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In Easter season our minds are refreshed by the teaching of Christ’s grace through His suffering and resurrection. To those not saved, an assurance they can know the saving power of Jesus through believing. The seed of God’s love has produced a fruit in the sacrifice of Christ [John 3:16-18; 1:12]. Beyond the sweet niceties of the times, passing presents, joining fellow worshippers in church, and for some the after parties, Easter represents more. It’s the Lord fulfilling purpose. Reconciling the world back to God. A lost people to their maker, through a substitutionary work, Jesus taking the place for our sin, nailing it to the cross. Thereby, ensuring the penalty is paid, for all who trusts Him with their life. This is goodnews, a call to salvation, a call to live as one redeemed.

Blessings,

Evangelist Israel Okunwaye

There is power in the word of God. When as a believer of Christ you begin to take time to read, think about and obey God’s Word by placing it in your heart it will deliver and transform you.

Obedience to God’s Word is not torturous, or meant to discourage – rather it’s a way of living that we keep you from the enemy’s schemes. When our minds sway away, it ought to find its place afresh in the word from and of God. Time over time the word of God teaches us it is better and safer to follow after God. And to know His restoration when in need.

The world that do not know God thinks God’s instructions for all is meant to coerce and manipulate belief, as it does, how wrong. God has shown us His word as true which produces faith for obedience in us- and then through test of time, we see it is good to trust in God. All by His eternal mercy. Praise God. May God help us continually put our hope and heart in Him.

“… the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” 1 Peter 1:25 (1 John 5:3)

God bless.

Evangelist Israel Okunwaye

We come to God because in His arms we find rest for our weary souls, and refreshed by the blessings He brings. God calls us not on the basis of our tribe or estate, nor because of our pedigree or history but because of the undying love He has for us. This love continues beyond the grave, and leads us into eternity. Wouldn’t any of us desire such a love in a friend? Yet it is Christ that shows us a friendship bound by the blood of the cross for us who believe, and extends beyond any known human affiliation.

But it doesn’t end here. Christ speaks to us who desire His love to come receive. But after we receive to go manifest same. To love as He has loved us.

May God help us be more like Christ. To possess a love so free, bountiful in mercy, rich in righteousness, and one that blossoms in peace. Can anyone love us unconditionally? I think Christ can. Also I think you can, with Christ’s Spirit working in you even as we yield. Then it’s for the glory and praise of God, not us. Because we realise our shortcomings in relying in the flesh, but realise our strength in relying on God as we choose to listen to His voice speaking peace and healing, reaching over us and mightily to the deep recesses of our hearts. Place a demand on the love of Christ and trust Him to guide you to love as He loves.

Consider Titus 2:11-14 says,

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savio[u]r, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good”.

Christ’s blessings,

Evangelist Israel

As we come to the end of the year, noting you’re choosing to say goodbye to it, and as an encouragement going forward, consider giving yourself more to prayer and the ministry of the word in the coming years. If you trust God and come under Christ’s covering you will be consistently safe, fruitful and whole. This year Jan-Dec, daily (Sunday – Fridays) in a time space of 8am-9am, I personally and consciously publicly shared with you a scriptural thought, I hope this blessed you as it lifted my heart. You don’t have to consider it a challenge, except you want to, what is important is to keep God’s pure uncompromising word ever present in your heart. God’s grace can reach you wherever you are. Consider a pattern that enables you to grow in the word, albeit independently in your devotion, and with the body of Christ. I asked the Lord, please will you be gracious, powerful, and show your lovingkindness to us who hope in you, forever, as you have been this year? I hear a profound yes. Thanks Lord. Only take responsibility to hear the mind of God for you for the hour. Also, we give thanks God has been good in all circumstances.

Also be in remembrance that transforming and reforming faith is found in Christ, and it’s a work of the Holy Spirit, still active in the fullness in all who believe, as evidenced in the gifts and fruit. Pray that your heart will always know the peace of God, as God resides in His temple, which is your body. I also pray for you that the same God who by His mercy has kept you in ages past will continually uphold you. Always check my blog and site for updates, you’re welcome.

God bless.

Evangelist Israel Okunwaye

The blessedness of the Christmas message is the revelation of Christ- what his birth to the nations portend. Why would a child born thousands of years ago in Bethlehem a little town in Israel, in the outskirts, bear any significance for all in the world, billions through the centuries? Except that, that baby was God visiting. Humans always pondered if there was a God, and what it would look like. Big, small, fierce or an indescribable structure- then God came down in choice of human conception, what an honour for the human race, without need for fertilisation, but in the womb of a woman. Couldn’t the one who spoke the earth into existence have brought a baby without the seed of a man, but the spiritual seed of Himself? Of course we would see Christ ‘non-parablelistically’ [if I must coin a word to illustrate a real experience] later in his life fix a blind man’s eyeballs with clay, speak to a tree to not bear fruit, cast out devils, multiply food by divine command, and bring the dead(s) to life, creating something out of nothing. Rather than turn a blind eye to living stories Christ still pulsate our hearts with His incredibleness. There had been several theories of God visiting, some would make carvings to be their god, creating mythic connections to aliens, others would confine it to completely imaginary tales- but we have to now take seriously the written prophectic codes in ancient biblical texts, because it has been fulfilled and interpreted in Christ Jesus. Christ literally ticked all the boxes of the messiah, from birth, life, death, geography, divine affirmation in the miraculous. God was to be born in human form, of a virgin, seen of Angels, prove His power and authority, and lay foundation for the redemption of mankind from sin. The creator of the world made harbour amongst His creation. In identifying with our humanity He showed his love, understanding, but leaves an assurance that His preset plan would ultimately prevail, in seeing the believers united in incorruptible glory. In a finely enhanced technological age none can still match Christ’s precision of the fulfillment of prophecy outlined thousands of years beforehand by a sum of renowned prophets, either a bar was set to high or we were to wait to see the impossible made possible by one who is God. The prophecy is still plain to read, but one Christ the Lord has triumphed. To Him be glory. It’s the Lord we worship. Amen.

Christmas offers a unique opportunity to surrender your life to the authority of Jesus Christ, recognising He wasn’t just a man, but more, that was God with us. Thanking him for the revelation of the Father and trusting Him with your eternal future. More than words can say it’s by faith in Christ we receive the authentic gift of His grace and divine life, and to apprehend the mystery and glory of God. God bless.

Colossians 1:6-

“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities– all things have been created through Him and for Him.”

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Evangelist Israel

Love and faith is connected. Love births faith, faith sustains love. Often we learn have faith in God, which I believe is a core of the Christian discipline, but recognise there is an ambit to this that buttresses the work of divine grace and understanding, which is to have faith in the love of God. Faith in God is faith in His love, rarely do one have faith in the outrageous and unsurpassing love without a knowledge of God’s person. To know God cares, to God protects, to know God meets every need and can do anything, so therefore my trust or faith is in God. And then to in obedience receive Christ, and humbly come to an ever increasing knowledge of God’s love. As a believer I have faith in the love of God, I have faith in God. As God is love, bound to His person is perfect and divine love, inextricably linked, so our faith in Him mirrors His love; our love for God, His supernatural love for us. Also, our expression of genuine faith in God is our standard of love for others who are our neighbours as we do ourselves, with the grace only God can give. May God help us all through faith in Christ demonstrate continually a love of God that is heavenly. Why live in our own wisdom and not take to heart the unfathomed possibilities that exists if we were to trust Him? If not saved, that is come to believe God yet, today is the day of salvation to first receive Christ’s love and then to demonstrate His love. Amen. Now let’s meditate on God’s word- the love God has for us is the overcoming love. To God be glory, God bless.

1 John 4:7-9

“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.”
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P. Israel

I am convinced God takes great consideration of our needs being met, both to those of no means or those considerably well off. We see this in the sending of ravens to Elijah story, in the multiplying of the loaves of bread and fishes to feed his disciples, in inspiring the early Church to manage resources towards caretakering for the weak amongst them, even that God sends earth’s blessings to support the nourishing of all whether good or evil. I perceive God is equipping us to enable structures and institutions that support well-being. Let God fill you with the assurance that faith brings whether your issues seems main or infinitesimal. Christ is in control and will see to your deepest prayers being met. Trust God. God bless.

Genesis 26:13

“And the man waxed great, and grew more and more until he became very great”
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P. Israel

In Daniel 6, we learn that the King Darius of Babylon redirected his steps to ensure that he now did the right thing. He was the one who abandoned his friend and counsel, consigning Daniel to the dungeon of lions for breach of his decree according to the law of Persia and Medes. He however made a u-turn because he saw he acted under emotional pressure and without foresight- the rumours and laws were a product of conspiracy and should have saw that. Daniel too didn’t help matters, the moment the law was passed by the authority of his day restraining public worship, he continued his resolve and later went upstairs, opening the curtains, facing Jerusalem whilst lifting his hands in humble worship. That was noble and honouring to God, but also some kind of guts against his friend the King- you see, God had to come first, but also the timing required it. It was simple, personal, but yet for some reason resonated. He could worship outside the view of his adversaries, but at that moment where eyes and ears will be on him, he wanted Jehovah God to be the focus, rather than submerging into a cocoon of inactivity. He knew this was a special opportunity to lift God up. Not so he could be a star but to first stir his heart towards God, and inspire others who may take notice. We need not always do this, as God searches the heart and knows our deepest prayers, but at that moment his faith compelled him to point his nation and community to Elohim. By just being one person crying out for God for mercy and help. And God was glorified by it. The result of this selfless attitude was the salvation of many from idolism. The King changed his steps to later be of help to Daniel- a testimony to the power of faith in Daniel, also an act of God at work in the King, and the influence of faith and love for God to a whole generation. Thanks be to God. May God help us to seize the right window of priviledge to glorify God, and may we also have the boldness to retrace steps when there is need to. As for those who insisted on vainly crafted law for a malicious purpose, we need not bother about their end. We see God has it. God bless.

Ecclesiastics 7:8

“Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”

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P. Israel

Encountering God is not meeting a ‘spiritualist’, fortune teller, a trickster or magician, psychic, a materialist or naturalistic speaker, or anywhere you go to pay for an independent service for an out of body experience- it’s about a real spiritual heart transplant and relationship with the ultimate divine person, the one at the echelon of spiritual hierarchy transcending any earthly prototype of authority, and having His power in you, staying with you, everyday, every hour. Christ stays with you by His Spirit and tabernacles over you – till it gets overwhelming. Well, that would be like a river of water, flowing by and leaving your garden of roses well nourished endlessly. Your life needs the blessings the Lord brings. God created is for His delight. So, how about that? I still believe God can meet every need, and give you the best. Think Jesus’s words – I will never leave or forsake you. Praise God. And all glory to His holy name. God bless. Cheers.

Isaiah 62:3-4

“You will be a crown of splendor in theLord’s hand,

a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

No longer will they call you Deserted,

or name your land Desolate.

But you will be called Hephzibah,

and your land Beulah;

for the Lord will take delight in you,

and your land will be married.”
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P. Israel

God calls us to keep on walking in his divine purpose. First, he brings us all into a knowledge of His person, of His goodness, and calls us to go replicate and extol these virtues. It’s a journey into maturity, where as a babe our instinct are configured by His nature, but by the Word our will is made strong and discerning capacity sharpened. God brings us all in to savour His inestimable knowledge and grace, and then the sting and even restrictions of ignorance washed away. The responsibility is on the believer to deepen the crave for wisdom, pursue after, digest, so as to grow by the fine working of His supernatural power through the Spirit of Christ. Praise God. God bless.

“Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”- 2 Corinthians 3:16-18
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P. Israel