Oluwafemi .The Word of God is a light to my Path.

Dear Jesus, keep me close to you and strong in faith. You are my Lord and Savior, and I am your disciple. May I never stray from your teachings. Give me a spirit of boldness to proclaim the good news of your love and salvation. Amen.

Have You Experienced the Third Conversion?   “Lord, Lord, I give…”   (Luke 19:1-10) Giving is at the core of the Christian life. In this account a tax collector, Zacchaeus, took extraordinary measures in order to see Jesus. He took advantage of the one opportunity in his life when he could possibly meet him.  He ran ahead of the crowd, climbed a tree in order to see Jesus, and when Jesus called him, he responded by coming down and meeting him. He did not care what the crowd thought. When he heard the voice of Jesus penetrating through the noise of the crowd, he listened and obeyed. For Zacchaeus, the encounter was LIFE CHANGING!  Not only was his spirit and soul converted, but also his “purse” or pocket book was converted.  Martin Luther referred to the willingness to give as a  third conversion . Zacchaeus reflected the change that occurs in the life of a person who truly accepts and trusts in Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. He gave with an “I want to give attitud

A New Way of Living  “ But… the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’ ” ( Deuteronomy 17:16 )  After the wise men’s encounter with the newborn King, the Lord instructed them to return to their homeland by a different route.  Things change when Jesus Christ assumes control of our lives. We become new creations and are transformed into instruments for service to God. We abandon the old ways of doing things. We no longer try to earn our way to God through works. Instead of living the law of the flesh, we live by the law of faith. We become ambassadors for Christ. As we practice the concepts of  soak, sow,  and  flow (explained in the book,  Kingdom of God ), our attitudes, thinking, and behavioral patterns change. The love of Christ compels us to live in harmony with the will of God. Even though we are wasting away outwardly, we discover we are being renewed inwardly daily.  As we consider this transformation process, the words of John the Baptist come

Lord Jesus, you are the real vine, and we are the branches. You have called us your friends. Keep me close to you so that I remain in your love as a fruitful disciple. Amen.

"I made haste, and did not delay to keep Your commandments." (Psalm 119:60) Don't Delay Is n’t it interesting how easy it is to put things off? We plan on doing something. We have good intentions. We just plan to do it later. “One day I’m going to start exercising. One day I’m going to get my finances in order. One day I’m going to forgive that person who hurt me.” The problem with this kind of thinking is that “one day” never comes. There will always be some reason to keep delaying it. Is there something in your heart that you know you need to do? Maybe God has been dealing with you, and you keep putting it off. You think, “As soon as I get through this busy season, I’ll spend more time with my family. As soon as I get a pay raise, I’ll start tithing my income. As soon as my child gets out of diapers, I’m going to get my family back in church.” But friend, good intentions don’t equal obedience. The quicker you do what you feel down in your spirit, the happier yo

Weave a Pattern of Gratitude “ Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.”  (Psalm 50:23) Isn’t it nice when people express gratitude to you and perhaps, even praise you for something you have done for them? Gratitude and praise strengthen our relationships. In the same way, our relationship with God is strengthened as we express our gratitude and praise to him. I am working at weaving a pattern of expressing gratitude and praise to God throughout all areas of my life. Even when things aren’t going right, I look for something in my daily experience to thank God for. “ I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. ” (Psalm 69:30) If you have not been practicing praise and gratitude, why not start now, and see what happens? “ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which

"…the appetite of the diligent is abundantly supplied." (Proverbs 13:4) The Reward of Diligence God longs to pour out His favor and blessing on you. He longs to show you His goodness and provision. He promises to do His part, but you have to do your part. You have to be diligent. First of all, be diligent in seeking His ways and following His commands. Then, be diligent with what you have in your hand, with your time and resources. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells a parable about three men whose employer entrusted them with some money called talents. Two of the men were diligent and invested the talents and received a great return. The third man was afraid and buried what he was given. The first two men were rewarded and praised for their diligence while the third man was rebuked. Follow the example of the first two men and look for ways to be diligent with what you have in your hand. Whatever you do, do it with excellence. Be the best you can be and go the extra mile even

Saved to Do Good Works “… Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. ” (Titus 2:14) Good works do not save us. I want to be very clear about this. We are not saved “ by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ” (Titus 3:5–7) The work of salvation has been done by the Lord Jesus Christ himself. We are justified or made acceptable to God when we receive, as a  gift , the salvation he has provided through Christ. We trust in him alone for our salvation. However, we are saved to  do  the good works he has appointed for us to do. “ This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm

"And in an instant, suddenly, you shall be visited and delivered by the Lord of hosts..." (Isaiah 29:5–6) God Is On Your Side Throughout the Bible, we have examples of how God suddenly showed Himself strong on behalf of His people. But sometimes when we’ve struggled in an area for a long time, it’s easy to just give up and accept things the way they are. One of the enemy’s favorite lies is to tell you that nothing is ever going to change. He’ll tell you that you’re never going to get well, that your marriage is n’t going to work out, that you’re never going to break that addiction. But it does n’t matter how long you’ve been in those circumstances, God can change things in an instant! In a split second of time, He can turn it all around. One touch of God’s power can heal your body. One touch of His favor can promote you. One touch of His goodness can solve that problem. Just one touch from Almighty God can instantly change your life. I encourage you today, keep bel

Does Your Conduct Contradict or Confirm Your Faith in God? “… Not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. ” (Titus 2:10) Christianity is not a list of  do s and  don’t s or an intellectual belief in the tenets of the Christian faith. True faith is having a  personal relationship  with God through the person of Jesus Christ. We have been born again to a living hope, a relationship with the risen Savior who lives in and through the life of each believer. That being the case, Scripture exhorts us to be good examples of the relationship we proclaim: “ Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel… ” (Philippians 1:27) If we are to be effective representatives of Christianity, our conduct cannot contradict what we say we b

"Let no foul or polluting language...come out of your mouth." (Ephesians 4:29) God Is On Your Side Your words have the power to pollute or purify. If you constantly complain, you release poison into your life. Complaining is not based on your circumstances, it's based on the attitude of your heart. If you will keep the right attitude during your time of adversity, God will honor you. When you truly trust God, there are times you will have unanswered questions—don't let that keep you from fulfilling your destiny. When you have a heart full of gratitude, it leaves no room for complaining. You can always find something to thank God for no matter what kind of adversity you may face in life. So decide today to live a life of thanksgiving! Don't allow the poison of complaining prevent you from receiving all God has for you! A Prayer for Today "God, I believe in the power of the spoken word. When I am tempted to complain or speak negative words today,

What is Written on the Tablet of Your Heart? “ Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. ” (Proverbs 3:3–4) Have you ever thought about what is written on the tablet of your heart? In Kingdom of God, we stress the importance of  soaking our heart  in the Word of God. The heart is like a sponge; it soaks up whatever is around it, and that becomes the treasure of our heart. If the water is dirty, then the treasure is dirty. If the water is clear and pure, then the treasure of the heart will be pure and clear. The Word confirms this: “ A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. ” (Luke 6:45) Whatever this “abundance of the heart” is will manifest itself in my life. People will be able to tell wh

"...If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) God Is On Your Side As a believer in Jesus and a child of His, God is on your side! If you haven’t thought about it yet today, remember, you are created for greatness. There is no obstacle that can stop you. There is no disadvantage that can hold you back. You’re in the palms of God’s hands, and He has equipped and empowered you. Quit telling yourself, “I’ll always struggle in this area. I’ll never lose this weight. I’ll never get out of debt.” Change your perspective. You are not weak, defeated or inferior. You are full of “can do” power. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives on the inside of you. God is on your side. Let that sink down into your heart today. Begin to expect His favor. Expect Him to work in your life. Focus on the fact that God has equipped you. He has anointed you. Your best days are still out in front of you! If God is for you, no one can rise against you! As you medita

Follow the Smart Money “…But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven….”  (Matthew 6:20) You can have an eternal 401 (k). Yes, it lasts forever! Yes, it is guaranteed. The returns are fantastic!  In fact, they are beyond our human ability to measure. In this world crowds of people follow “stock tips.” They follow what they perceive to be “smart money” and invest in companies for which they have little or no information. Most of the time this type of investing results in losses. Jesus gives us an “eternal investment tip.” He says the smart money of this world will be sure to invest in treasures in heaven. He also says we should use the unrighteous mammon (money) of this world to win friends for eternity! Yes, you can take it with you by investing it in the world to come. You can only do this by sending it ahead by giving or investing in the kingdom while you are in this world. Just think; he is giving us the opportunity to trade the paper currencies of this world, whic

Lord God, empower me with your Holy Spirit to bear witness to your truth, and empower those who are unjustly imprisoned and seek to speak out against injustice. In your holy name, I pray. Amen.

What Happens When We Ask for God’s Favor “ May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands. ” (Psalm 90:17) Our relationship with God through Christ means life, favor, and reward! We all want to experience a full and meaningful life. The Scripture tells us we can experience the favor of God if we establish the right kind of relationship with him. The favor of God is available to us. He also tells us about rewards that can come from such a relationship. Those of us who practice Kingdom of God are converting our perishable  time, talent, and treasure  into the imperishable values of the Kingdom. We have discovered this great secret of the kingdom. We have found life, favor, and reward already. Further more, we are anticipating much more in the life to come. Therefore, we pray that the favor of God will rest on us. Power belongs to God. He is the one who can change circumstances. He is the one wh

The Most Powerful Relationship Possible “ Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. ” (Revelation 3:20) In Kingdom of God, we focus on our  relationship with God . This verse from Revelation assures us that Jesus Christ will come into our life, just like we would have a friend over for dinner. And yet, our relationship with Jesus is even more powerful than human friendships: “ Jesus replied, ‘All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.’  ” (John 14:23) You can’t get much more intimate than making your home with someone! Not only is Jesus with us individually, but he is with us when we are gathered together as believers. “ For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them. ” (Matthew 18:20) One reason Jesus wants us to have a relationship with him is so we can also hav

Sovereign God, you call me to be your voice, hands, and feet in the world. Open my eyes, ears, and heart to your call that I may grow in discipleship and in knowledge of you. Amen.

"But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well."" (Luke 8:50) Only Believe In Scripture a man came to Jesus and said, “My little daughter is very sick. She is close to death. Will You come to my home and pray for her?” Jesus agreed. But along the way, He kept getting stopped, one interruption after another. Finally, word came back to Him saying, “No need to come. You’ve waited too late. The little girl has died.” The people were upset and very distraught. But Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. If you will only believe, the little girl will be well.” Notice the phrase, “Only believe.” This was Jesus’ promise to the father. Jesus went to the home, laid hands on the little girl, and she came back to life. One of the greatest abilities God has given each of us is our ability to believe. Are you facing a situation that seems impossible? In the natural, you don’t see how you can get well

See, I Am Doing a New Thing “ Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. ” (Isaiah 43:18–19) A friend of mine has stated that things come to pass, but not to stay. God is always moving and creating. We definitely live in a world of change! We are counseled not to dwell in the past. We are to put God in remembrance. I call this the “God Factor.” God is always doing something new – giving us new opportunities, opening doors, closing doors, and intervening in our circumstances. The question is:  Will we recognize and take proper advantage of these “new things [that] spring forth?” This passage also reflects another great truth. We serve the God of provision. He makes the road in the wilderness for us to follow, and he provides the rivers in the desert to give us drink or to meet our needs along the w

"…and [love] keeps no record of being wronged." (1 Corinthians 13:5) Keep No Record The Bible says that God is love. He does n’t  just have love, He is love. The love we have is an extension of Him. When you invite Jesus to be the Lord of your life, the Bible says that He actually makes His home in your heart. Think about that for a minute. The Creator of the universe, who cannot be contained by anything, chose to make His home on the inside of your heart. That means that perfect love is on the inside of you. First Corinthians 13 tells us what that looks like. When we are walking in God’s love, we are patient. We are kind. Love always forgives. That means choosing to let go of bitterness, hurt and anger. If you have a mental list of all the people who have hurt or offended you, let it go. Let His love work in you and through you today. A Prayer for Today "Heavenly Father, thank You for loving and setting me free. Thank You for choosing to live on th

 More Valuable than Gold “… The genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ… ” (1 Peter 1:7) This revelation of Scripture is in direct opposition to what the world says. In Kingdom of God, we agree with this statement of truth. We are concerned with converting our perishable time, talent, and treasure into the imperishable values of advancing the kingdom of God, which will last forever! Think about gold or money. What is the most it can do? Worldly wealth can buy perishable things such as power, pleasure, and more stuff. From an eternal point of view, wealth is valuable only if we “convert it” into the imperishable, such as winning friends for eternity by helping people trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior or meeting their physical and material needs in his name. Now think about what faith can “buy.” When we exerc

"...If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31, NIV) God Is On Your Side As a believer in Jesus and a child of His, God is on your side! If you haven’t thought about it yet today, remember, you are created for greatness. There is no obstacle that can stop you. There is no disadvantage that can hold you back. You’re in the palms of God’s hands, and He has equipped and empowered you. Quit telling yourself, “I’ll always struggle in this area. I’ll never lose this weight. I’ll never get out of debt.” Change your perspective. You are not weak, defeated or inferior. You are full of “can do” power. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives on the inside of you. God is on your side. Let that sink down into your heart today. Begin to expect His favor. Expect Him to work in your life. Focus on the fact that God has equipped you. He has anointed you. Your best days are still out in front of you! If God is for you, no one can rise against you!

Set Your Mind on the Imperishable “ If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. ” (Colossians 3:1–4) We should take the words of Jesus to heart when he tells us to build up treasures for ourselves in heaven. Treasure in this world ultimately perishes. In addition, thieves and rust can make what we treasure here disappear. The Psalmist reflects on the fact he has nothing else in heaven other than the Lord. Any stuff or treasure we have in this world will be left behind unless we have “converted it” into the imperishable by investing it in the kingdom. We can tell where our treasure is by what we are giving our heart to. Jesus says, “ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ” (Ma

"I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself." (1 Corinthians 4:3) God Loves Your Uniqueness! Many people are insecure about who they are, so they constantly try to gain the approval of everybody around them so they can feel better about themselves. They end up living to please other people, trying to fit into their molds so they can be accepted. They act one way for their boss, another way for their spouse, and another way for their friends. If you are going to enjoy your life to the full, you must learn to be confident as the individual God made you to be. You are anointed to be the person God has called you to be! If you are secure in who God made you, you can resist those outside demands and pressures that try to mold you into something you're not. Don't rely on the opinions and approval of others. Don't let them steal your unique creativity. God made each of us with a differ

The Blessings of Obeying God “Do whatever he tells you.”  (John 2:5) Obedience to God results in blessing. Many times we experience a blessing far beyond any reasonable expectation. This happened when Jesus turned the water into wine at a wedding feast. The people ran out of wine and Jesus’s mother told the servants that whatever Jesus told them to do, they should do. When they obeyed the instructions of Jesus to pour the water into the large jars, Jesus turned the water in the best-tasting wine of the wedding feast. This was totally unexpected since the best wine was usually consumed at the beginning of the celebration. Professions of faith mean little without confirming acts of obedience that are in response to our relationship with Jesus Christ. Our obedience proves that we love him. As we practice listening to him and obeying him, he will reveal more of himself to us. Not only that, but he will also work on behalf of those who have a heart that is loyal to him. B