Sounds a good idea; but we all know that every good idea is not a “God-idea”
2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Rom12:2
4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1John4:1
We need each other, like brother and sister like the gloves and the hand; hand-in-hand -all weather together we can make the world go round overcoming any mount, mound and become sound. We belong to each other, no matter the colour
As the black and white keys on a piano. Let’s make good music, gel and flow You have what I need; I need what you have. Why then should we keep apart and starve? We need each other to go on higher.
In agreement can we be broken? Let us share our gifts and be open. Together we can stand and withstand, And disarm any disuniting wicked band. Together we can grow stronger and glow better.
Fenny West
30 How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had surrendered them? Deut 32:30
6 And the LORD said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. Gen11:6
Psalms 133: Blessed Unity of the People of God A Song of Ascents. Of David. 1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing — Life forevermore. Ps133:
Acts 2: Coming of the Holy Spirit 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts2:1-4
24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘ Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.’ 27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. Acts4:24-31
The Philippian Jailer Saved 25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” 29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.Acts16:25-34
7 Then the LORD said to Gideon, “By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place.” 8 So the people took provisions and their trumpets in their hands. And he sent away all the rest of Israel, every man to his tent, and retained those three hundred men. Now the camp of Midian was below him in the valley. 9 It happened on the same night that the LORD said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand.12 Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude. 17 And he said to them, “Look at me and do likewise; watch, and when I come to the edge of the camp you shall do as I do: 18 When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the trumpets on every side of the whole camp, and say, ‘The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!’ “ 19 So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just as they had posted the watch; and they blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers that were in their hands. 20 Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers — they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing — and they cried, “The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!” 21 And every man stood in his place all around the camp; and the whole army ran and cried out and fled. 22 When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the LORD set every man’s sword against his companion throughout the whole camp; and the army fled to Beth Acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath.
Judges 7:7-9,17-22
Ephesians 4: Walk in Unity 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Eph4:1-6
Relationship is a connection, kinship, affinity, association, a link between you and other people. There is the family relationship (blood-relationship) base on being born to the same parents or belonging to a family through adoption; or it could be a friendship relationship or school relationship (alma-mater- relationship) between those who attended the same school or relationship arising from attending the same Church or club or profession or as work colleagues etc. There are myriads of possible relationships. Also in a general sense, every creature has a creature/ Creator relationship with God. Pastor Tunde Ogedemgbe defines relationship as ‘the foundation of all identities. From our identities we get our affirmation, feelings of self-worth and self esteem. However whenever our relationship goes sour, it likewise affects our self-worth self esteem and sense of importance. Above all relationships is our relationship with God from which we derive our eternal identity.’
I quite agree that the most important relationship is our relationship with God which goes beyond the Creator / creature relationship to one base on being reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, when we acknowledge that we are sinners and hence rebels and enemies of God and repent. This relationship with God will affect all other relationships and put them on sound footing if we invite God into those relationships.
Tenure of Relationships
Not all relationships are permanent or should be made permanent. We need to know when to end a relationship or when to accept that a relationship is over. Not everyone is meant for your ‘boat’. Some people are assigned to you for a short period of time, others for a longer period and yet others permanently. You need the wisdom of God to be able to differentiate these categories of people otherwise you may frustrate yourself holding on to people who have finished their assignment with and for you. There are others that you need to fight for because they belong to your boat and are being stolen from you or are deceived into leaving. However, you can only do this by prayer and often by prayer and fasting. There are others who will come into your ‘boat’ who may be attractive but do not belong there. You need to have the courage and the integrity of looking beyond the seen and praying them away rather than pricing them away or fighting with them to go away. The prodigal son had a relationship with his father but that relationship was broken when he felt he was old enough to handle life and wanted his inheritance which he took and left home for a far country. When he left home, he retained his relationship but the fellowship was broken. In the far country he had various relationships which were tenuous and flimsy. He had fair weather friends who perched when the money was flowing and flew when the bank went burst. On the other hand, the elder brother who had not left home did not have much fellowship with his father and that was why he did not know what he was entitled to, just as most of us because of lack of fellowship with the father, do not know who we are in Christ and what we have in Him.
28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ” Luke15:28-32
Barriers to fellowship
In our relationship with God sin breaks the fellowship, causes a chasm, introduces separation, darkness, alienation, estrangement, isolation, loss of joy and fear. Before Adam sinned, he had sweet fellowship with God. He was comfortable with the presence of God. However when he sinned he lost his innocence and stated to hide from God because he was afraid. The same happens to us when we sin against God. Prayer becomes difficult and so is Church attendance and the peace of God goes out the window. 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. 8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” 11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”Gen3:6-11 The Spirit of the age, like spirit of independence and isolation,( ‘I have need of nothing’ syndrome ) spirit of apathy (lukewarmness), lust of the eye , lust of the flesh and the pride of life(1John2:15-16) Sin undermines every relationship. When you become selfish your relationship suffers.
Communication and Fellowship
Communication is a major barrier to any relationship and lack of communication is because of lack of love. Communication takes various forms. You can communicate without speaking but you cannot have a good fellowship without speaking. So we are looking at effective communication. Culture can be a big: tradition, things people from a nationality do: the way people talk, dress, what they eat, all their socially acceptable behaviour. When we understand these differences in culture and accommodate them, we open up the opportunity for strong positive relationships. Every strong relationship underlined by fellowship and communication takes a lot of work and investment, give and take, perseverance and acceptance or tolerance. Restoring Fellowship No strong relationship happens without challenges, struggles, storms, and misunderstandings. We are all different and would see things differently many times on various issues. For us to have a strong relationship we would need to focus more on the things that unite us than on those that disunite us. We must learn to see the good in the other person, their strengths more than their weaknesses. We need to see them through the eyes of God. This is why a relationship with God is so important else you would relate with people for the wrong reasons and when that basis is eroded the relationship is over. Being able to forgiveness or saying ‘I am sorry’ is essential in restoring any fellowship. In our relationship with God, because of our human nature we will sin from time to time and the way back is by repenting, asking for forgiveness and receiving the forgiveness. It is one thing to ask for forgiveness, it is another thing to accept that you have been forgiven, by faith.
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.(John1:7-9) We also need to forgive one another we sin against each other otherwise God will not forgive us. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Unforgiveness will hinder our prayers and our faith and our future: 25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Have you ever wondered why it is written: ‘forgive us our sins as we forgive others their trespasses against us?’ It means if someone has wrong us and we forgive them partially (say 30%) and we are asking God forgiveness for our sins we are asking god also to forgive us 30% of our sins. And sins we know that God does not tolerate any % of sin we need to forgive totally.
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Matt18:21-22
12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.Prov10:12 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails.
Let us pray:
Father, may I realise that my relationship with you is paramount. Help me, My God to cherish this relationship and avoid anything that would undermine it. Teach me the essence of fellowship with you on a regular basis so that I can grow and glow in grace to your glory. Bring me ,O God, to the place where my heart’s cry would be: ‘1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God….Ps42:1-2 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,’Phil3:10 Open my eyes to see through my relationships with people and to know which ones to maintain and nurture and which ones to extricate myself from in the light of my destiny. Illuminate my eyes mighty God to know those you have assigned to my both and how I should order my relationship healthily with them without undermining my relationship with You. Grant me the wisdom, My God, not to hold on to those whom you have sent on a specific assignment to my life for a specific time. Teach me to look to Jesus always- the Author and finisher of my faith. Thank You for forgiving me my sins. Help me to forgive others their sins and accept them as you have accepted me in the beloved. Teach me how to oil the engine of my intimacy with you and others you have called me to serve, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
You have authority Over every infirmity Authority over penury and poverty Authority over insanity; Authority over powers, dominions and principalities.
You have authority over mediocrity, Conspiracy and hegemony; Authority over matrimonial acrimony; Authority over timidity. You have authority – Authority over the enemy. Why Because regardless of how you feel, what you hear or what you see, at the helm is the Master of the Sea.
Now personalise this reality confession Until you see the manifestation.
I have authority over: Infirmity, disability, penury and poverty. I have authority over insanity Powers, thrones, dominion and principalities I have authority over mediocrity, conspiracy and hegemony. I have authority over Matrimonial acrimony and disunity in the Body I have authority over Dysfunctionality and infamy.
Therefore, I exercise my authority over infirmity, sickness and disease, because Jesus took my infirmity and sin when He died on Calvary’s Cross. And by His stripes I was healed.(1Pet2:24, Isa53:4-5, Matt8:16) I exercise my authority over penury and poverty because Jesus, although He was rich, for my sake He became poor that I through His poverty might become rich. It is written: Beloved I wish that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospers. God delights in the prosperity of His servants. 2Cor8:9, 2Cor9:8, 3Jn2, Josh1:8, Ps1:1-3,Prov35:27, Ps25:12-13 I exercise my authority over insanity because God has not given me a spirit of insanity but that of sanity and sound mind; It is written: We have the mind of Christ. I am renewed in the spirit of my mind. And whatsoever is just, pure , true, of a good report, is admirable, honest, praise-worthy, I think on such things. Phil4:8, Rom12:2, Phil2:5, 1Cor2:16, Prov23:7, 2Tim1:7 I exercise my authority over powers, dominions and principalities because Christ disarmed principalities and powers and made a public spectacle of them even through the cross. He gave me authority and dominion to reign in this life. He gave me authority over the power of the enemy, to trample them under my feet. I am more than a conqueror through Christ and if God be for me, who can be against me? Luke10:19, Col2:15 Rom8:31,37 Mediocrity is not my portion. Good has created me for excellence- marvellous work that will bring honour and glory to His name. So I have the ability to rise above mediocrity into excellence. I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me, It is He Who works in me both to will and to do according to His good pleasure. I shall serve Him with all my mind, might and heart. Col3:17,23, Phil2:13, Phil4:13, Acts1:8 Dominion lost has been regained. Therefore I exercise this dominion over any hegemony, conspiracy or confederacy orchestrated against me in the spirit realm. When they gather against me God will scatter them. No weapon formed against me shall prosper and every tongue that rises against me in judgment I will show to be in the wrong. When the enemy comes like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will raise a standard against him. Gen1:26, Rom5:17 Matrimonial acrimony is not my portion. Therefore, I come against every spirit of marital disunity and acrimony. My home shall experience the peace of God that transcends all understanding. Harmony and symphony shall prevail in my home. We shall maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We shall dwell together in unity and see God command His blessings on our home. Ps133:1,3, Eph4:3, Acts2:1-4 Every spirit of timidity is disallowed in my life. God has not given me the spirit of timidity but that of boldness, love, power and sound mind. Perfect love cast away all fear. It is the wicked who flee when no one pursues. The righteous are as bold as the lion. 2Tim1:7, Heb4:16, Acts 2:13,29 God has called me to a life of Grace super-abundant and not a life of disgrace. Therefore infamy is not my portion but a life that will give glory to God. A city on a hill, that is me. A light of the world, that’s me. A salt of the earth, that’s me. Matt5:13-16 I exercise my authority over the enemy who has come to steal, kill and destroy. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. Whoever is born of God overcomes this world. And this is the victory that overcomes this world, even my faith, in Jesus’ name. Amen
Now act like the word of God is true, because it is. God is not a man that He should lie. Put His word to work, Step on the water of His word. Heaven and earth shall pass away but the word of God abides forever.
19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Christ Ascends to God’s Right Hand
Mark16:16-18
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Matt28:18-20
1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Matt10:1
Psalms 133: Blessed Unity of the People of God A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing — Life forevermore.
30 How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had surrendered them? Deut32 :30
Ephesians 4: Walk in Unity
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Acts 2: Coming of the Holy Spirit
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts2
6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
Acts8
The Name of Jesus Forbidden
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.
4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.
6 And the LORD said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them Gen 11
18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
Matt18:18-19
Prayer for Boldness
23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,
25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘ Why did the nations rage,And the people plot vain things?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand,And the rulers were gathered togetherAgainst the LORD and against His Christ.’
27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together
28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.
29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,
30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Sharing in All Things
32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,
In our Christian pilgrimage it is well, for the most part, to be looking forward. Forward lies the crown, and onward is the goal. Whether it be for hope, for joy, for consolation, or for the inspiring of our love, the future must, after all, be the grand object of the eye of faith. Looking into the future we see sin cast out, the body of sin and death destroyed, the soul made perfect, and fit to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light. Looking further yet, the believer’s enlightened eye can see death’s river passed, the gloomy stream forded, and the hills of light attained on which standeth the celestial city; he seeth himself enter within the pearly gates, hailed as more than conqueror, crowned by the hand of Christ, embraced in the arms of Jesus, glorified with Him, and made to sit together with Him on His throne, even as He has overcome and has sat down with the Father on His throne. The thought of this future may well relieve the darkness of the past and the gloom of the present. The joys of heaven will surely compensate for the sorrows of earth. Hush, hush, my doubts! death is but a narrow stream, and thou shalt soon have forded it. Time, how short-eternity, how long! Death, how brief-immortality, how endless! Methinks I even now eat of Eshcol’s clusters, and sip of the well which is within the gate. The road is so, so short! I shall soon be there.
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ —
16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Eph4:1-6,11-13
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.1Cor12:12 :
In our weaknesses His strength can be made perfect.
On the other hand, we all have our strengths
But we need to surrender even these to God
Because only our strength in Him will count
‘Curse is he who trusts in the arm of the flesh.’
‘Some trust in princes, others trust in houses
But we would trust in the name of the Lord.’
‘For the name of the Lord is a strong tower
The righteous run into it and are saved.’
We would not give the enemy a foothold
So we would yield spirit, soul and body
To the leading and control of the Holy Spirit.
Come Holy Spirit, and captivate our hearts.
Without You we can do nothing good
Without You we will be prey to the foe
Without You we go aimless, empty and useless
Without You we will be ineffective and powerless.
O Lord, ‘may the words of my mouth
And the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable You,’ my Maker and my God
My Rock, my Shield, Shelter and Salvation.
Help me, Lord to think of whatsoever is good
Whatsoever is pure, honest, just, of good report
Whatsoever is admirable and praiseworthy
Knowing that as a man thinks so is he.
I yield myself into your hands, O Lord.
Help me to be a catalyst for good
Help me to be a force for unity and peace
May Your light and love flow through me.
In the mighty Name of Jesus, amen
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.
Phil4:8
7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.Prov.23:7
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.