YOU HAVE AUTHORITY

One of the astounding things about Christians is the incredible authority they possess in Christ. There are powers that are configured into the system of every Christian, which others don’t possess. This idea needs to sink into the head of many believers because quite a lot of them are oblivious of what authority they command. There is a difference between a Christian and a non- Christian. The difference is the authority behind the existence of a Christian. When I remember the authority of a believer, I think of the police officer. When a sound of siren steals into your ears, you give way. Yet, the authority of a believer is mightier than this. There are many instances where Jesus gave authority to His disciples. In Luke 10:19, Jesus said:” Behold, I give you power to tread on serpent and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you”. Also, in Luke 9:1 the scripture says, “Then He called his twelve disciples, together and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases”. Again, in Mark 16:15-18, we read about the signs that will follow believers: that of casting out devils; that of speaking in tongues; that of picking of serpents etc. St. Paul tells us that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds (2 Cor.10:4).

The problem with some believers is that they don’t believe the words of God concerning them. They don’t believe they have authority; neither do they exercise their God-given authority. They simply believe that those promises and authorities belonged to the first century Christians. But this is a big lie. The authority is for you. You have the authority to drive away sickness and disease. You have the authority to put a stop to the activities of the devil. You have the power to speak a change upon a sinner and it will work. You’ve got to believe this and practice it. The one who gave the authority is able to give evidence to it. Just practice it in faith and God will manifest His power in you.

LIFE IS A CHOICE

In life, we are required to make various choices. Everything up to this point in your life that has or has not happened is as a result of choices you have made. Many things capture your admiration, but you cannot choose all of them. To choose some things means that you have to reject some others. Every aspect of your life can be traced to series of choices you made. Solomon recounted how he chose wisdom over and above all else, when he was faced with the privileged of making a choice in life. God had wanted him to ask for something (1Kgs 3:5). He could have asked for fame and popularity. He could have asked for health. Yet, he chose wisdom. God was so moved by the choice he made that He granted him even what he did not ask for-riches and honour(1Kgs3:13). There are choices you make that connect you to the rest of blessings. But there are choices that lead to destruction. The gospel of Matthew 10:17-30 shows how your choices can lead to destruction. A man came to Jesus to ask what he could do to inherit the kingdom of heaven. He was told what to do: he could either follow Jesus, giving up all his riches, or keep his goods and lose Jesus. He didn’t think he could choose to follow Jesus. So, he left!

What choices are you making today? Remember they can either mar you or make you. The bible gives us clue to how to make the best choice, “Seek you first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt.6:33). Solomon chose wisdom because wisdom is presented a s God. Paul says, “Jesus Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24). Your choices can change your life forever. Your choices today determine your chances tomorrow. What choices are you making? Is there Jesus in them? When Jesus is in your choices, then you are connected to the rest of blessing in the world. You are connected to favour; you are connected to grace; and you are connected to life. Decide to choose in accordance to the word of God.

New Evangelization should be ecumenical effort, Pope says

Ecumenical work is a key component of the “new evangelization,” Pope Benedict XVI told the Pontifical Council on Christian Unity in a November 15 address.
All Christians should be concerned by “the crisis of faith affecting vast areas of the world, including those where the proclamation of the Gospel was first accepted and where Christian life has flourished for centuries,” the Pope said, at a private audience held in the Clementine Hall of the apostolic palace. “The spiritual poverty of many of our contemporaries, who no longer perceive the absence of God in their lives as a form of deprivation, poses a challenge to all Christians.”
Pope Benedict said that ecumenism calls for “patience, humility, and abandonment to the Lord’s will.” However, he said, Christians must be persistent in the effort to overcome divisions, never accepting the fractures within the Christian community as “something normal or as the best that can be obtained.”

CONFIDENCE IN GOD

The book of Job started off with the story of the sudden and mysterious affliction of a just man known as Job. He did not only lose everything he had but even his health was taken away from him. He remained sick and poor. Some of his friends came to visit him only to make things worse for him. They mocked him and accused him of being a hypocrite. Amidst the terrors of his suffering and the merciless accusations of his friends, Job roared in deep faith, “For I know my Redeemer liveth”. He was so sure of God’s vindication even when it seemed unreachable. He confessed his dependence on God. That was a man who had confidence in God, and it pleased God that Job trusted Him that much. God always wants us to have complete and full confidence in Him.

Confidence in God empowers, energizes you and strengthens you. Confidence in God produces boldness in the face of problem. Think of Shedrack, Meshach and Abednego who trusted in God’s power to deliver them even in the midst of the fire. Think of Daniel ho believed that God could deliver him from the lion’s den. Think of Joseph who believed that obedience to God’s command was the best choice when faced with temptations. These people had confidence in God. Confidence waves off fears, anxiety and doubt. A person gleaming in confidence has assurance that “the Lord is near” (Phil 4:5). You need to pray for confidence and manifest it. You need to believe that God is constantly and continuously watching over you; that He will never abandon you; that your guardian angel is with you, interceding for you. There are many promises of God telling you that He will never leave or abandon you. He will produce in you the peace and joy you need. He will direct your mind aright. He will fight your battles for you. He will provide all your needs (Phil 4:19). He knows what is best for you. He will produce in you the power to do everything that is in his will for you (Phil 4:13). What is the level of your confidence in God? Confidence will take you to great heights in your faith journey.