?” He replied, “Heaven is where Jesus is and I am going to Him soon!” This morning, at the age of 99, he departed this world into eternal life in Heaven, prepared by the Lord Jesus Christ—the Savior of the world—whom he proclaimed for nearly 80 years. He will be missed by our family, his colleagues, faithful ministry partners, and, yes, many around the world. But what joy he has to be welcomed by God the Father, and be reunited with my mother in the presence of Jesus who speaks peace to eternal souls.

What about you? When you depart this world do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity? You can know this today. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The One who comforts weary souls has given us this promise, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me … I go to prepare a place for you … I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3).”

Blessed to Be a Blessing

I am blessed with every spiritual blessing; 
blessed with the blessing of Abraham because I am a seed of Abraham.
I am blessed in all I lay my hands to do.
I am blessed in my going out and in my coming in.
My  family and finances are blessed. My health and houses are blessed. My body and businesses are blessed.
Everything I touch is blessed.

I am blessed with creative, inventive and innovative genius. I make discoveries with my supernatural insight.

Kings are coming to the brightness of my rising.
Foreigners are coming to build my walls. My sons and daughters are coming from afar. They are coming with their silver and gold. 
The abundance of the seas are turned over to me. The treasures of darkness are mine and so are the hidden riches in secret places.
I am above,the head and not the tail.
I assail always and do not trail.

I am blessed to be a blessing, wherever I go. Blessings breakout wherever I go; just like Potiphar was blessed because of Joseph and Lot was blessed because of Abraham and Laban was blessed because of Jacob. 
I am blessed to be a blessing to God, the Church, my family, my generation, my community, my nation and world-wide.
The glory, praise, majesty, beauty, bigness, goodness, faithfulness of the Lord shall be trumpeted because of what He will do through this jar clay.
Hallelujah!

Supernatural Supply Power

Supernatural supply power
Belongs to the Lord, our God.
And it’s reserved for those
Who love and honour His Word.

In that day He gives His instruction
Which become a lamp to their feet.
And lead to divine promotion,
Which brings them to prosperity street.

He shows them where to invest
Directs them where to sow
So as to obtain maximum interest
And mammoth yield from their sowing.

God opens their eyes to see good grounds
And gives them seeds to sow
So that their harvest abound
And hundred fold returns flow.

In that day the rocks supply water
And the Egyptians are plundered
The Name of God is glorified
And the people of God are edified.

In that day there is willingness and obedience
Which brings the best of the land.
In that day there is open heavens
And the benefits of God like sand.

Supernatural supply is mine;
And this by divine design.
As I wait on God; seek His face,
He will bestow super-abundant supply grace.

As I give it shall be given back to me in good measure,
Pressed down and shaken together and running over ,
Far above what I can ask, imagine or think of;

far beyond my wildest dream.

 

 

38  Give , and it will be given to you: good measure , pressed down , shaken together , and running over will be put into your   bosom. For   with the same measure that you use , it will be measured back to you.” 
Luke 6:38.

12 Then Isaac sowed in that land , and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. 
13 The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until He became very prosperous; 
Gen26:12-13

  19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time , And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 
Ps37:19

  19 Blessed be the Lord , Who daily loads us with benefits ,   The God of our salvation!  Selah 
Ps68:19
  2 I will make you a great nation;  I will bless you  And make your name great;  And you shall be a blessing. 
Gen12:2

12 The Lord will open to you His good treasure , the heavens , to give the rain to your land in its season , and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations , but you shall not borrow. 
Deut28:12

The Lord the Shepherd of His People  
1. The Lord is my shepherd;  I shall not want.

  5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;  You anoint my head with oil;  My cup runs over. 
Ps23:5
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you , that you , always having all sufficiency in all things ,  may have an abundance for every good work. 
2Cor.8:9

  19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time , And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 
Ps37:19

  19 Blessed be the Lord , Who daily loads us with benefits ,   The God of our salvation!  Selah 
Ps68:19
  2 I will make you a great nation;  I will bless you  And make your name great;  And you shall be a blessing. 
Gen12:2

12 The Lord will open to you His good treasure , the heavens , to give the rain to your land in its season , and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations , but you shall not borrow. 
Deut28:12
The Lord the Shepherd of His People  
1. The Lord is my shepherd;  I shall not want.

  5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;  You anoint my head with oil;  My cup runs over. 
Ps23:5
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you , that you , always having all sufficiency in all things ,  may have an abundance for every good work. 
2Cor.8:9

5 Then you shall see and become radiant , And your heart shall swell with joy;  Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you , The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you. 
  
  6 The multitude of camels shall cover your land ,   The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;  All those from Sheba shall come;  They shall bring gold and incense , And they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord. 
  7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together to you , The rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you;  They shall ascend with acceptance on My altar , And I will glorify the house of My glory. 
  9 Surely the coastlands shall wait for Me;  And the ships of Tarshish will come first , To bring your sons from afar , Their silver and their gold with them , To the name of the Lord your God , And to the Holy One of Israel , Because He has glorified you. 
  10 “The sons of foreigners shall build up your walls , And their kings shall minister to you;  For in My wrath I struck you , But in My favor I have had mercy on you. 
  11 Therefore your gates shall be open continually;  They shall not be shut day or night , That men may bring to you the wealth of the Gentiles , And their kings in procession.

Isa60:5,6,7,9,10,11

  3 I will give you the treasures of darkness  And hidden riches of secret places , That you may know that I , the Lord , Who call you by your name , Am the God of Israel. 
Isa45:3

⁴                When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

⁵              But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”⁶ And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.⁷ So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.⁸ When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”Luke5:4-8

  11 And You divided the sea before them, So that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land;  And their persecutors You threw into the deep , As a stone into the mighty waters.

  12 Moreover You led them by day with a cloudy pillar, And by night with a pillar of fire , To give them light on the road  Which they should travel. 
15 You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, And brought them water out of the rock for their thirst , And told them to go in to possess the land  Which You had sworn to give them. 
  20 You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them , And did not withhold Your manna from their mouth , And gave them water for their thirst. 
  21 Forty years You sustained them in the wilderness;  They lacked nothing;  Their clothes did not wear out  And their feet did not swell. 
  25 And they took strong cities and a rich land , And possessed houses full of all goods , Cisterns already dug , vineyards , olive groves , And fruit trees in abundance.  So they ate and were filled and grew fat , And delighted themselves in Your great goodness. 
Neh9:11,12,15, 20,21,25
6 And when they had done this , they caught a great number of fish , and their net was breaking. 
Luke5:6
7 Then she came and told the man of God. And He said , “Go , sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.”
2Kings4:7
14 And Abraham called the name of the place , The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day , ” Gen22:14

 

 

What is in a Name?
Every thing

When Jabez’s mother went into labour and  she was in great anguish. The pain was so much that she fainted and was dying. The nurses around encouraged her to hold on but they thought they were losing her so they comforted her and tried to get a name for the child they knew will survive, probably without a mother.

“Give a name to your son “

She mustered the last ounce of strength in her and spluttered: “ Jabez!”

This meant, “ Born in Pain ( harbinger of sorrow)”

 

As the boy grew up to answer to this sorrowful name, it marked his life. He was always causing sorrow wherever he went.

People noticed that whenever he showed up, trouble turned up; trouble loomed. He was like a ticking time bomb. He also noticed that people avoided him. When they saw him coming from afar they dodged or changed lanes. If he visited you,  your house may catch fire. If you gave him a lift, you either got a parking ticket or had an accident.

There came a time Jabez became fed up. And he prayed a ‘dangerous prayer’:

⁹      Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.”¹⁰ And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

1Chro4:9-10

It was a short prayer but sincere and heart-felt and all-encompassing and God granted him his request. I believe he changed his name from then on because his name was his waterloo.

 Abram to Abraham

This was why God had to change Abram’s name to father of many nation- Abraham. And Sarai to mother of nations. And once they agreed with Him, their miracle was only a matter of time.

⁵ No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.

¹⁵           Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.

In the fullness of time they were blessed with Laughter- Isaac -in their old age. And Isaac begat Jacob, who was the Father of the 12 tribes of Israel and through whom all the families of the earth have been blessed.

Even Jacob was wrongly named and behaved true to his name. His name meant cheat, con man, swindler, wheeler and dealer, and so he was until he met with God, Who changed his name to Prince with God.

God knew his problem was his name, hence the question: ‘What is your name?’

²⁴ Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.²⁵ Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.²⁶ And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”

     But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”

²⁷   So He said to him, “What is your name?”

     He said, “Jacob.”

²⁸   And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

²⁹   Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.”

     And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.

³⁰   So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”³¹ Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip.³² Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank.

Gen32:24-32

Saul changed to Paul

Saul of Tarsus was a persecutor of the Church. He was the greatest enemy of the Church. But one day God turned him around and made him a trophy and greatest asset of the Church. He changed his name from Saul to Paul who wrote thirteen best sellers of all time and brought the revelation of who we are in Christ and what we have in Him.

 Simon to Peter

Simon was also named Peter – the rock- and this characterized his life after the resurrection of Jesus. The disciple who was unreliable and flaky  became strong in faith and was  the leader of the other disciples. He made his mark on the Day of Pentecost and was powerful in his preaching  and was mightily used to bring many to Christ. On the day of Pentecost he preached so powerfully and about three thousand gave their lives to Christ.

¹⁴   But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.¹⁵ For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.¹⁶ But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

¹⁷     ‘ And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

       That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

       Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

       Your young men shall see visions,

       Your old men shall dream dreams.

¹⁸     And on My menservants and on My maidservants

       I will pour out My Spirit in those days;

       And they shall prophesy.

¹⁹     I will show wonders in heaven above

       And signs in the earth beneath:

       Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.

²⁰     The sun shall be turned into darkness,

       And the moon into blood,

       Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.

²¹     And it shall come to pass

       That whoever calls on the name of the LORD

       Shall be saved.’

²²   “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know —²³ Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;²⁴ whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.²⁵ For David says concerning Him:

       ‘ I foresaw the LORD always before my face,

       For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.

²⁶     Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad;

       Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.

²⁷     For You will not leave my soul in Hades,

       Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

²⁸     You have made known to me the ways of life;

       You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’

²⁹   “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.³⁰ Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,³¹ he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.³² This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.³³ Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

³⁴   “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:

       ‘ The LORD said to my Lord,

       ” Sit at My right hand,

³⁵     Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ‘

³⁶   “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

³⁷   Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

³⁸   Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.³⁹ For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

⁴⁰           And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”⁴¹ Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.⁴² And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.⁴³ Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Acts 2:14-42

When he and John encountered a man lame from birth, he was not ashamed of the gospel.

Peter said, “Look at us.”⁵ So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”⁷ And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.⁸ So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them — walking, leaping, and praising God.⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God.

Acts3:5-9

 

He and others were bold to withstand persecution. Did not deny Jesus like he did before.

⁸      Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:⁹ If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,¹⁰ let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.¹¹ This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’¹² Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

¹³   Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.¹⁴ And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.¹⁵ But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,¹⁶ saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.¹⁷ But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”

Later we see healing anointing oozing out of him such that even his shadow was enough to heal people.

14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

What is in a name? Everything.

 

Let us look at some names and their meaning and be instructed in this matter.
Powerful & meaningful

Igbo

Wealth from God-Akuchi-
God knows-Chukwuma
Thank God-Chukwuemeka
God is King-Chibueze
God Answers-Chinasa
God leads-Chinedu
God is good-Chidimma
Grace-Amara
God’s Grace-Amarachi
God Gave-Chinyere
Hand of God-Akachi
Blessing-Ngozi
Joy-Anuli
God is beautiful-Chiamaka
God is strength-Chibuike
God holds my life-Chijindum
God is the greatest-Chika
God’s Power-Chike
All Praise to God-Ekenedilichukwu
God has done great-Chukwuemeka

 Kalabari

Glorify Him-Otokini-
His Light-Otonjo
Blessing-Boma
Bless Him-Oboma
God is Good-Tamunoibim
Born into Wealth-Alaye

 Urhobo

God first-Oghenekaro- WA- 

Yoruba

Born into wealth-Afolabi–

Love-Ife
Crown-Ade
Born into royalty-Abioye
Crown meets joy-Adebayo
Crown has met wealth-Adebayo
Born into wealth-Afolabi
Joy-Ayo
Joy has come home-Ayodele
Joy has returned-Ayotunde
Sorrow becomes joy-Ekundayo

 No so good/meaningless
Curly hair-Dada-Yoruba
Born feet first- Ige

Good

South Africa

With God-Munashe–Shona

Mighty-Jelani-East African

Success-Katlego-Tswana

Blessed-Kibwe-East African-Swahili

Blessing-Dalitso-South Africa –Chewa
Praise-Gratitude-Mayamiko-SA
Leader of the nation-Melisizwe-SA-Xhosa

Troubles(problems)-Mavuto-SA-Chewa
Test from God-Mayeso- SA-Chewa
Girl again-Ntombifuthi-SA-Zulu Jeff Kubina on 

Tears-Masozi-SA-Tumbuka

No Good

East African

Met with misery(like Jabez)-Gwandoya- -Ganda

 

So what is your name and what does it mean?

My name  means born to win and I am winning all the way regardless of circumstances. In my night God gives me songs of deliverance. I count it all joy when I go through various trials because they work for me they change my playing field. They take me from glory to glory and from strength to strength.

14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 2Cor2:14

4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1John4:4

4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.1John5:4

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Ro8:28

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God