THE MASTER KEY

And he spake a parable unto them to this end , that men ought always to pray, and not to faint-Luke 18:1

Prayer irritates the devil. He will rather want you to do any other thing than to pray. When you pray, you hit him in a bad joint. It destabilizes him. It puts him on his knees. He will prefer that you devote all your day to  church activities than to pray. He will prefer you give all you have in offering than to pray. He will want you to substitute prayers for tithe. He will be more comfortable to have you wear a long and sanctimonious face during your fasting than to pray.

 Pray without season!

THERE IS HOPE

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy.... without money and without Price–Isaiah 55:1 KJV

Does life seems to have offered you everything in the negative? Are you confused and vision-less? Have you concluded that life is not worth living and contemplating ending it up? Or do you feel empty within in spite of all the resources in your care? Have you tried every other thing without a solution? Do you live a care-free life as though you are not accountable to anyone? Have you forgotten that it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement?

Good News: JESUS CARES!

Don't give up, talk to Him now. He will make all things NEW!

YOU ARE STILL IN HIS DIVINE PLAN

CAST ALL YOUR BURDEN ON HIM

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not

When the billows roll, don't contend it alone, when the tempest rises, don't try to still it alone, when trouble and torment comes don't battle them alone. Don't trust in your strength. Don't rely on your ability. Don't build your hope on things around you. Never forget there is One who is always ready to help. He is interested in every little detail of your life and will take you beyond the ordinary.

TAKE IT OFF YOUR SHOULDER AND LAY IT AT HIS FEET.

His name is Jesus: The Good Shepherd!

Enjoy your week in His Amazing Love and Care!

UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY

Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him!—Zech: 4:7 NLT.

The storm may be ferocious; fightings and fears within and without. The threats, the manoeuvres, the mountains and the hills all standing so tall like the 'giants and the Anakims.' Wisdom may have failed and strength waning, the chariots and horses and their riders kept pushing in. Yes, but marvel not; for by strength shall no man prevail.

Now, allow God to take charge of His wholesome responsibility. Let Him stand between you and the mountains and hills, the giants and the Anakims, between you and the horses and their riders.
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God— Psalm 20:7 KJV

When you see the imposters, remember your hope, your strength and trust is built on nothing else than Jesus blood and by that affirmation, you will soon discover that they that are with you are far greater than what you have hitherto dreaded.

But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do—Psalm 73:28 NLT.

REMAIN BLESSED!

BEWARE NOT TO BE CONTAMINATED

Text:
1 Corinthians 15:33 KJV
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

How amazing we notice that the big Wall suddenly caved in and succumbed to the little but constant dropping of the water. At onset, it will sound somewhat ridiculous to imagine the possibility of that little drops of water breaking such a hardened brick. So it is when we dismiss with a wave of hand that what we keep hearing day in day out is not capable of influencing who we are and mould in us a character that was never in us.

The scriptures talk at length about not only being careful of the words that come out of our mouths but also what we hear and how we give vent to them.

FINDING HOPE IN THE 'HOPELESS SITUATION'

The pot gradually and steadily runs out of oil even as the bank account is already in the red. The clock ticks dutifully, drawing closer the children's school resumption after the long vacation which you wish may never come to an end. The more you wish the hand of the clock could be stayed, the more it seems to be moving at a jet speed, still drawing to your attention your responsibilities as a faithful father and a virtuous woman. But alas! God seems not to be responding in parallel to your own speed. Wait! Be Patient, Be Still, seems to be what you keep hearing.

 Oftentimes, God keeps us waiting, even in the face of the realities of famine, face to face with a ravaging terror. Then, we ask, 'Is the time not yet ripe for the heaven to release the dew? Have we not wondered enough to get to our destination point? The Psalmist found himself in the maze of this paradigm and when tabling his matter to God, he asked, 'Lord, how long wilt thou look on?— Psalm 35:17. But then, when he pulled himself together, he remembered that, 'the way of man is, really, not in himself... Jeremiah 10:23 and counseled his own soul to 'Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.' His waiting was never in vain; for the promises of God in Christ Jesus are 'Yea and Amen.' In a process of time, to his astonishment and amazement, he exclaimed, "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry." For beyond the expected dew, there was a great shower. The entire Jews, at a time, also expressed such extravagant joy, 'When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad-- Psalm 126:1-3 KJV.

Yes, such change is always greeted with great excitement, it erases all past trauma, it dries away tears as it puts songs in the mouth and melodies in the heart, but then, are we ready to wait? Can we pay the prize of waiting, can we bear the ridicule, face the humiliation, the despise? Can we bear the cost of being deserted and be ready to contend with the few friends who will, rather be judgmental than proffering solutions as in the case of Job? Will you be ready to tolerate your wife who will rather advertise your plight than being there for you at such a time? The scripture affirms that, '...no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."—Heb. 12:11. KJV. 

God never keeps us waiting without hope, without His presence and without sustaining us as He stands by His Word that He 'is faithful, and will not suffer us to be tempted above what we will be able to bear-1 Cor.10:13 KJV The psalmist from his own personal experience counsels, 'Wait on the Lord : be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

 Remain Blessed!

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Christian clerk in Kentucky loses same-sex marriage court battle

A Christian official who refused to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples in Kentucky has been ordered to do so by the US Supreme Court.

Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis had argued that her faith prevented her from carrying out her duty.
But the Supreme Court rejected her argument, which means she now has no more legal avenues to pursue.
Her lawyer has said she will pray tonight and decide what to do when her office opens on Tuesday.
Since the court legalised gay marriage nationwide two months ago, Ms Davis has refused to issue any marriage licences to anyone.
The American Civil Liberties Union sued her on behalf of four couples, two gay and two straight.
In making its ruling on Monday, without any comment, the Supreme Court also denied her request for a stay while she pursues an appeal.
If she continues to refuse to issue licences, she could be held in contempt of court, which could lead to a prison sentence.

BBC

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HOW SHALL THIS BE?

Psalm 139:6 KJV
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Some things are imaginable and there are many others that remain unimaginable to man as long as man's wisdom, knowledge, ability and understanding are limited. The imaginable are daily occurrences and are regarded as no news while the unimaginable are the rare occurrences and make headlines.

Mary was yet to come to terms with the bewilderment of being singled out among many women of becoming the potential mother of the Saviour of the World when it downed on her there was no mention of who will be responsible for the the conception. In her maze of confusion, she asked Angel Gabriel, 'How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?' In reality, no human explanation, not even an Angelic one is able to unravel the supernatural. The duty of man, yes his whole duty, is to toe the line of Mary: "And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."— Luke 1:38 KJV

Being confronted with the task of imagining if dry and scattered bones could possibly come together to live again, Prophet Ezekiel spared himself of the headache of trying to fathom and imagine the unimaginable as he replied, "O Lord God, thou knowest.' knowing with the Lord, there is no limitations— Ezekiel 37:3

What are those visions that look unattainable? It may not be necessary for you to try to come to terms on how it can be attained or realised as man's duty is to diligently obey the Lord's instructions, look beyond his limitations and see 'those things that be not as though they are' and soon, heaven will open its floodgates of awesome and supernatural splendor that will always be marvelous in our sights.
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GREATER THAN WEAPONS OF WARFARE

Jeremiah 51:20-21 KJV

Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: ... And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider;

The Word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two edged sword. Those who have their faith and trust in it never lose any battle. David knew the power in the Word when with all the peripheral of war that Goliath adorned himself with looked directly to his face and with all boldness, said, 'Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.'

God will always stand by his Word to defend it and see that it accomplishes it's mission.

The book of Psalms 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— Psalm 138:2 KJV. To magnify is to hold in high esteem and value beyond measure. Whatever you esteem high, you will always be ready to defend and protect. He is waiting to back you up when you act on His Word and use it as a defence, for pulling down every high thing that will want to exalt itself against the knowledge of God in your life, for commanding every storm to be still, for bringing to a halt the intrusion of the enemy into your territory.

GROWING UP TO MATURITY

1 Peter 2:2 KJV

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Growth is a significant aspect of human life. Growth starts right away after conception as the foetus begins to take different forms and shapes till the day of delivery. Right after this, there is a time the baby is expected to sit unaided, and also a time to start crawling, standing and eventually walking and It is always a sort of concern to every parent when this is delayed.
I remembered about a month ago, when my wife ran to the sitting room with so great a joy to announce to me that Gozie(our baby that was then eleven months stood up unassisted for the very first time, today he is already walking)

In this same vain, it should be the joy of every christian not only to grow spiritually but also monitor and encourage such spiritual maturity in his children even as they grow physically and mentally. 'And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him — Luke 2:40 KJV It is not just enough to say we are saved, it is not also enough to say we know Christ while we continue to dwell in spiritual stagnancy, 'Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment— Hebrews 6:1-2 KJV

Men of God failed to deliver Jonathan from a spell – Bishop Mike Okonkwo

BISHOP MIKE OKONKWO 70TH BIRTHDAY

Reveals how he lost his first child, left her body in the room and went out to preach

By Ishola Balogun  and Sam SMITH

Dr Mike Okonkwo is the presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, TREM, with over 160 branches in Nigeria and across the globe. The top Evangelist who will celebrate his 70th birthday come September 6, in this interview shares his life challenges, his turn around as well as the present anti-corruption crusade in the country. Excerpts.

My Parents and career

My parents were angry with me for choosing the Ministry. They did everything they could to stop me but I was resolute. They could not understand why of all professions, I chose the ministry. I was working in the bank, and very comfortable.

BISHOP MIKE OKONKWO

They said I had bright future in the then African Continental Bank, Lagos. And to worsen it all, of all places in the Pentecostal church, they maintained that if I want to answer the call of God, I should go and answer from the Anglican or Catholic. At a stage, they went and arranged for police to arrest me,

THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD 2015 ANNUAL CONVENTION KICKS OFF

LAGOS— The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has enjoined all participants at the church’s annual convention, which begins today with the ordination of deacons/deaconesses at the Redemption Camp on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, to prepare themselves for unprecedented breakthrough and a new level of walk with God.

Pastor Enoch Adeboye

The church’s 63rd convention billed to run for one week is expected to attract Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, and other anointed ministers of the gospel from local and international circuit.

In a welcome address to the thousands of people who defied yesterday’s downpour in parts of the country on their voyage to the camp, Pastor Adeboye urged them to remember to obey all camp rules and be at the right place at the right time, while assuring them of an encounter with God again as “He decrees goodness, mercy, favour, and healing into your life.”

THE CHRISTIAN AND CHURCH GROWTH

1 Peter 2:2 KJV
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

Growth is a significant aspect of human life. Growth starts right away after conception as the foetus begins to take different forms and shapes till the day of delivery. Right after this, there is a time the baby is expected to sit unaided, and also a time to start crawling,  standing and eventually walking and It is always  a sort of concern to every parent when this is delayed.

I remembered about a month ago, when my wife ran to the sitting room with so great a joy to announce to me that Gozie(our baby that was then eleven months stood up unassisted for the very first time, today he is already walking)

In the same vain, it should be the joy of every christian not only to grow spiritually but also monitor and encourage such spiritual maturity in his children even as they grow physically and mentally. 'And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him — Luke 2:40 KJV

It is not just enough to say we are saved, it is not also enough to say we know Christ while we continue to dwell in spiritual stagnancy, 'Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment— Hebrews 6:1-2 KJV

Where in the world is the worst place to be a Christian?

Country	Christian population	Christian %
North Korea	300,000	1.20%
Like everyone else, Christians in North Korea must worship the nation's leader, and belonging to another religion makes you an enemy of the state. Thousands of Christians are imprisoned, and many have reportedly been tortured and executed. Believers meet secretly, and risk arrest and death by doing so.
Somalia	Hundreds	<1%
Islam is the state religion, and converting to another religion is illegal. The Islamist group al-Shabaab has stated that it wants to rid Somalia of all Christians, and people suspected of following the faith are likely to be killed on the spot. Many meet in secret, or don't meet at all, and cannot own Bibles.
Iraq	300,000	<1%
Many Christians fled Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein as persecution escalated. As Islamic State has taken control of large parts of the country, Christians and other minorities have been forced to convert, pay a punitive tax or be killed. An estimated 100,000 people fled their homes in Mosul, a city in a largely Christian region in northern Iraq, as Isis advanced on the region in late 2014. There have been public execution-style killings of Christians by Isis, some of them recorded and broadcast for propaganda purposes, and most churches have been demolished.
Syria	1.1m	4.90%
An estimated 700,000 Christians have fled Syria since the start of the civil war in 2011. Parts of the country have been claimed by Isis. Christians are often abducted and killed.
Afghanistan	Thousands	<1%
There are few Christian believers in Afghanistan, where Christianity is seen as a western religion. Those that exist must keep their faith secret or risk being rejected by their families, or even killed. There are no churches except for secret ones. While Afghan Christians are at greatest risk, foreigners are also in danger. In 2014, several Christian aid workers were killed in the country.
Sudan	1.9m	4.80%
Converting from Islam to another religion is punishable by death. Sudan also has blasphemy laws under which many Christians have been imprisoned. There are reports that the government has attacked Christians with targeted bombings, and turned a blind eye to the killings of Christians by others.

THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD 2015 CONVENTION NEWS

The Lord has preserved us to see another Convention of His church and to participate in the blessings that He alone can give . We there – fore welcome you to the convention of ‘’ The All – Sufficient God’’. This year’s theme holds lots of promises for all of us who will participate in all the proceedings and our lives will be imparted in ways we have never imagined

The All Sufficient One has enough blessings to give all His children because there is no shortage in His storehouse. He app eared to Abraham as the El Shaddai, the One who is more than enough (Gen17: 1) and He is still the same till this moment. During this Convention, He will become a testimony in the name of Jesus. The All Sufficient One rules by decrees. He commanded light where there was darkness and darkness had no option but to take its leave (Gen 1:3 ) . He commanded ravens to feed Elijah and they did not miss their way

AT THY WORD.... I WILL

....And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes —Luke 5:5-6 KJV

It may look strange, it may sound incomprehensible, it may appear too ordinary to believe, you may look foolish doing it, but because it is the Lord speaking, it will surely end in PRAISES!

THE ALMIGHTY GOD

And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say  unto him, What doest thou? -Daniel 4:35 KJV

Many a times we have goals we have wishes we have aspirations that looks laudable, but then he says 'no, not that way, no not now.' Yet at a different time, when we may be taking a nap he beckons 'Arise and go' but then, can man strife with his maker? Can any teach him wisdom? He is all-knowing, He is sovereign.  King Nebuchadnezzar had to learn this in a hard way but had to acknowledge Him after paying the prize of stubbornness and pride as he humbly affirmed: 'And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: Daniel 4:34 KJV

He owes us no explanations for His actions but because we are Joint Heirs, we are now privileged to ask questions but nonetheless not without being oblivious of the fact that, "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law-Deut. 29:29

Ecclesiastics says, 'Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

IN EVERY ADVERSITY, THERE IS A NEW OPPORTUNITY

Romans 8:28 KJV
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Paul, the apostle, suffered series of imprisonment in the hands of his detractors but  with all equanimity of mind, he found in them the opportunity to  concentrate and put in writing all that he wouldn't even have been able to physically communicate to the Nations given all the freedom he needed.

This gospel of Christ, perhaps, would have taken a longer time to get to us here in Africa if not for the persecution that arose against the disciples in Jerusalem which, eventually, scattered them to other nations preaching the gospel.

John 'The Beloved' was banished to the Island of Patmos, and cut off from his people, but believing that all things work together for good, he aligned himself to his Maker and got the greatest revelations ever as recorded in the book of Revelation.

Look inwards, find out what new opportunity that present circumstance has offered you. God will give you all the enablement to make a lemonade out of that bitter lemon.

NOT EVEN THE GATE OF HELL SHALL SEPARATE US FROM HIS LOVE WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS

TO LIVE IS FOR CHRIST, TO DIE IS GAIN

"To die for the sake of Christ, that's the happiest thing for me. I'm grateful that she didn't change her religion. She trusted in God."

Those were the words of a Nigerian pastor when he learnt that his daughter, kidnapped by Boko Haram, refused to convert to Islam.  He was told that the terrorists dug a hole, buried her up to her neck level, before stoning her to death. His wife also has this to say concerning their daughter's death: "I believe she died with dignity. Monica is now in heaven because she refused to convert."
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Last February when the ISIS beheaded twenty one Egyptian Christians, one of the widows of the deceased made a similar statement testifying that she "was very proud" her husband "stood firm in his faith and that he didn't deny Jesus."

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT SAME SEX MARRIAGE

I love the Bible. It has all the answers to every question and puzzle of life. There is no new scheme devised by man to justify his straying away from the truth that had not been condemned and for-frowned at by God.

IN THE BEGINNING
After the creation of Adam, God said it is not good for man to be alone, and for a perfect relationship, he created Eve; and for a complete and sacred holy matrimony, He blessed them, 'to be fruitful and multiply.'

SODOM AND GOMORRHA
The scriptures made us to understand that the primary reason why God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrha was as a result of homosexuality and lesbianism among other sins. It got to an incredible proportion that their men, without knowing that the handwriting was already on the wall, broke into Lot's house who accommodated the two Angels that came to destroy the town ordering him to bring them fort so they could satisfy their homosexual urge with them, 'Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” — Genesis 19:5-6 NIV.

A NEW DANW IN CHRISTIAN INFO

AND GOD SAID, 'LET THERE BE LIGHT AND THERE WAS LIGHT!