As explained earlier, one major hindrance to receiving God’s blessings is when what you request is not His will.
Throughout Jesus’ ministry on earth, He operated according to the will of His Father. Even though He is God incarnate, He taught His disciples that doing the will of His Father is His ultimate purpose. In John 5:30, He said, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”
Even in the face of the impending agony, while praying in Gethsemane, with His sweat dropping like blood instead of water (Matthew 26:30), He still submitted everything to His Father’s will. No wonder He fulfilled His purpose on earth and pleased His Father.
Philippians 2:8–11 says:
“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
It is important for us to note that because we are created in God’s image and likeness, we also have a will, and as such, God will not force His will on us. However, His power will only follow where His will goes.
When Jesus was teaching His disciples in Matthew 6:9–10, He said:
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
In Romans 12:2, it is important to understand that conformity with the world will always make you desire worldly things, and as such, the will of God will be far from your view. When your mind is renewed, you tend to see the way God sees and reason the way He reasons. When this happens, supporting you with His power becomes easy.
God will always back you up with signs and wonders, with diverse miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, only according to His will. There is always a confidence you have when you pray according to His will (1 John 5:14).
You want to have maximum effect here on earth? Then follow His will (Hebrews 2:4).
You desire God’s blessings? Then follow His will.
MATURITY
Another hindrance to your accessing the fullness of the blessings of God is maturity.
You cannot remain a babe and expect to be treated as a mature person. Apostle Paul, while writing to the brethren in Galatians 4:1–2, said:
“Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.”
Verse 7 says:
“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
Hebrews 5:13–14 says:
“For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
As long as you remain a babe, you will be treated as a servant. There are no two ways about it. You must grow.
A lot of us refuse to deal with the sinful nature within us. We are quick to point out, “This is the way I am,” “That is the way we are in my family,” “I cannot take any rubbish from anybody.”
Please, how far have you gone with this behaviour?
Our character has not only pushed people away from us, including helpers that God has sent to us, but it has also pushed us away from accessing godly help.
According to the dictionary, your character is your distinguishing features, traits, and nature. It is your mental and moral qualities and the distinctive features that belong to you.
Do a self-examination now.
Write down all these characteristics and be truthful to yourself. Would you want to have any type of relationship with that person? Would you willingly commit your family, business, and life to that person? Would your mind be at rest?
Your personality, disposition, temperament, and nature have a great effect on your relationship with God and man.
You must grow up.(I am not talking about age.)
You are told to desire the sincere milk of the Word (1 Peter 2:2).
Desire means having a strong feeling of wanting, wishing, or longing for something. You should have a strong urge, craving, or passion towards something that brings happiness, satisfaction, or pleasure.
So, you must:
* long for
* crave
* yearn for
* have an urge for
the Word of God and a relationship with the God of the Word.
Are you satisfied with the level you are now, or do you desire more?
Then deal with all these flaws.
SIN
Another hindrance to God’s blessings is sin.
I do not think we need to overflog this issue. A holy God cannot behold where there is sin.
Psalm 66:18; Proverbs 14:34.
UNBELIEF OR DOUBT
Another hindrance to God’s blessings is unbelief or doubt
When you doubt God’s promises and refuse to operate in faith, you will not experience the fullness of God.
Mark 11:24 says:
“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
The believing comes before the receiving.
You have to trust God that what He has said, He will do.
Hebrews 11:1, 6.
You must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. He is not a man; He does not lie and has no reason to deceive you.
WATCH THE COMPANY YOU KEEP
Watch the company you keep.
Keeping company with people who have no relationship with God will lead you away from God and will always lead you to a wrong end.
Proverbs 13:20 says:
“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”
Psalm 1:1–3; Proverbs 1:10–18.
Watch your surroundings too.
Where you are and where you frequent have a way of rubbing off on you. Be conscious of how and where you spend your time.
Your time is the unit of your destiny, so what you give your time to is taking your destiny.
CONSISTENCY AND REVERENCE FOR GOD
When you are dealing with God, you have to be consistent.
You must make sure your attitude towards God and the things of God is top-notch. You must always be in awe of Him and reverence Him always.
The fact that you are a child of God does not mean you should be in deference to, or disregard, Him and His Word.
You cannot be too familiar with God.
Proverbs 9:10 says:
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
(Proverbs 2:5; Proverbs 8:13; Proverbs 10:27; Proverbs 14:26; Proverbs 14:27; Proverbs 15:33; Proverbs 16:6; Proverbs 19:23; Proverbs 22:4; Isaiah 8:13.)
It is important to understand that we are in the world, and there will be challenges that we cannot overcome by our own strength or ability.
God has provided us with diverse graces that we need to overcome and be above always.
It is well.
THE BLESSINGS OF GOD
The Bible says, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.” Proverbs 10:22.
Oftentimes, when we hear the word “blessing,” we equate it to financial release or increase. Blessing is not just money. When we talk about God’s blessings, it includes the gifts of goodness, favour and grace, peace, forgiveness, eternal life, physical provisions such as health, protection, fruitful works, and so on.
In Genesis 12, God called Abram out of his father’s house, his place of familiarity, and from serving an idol, and promised to bless him. From all indications, Abram was okay. Verse 5 says:
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
One of the challenges Abram was facing was childlessness, so in Genesis 22:17–18, God said:
That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
God blesses by invoking divine favour upon His children.
You see, God knows your areas of deficiency, which are many as a human being. Just like Abraham was concerned only about childlessness, God sees beyond that. He knows what needs to be done for you to enjoy your blessings without the attendant issues from the devil and his agents.
Nothing on this earth works in isolation. Everything is connected, even if you cannot see it.
It is like a man desiring to have a car. Yes, a car is good, and even if it is to prove a point to your friends and colleagues, you can deceive yourself into thinking it is a need. (I am not saying having a car is a luxury.) But you know getting a car is the least of the problems, you will need to do the necessary paperwork, fuel the car, and spend money on maintenance. You have to think of insurance, theft, accidents, fire, etc.
So, you see, the car itself is minimal.
Another example is when you have a new job. Your Father will not just give you the job; He will also have to make sure He gives you the wisdom, strength, and grace to be successful at the job.
So, when the Bible says God’s blessings do not add sorrow, it means God considers everything that is associated with the blessing and deals with them so that you will not have any sorrow.
Imagine driving the car out with all your family members in it and an accident occurs, and everyone dies except you. Is that a blessing that gives joy?
You can argue that you have your necessary papers, you have serviced your car, you fuel it, and it is in good condition. But, my friend, you have no control over the other driver and the condition of his vehicle. Still, you lost your loved ones.
The major purpose of the blessings of God is to show His love to His children and to display His power in their lives for the world to see.
So, if you ask for something from Him and He knows what surrounds such a request, He can decide whether your request is good for you or not.
Sometimes, it is even an issue of your maturity. Are you mature enough for what you are asking for?
His love for you will not let Him give you what you cannot handle.
The Bible says in Psalm 84:12:
For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Our ignorance makes us conclude that when we ask and do not receive, in spite of His promises, then He is not what He says He is. Some even depart from the faith because of this.
Now, do you think the Almighty God who made the heavens and the earth is not able to provide what you need?
The Bible says the cattle upon a thousand hills belong to Him; gold and silver are also His.
I have wondered so many times how the animals came to Noah to be in the ark. He showed mercy unto thousands of them that love Him and obey His commands, Exodus 20:6, Deuteronomy 5:10.
Do you think what you are asking for is so big that He cannot provide it?
All the things you need to live and prosper have already been created. He does not have to go into the factory or exercise any extra power to meet your need.
He loves you too much to give you what will destroy you.
God desires your progress and victory because He is glorified when you succeed, John 15:8.
If you do not receive what you ask for, then it is not time to complain and believe that God hates you or that His words are not powerful enough. Rather, you need to know how God functions and how the life that you have received from Him functions.
Do not assume that you know because someone said so or because you see manifestations of something in someone else’s life.
You must have heard that God does not have grandchildren. You have to know Him by yourself and seek His ways for you.
God’s blessings are always comprehensive. They cover all areas of your life, irrespective of where you are.
Joseph is one example of God’s blessing.
* While in his father’s house, he enjoyed favour.
* While in Potiphar’s house as a slave, his presence brought God’s blessing to Potiphar’s house.
* While in prison, the Bible says in Genesis 39:21–23:
But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
* Eventually, when he became a prime minister in a strange country, the economy of the country became so blessed that, during the famine, the whole nation of Egypt and other nations round about were preserved. At that time, Egypt became a world power.
You see, when God blesses you, it is a total package, full option, your family, people around you, and even nations benefit from God’s blessing on your life.
If your so-called blessing is limited to you, then of what good will that do to the Kingdom of God and the coming of the Lord?
God wants to display His power — Genesis 39:2–3.
The Bible says in Psalm 62:11:
God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
God wants to display His power in your life much more than you also desire, but it is only through His way that it will be done.
1 Corinthians 4:20, Ephesians 1:19, Hebrews 1:3.
God’s blessings will be displayed in your life according to His will, and His power will always follow His will. He will not sponsor anything that has nothing to do with His will.
Know His will and obey it. Then you too can boldly say, there is nothing I ask from God that He has not done or that He will not do for me.
Oftentimes, when we hear the word “blessing,” we equate it to financial release or increase. Blessing is not just money. When we talk about God’s blessings, it includes the gifts of goodness, favour and grace, peace, forgiveness, eternal life, physical provisions such as health, protection, fruitful works, and so on.
In Genesis 12, God called Abram out of his father’s house, his place of familiarity, and from serving an idol, and promised to bless him. From all indications, Abram was okay. Verse 5 says:
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
One of the challenges Abram was facing was childlessness, so in Genesis 22:17–18, God said:
That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
God blesses by invoking divine favour upon His children.
You see, God knows your areas of deficiency, which are many as a human being. Just like Abraham was concerned only about childlessness, God sees beyond that. He knows what needs to be done for you to enjoy your blessings without the attendant issues from the devil and his agents.
Nothing on this earth works in isolation. Everything is connected, even if you cannot see it.
It is like a man desiring to have a car. Yes, a car is good, and even if it is to prove a point to your friends and colleagues, you can deceive yourself into thinking it is a need. (I am not saying having a car is a luxury.) But you know getting a car is the least of the problems, you will need to do the necessary paperwork, fuel the car, and spend money on maintenance. You have to think of insurance, theft, accidents, fire, etc.
So, you see, the car itself is minimal.
Another example is when you have a new job. Your Father will not just give you the job; He will also have to make sure He gives you the wisdom, strength, and grace to be successful at the job.
So, when the Bible says God’s blessings do not add sorrow, it means God considers everything that is associated with the blessing and deals with them so that you will not have any sorrow.
Imagine driving the car out with all your family members in it and an accident occurs, and everyone dies except you. Is that a blessing that gives joy?
You can argue that you have your necessary papers, you have serviced your car, you fuel it, and it is in good condition. But, my friend, you have no control over the other driver and the condition of his vehicle. Still, you lost your loved ones.
The major purpose of the blessings of God is to show His love to His children and to display His power in their lives for the world to see.
So, if you ask for something from Him and He knows what surrounds such a request, He can decide whether your request is good for you or not.
Sometimes, it is even an issue of your maturity. Are you mature enough for what you are asking for?
His love for you will not let Him give you what you cannot handle.
The Bible says in Psalm 84:12:
For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Our ignorance makes us conclude that when we ask and do not receive, in spite of His promises, then He is not what He says He is. Some even depart from the faith because of this.
Now, do you think the Almighty God who made the heavens and the earth is not able to provide what you need?
The Bible says the cattle upon a thousand hills belong to Him; gold and silver are also His.
I have wondered so many times how the animals came to Noah to be in the ark. He showed mercy unto thousands of them that love Him and obey His commands, Exodus 20:6, Deuteronomy 5:10.
Do you think what you are asking for is so big that He cannot provide it?
All the things you need to live and prosper have already been created. He does not have to go into the factory or exercise any extra power to meet your need.
He loves you too much to give you what will destroy you.
God desires your progress and victory because He is glorified when you succeed, John 15:8.
If you do not receive what you ask for, then it is not time to complain and believe that God hates you or that His words are not powerful enough. Rather, you need to know how God functions and how the life that you have received from Him functions.
Do not assume that you know because someone said so or because you see manifestations of something in someone else’s life.
You must have heard that God does not have grandchildren. You have to know Him by yourself and seek His ways for you.
God’s blessings are always comprehensive. They cover all areas of your life, irrespective of where you are.
Joseph is one example of God’s blessing.
* While in his father’s house, he enjoyed favour.
* While in Potiphar’s house as a slave, his presence brought God’s blessing to Potiphar’s house.
* While in prison, the Bible says in Genesis 39:21–23:
But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
* Eventually, when he became a prime minister in a strange country, the economy of the country became so blessed that, during the famine, the whole nation of Egypt and other nations round about were preserved. At that time, Egypt became a world power.
You see, when God blesses you, it is a total package, full option, your family, people around you, and even nations benefit from God’s blessing on your life.
If your so-called blessing is limited to you, then of what good will that do to the Kingdom of God and the coming of the Lord?
God wants to display His power — Genesis 39:2–3.
The Bible says in Psalm 62:11:
God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
God wants to display His power in your life much more than you also desire, but it is only through His way that it will be done.
1 Corinthians 4:20, Ephesians 1:19, Hebrews 1:3.
God’s blessings will be displayed in your life according to His will, and His power will always follow His will. He will not sponsor anything that has nothing to do with His will.
Know His will and obey it. Then you too can boldly say, there is nothing I ask from God that He has not done or that He will not do for me.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
In the Gospel of John, when Jesus Christ had the Last Supper with His disciples and His hour for crucifixion was at hand, He gave the disciples something that you can call a valedictory speech. In John 14:15–18 and verse 26, He said:
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The Holy Spirit is a promise of God for His children.
He is the third Person of the Trinity — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is God’s active presence.
The Holy Spirit is not a thing or a force. He is a Person, and He is not inferior to God or Jesus Christ. He is fully divine.
He is the Counsellor (Parakletos – Greek) — the One called alongside to help, translated as Advocate, Helper, Comforter, or Counsellor.
He is a Teacher — Hebrews 12:12 — and brings to our remembrance the words of Jesus.
He is a gift from God — Acts 2:38 — and also a giver. He gives abilities, wisdom, and strength to build our Christian faith.
He is the River of Living Water — John 7:39.
He is the Power — Acts 1:8.
He lives in your body — 1 Corinthians 6:19.
He is a Builder — Jude 1:20.
He is given to those who ask — Luke 11:13.
He can sanctify — Romans 15:16.
The Holy Spirit transforms. He produces positive moral traits in a Christian’s life — Galatians 5:22, Ephesians 5:9.
As I said earlier, the Holy Spirit is a Person, and therefore He can speak. He has a voice. In Acts 8:29:
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
This also means it is possible for Him to be ignored. Ephesians 4:30 says:
And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
This means, do not cause sorrow or distress to Him.
Because He is a Person, He also has a will, and that means He can be disobeyed. He also has feelings, so He can be hurt.
He will not force Himself on you. He will come if you invite Him into your life.
HOLY SPIRIT AND SPEAKING IN TONGUES
In Acts 1:8, when Jesus’ directive was given:
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
And when the fullness of time came, the Holy Spirit descended on the day of Pentecost.
Acts 2:1–4 says:
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
So, we can say speaking in tongues is one of the evidences of being filled with the Holy Spirit. There are other evidences that must be seen in your life.
There are many tongues. Apostle Paul explained this clearly to us in 1 Corinthians 13:1:
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
Be not deceived; there are diverse tongues on earth. Not every tongue you hear is by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. By their fruits you shall know them.
The Holy Spirit gives you the language to help you in your prayer life. When you pray in the Spirit, you speak to God — 1 Corinthians 14:2, 4.
However, if your mission is to give understanding to men, you will need the gift of interpretation of tongues as well.
The Holy Spirit is a great help when you do not know what to do or how to go about things. He is the Spirit of God and knows what is in the heart of the Father for you at every point in time.
So, beloved, avail yourself of this vast help available to you.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The Holy Spirit is a promise of God for His children.
He is the third Person of the Trinity — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is God’s active presence.
The Holy Spirit is not a thing or a force. He is a Person, and He is not inferior to God or Jesus Christ. He is fully divine.
He is the Counsellor (Parakletos – Greek) — the One called alongside to help, translated as Advocate, Helper, Comforter, or Counsellor.
He is a Teacher — Hebrews 12:12 — and brings to our remembrance the words of Jesus.
He is a gift from God — Acts 2:38 — and also a giver. He gives abilities, wisdom, and strength to build our Christian faith.
He is the River of Living Water — John 7:39.
He is the Power — Acts 1:8.
He lives in your body — 1 Corinthians 6:19.
He is a Builder — Jude 1:20.
He is given to those who ask — Luke 11:13.
He can sanctify — Romans 15:16.
The Holy Spirit transforms. He produces positive moral traits in a Christian’s life — Galatians 5:22, Ephesians 5:9.
As I said earlier, the Holy Spirit is a Person, and therefore He can speak. He has a voice. In Acts 8:29:
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
This also means it is possible for Him to be ignored. Ephesians 4:30 says:
And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
This means, do not cause sorrow or distress to Him.
Because He is a Person, He also has a will, and that means He can be disobeyed. He also has feelings, so He can be hurt.
He will not force Himself on you. He will come if you invite Him into your life.
HOLY SPIRIT AND SPEAKING IN TONGUES
In Acts 1:8, when Jesus’ directive was given:
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
And when the fullness of time came, the Holy Spirit descended on the day of Pentecost.
Acts 2:1–4 says:
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
So, we can say speaking in tongues is one of the evidences of being filled with the Holy Spirit. There are other evidences that must be seen in your life.
There are many tongues. Apostle Paul explained this clearly to us in 1 Corinthians 13:1:
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
Be not deceived; there are diverse tongues on earth. Not every tongue you hear is by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. By their fruits you shall know them.
The Holy Spirit gives you the language to help you in your prayer life. When you pray in the Spirit, you speak to God — 1 Corinthians 14:2, 4.
However, if your mission is to give understanding to men, you will need the gift of interpretation of tongues as well.
The Holy Spirit is a great help when you do not know what to do or how to go about things. He is the Spirit of God and knows what is in the heart of the Father for you at every point in time.
So, beloved, avail yourself of this vast help available to you.
THE BLOOD OF JESUS
Blood is an important fluid that runs through the heart, arteries, and veins of both humans and animals. Its purpose is to carry oxygen and nutrients to the cells, take away waste products, and help fight sickness. It is universally agreed that blood is very important to the body. Indeed, it is the lifeline of the body.
In Genesis 9:4, God told Noah after the flood:
But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.
Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
Blood, not only of man but even of animals, is sacred in the sight of God. He emphasized this further in Leviticus 7:20–27.
So, if the blood of animals is so sacred, how much more the blood of His only begotten Son that was shed for the remission of our sins on the cross at Calvary?
When blood is shed, it pollutes the land. Numbers 35:33 says:
So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
Do you understand the wisdom behind God’s directive that the blood of animals be used to atone for sins in the Old Testament?
However, the blood of bulls and goats, or other animals, could not provide complete cleansing. These sacrifices had to be offered regularly because they did not have the power to provide total and eternal cleansing. Hebrews 9 and 10 explain this extensively.
The blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross at Calvary has eternal spiritual power to provide forgiveness, redemption, and protection for humanity once and for all.
What, then, is the purpose?
1. Ultimate and permanent sacrifice that cleanses from wrongdoing and removes the guilt of sin – Hebrews 9:22.
2. Ultimate payment to free humanity from the bondage of sin and death.
3. Protection and shielding from danger and harm.
4. The New Covenant is based on His blood. The blood of Jesus shed on the cross did away with the old covenant that required continuous sacrifices of animals. The blood of animals was not sufficient to completely deal with the sins of the people except on a temporary basis.
5. It forgives.
6. It gives life – John 6:53.
7. It draws you near to God.
8. It gives you peace – Colossians 1:20.
9. It sanctifies – Hebrews 13:12.
10. It makes you complete for every good work– Hebrews 13:20–21.
11. We overcome by His blood – Revelation 12:11.
How Do You Use the Blood of Jesus?
* Pleading the blood: Through prayer, asking God to cover you by the blood from spiritual or physical harm.
* Declaring aloud what the Bible says the blood of Jesus has accomplished for you.
* Asking for forgiveness by the blood, relying on it to wash away your guilt and cleanse your conscience.
* For spiritual warfare: Invoking the power in the blood through prayer to overcome every attack of darkness.
* Through the Holy Communion.
THE HOLY COMMUNION
Also called the Lord’s Supper, the Holy Communion is more than a Christian rite, as some believe it to be. It is one of the potent powers available to Christians, but it is not fully utilized. Most times, it is conducted as a mere powerless ritual.
Let’s start from the beginning.
The Last Supper of Jesus Christ with His disciples happened when the Israelites commemorated their deliverance from Egypt. In Exodus 12, God initiated the Passover and commanded that it be observed yearly.
So, it is no coincidence that Jesus Christ, in the Last Supper, did all that He did. His blood replaced the blood of the lamb or goat commanded by God to be killed for the Passover.
Jesus’ earthly ministry spanned three and a half years, and all through this time, and even beyond, the Israelites had been observing the Passover. But this time, something shifted.
John 13:1 says:
Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
This was going to be His last Passover, and He knew that He was going to be offered as our Passover, the Passover – 1 Corinthians 5:7.
In Matthew’s synoptic account, we are told in Matthew 26:26–28:
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Luke explained further in chapter 22:19–22 that it should be done in remembrance of Him (Mark 14:22–25).
The Holy Communion is the Blood of the New Covenant. We dealt with covenants earlier in this blog.
Holy Communion is an exchange – the blood of Jesus that you drink comes into your life and replaces your own blood, and He took the body of sin and iniquity upon Himself. It is this exchange that gave way for His crucifixion upon the cross.
As Christ, the sinless One, He could not be sacrificed as a sinner. The exchange had to take place for that to happen. By His blood, we now have redemption from sin, while He paid the ultimate price – death on the cross – 1 Corinthians 11:23–26.
So, when Jesus said, It is finished, while He hung on that cross, it means that everything that pertains to the body and blood of sin that He exchanged inside the upper room during the Passover had been fully paid for, and as such, you do not have any reason to suffer again – John 19:30.
Is there any situation you are facing right now that seems to be defying the finished work of Christ?
Then remember the body and blood that were broken and shed for you, and remind that situation that the price has been paid in full.
1 Corinthians 11:23–26 says:
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
The devil was defeated over 2,000 years ago, but he will always want to deceive you into believing that he is still in control. You have to take authority in the blood of Jesus Christ, the blood of the New Covenant.
This is a promise of forgiveness and a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Through this New Covenant in His blood, you have a direct relationship personally with God without needing an earthly mediator system.
Child of God, when you are being tossed to and fro and it seems all your efforts are not yielding, remember that there had been an exchange on the Cross, and do what you have been commanded in 1 Corinthians 11:26.
We have heard of diverse miracles that happened on account of this. Your Father is still in the business of doing miracles.
It is well.
In Genesis 9:4, God told Noah after the flood:
But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.
Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
Blood, not only of man but even of animals, is sacred in the sight of God. He emphasized this further in Leviticus 7:20–27.
So, if the blood of animals is so sacred, how much more the blood of His only begotten Son that was shed for the remission of our sins on the cross at Calvary?
When blood is shed, it pollutes the land. Numbers 35:33 says:
So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
Do you understand the wisdom behind God’s directive that the blood of animals be used to atone for sins in the Old Testament?
However, the blood of bulls and goats, or other animals, could not provide complete cleansing. These sacrifices had to be offered regularly because they did not have the power to provide total and eternal cleansing. Hebrews 9 and 10 explain this extensively.
The blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross at Calvary has eternal spiritual power to provide forgiveness, redemption, and protection for humanity once and for all.
What, then, is the purpose?
1. Ultimate and permanent sacrifice that cleanses from wrongdoing and removes the guilt of sin – Hebrews 9:22.
2. Ultimate payment to free humanity from the bondage of sin and death.
3. Protection and shielding from danger and harm.
4. The New Covenant is based on His blood. The blood of Jesus shed on the cross did away with the old covenant that required continuous sacrifices of animals. The blood of animals was not sufficient to completely deal with the sins of the people except on a temporary basis.
5. It forgives.
6. It gives life – John 6:53.
7. It draws you near to God.
8. It gives you peace – Colossians 1:20.
9. It sanctifies – Hebrews 13:12.
10. It makes you complete for every good work– Hebrews 13:20–21.
11. We overcome by His blood – Revelation 12:11.
How Do You Use the Blood of Jesus?
* Pleading the blood: Through prayer, asking God to cover you by the blood from spiritual or physical harm.
* Declaring aloud what the Bible says the blood of Jesus has accomplished for you.
* Asking for forgiveness by the blood, relying on it to wash away your guilt and cleanse your conscience.
* For spiritual warfare: Invoking the power in the blood through prayer to overcome every attack of darkness.
* Through the Holy Communion.
THE HOLY COMMUNION
Also called the Lord’s Supper, the Holy Communion is more than a Christian rite, as some believe it to be. It is one of the potent powers available to Christians, but it is not fully utilized. Most times, it is conducted as a mere powerless ritual.
Let’s start from the beginning.
The Last Supper of Jesus Christ with His disciples happened when the Israelites commemorated their deliverance from Egypt. In Exodus 12, God initiated the Passover and commanded that it be observed yearly.
So, it is no coincidence that Jesus Christ, in the Last Supper, did all that He did. His blood replaced the blood of the lamb or goat commanded by God to be killed for the Passover.
Jesus’ earthly ministry spanned three and a half years, and all through this time, and even beyond, the Israelites had been observing the Passover. But this time, something shifted.
John 13:1 says:
Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
This was going to be His last Passover, and He knew that He was going to be offered as our Passover, the Passover – 1 Corinthians 5:7.
In Matthew’s synoptic account, we are told in Matthew 26:26–28:
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Luke explained further in chapter 22:19–22 that it should be done in remembrance of Him (Mark 14:22–25).
The Holy Communion is the Blood of the New Covenant. We dealt with covenants earlier in this blog.
Holy Communion is an exchange – the blood of Jesus that you drink comes into your life and replaces your own blood, and He took the body of sin and iniquity upon Himself. It is this exchange that gave way for His crucifixion upon the cross.
As Christ, the sinless One, He could not be sacrificed as a sinner. The exchange had to take place for that to happen. By His blood, we now have redemption from sin, while He paid the ultimate price – death on the cross – 1 Corinthians 11:23–26.
So, when Jesus said, It is finished, while He hung on that cross, it means that everything that pertains to the body and blood of sin that He exchanged inside the upper room during the Passover had been fully paid for, and as such, you do not have any reason to suffer again – John 19:30.
Is there any situation you are facing right now that seems to be defying the finished work of Christ?
Then remember the body and blood that were broken and shed for you, and remind that situation that the price has been paid in full.
1 Corinthians 11:23–26 says:
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
The devil was defeated over 2,000 years ago, but he will always want to deceive you into believing that he is still in control. You have to take authority in the blood of Jesus Christ, the blood of the New Covenant.
This is a promise of forgiveness and a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Through this New Covenant in His blood, you have a direct relationship personally with God without needing an earthly mediator system.
Child of God, when you are being tossed to and fro and it seems all your efforts are not yielding, remember that there had been an exchange on the Cross, and do what you have been commanded in 1 Corinthians 11:26.
We have heard of diverse miracles that happened on account of this. Your Father is still in the business of doing miracles.
It is well.
THE WORD OF GOD
Psalm 138:2 says:
“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”
In the last write-up, we looked extensively at God’s names, which are great resources for our excelling. Now we are being told that He has magnified His Word above His name. This is awesome! Indeed, our Father is a loving God, and He will not withhold anything from us that will be beneficial to our success and greatness.
The Word of God can be viewed in three parts:
1. Logos – The Written Word
Logos is the written Word. It is the total, objective, and unchanging written Word of God. It represents the entire body of Scripture and reveals the overarching plan and mind of God. It is the unchanging foundation, truth, and standard of God’s Word made available to mankind.
The Bible contains the words inspired by God and written by many different authors over a long period of time.
God Almighty has revealed Himself through the Scriptures. His Word can be compared to a manufacturer’s manual for a machine, an official guide provided for a product that explains how to set it up, operate it, and care for it safely. It includes specifications, troubleshooting steps, and safety warnings.
This is exactly what the Word of God in the Bible does for mankind, whom He created. In essence, whatever you encounter as a child of God should be measured against the Manufacturer’s Manual. This means that if the situation you are facing is not in line with the Creator’s manual, you have the means to correct it by searching the manual and applying the necessary instructions given by the Manufacturer, God Himself.
2. Rhema – The Personal Word
Rhema is a specific word or phrase quickened to a person by the Holy Spirit. It occurs most times when God takes a general Logos passage and makes it deeply personal, relevant, and active for a person’s immediate situation and need.
You will observe that Rhema often rides on the back of Logos. In other words, it is the written Word already within you that the Holy Spirit quickens to life when it is needed.
This shows that you must continually fill your life with the Word of God.
Joshua 1:8 says:
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
As you meditate on the Word of God and fill your life with it, it is the Word already within you that is quickened when you need a personal word from God.
Many times it seems as though the Word is not working because we wait until we face a challenge before carrying our Bibles and searching for a verse. God is merciful, but He delights in your having a vibrant relationship with His Word because it is through that relationship that He makes His will known to you.
3. The Living Word
The Bible says in John 1:1–3, 14:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us… full of grace and truth.”
Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God, the divine expression and the active, life-giving Truth. He is the image of the invisible God. He is the Father’s ultimate message to humanity. He is willing and ready to pour Himself into you if you are willing to embrace Him.
The Word of God:
* Is living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword.
* Judges the thoughts and intents of the human heart.
* Is the nourishment needed for spiritual growth.
* Is a compendium of resources available to every child of God.
* Gives illumination and direction (Psalm 119:11, 105).
* Sustains life (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4).
* Is pure and undiluted (Psalm 12:6–7; Psalm 119:140).
* Heals and delivers (Psalm 107:20).
* Endures forever (Psalm 119:160; Isaiah 40:8).
* Never fails (Isaiah 55:10–11).
I can go on and on, but all the promises in God’s Word will not work for you if you do not have faith in God and in His Word. They are indeed exceedingly precious promises, but they will remain only promises unless you exercise your faith.
Hebrews 11:6 says:
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
The centurion in Matthew 8:5–12 demonstrated this wonderfully.
The fact that you sleep and wake in church, or that you place an open Bible under your pillow before going to sleep, amounts to nothing if the Word within you is not mixed with faith.
The Word of God is your daily bread, and it is meant for you, dear child of God.
“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”
In the last write-up, we looked extensively at God’s names, which are great resources for our excelling. Now we are being told that He has magnified His Word above His name. This is awesome! Indeed, our Father is a loving God, and He will not withhold anything from us that will be beneficial to our success and greatness.
The Word of God can be viewed in three parts:
1. Logos – The Written Word
Logos is the written Word. It is the total, objective, and unchanging written Word of God. It represents the entire body of Scripture and reveals the overarching plan and mind of God. It is the unchanging foundation, truth, and standard of God’s Word made available to mankind.
The Bible contains the words inspired by God and written by many different authors over a long period of time.
God Almighty has revealed Himself through the Scriptures. His Word can be compared to a manufacturer’s manual for a machine, an official guide provided for a product that explains how to set it up, operate it, and care for it safely. It includes specifications, troubleshooting steps, and safety warnings.
This is exactly what the Word of God in the Bible does for mankind, whom He created. In essence, whatever you encounter as a child of God should be measured against the Manufacturer’s Manual. This means that if the situation you are facing is not in line with the Creator’s manual, you have the means to correct it by searching the manual and applying the necessary instructions given by the Manufacturer, God Himself.
2. Rhema – The Personal Word
Rhema is a specific word or phrase quickened to a person by the Holy Spirit. It occurs most times when God takes a general Logos passage and makes it deeply personal, relevant, and active for a person’s immediate situation and need.
You will observe that Rhema often rides on the back of Logos. In other words, it is the written Word already within you that the Holy Spirit quickens to life when it is needed.
This shows that you must continually fill your life with the Word of God.
Joshua 1:8 says:
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
As you meditate on the Word of God and fill your life with it, it is the Word already within you that is quickened when you need a personal word from God.
Many times it seems as though the Word is not working because we wait until we face a challenge before carrying our Bibles and searching for a verse. God is merciful, but He delights in your having a vibrant relationship with His Word because it is through that relationship that He makes His will known to you.
3. The Living Word
The Bible says in John 1:1–3, 14:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us… full of grace and truth.”
Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God, the divine expression and the active, life-giving Truth. He is the image of the invisible God. He is the Father’s ultimate message to humanity. He is willing and ready to pour Himself into you if you are willing to embrace Him.
The Word of God:
* Is living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword.
* Judges the thoughts and intents of the human heart.
* Is the nourishment needed for spiritual growth.
* Is a compendium of resources available to every child of God.
* Gives illumination and direction (Psalm 119:11, 105).
* Sustains life (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4).
* Is pure and undiluted (Psalm 12:6–7; Psalm 119:140).
* Heals and delivers (Psalm 107:20).
* Endures forever (Psalm 119:160; Isaiah 40:8).
* Never fails (Isaiah 55:10–11).
I can go on and on, but all the promises in God’s Word will not work for you if you do not have faith in God and in His Word. They are indeed exceedingly precious promises, but they will remain only promises unless you exercise your faith.
Hebrews 11:6 says:
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
The centurion in Matthew 8:5–12 demonstrated this wonderfully.
The fact that you sleep and wake in church, or that you place an open Bible under your pillow before going to sleep, amounts to nothing if the Word within you is not mixed with faith.
The Word of God is your daily bread, and it is meant for you, dear child of God.